22 Feb 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new day of life and love, be merciful unto, deliver me from the oppression of man, he himself shall be saved, he knoweth the way I take, he shall receive a reward, he shall suffer loss, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I shall come forth as gold, I've got a good thing going, if any man's work abide, if any man's work shall be burned, in god's eyes, it giveth understanding to the simple, joy in the Lord of our salvation, let not any iniquity have dominion over me, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make thy face to shine upon thy servant, no other foundation can a man lay besides Jesus, order my steps in thy word, revealed by fire, rivers of waters run down my eyes, share His love with the world, teach me thy statutes, the entrance of thy words giveth light, the fire of refinement, the fire shall try every man's work, the joy of the Lord is your strength, the vicissitudes of life, they keep not thy law, to whom we belong, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, we've all sinned and come short of God's glory, worry
Psalm 119:133. Order (direct) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Oh my people, on this damp and cloudy Tuesday morning in late February, the 22/2/22, a momentous date they say will not return for another thousand years, I’ve been inspired to begin the Bit with a li’l ditty. (smile) So please sing along with me. ‘I’ve got a good thing going in the Lord today! Oh yes, I’ve got a good thing going in the Lord today. I’ve got a good thing going in the Lord today… And I’m so excited and blessed to share it with you!’
Glory Hallelujah my brethren! There’s no better way to begin a new day of life and LOVE than with some joy in the Lord of our salvation! What’s the purpose of having salvation if we don’t enjoy it eh? But sadly, that’s what happens to a lot of us, we allow the vicissitudes of life to rob us of the abundant joy of the salvation that Jesus Christ died for us to have. That’s not wise. It’s just wasting Jesus’ marvellous sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
And yes, I know life can be very difficult at times, but being joyless doesn’t change our circumstances. However, being joyful changes us, and allows us to handle the tough situations that we all encounter in this earthly life. Please remember, as the Good Book tells us in Nehemiah: ‘for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh. 8:10) That means when we lose our joy, we lose our strength in God, and if we don’t have God’s strength, then we don’t have anything worthwhile at all.
So it’s ever so important that we retain that joy we find in the Lord our God, if we intend to live successful lives in His glorious name. And to help us keep that joy full and running over, today I want to share some exciting words from the scriptures that help us to do just that. It comes from that awesome Psalm 119 – the section titled ‘PE’ for the 17th letter of the Jewish alphabet (Pey). And it is subtitled: ‘The entrance of thy words giveth light.’
Oh, how true that is my fellow saints in Christ! The entering of God’s word into our hearts, bodies and souls, does bring spiritual light to them. So, let’s ask the Lord to allow His amazing words to bring light to the darkness of our souls today, as we read His inspiring word together. ‘Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that LOVE thy name. Order (direct) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver (redeem) me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they (men) keep not thy law.’ (Ps. 119:129-136)
What beautiful words and sentiments my fellow believers! Wish that we could truly mean them and thus have them be a significant part of our lives. But we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. However, our great and wonderful God, who is ever so rich in mercy and forgiveness always answers our prayers if we are sincere and they fall in line with His will. So, if we are serious about His word that we’ve just read, He will enable us to do the things we’ve asked.
And I like that verse we’ve chosen for our Bit, because it seems to cover everything. If the Lord directs our steps and iniquity doesn’t have dominion over us, then everything else will come into successful play. Hopefully, then we’ll be able to say like Job did: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held (held fast to) his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed (treasured) the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (appointed portion).’ (Job 23:10-12)
Oh friends, when we can sincerely declare sentiments like those, then are we truly living for God. And it would certainly be great when we are tried, we come forth as gold, as pure gold. Yes, and per that verse, the scholars tell us that ‘Job’s friends maintained that Job was full of dross, but Job is confident that no dross, or sin, would be revealed in the fire of refinement.’ And that fire of refinement is basically what Bruh Paul talked about to the church at Corinth in his first missive.
‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble (straw); Every man’s work shall be made manifest (become evident): for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide (endures) which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.’ (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
And my people, the long and short of all that is whatever work we claim to do for Christ will eventually be tested and if it comes through the test, then we will be rewarded for it. But if our works are burned up in the fire, we will not lose our salvation, just the rewards we were hoping to get. As the scholars explain: ‘The stress in this entire passage is not on a person’s relationship to Christ, but on service to Christ.’
Now for those of us who are serious about living for Christ, let’s go home joyfully declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong, confident 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 the world. Amen!’
And having said all of that, let’s go out now and action it by sharing the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to LOVE and serve Him as we do! Much LOVE!
…the best way to build on the foundation of Christ…is with gold, silver and precious stones…stuff that will endure the refiner’s fire…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
15 Feb 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree, even unto death, grace mercy salvation, he hath made him to be sin for us, his sweat was as great drops of blood, I am the beloved of god, if it be possible, in god's eyes, Jesus - the number One person, let this cup pass from me, LOVE, made the righteousness of God, My God my God, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, negative possibilities, not as I will but as thou wilt, o my father, only the Father can rejuvenate our spirit, overcome the weakness of the flesh, poor frame of mind, pray that ye enter not into temptation, share His love with the world, tarry ye and watch with me, the agony of spiritual death, the curse of sin, the flesh is weak, the Garden of Gethsemane, the sin-bearer for all mankind, the spirit indeed is willing, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, watch and pray, who knew no sin, why hast thou forsaken me
Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
And it’s a beautiful, sunshiny, though somewhat cold Tuesday morning! But that’s to be expected in the middle of winter. So once the sun is shining and we have Jesus as the number One person in our lives, then ALL’S right with the world, or at least our individual worlds. (smile) And yuh better believe that if we didn’t have the grace, mercy, salvation and all the other good benefits that following Jesus brings, I don’t know what would become of us. I refuse to even think of the sad, sorrowful and negative possibilities.
And I can testify to some of that right now, because today I’m tired and in a poor frame of mind. Yes friends, the ole fella is only human, and though most days I’m upbeat and carefree, sometimes I get down and tired, just like everybody else. (smile) And please note, that if you are also in the same tired and poor frame of mind, note that it’s not something to be ashamed of, for even our Lord and Saviour Jesus in His earthly sojourn, experienced that lowdown, tired feeling, and that’s why He so often went off by Himself to pray to His Father.
That’s because only the Father in His amazing generosity and LOVE can rejuvenate our spirit! And the best example we have of Jesus’ tired spirit is that night before His crucifixion when He went with His disciples to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was ahead, and that it was for that express purpose He had become flesh, but obviously as flesh, He still preferred not to experience the terrible things that were waiting in store for Him.
The Good Book tells the story thus: He left the main group of the disciples at the front of the garden, telling them: ‘Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), and began to be sorrowful (grieved) and very heavy (deeply distressed). Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye (stay, wait) here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt. 26:36-39)
Now Luke’s gospel adds to the story. ‘And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’ (Luke 22:43-44) And the scholars offer this interesting explanation on those verses.
‘22:43-44. Only Luke notes this. Jesus is borne up in His hour of greatest need, when He must intercede not only for Himself but for His followers, who are about to leave Him in the lurch. Agony appears only here in the New Testament; it points to the intensity of Jesus’ struggle. Surely Jesus wrestles, not so much with death itself, but with His own destiny to be made the sin-bearer for all mankind for all the ages. The punishment that had to be borne for our sins brings Jesus to His knees in anguish,’
And why wouldn’t it eh friends? The saving of the world from sin, would be the biggest occurrence after its creation. And it was all on Jesus’ shoulders. It would be like in Greek mythology, Atlas carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. No wonder on the cross, ‘At about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt. 27:46)
And the Lord had forsaken Him. It was the first and only time they had been on separate sides. For as the scholars explain: ‘Here we have the high cost to Christ of His atonement for our sins, who was accursed of God as our sin-bearer (c.f. 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13) and suffered the agony of spiritual death for us.’
Now, this is going to make the Bit longer than I had originally planned, but since those referenced scriptures are ever so important to the understanding of Jesus’ situation, and only a few of us will check them out, I’m going to quote them here. The first one says: ‘For he hath made him (Jesus)to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:21) And the next one proclaims: ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made (having become) a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’ (Gal. 3:13) And that last part there comes from Deuteronomy 21:23.
