The Importance of Christians Knowing that Christ will gladly accept Their Burdens and give Them Rest in Return!

Matthew 11:28.           Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Ah friends, like March was determined to go out like a lion this year…and he certainly did with the thunderous roar of a mighty lion and the amazing brilliance of light that he unleashed during the night time hours. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard such thunderous thunder, (smile) like it wanted to destroy the place, the same way a big detonation of ammunition does. And the brilliance of the lightening was extraordinary. It was so strong that the Duchess had to cover a glass scale in our bathroom with a cloth because the lightening was throwing dangerous reflections off of it.

At one point, while sitting on the side of my bed, the thunder roared and the lightning flashed so brilliantly that it came clear through the aluminum blinds and curtains at the window. Anyone looking directly at it would surely have been blinded. But thankfully all of that is over now, and for the last day of March, we have just a damp, somewhat cloudy day. Yes, believe it or not, March is now done like dinner, and like the other months, it has passed by rather quckly. But isn’t that what our society is all about…speed? 

And today we’re going to offer up an interesting heartfelt prayer from the March In Touch Devotional, that I’m sure will resonate with some of us. So please pray with me. ‘Lord, I’m tired – tired of the burdens I carry, both those given to me and the ones I picked up myself. The truth is, I’m afraid to release them to You. I don’t know who I’ll be without their familiar weight on my shoulders. Father, help me each day to let one fear, one problem fall into the dust, forgotten. Fill the spaces left behind with warmth and light – the overflowing joy that comes only from knowing You until there is no room, no need, to take them up again. In Jesus name, amen.’

Yes my brethren, all of us have some fears or problems that’s been with us for so long that if we let them go, we won’t know what to do with ourselves, we’ll feel strange, possibly naked. But thankfully that’s what Jesus is there for; to alleviate all our fears, to take them to Himself and free us from them. That’s why He offers the Great Invitation to all who are troubled, fearful and weary.

Listen to these wonderful words of encouragement and reassurance. ‘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 my people, have you ever heard anyone else offer such freedom and relief from our earthly burdens and heartaches? Obviously not! And if anyone tries to do that, then you’ll know that they’re just a charlatan, an impostor, a fake, a fraud, for it’s only our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that has the power to take away our burdens and replace them with His light yoke. Listen to Him again from the gospel of John, where He invites us to come to Him so we can experience the good life.

A multitude of people had followed Jesus over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee after He did the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, but as He told them. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles (signs), but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat (food) which perisheth, but for the meat (food) which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then they said unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he had sent.’ (John 6:26:-29)

Yes sir, it’s that simple! All the Lord expects of us is to believe on the One whom He sent to earth to save us. And after the people desired of Him, the bread that came down from heaven, ‘Jesus said unto them 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)

Obviously Jesus was talking there about the spiritual and eternal life, which one can only acquire through Him. As He says later on: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) That’s why so many of us are tired and worn out, because we don’t truly and fully believe in Jesus. We say it, and think we believe it, but it doesn’t show up sufficiently in our everyday lives, thus we never reach the point where we feel free and unburdened.

And furthermore, some of us are like those spoken of in this passage from Jeremiah. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.’ (Jer. 6:16) So then you stand your bounce and suffer the consequences of disobedience. No wonder Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) always said ‘Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.’

Yes friends, if we obey God, we won’t have to worry about the consequences. But if we don’t then we’ll surely pay the high price disobedience demands. And with the world in this awful state, it only makes sense to cling to the One who can give us peace of mind. That’s Jesus Christ!

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

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

…ONLY in Jesus…can we find true rest from our earthly cares and concerns…

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

The Overwhelming Importance of Having a Personal Relationship with Christ, even if it’s just and outward One!

Isaiah 2:5.        O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

And so we come to Tuesday; a beautiful, sunny, but somewhat chilly spring day. Buds are coming out on the trees, so spring must certainly be in the air. (smile) Just sit a moment and contemplate all the lovely greenery that will soon become reality nuh; the reawakening of life once more, like the new birth of a baby that always brings such joy, and let’s make our hearts and souls joyful that although the times are tough and unpredictable, we’re alive and living fully and faithfully for Jesus! There’s absolutely nothing better than that friends!

And as I looked through our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin for a poem to share today, this one, so in line with what we just said above, struck me as being most appropriate. And, as usual, I don’t know if I’ve ever shared it before. (smile) It’s simply titled ‘The Conclusion.’ So please read with me: ‘Lord, Lord I am not as brave As You seem to think Nor as strong Nor as capable of standing firm In the midst of affliction. Lord, there is not a drop Of emotional response in me. No awareness of Your LOVE No comfort or joy in Your Promises.

I have no deep conviction That you are real. There is no daylight in my heart Nor even  candlelight. Nevertheless, with sheer determination And perhaps a bit of spiritual grit I have opted to throw my weight On Your word without Rather than my feelings within. I don’t know exactly when it happened But I have reached the conclusion That I would rather walk with You In the dark of night Than walk without You In the light.’