And now that that’s all been settled (smile), we can turn to Matt. 27:50, which says: ‘Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.’ The scholars say: ‘He…cried…with a loud voice, as a shout of triumph, and yielded up His Spirit. In other words, having borne the wrath of God’s judgement against sin, He knew He had triumphed over Satan and the curse of sin.’
Yes friends, that was all for our benefit! The Lord suffered a horrible death, with unfair, unwarranted punishment just so that we could have the option of salvation and eternal life. But do we seem to appreciate it eh? Not really nuh, when so many of us have turned away from Him, even refusing to acknowledge His name and His great work on our behalf.
However, let’s go back to that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, after the first of the three times He prayed the same prayer, and came back to His favourite threesome and found them sleeping: ‘he saith unto Peter, What could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ (Matt. 26:40-41)
And that is the gospel truth my people. Our spirit is usually willing, but our flesh, which belongs to Satan is very weak and very susceptible to the wiles and deceits of the enemy. That’s why we need prayer; prayer of the serious and sincere kind, if we are to overcome the temptations of sin. Only through the power of Jesus cross and His shed blood can we successfully fight the devil and his evil cohorts, whose only intent is to keep us away from the LOVE, the mercy, grace and salvation offered by Christ.
And I’m chuckling here my fellow saints, because my spirit has been lifted…give the Lord thanks and praise! That’s because I’ve been involved in His Word and been seeing how Jesus handled the low ebb of His spirit while here on earth with us. So there’s no doubt of the truth that communication with the Lord and His Word is the best way to lift our tired and weary spirits. And for those of us who truly believe that, let’s go home now declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong 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 the world. Amen!’
Now all that’s left is for us to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…it’s tough to do…but if we sincerely concentrate on Jesus…we can overcome the weakness of the flesh…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
08 Feb 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: acclamations, as for me and my house, cut down on our Christian witness, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, for where envying and strife is, for ye are yet carnal, God will supply all of my needs, I am the beloved of god, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I will get sufficient rest every day, I will live a balanced life, I will not tolerate strife in my life, in god's eyes, let me count the ways, living according to man not God, night owl activities, no one can take that from me, no sacrifice to live for Jesus, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, our souls washed white as snow, share His love with the world, sleep thou sweet elixir, spend eternity in God's loving fold, that's for sure, the selfless sacrifices He made for us, the straight and narrow path, there is among you envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work, this is the day the Lord has made, through Christ our Lord and Saviour, through His riches in glory, to those that love God, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, unaccustomed sojourn in bed, walk as men, we know that all things work together for good, we will rejoice and be glad in it, we will serve the Lord, who are called according to His purpose, you never get something for nothing
Joshua 24:15d. As for me and my house, we WILL serve (follow) the Lord; that’s for sure!
Oh sleep, thou sweet elixir! How much do I LOVE thee eh? Let me count the ways! ( smile) Ah friends, last night the ole fella got his first all-night rest in a long while! I stayed in bed all night long from about eleven-thirty p.m. until seven a.m. Wow! That’s a record! I did awaken a couple of times and got up once to go the bathroom, but did not engage in any of my usual night owl activities. And the body does feel somewhat rejuvenated, but my ole aching back is paying for that long, unaccustomed sojourn in bed. (smile) But as they say, you never get something for nothing!
And on this damp, cloudy Tuesday morning in early February of this crazy and troubled year of 2022, I believe we should turn to, pay some much needed attention to what we call acclamations; Bible verses and other li’l sayings that we can use to refresh and renew our spirits when the enemy tries to beat us down, as he so dearly likes to do. So, let’s begin with this one that we all know and hopefully repeat every day. ‘This is the day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’ (Ps. 118:24)
And what about this one that so gratefully releases our faith? ‘God will supply ALL of my needs through His riches in glory through Christ our Lord and Saviour!’ (Phil. 4:19) Mama oh Mama! What a powerful scripture that is my people! It enables us to go about our Christ-centred business, each and every day, without worrying about how, why, where and when our personal needs will be met. Please give our great God some thanks and praise for that most awesome and faithful promise!
Then there’s this most amazing and edifying scripture: ‘I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!’ (Phil. 4:13) Yes, friends, there’s nothing we can’t do through Christ who is our awesome strength! He created the universe and all therein, and still controls it from His heavenly throne. He is omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present; meaning He is all-powerful, sees and knows all, and His almighty presence is all over the globe at the same time. And He LOVES us unconditionally, showing that majestic LOVE by sending His Only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross of Calvary to atone for our abominable sins…and that while we were yet sinners. (Rom. 5:8)
Imagine that nuh mih people, before we ever thought about God, He thought the most wonderful things about us; reconciling us to Himself, justifying us through the blood of Jesus, sanctifying us, setting us apart for His own…etc. etc. just giving us every chance possible to come back to Him, to have our sins paid for and thrown away as far as the east is from the west, our souls washed white as snow, and thus able to spend eternity in His LOVING fold! What an awesome God we serve my faithful brethren!
Now here is an acclamation I don’t think you’ll find written as such in scripture, but it is certainly alluded to all the time. It says: ‘I will not tolerate strife in my life!’ And that’s certainly something we should always be aware of, because strife can crop up at anytime and anywhere and it’s oh so detrimental to our health, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Bruh Paul had this to say about strife. ‘For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions (dissensions), are ye not carnal (fleshly), and walk as men (living according to man and not God)?’ (1 Cor. 3:3)
Meanwhile, Jesus’ brother, James, puts it thus: ‘For where envying and strife is (where self-serving exists), there is confusion and every evil work.’ (James 3:16) Yes my people, wherever and whenever jealousy, selfish ambition, foolish pride and those negative things exist, strife and confusion will be there with them. And that does nothing but distract from and cut down on our Christian witness.
Now hear this marvellous acclamation that I make sure and say every day, because it’s possibly the most important. In the profound words of Joshua: ‘As for me and my house, we WILL serve (follow) the Lord; that’s for sure!’ (Josh. 24:15) Yeh friends, every day I ask the Lord to make that a fact, make it come true, because I can only do so much to bring it to pass, but He has the power to lead my family along the right path, the straight and narrow one. So that sort of encompasses everything.
And here’s this last acclamation for today: ‘If God be for me, who can be against me eh? (Rom. 8:31) And the immediate and confident answer is NOBODY! Ah friends, if the Creator and Controller of the universe is on your side, who the dickens can be against you eh? Not a single soul! For the One who looks out for you is the mightiest of the mighty, and can turn any situation into a good one, as He’s so faithfully promised to do in this magnificent and overwhelming scripture: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28)
Glory be! What a wonderful affirmation the believer in Christ Jesus has for his eventual future! And yes, I know I said that the acclamation before that one would be the last, but you have to go with where the Holy Spirit leads you. (smile) And it has finally led me to this one, to be the last. And though again, you can’t find it romanticized in the scriptures, it is embedded very deeply therein. And it declares: ‘I WILL live a balanced life, and I WILL get sufficient rest each and every day!’
Now, that’s what I am attempting to do, because I can see and feel how not living a balanced life and not getting sufficient rest is taking a negative toll on me, in all aspects of my life. And here is the truly last acclamation (smile), it’s called our Tuesday Mantra. So, let’s declare it in full 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 the world. Amen!’
Now, with all that ‘acclamating’ (smile) let’s hope that we have a wonderful day, as we go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to LOVE and serve Him as faithfully as we do. Much LOVE!