Wow! What godly wisdom friends! It has to be, for what else would make you enter a relationship with God, although it’s not a deep spiritual involvement but simply an outward connection? It shows that God is working, working in a way that is most appropriate for that person. And believe me, our God will take anyone who comes to Him with sincerity and truth, although not ready for deep involvement. Yes my people, regardless of how our hearts feel inside, it’s ever so important that we at least walk with Almighty God on the outside, for it’s necessary to have some sort of connection with Him to live this life.

And once we begin walking with Him, even if it’s just on the outside, He will eventually make us see the light, and our feelings will become what they ought to be on the inside. It’s just a matter of time! And I just LOVE those two last lines: ‘That I would rather walk with You In the dark of night Than walk without You In the light.’ What a beautiful emotional juxtaposition, highlighting the irony of the situation! It’s preferable to walk with God in the dark, than walk without Him in the light. It sounds good,  and is indeed a thought provoker. And you can spend several minutes, like I just did, trying to figure it out. (smile)

But the important thing is that one ought always to walk with God, be it day or night! And the Bible Promise for that poem comes from Isaiah, in talking about the mountain of God, he advises his people: ‘Come people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord.’ (Is. 2:5) That’s the NLT or New Living Translation. Meanwhile the KJV or King James Version which we use, puts it thus: ‘O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.’ (Is. 2:5)

And as we just said, it is ever so important to walk in the light of the Lord in this dark and despicable world. As Bruh Paul explains to the Ephesians. ‘For ye were sometimes (once) darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved (exposed) are made manifest by the light: for whatever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.’ (Eph. 5:8-14)

Now here are some explanations from the scholars re those verses. ‘5:8. Darkness indicates that the readers used to be spiritually unenlightened, and accompanying this ignorance was immorality with its resultant guilt and misery. Light denotes that the recipients are now religiously informed. Their knowledge of the truth is attended by moral purity and happiness. 5:10. Because of the constant temptations and solicitations to evil, believers must always be proving or discerning what is and what is not acceptable unto the Lord.

5:11. Reprove is better translated “exposed.” The believer’s duty is expressed here in two ways. Negatively, he is not to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, that is, not to indulge in the sins of the unsaved. Positively, he is to “expose” (reprove) these sins, that is, bring them to light and show them for what they really are, so that the unbeliever may see their hideous nature and their terrible consequences. 5:12. For tells why the Christian must expose the sins of the lost. If it is shameful even to discuss their iniquities in decent company (cf. vs. 3), how much the worse is the committing of these sins. Hence the need to bring them to light.

5:13. This verse may be paraphrased: “All sins that are exposed are made visible by the gospel, for whatever sin is made visible becomes light.” 5:14. Since exposing sin is beneficial, God invites the unbeliever (thou that sleepest) to turn from his sin (arise from the dead), with the promise that he will be granted spiritual enlightenment and help needed (Christ shall give thee light).’ Hopefully those explanations give us a better understanding of how we are to walk as children of light.

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

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

…believers are all children of light…and children of the day…they are not of the night…nor of darkness… (1 Thess. 5:5)

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

The Overwhelming Importance of Christians being ready for Christ’s Return, especially in the World’s Current State of Turmoil and Chaos!

Mark 13:37.        And what I say unto you I say unto all. Watch.

Well friends, with God’s help, we’ve successfully made it through Monday, so there’s no reason why we should not make it through this windy and chilly but fairly sunny Tuesday too! And, believe it or not, we’re already past the halfway mark of this March month, meaning that time and things are speeding up, so we also have to get a move on if we don’t want to be left behind. It’s therefore essential that Christ’s people, His church, come together, take the bull by the horns and begin turning things around in His favour, otherwise the devil and his evil cronies will just destroy everything that’s good and godly in our world.

We’ve already seen how we are foolishly leading up to another big war, which might just prove to be the last one, and the evil doers are in no hurry to change the situation, so it’s left up to the people of Christ to intervene and stop the foolishness, If not, then we might just see the promise of Peter’s words coming through, for the next big war will indeed be a doozy with nuclear weapons of mass destruction. ‘But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.’ (2 Pet. 3:10)  

And that’s exactly what’s going to eventually happen if mankind doesn’t restrain his warlike tendencies. And if we think the atomic bombs that decimated the Japanese Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War 2 were bad, please think again, because the weapons we now have are several times stronger and more destructive. But that’s what mankind does so well, invent and perfect methods and weapons of destruction. What’s taken centuries to build, we can now destroy and eliminate in the blink of an eye. Most of our efforts are concentrated on destruction rather than construction.

And we have the same sort of warning about serious destruction from the prophet Isaiah when he talks about the ‘Nearness of God’s Righteousness.’ He writes: ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax (grow) old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished (broken).’ (Is. 51:6)

Yes friends, there are several more references in the Bible to the earth being destroyed, like this one from Psalm 102. The author states: ‘Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure (continue): yea, all of them shall wax (grow) old like a garment; as a vesture (cloak) shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed (descendants) shall be established before thee.’ (Ps. 102: 25-28)

Then this commentary tells us, there are other scriptures like ‘Zechariah 14:12 which describes a plague where the flesh, eyes, and tongues of people rot while they stand on their feet, which some interpret as the effects of radiation or a nuclear blast. Revelation 8:7-10: Mentions a third of the earth, trees, and grass burning up, and a great mountain burning with fire falling into the sea, often interpreted as nuclear missiles and fallout. Ezekiel 38-39: Describes the war of Gog and Magog, involving massive armies, fire, and brimstone, which some commentators suggest could be a global conflict in the end times.’

The problem though is however we explain or understand it, the earth and all therein will at some time be destroyed either by man’s hands or divine design, thus we should be prepared for whatever comes. And I like how Pastor Greg Laurie puts it in his article on the current problems in the Middle East, found on the harvest.org/resources website. He writes: ‘I believe what has taken place in the Middle East is cause for us to sit up and pay attention. Let me give you just a quick flyover of end times events chronologically. Number one, I think the next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church. Then, the Antichrist emerges on the scene and the Tribulation period begins.

The Tribulation ends with the Second Coming of Christ, and then the Lord establishes the Millennium (the 1,000-year reign of Christ). Events like the ones we are seeing now shouldn’t cause us to panic and be fearful, but move us to prayer. Pray for the nations involved. Pray for peace. And pray that many come to Christ. Bible prophecy is not given to scare us, but to prepare us. Are You Ready? Ask yourself today, “Am I ready for the Lord’s return?” Christ is coming again. This is a wake-up call to get right with God, walk closely with Him, and stay spiritually awake. Let’s all make sure we’re ready to meet the Lord—because, well, He could come back at any time.’

And that was Jesus’ exact warning: ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter (doorkeeper) to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even (evening), or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all. Watch.’ (Mark 13:31-37)

And whatever Jesus says, is what we ought to do! So please my fellow believers, let’s sit up and take notice nuh. It’s all for our benefit. Now let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

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

…regardless of our many problems…Christians ought to be ready for Christ’s return…at any time…

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

There’s No Shame in Crying out to God, especially when You’re Suffering on His Behalf

Psalm 69:1.        Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul (neck).

It’s Tuesday friends, and thankfully it’s another bright and sunshiny spring-like day with temps in positive double figures, and all the snow has finally melted. Thank God! I can now see the dry grass on the ground and the floor of the deck at the back of my house, which was once covered with snow over a foot high, making it risky to open my back door. Some trees are even starting to push out some buds. But please, let’s not get carried away, it’s only the tenth of March and winter is certainly not over. And soon we’ll be back enjoying the cold weather. (smile) But it’s surely nice to have a break in between.

And today we’ll have a look at Psalm 69, ‘A Cry for Help.’ It was a time of ‘sufferation’ for Bruh David and he cries out to God. ‘Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul (neck). I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away (did not steal)…

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of (for) thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to (became) my reproach. I made sackcloth also to my garment (a symbol of sorrow); and I became a proverb (byword) to them. They that sit in the gate (sit as judges) speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.’ (Ps. 69:1-4, 7-12)

And according to the scholars: ‘This psalm gives extensive expression to one of the major themes of the psalms: undeserved suffering. In this case, the suffering has come largely from the psalmist’s steadfastness in his commitment to the Lord.’  Yes my fellow believers, when we are steadfast in our commitment to the Lord we will indeed face tough times. And many men of God have gone through undeserved suffering just because of their faith. People like Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. They were all doing the Lord’s work, but suffered unnecessarily because of it.

And the same thing is liable to happen to those of us who stand strong and steadfast in God’s name in these modern times. Jesus said it very clearly: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And people like James have written of such tribulation thus. ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting (lacking) nothing.’ (James 1:2-4)

Now that’s easier said than done! Consequently, listen to this interesting comment from the scholars. ‘Negative experiences are to be accepted with great joy, not for the sake of the trial itself but because of the positive work God can accomplish through the testing. The words in verses 2 and 3 (temptations and trying) are often regarded as virtually synonymous. If this were true, then trials themselves would produce spiritual maturity. But they do not. Often, testings make Christians bitter instead of better, with no spiritual growth occurring. The Greek word for “trying” (dokimion) might be better translated as “approving.” It is not merely one’s presence in such trials but one’s victory over them that brings spiritual growth and maturity. Those Christians whom God can use the most are those whom God has bruised the most.’  

And is that ever true! For many of those used by God down through the ages have been well bruised, both before and during their work on God’s behalf. The most prominent example of that being God’s most important worker; Jesus Christ. I guess the reasoning is that if you’re not bruised, you cannot fully understand the problems and sufferings of others.

And to top James’ philosophy, Peter then declares: ‘Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward (harsh). For this is thankworthy (commendable), if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted (beaten) for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with (commendable before) God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did not sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:’ (1 Pet. 2:18-23)

Ah mih people, that’s the kind of example we’re expected to follow as disciples of Jesus. And though that becomes more difficult as our world becomes more evil and ungodly, the effort is necessary if we’re to be true disciples of Jesus. And hopefully, this scripture from Bruh Paul to Timothy, might mitigate it some. ‘It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer (endure) we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not (are faithless), yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim. 2:11-13)

Yes mih bredrin, suffering for and with Christ here on earth, means also living and rejoicing with Him in eternity! And considering the short time limit to our possible suffering and the infinite extent to our rejoicing, that should help us bear the earthly trials and tribulations with a better attitude. (smile) Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.