…it’s no sacrifice to live for Jesus…not after all the selfless sacrifices He made for us…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
01 Feb 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: blow our own horn, closer to spring, cnetral ingredients of spiritual life, come from different sources, covenant relationship, depressing times, end up in different places, everlasting covenant, exercise loving-kindness judgement and righteousness, God's ever-faithful help, his praise shall continually be in my mouth, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I am the Lord, I will bless the Lord at all times, In God we boast all day long, in god's eyes, in these things I delight, knowledge of God is man's glory, let him that glorieth glory in this, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let us exalt His name together, LOVE, loving kindness, my soul shall make her boast in the Lord, o magnify the Lord with me, praise thy name for ever, resultant consequences, Selah, share His love with the world, that he understandeth and knoweth me, the goodness and love of God, the true source of wisdom - the Lord Himself, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, worry
Psalm 44:8. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
Can you believe it friends, we are already into the exciting month of February! And you ask what’s so exciting about February? Well, there’s Valentine’s Day in a couple of weeks, but it also means we are one month closer to spring and getting away from these cold winter temperatures and the depressing times that they can bring. We have enough other depressants; we don’t need winter too. (smile)
And yes, we know that we must go through winter to get to spring and summer, but some days it just gets to us more than others. And as you get older it becomes more difficult to navigate all the obstacles that winter throws up in our paths. But with God’s miraculous and ever-faithful help we can overcome most of them though. As the sons of Korah declare in Psalm 44: ‘In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.’ (Ps. 44:8)
Yes friends, in all our doings, the Lord’s name should be uppermost in our mouths. Bruh David said it so well in Psalm 34. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.’ (Ps. 34:1-3) And I can’t think of anything better for believers to do in these sad and perilous times than to praise and magnify our wonderful God, Jehovah! That’s because knowledge of God is man’s glory!
Listen to how the prophet Jeremiah put it long ago. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise LOVING-kindness, judgement (justice), and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.’ (Jer. 9:23-24) Oh my people, what a wonderful God we serve! And it’s not for us to blow our own horn in whatever area or field that we might be uplifted, because that very upliftment comes from God Himself.
But hear this explanation of those verses from the scholars. ‘9:23-24. Having lamented the folly of his faithless people, Jeremiah turns their attention to the true source of wisdom – the Lord Himself (9:23-10:25). True wisdom was to be found in the consistent following of the three central qualities of spiritual life. LOVING-kindness (the exercise of true covenant loyalty;)’ And here they refer to a note in 1 Sam. 20, where Jonathan and Bruh David made their sensational pact.
The note says: ‘Kindness and LOVE are essential ingredients in the covenant stipulations of the ancient Near East. They speak of a relationship whereby each party treats the other as a full family member with loyalty, dignity, and devotion. Jonathan continues with recognition of David’s divinely established pre-eminence. The everlasting covenant between Jonathan and David will be remembered by David when he becomes king (2 Sam. 9).’
Now that’s what true loyalty and covenant relationship means my brethren. Because Jonathan knew that Bruh David was divinely chosen to be Israel’s next king, instead of him, he did not get worried and annoyed over the divine slight. Instead, he did his best to keep Bruh David from the maniacal and murderous hands of his father king Saul. And later on when David became king, He kept that covenant by returning to Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth, all the lands and wealth of his father and grandfather, and had him continually eating at his table.
How often do we see that kind of covenant relationship lived out in these modern times eh? Not very often. And I’m chuckling here, because I’ve wondered away from the original explanation that I was writing about on verses 23-24. But it seemed important to describe the true workings of a covenant relationship, and please remember that’s what we have with Almighty God. But getting back to the explanation of the three central qualities of spiritual life. The first was LOVING-kindness, the second is ‘judgement (the consistent application of true justice for all), and righteousness (the maintenance of what was right in the sight of the Lord in all of life).’
Unfortunately though my people, none of those three central ingredients exist to any worthwhile degree in our current society, no wonder our troubled and disaster-prone state. We glory in our own doings instead of the Lord’s, corruption is rampant and justice seems non-existent, while righteousness, or simply doing right has been replaced by evildoing.
Yes my fellow saints, all the things of God have been replaced by the things of the evil enemy, and have become so firmly entrenched as ways of life in our current society, that the Lord no longer looks down on us with the favour He once did. He’s left us on our own, to do our own thing, like we so presumptuously desired, and thus to suffer the resultant consequences, like we’re now doing.
Oh friends, when are going to realize that the enemy doesn’t like kindness, compassion, goodness, and those godly things, but rather, prefers hate, evil, chaos and those ungodly attributes. And it’s obvious that if we follow him, those are the things we will get. The opposite is also true; if we follow the goodness and LOVE of God, then we will have that kind of society. But it all comes down to the choice or choices we make. And please remember that each choice has a resultant consequence, therefore wisdom dictates that we check the consequences first before making a choice.