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

And now friends, we’re duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…suffering on God’s behalf…is an expected circumstance in a believer’s life…

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

The Overwhelming Importance of Communicating with God through Prayer, but also Remembering that Silence is Golden in His Presence!

John 16:33.        ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’

Oh friends, our nemesis, Monday is now done like dinner!  And we’ve survived it in good form to see Tuesday, a chilly day with a mixture of sun and cloud! Thanks be to God! So from now on we should have clear sailing through the rest of the week. (smile) It’s just that that first day of the work week takes a lot of strength, faith and confidence to get going. And though we are children of the Most High God Jehovah, we are not immune to problems and bouts of weakness, though they are eventually overcome with our heavenly Father’s awesome help.

Remember what Jesus advised: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And we all know that in this evil and ungodly world that’s not always easy to do, but if we have the faith, then most of the time we will be able to do it. Now, here’s an interesting article from the February In Touch Devotional that shows how we can begin doing just that. It comes from the ‘Let’s Pause’ section of the Devotional.

So please read with me. ‘Without the right understanding in place, Christianity can sound like a lot of “shoulds.” Even something like reading the Bible can be exhausting if we approach it in a way God doesn’t intend for us. Here’s what we need to remind ourselves. Spiritual practices are a gift to help us in our relationship with Him. But ultimately, He doesn’t need our performance. What God wants is YOU. More than any achievement, more than your discipline – just YOU. 

What if, for a few minutes, you gave yourself permission to take the pressure off, to simply show up and give God your full attention? Let’s try something Dr. Stanley practiced: Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, eliminate the distractions. Next, take a few moments to breathe and notice the quiet. If it helps, picture yourself as a child sitting with a LOVING parent – no agenda, just presence. This moment is about remembering that God simply wants to be with you. Exactly as you are.’

And that’s the indisputable truth my fellow believers. And I know that it works, because I do it every so often. The problem though is remembering to do it regularly, because we get so busy living this crazy life, that we don’t necessarily forget about God, but have to oftentimes make a special effort to just sit and be quiet with Him. But here’s another thing that Uncle Charles (Dr. Stanley) also encouraged. Every time you finish praying, just sit quietly for a few minutes and listen for God’s voice, listen for the answers He might have for whatever you prayed about.

That might help us to more often sit quietly with the Lord and just enjoy His awesome presence which always surrounds us, but we’re often too busy to feel or truly appreciate it, and therefore most times simply take for granted. That reminds me of this prayer that I often say, and believe I might have shared at some time in the past. But please don’t ask me where I got it from, because I could not tell you. (smile) All I know is that I like it. So please pray with me: ‘The light of God surrounds me: The LOVE of God enfolds me: The power of God protects me: The presence of God watches over me: Wherever I am, God is… And all is well! Amen.’

Now that ought to help us remember God’s amazing grace and mercy always looking out for us, and when we say it, we think of all the good things involved and find the time to spend quietly with Him. And by the way, I just remembered that I might have gotten that prayer, along with a number of others, written in the fly leaves of my mother’s Bible, which I took when she died and still use for my own daily devotions. Now that’s a legacy we should all strive to leave for the younger generation. Let them see the kind of prayers we prayed on a regular basis.  And if our lives modelled those prayers, then it will surely help them in their own walk with Christ, the way the prayers I found in my mother’s Bible has helped me.

And I like this verse of Bruh Paul to Timothy on the subject of prayer. ‘I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.’ (1 Tim. 2:8) Then there’s this wonderful admonition from Christ: ‘And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not faint (lose heart).’ (Luke 18:1) So if both Bruh Paul and Jesus say that prayer ought to be a major part of our lives, who are we to doubt it eh? And yuh better believe, that in these strife-filled and turbulent times we certainly need a lot of prayer to keep us rooted and grounded in Christ and His way of life!

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

And having said that, it now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! For as the scriptures say: ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.’ (Rom. 10:15) So let’s get out there and bring glad tidings of good things, like we ought to! Much LOVE!

…prayer helps us communicate with God…but silence is also golden in His presence…

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

It’s High Time Christians Stop Being So Lethargic and Wake Up to Their Responsibilities, and the Imminent Second Coming of Jesus!

Romand 13:11.         And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we (first) believed.

And after Monday comes Tuesday… just like the Lord designed it. Yes mih bredrin, it’s a brand new day, and we’re still alive and kicking so let’s give our wonderful Lord and Saviour much thanks for the breath of life that’s still flowing through our finite, fragile, mortal bodies, not forgetting the hope of salvation and eternal life that He so selflessly died to provide for us. And all God’s people sent up a sincere prayer of ‘Thank You Jesus! You are the Greatest! And we LOVE and worship you with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds! Amen!’

Ah friends, it’s so good when we give God thanks for His wonderful attention and blessings to us underserving children of men. And it’s something I don’t think we do often enough, because we don’t truly understand/or appreciate how good God has been to us, when He had no reason whatsoever to be. Instead, He had, and still has, every reason to destroy us completely for our prideful and rebellious attitude towards Him.

But as the Bible tells us He LOVED us so dearly and is so longsuffering or patient with us, and didn’t want any of His most wonderful creation to perish, but that all should come to repentance, (2 Pet. 3:9) that He broke His own heart and sent His ONE Son, yes His ONLY Son to earth to die for our rebelliousness, so that all who believed in Him could have everlasting life and not perish in the fires of hell, where we were all destined for, before Christ’s death ransomed us. (John 3:16)

So, when we talk about being indebted to our heavenly Father, it’s no joke or simple matter, because it’s a debt we can never repay. But the good thing about our God is that He doesn’t require repayment, all He needs is for us to sincerely accept His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and thus gain salvation and eternal life. And why is that? Because it’s Jesus who, in obedience to the Father’s will, paid our sin debt in full with the selfless sacrifice of His sinless life.

That’s why the Word says: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and those (things) under the earth; And that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil. 2: 9-11)

Now that’s how the Father rewards those who do His will. Are we in line for rewards…are we doing His will to the best of our ability? I doubt it. Otherwise, neither Christ’s body, the church, nor the world would be in such a terrible state, with dissensions, divisions, hate, greed, strife and all the negative aspects front and centre, rather than in the background.

And it’s no wonder that Satan is ruling the roost, because we supposed Christians, supposed believers in Christ Jesus, are not doing what He desires of His followers, namely to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, and thus show others how living with and for Him is the best life possible. In other words, we’re not doing as Jesus says: ‘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)

And that’s the sad truth! We believers are not stepping up to the plate sufficiently and hitting the many home runs that we need to turn things around in this evil and ungodly world. Remember that doing nothing to improve matters, is the same as encouraging them to be bad. So, sitting on the sidelines and seeing evil and ungodliness being perpetrated all over the world when you’re in a position to make some small improvement, makes you just as guilty as the perpetrators of the evil and ungodliness.

Consequently, a whole lot of us supposed Christians are guilty of plenty evil and ungodliness, for there’s always some small way that we can mitigate those negative circumstances, if it’s even in our own families or neighbourhoods. Oh friends, any evil or ungodliness mitigated is a win for Christ! Most of us can’t be big movers and shakers of the world, but we can certainly do stuff right in our backyards to improve the situation. It’s just that too many of us who call ourselves Christians, are either afraid of what others might say and/ or do, or too lazy and comfortable in our material wellbeing, and thus we refuse to get up off of our fat fannies and do something worthwhile for Christ!

But under those circumstances, here are two scriptures that we should consider well. The first comes from Bruh Paul to his protégé Timothy, regarding fear. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:7) And the second in Jesus words, is like unto it: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt. 10:28)

Now, that means you should not fear mankind, because they can only kill your body and not your soul. But the One to be truly afraid of is Almighty God, who can kill both body and soul in the roaring fires of hell! And it’s a sad fact that many, if not most of us are more afraid of man than of God. How foolish! But I guess we are more concerned about our bodies than our souls. However, let’s remember there are consequences for every misdeed, and sometimes those consequences can be mind boggling and also life-altering.

Anyway, let’s hope what we’ve spoken of today will jumpstart our consciences, will wake us from our stupor, for as Bruh Paul says to the Roman church: ‘And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we (first) believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.’ (Rom. 13:11-12) And as this commentary explains: ‘That means there’s no place for spiritual lethargy in the Christian life. Believers must live in urgent expectation and wide-awake preparedness for what is coming because “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20)

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

And with those words, we’ve now become duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…it’s time for believers to heed the wake up call…for who knows what will happen tomorrow…

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

The Overwhelming Importance of Understanding the Constant Presence of God with Us, and Not Being Afraid to Take Our Deepest, Darkest Secrets to Him!

Psalm 139:23.        Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my anxious thoughts;

Then it was Tuesday, and the Family Day partying finish! But it still continues in places like Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and New Orleans, where the Carnival celebrations are now in full swing, with today being the last day of music, costumes and masqueraders on the streets, carrying on like leggo-beasts. Then tomorrow, we’ll all get pious and godly for Ash Wednesday. Hn! What a life we living!

But judging isn’t our department, it belongs to the Creator and Controller of the universe, and several scriptures speak to that situation like these. Isaiah says: ‘For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.’ (Is. 33:22) Meanwhile Hebrews tells us: ‘For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense (repay), saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.’ (Heb. 10:30)

Meanwhile James, the brother of Jesus puts it a bit sterner, when he writes: ‘Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy: who art thou that judgest another?’ (James 4:11-12) And that’s a very good question, which we will all have to answer on an individual basis.

Now, here is an interesting article from the ‘Consider This’ Section of this month’s In Touch Devotional, which can pertain to many of us. Please read with me: ‘Confronting sin is hard, isn’t it? At times it feels uncomfortable and scary. Lonely, even. But it doesn’t have to. Think about the closing verses of David’s prayer in Psalm 139: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ (Ps. 139:23-24).

Such a frightening request – inviting God to examine our thoughts and motives, to uncover what lies beneath. But He is with us, even in those moments when we’d rather hide. He does not leave us to face anything alone. How do we know this? Go back and read Psalm 139 from the beginning. There you’ll find 18 verses that explore God’s with-ness, His unceasing presence and unfailing LOVE toward us. Like David, we can say to our Father, “You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.’ (Ps. 39:5-6) We too, can take comfort in the Lord, knowing that even in our darkest moments, He remains beside us.’

Now how does all of that sit with us as individuals eh my fellow believers? Does it frighten us, or does it make us strong, in the knowledge that even when the Lord uncovers our darkest sins, He never leaves us, His presence is always with us? It should strengthen us, for remember what Moses said to the Israelites? ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6)

And it’s the same thing the Lord told Joshua when He made him leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. ‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Josh. 1:5) And it’s the very same thing the Lord is saying to us today my fellow believers. Regardless of what happens, or what we do, the Lord’s presence is, and will always be with us!

There’s no need to be afraid of walking this very stressful and dangerous life alone. We might be lonely, but we’re NEVER alone, for the Lord our God is always with us! And just that fact, ought to strengthen our sense of purpose and allow us to go on in good fashion. And as the article says, I hope you all took a moment to read the first 18 verses of Psalm 139, for it is a magnificent Psalm.

And I like how the scholars describe it: ‘Psalm 139. Certainly one of the grandest psalms in all of the Psalter, it is also one of the richest theologically. It combines an exposition of the greatness of God’s character with the reality of the human experience. From verses 19-22 we find that David wrote the psalm during a time of opposition. It therefore contains truths that were meaningful to him during these troublesome times. They may be summarized under four key thoughts as David addresses the Lord.: You know me (vs. 1-6); You are with me (vs. 7-12); You created me (vs. 13-18); and Your cause is my cause (vs. 19-24)’  

Ah friends, it is indeed a marvellous psalm, containing so much information about our relationship with God, and how we are continually in His presence from the moment we are formed in our mother’s womb…and even before. And I always remember my first introduction to the psalm. It was many years ago on the Hour of Power Programme from the Crystal Cathedral in California, when the greatest actor preacher, Dr. Robert Schuller, raised his hands and declared in such an amazing fashion:

‘Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall (can) I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.’ (Ps. 139:7-10) Yes, that was a pivotal moment in my life, and it reminds me of the words of Bruh Paul in Romans, where He’s talking about how the Word reaches listeners. ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’  (Rom. 10:15b)

Oh my people, I hope and pray that what we’ve spoken of today will encourage and strengthen us in our faith-filled walk with Christ, because we can never get too much encouragement and confidence in these tremulous and uncertain times. Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.

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

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

…one thing we’re never lacking…that’s the divine presence of our God and Saviour…

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

The Necessity for Christians to be Always Aware of the Devil’s Evil Schemes and Use the Tools of God to Resist Him!

James 4:7.         Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

So we’ve successfully fought round one of this new work week; Monday, now it’s on to round two, Tuesday. And Tuesday ought to be a li’l easier than Monday, since we’ve already gotten our feet wet in the workaday world. But let’s not take anything for granted because the enemy doesn’t, he is a constant presence. Yes, even if he’s not doing anything to us at the present time, he’s always there lurking around in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to unleash his evil wiles and lies on us. Remember what the Bible says about the devil and the temptation of Jesus? ‘And when the devil had ended all the temptation (testing), he departed from him for a season (until a more opportune time).’  (Luke 4:13)

That’s why Peter warns us: ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished (experienced) in your brethren that are in the world.’ (1 Pet. 5:8-9) Now, I don’t know how much comfort it gives me to know that my fellow believers are also being targeted by the devil, (smile) but for my own benefit, I need to stay strong and resist the loud mouthed enemy.

And I like what the overview of this commentary says on the subject. ‘The devil is described as an adversary prowling like a “roaring lion,” actively seeking to devour, intimidate, and destroy the faith of believers. This metaphor highlights his role as a dangerous, loud, and deceptive enemy, prompting calls for Christians to remain sober, vigilant, and firm in their faith.” And is that ever so true, for the enemy’s avowed purpose is to turn us away from God and the things He desires of us.

And the commentary is further broken down into the ‘Key Aspects of the “Roaring Lion” Metaphor: Active Pursuit: The devil is not passive; he “prowls” or “walks about” actively looking for vulnerabilities. Intimidation: Similar to a lion’s roar, the devil uses fear, loud accusations, and persecution to terrify and overwhelm. Targeting Vulnerability: He often targets those who are defenseless, weak, or isolated. Goal of Destruction: The ultimate aim is to “devour”—to disrupt, tempt, and render believers ineffective in their faith.’ And we have all experienced those aspects of the devil’s behaviour time after time, but hopefully we have not given into or fallen for them.

And as protection from those devilish tricks, the commentary offers this ‘Biblical Advice for Response: Be Vigilant and Sober: Maintain a clear, alert, and watchful mind, not allowing your guard to be let down. Resist and Stand Firm: Resist the devil by standing firm in faith, relying on God’s strength rather than one’s own. Use Spiritual Armor: Utilize the “whole armour of God” to withstand attacks. Confidence in Victory: The devil is described as a defeated foe, and believers are encouraged that God’s protection is greater than the threat.’

Yes friends, we possess all the tools necessary to resist the devil, but we need to put them into action. First of all, there is the spiritual armour of the Lord. As Bruh Paul wrote to the Ephesians: ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph. 6:10-11) And please note the active tense there, for us to ‘PUT ON’ the armour. It doesn’t get into our souls and spirits automatically. No. We have to make the definitive effort to put it on, like when we’re putting on our clothes every day.

Oh my faithful believers, we must remember that although Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe by Christ’s work on the cross, the final nail has not yet been driven into his coffin,  He is still alive and operates in his evil manner, though with limited power. But such power as he has is still sufficient to muddy the waters of our lives and have us going down the wide and destructive path that leads to eternal separation from Almighty God, something we surely don’t want to experience. That’s why we must always be diligent, and remember scriptures like this one from James: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7)

Yes friends, the first act in resisting the devil is submitting ourselves to God, for it’s in that devotion we find the strength to resist the awful enemy. And in correlation to that scripture, James also advises: ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:10) So, if we want to successfully fight the devil, we must stay close to God in all righteousness and sincerity, and also believe like Peter says: ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet. 5:10-11)

Ah mih brethren, living for Jesus is all about faith and belief. You need to have sufficient faith to believe the scriptures and all the promises that have been made for those who sincerely believe. It’s not always easy, but the Lord is so wonderful, He’s given us all the tools we need to assure ourselves of victory in His mighty name! So please, for our own benefit, let’s make the effort to put those tools into positive action and thus keep the enemy at bay. Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.

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

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

…the devil is a toothless lion…but if you’re not careful…his roar can frighten you into submission…

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

Acknowledging the Totally Awesome and Most Important Power of Prayer in a Christian’s Life! Part 2.

John 17:15.        I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one).

Ah mih people, it looks like the recent run of bright and sunshiny days is over, because today is cloudy, with a hint of inclement weather in the offing. But as always, being children of the Most High God Jehovah, we will handle whatever comes against us with his wonderful help! And all God’s children said a loud and grateful, ‘Praise the Lord!’ Yes friends, the Lord does deserve our praise and adoration because He’s done so much for us when He did not have to, and we ought to be offering up our praise and thanksgiving much more than we’re currently doing. 

Now, as we saw yesterday, we do most of that communication through what we call ‘PRAYER.’ And as Ms. Okuda says in her article on the subject: ‘Christian prayer is a conversation with God. It’s a way for us to express our LOVE, gratitude, fears, and desires, acknowledging God’s sovereignty in our lives. Prayer can take many forms: it can be a thanksgiving for blessings received, a request for guidance or help, a confession of sins, or a simple conversation expressing our thoughts and feelings to God.’ 

Yes, prayer can serve whatever purpose we desire, but it must be used wisely, though not fearfully, because it is a great privilege we have to obtain God’s ear. And today, I want us to look at some instances of prayer from the Bible that show how important it is in the Christian’s life. And one of my favourite verses on the subject is this one from the gospel of Mark, where it talks about the prayer habits of Jesus. ‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.’ (Mark 1:35) 

So my faithful brethren, I put it to us, if Jesus, the Son of God, thought it necessary to pray, to communicate with His Father on a regular basis, why would we think our that our earthly lives should be any different eh? Why should we not find it necessary to communicate regularly with the God of our forefathers. And Jesus prayed not only for Himself but also for others. We find an example of both situations in John chapter 17. Jesus first prays for Himself . 

The Bible tells us: ‘These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father the hour has come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may also glorify thee: As thou hast given him power (authority) over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with (alongside) thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.’ (John 17:1-5) 

Now those verses contain some important ramifications for our fate. As the scholars explain: ‘His hour had finally come refers not only to His death, but also to His resurrection and exaltation. Glorify refers to the Cross and the Resurrection. Verse 2 means that the giving of eternal life directly depended on the glorification of the Son. Meanwhile verse 3 indicates that Eternal Life is more than an endless existence. It is a personal relationship with God. And I have finished  in verse 4 means that He had completed his active ministry (cf. 4:34), and was then assuming a passive role, which He also completes when He declares from the cross in 19:30 ‘It is finished.’ 

And in verse 5, Jesus gives clear testimony to His preexistence  (cf. 1:1)’ And that refers to John’s opening of his gospel: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Meanwhile the first reference is when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and the disciples came and asked Him if He ate. ‘Jesus saith unto them, My meat (food) is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.’ (John 4:34) 

After praying for Himself, Jesus then prayed for the disciples: ‘I have manifested (revealed) thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine were they, and thou gavest them (to) me, and they have kept thy word… I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are mine… And now I am no more (longer) in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are… 

And now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves….I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth.’ (John 17:6-17) 

Now that says a lot about Jesus’ character, but what says even more, is that He continued in prayer for future believers. ‘Neither pray I for these alone (the disciples), but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that they world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.’ (John 17:20-22) 

Oh friends, did you see what Jesus sincerely prayed for above everything else? That all of His believers should live as ONE! Yes, that was the explicit message. Believers must be as One as the Father and Son are One! Unfortunately though, that doesn’t exist because today believers are more divided than ever. And it must hurt Jesus’ heart to see the number of divisions and dissensions amongst His followers, knowing that they cannot achieve much unless they come together. But that’s a story for another day! Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 

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

And now it’s our bounden duty to go out and share the LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they can also come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…prayer is the great leveller…for we must ALL be humble…when we come to God…

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

The Overwhelming Importance for Children to Receive Early Godly Training at Home!

Proverbs 22:6.        ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and (even) when he is old, he will not depart from it.’

Then it was Tuesday, with bright sunshine lighting up the area. And life is slowly returning to normal after that awesome barrage of snow we received two days ago. Most of it has now been cleared away, but there’s one li’l anecdote I have to share. They reduced the big pile of snow at the entrance to my lane, but in doing so they blocked the walkway, so anyone walking there will have to trudge through a pile of snow to get to the other side. But other than that, there’s nothing to complain about. (smile) 

And today we’ll check out an important scripture from the pen of Cousin Sol in Proverbs which seems to be totally forgotten in these days of anything goes. It’s a scripture that most of us know very well, which says: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and (even) when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ (Prov. 22:6) The problem though is that in these troubled times not many parents are adhering to wise scripture, and that’s why children and young adults are running loose, and have no concrete foundation in morality and truth. 

And what does that scripture mean? The first thing we must admit and learn is that raising up a child is basically the province of the home; the duty of the parents. That’s where all training ought to start, and hopefully continue in the church and school.  But today parents are supposedly too busy with their own lives to raise their children in a proper and godly manner, and the church has apparently relinquished any part in raising up children nowadays, and schools are teaching…heaven knows what! 

Consequently, without a good home based or church training children are being reared in all sorts of negative environments. We depend on day-care centres, institutions of learning and the gangs that many young people graduate to, to raise our children. Yes friends, if we don’t pay serious attention to the rearing of our children at home, then people outside with all sorts of ungodly and evil ideas will raise them. That’s why the proverb says if we raise them right from the very beginning, even though they may stray at times, they will have the benefit of some godly wisdom and common sense that will eventually lead and keep them on the straight and narrow path. 

But if they have no sense or knowledge of God, they are good fodder for any kind of immoral and ungodly ideas. And the scholars say, ‘Train up a child  refers to the total process of molding a child’s life. The word train (chanak) comes from the root word meaning to “put into the mouth” and implies the idea of conditioning the palate. Thus, parental training should help children develop a taste for the things of God.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth! 

Then the scholars continue: ‘The biblical pattern of effective parental training emphasizes a balance of instruction and discipline (cf. Eph. 6:1-4). The ideal parent is to be neither overly authoritative nor overly permissive. Rather, he must balance LOVE and discipline so as not to “provoke” his child to rebellion. When he is old means simply, “when he is grown up,” or a mature adult. It does not refer to his elderly years. The verse stresses the simple principle that education in the home forms the man throughout his lifetime.’ 

Ah mih people, those are indeed true words. However, because of the breakdown of the basic family all that stuff has gone out the window and now there are parents rearing children who had no proper training in their formative years either, thus the lack of proper parenting continues and the children are growing up like seeds thrown haphazardly, or randomly into the earth, with no tender nurturing, and therefore are growing up however they can, most without a godly perspective on life. 

Now, let’s turn to the reference the scholars gave us above; Bruh Paul’s famous words of instruction to children and to fathers. ‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment of promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.’ (Eph. 6:1-3) And what Bruh Paul is referring to there is the commandant of the same nature found in Exodus 20:12, where children are advised to honour their parents if they desire to see long life. 

Then Bruh Paul continues: ‘And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (training) and admonition of the Lord.’ (Eph. 6:4) So there’s a responsibility on both sides; parents must raise their children with a good balance of discipline and LOVE, and the children ought to honour the parents so that they can live long lives. And what does all of that mean? 

The scholars explain it thus. ‘Honour means have inward respect and reverence for. It is inadequate for children to obey parents only outwardly; they must also respect or honour them inwardly. Which is the first commandment with promise refers to the fifth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17, the very first of all God’s Old Testament injunctions to be given that possesses an attached promise. The promise is two-fold: honouring and obeying parents ensures a long and prosperous life upon earth.’  No wonder so many children nowadays die fairly young. 

And as per the instructions to the fathers, the scholars declare: ‘Fathers can provoke their children to wrath by injustice, loss of temper, undue severity, cruelty, favouritism, suppression, sarcasm, ridicule, and misuse or abuse of authority.’ Wow! The parent does have a very narrow path to walk. ‘Then Nurture basically means “training,” here denoting spiritual education. Admonition is instruction that points out one’s responsibilities and duties. Of the Lord indicates that behind the parents’ rearing and instruction of their children stands the Lord as the chief teacher in child education. Parents do not rear children alone.’ Now that’s certainly a comforting thought (smile). 

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

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

…once we truly know Christ…it’s hard to fall of the wagon…

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