And for those of us who have already checked the consequences and made the wise decision to follow Christ, let’s go home declaring (nooo!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. Altogether now: ‘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 the world. Amen!’
Now let’s go out and do just that; 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!
…there can be no relationship between good and evil…because they come from different sources…and end up in different places…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
25 Jan 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a miniscule amount, all alone with you in prayer, be my guide hour by hour, call upon me in the day of trouble, continue to watch over me, day in and day out, even through the most difficult of times, he delivered them out of their distresses, heavenly precipitation, his wonderful works to the children of men, hungry and thirsty, hurry worry, I am the beloved of god, I fend the strength to keep going, I will deliver thee, I'm grateful for peaceful moments, I'm very glad to have you in my life, in god's eyes, in my every word my every deed, lest I tear you in pieces, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, life study fellowship, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, offer unto God thanksgiving, oh that men would praise the Lord, pay thy vows unto the Most High, Please accept my heartfelt thanks, praise the Lord for His goodness, resonates through every fibre of my being, serve you well, share His love with the world, show the salvation of God, thanksgiving mode, the world is mine, their soul fainted in them, they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, thou shalt glorify me, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, ye that forget God, you listen with great concern, you truly care about me
Psalm 107:6. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Well, it’s another cold and snowy Tuesday morning…but thankfully nothing like it was last Tuesday! Hn! Some snow did fall yesterday, but a minuscule amount in comparison to last week’s debacle. And again, much thanks should be given, because in some places they are still digging out and cleaning up from that amazing and awesome, but oh so dangerous and deadly amount of heavenly precipitation! (smile)
And since we are in thanksgiving mode, I believe that one of my favourite prayers is most appropriate for today’s situation. It’s something I’ve shared before, but please remember that prayer is made to share over and over again. (smile) This awesome prayer was prepared by the Life-Study Fellowship, Noroton, Connecticut. I’m not sure exactly when, but it’s before 2014, which is on the copy I have, that tells you how much I like it, and how long I’ve had it, but I can see that I’ve also changed the date, and still do every year. (smile)
So please pray with me: It’s titled: Lord, Please Accept My Heartfelt Thanks! And opens thus: ‘Praise the Lord for His Goodness.’ (Psalm 107:8). Dear Lord, You are so good to me! And I thank You sincerely for the many blessings You send me! I’m very glad to have You in my life day in and day out – whatever I do and wherever I go! You are the One who always does what is best for my happiness!
How grateful I am to be able to turn to You for guidance and comfort when troubles come my way! If any situation arises that makes me feel discouraged, You let me know I can lean on You for support! And because of Your LOVE for me, somehow, I seem to find the strength to keep going – even through the most difficult of times! I’m grateful, too, for peaceful moments like these when I’m all alone with You in prayer!
Talking with You never fails to reassure and uplift me! Nothing I say to You goes unheard. You listen with great concern to everything I confide in You! For You truly care about me! As I look to 2022, I pray that You will continue to watch over me – and grant me even more of Your wonderful blessings! And may I serve You well in my every word, my every deed! Be my Guide hour by hour I pray! Amen.’
Oh my people, that prayer just resonates through every fibre of my being because it seems to cover all the bases! And praying it ‘never fails to reassure and uplift me,’ which is one of the major purposes of prayer! I surely hope that it touches your hearts and souls too, reassuring and uplifting you. And having said all of that, I guess the most logical thing to follow it up with is some of Psalm 107, which is titled ‘God’s wonderful works to the children of men.’
So let’s read together: ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary (desolate) way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.’ (Ps. 107:1-9)
Ah friends, there is so much in those first few verses of the psalm, that I don’t know what to talk about. (smile) We can talk about the Lord’s goodness and mercy which endure forever…Or about crying out to Him when in distress and Him delivering us out of our troubles…Or talk about praising the Lord for His goodness to us undeserving children of men…Or how He satisfies the longing soul and fills the empty soul with goodness. Take your pick! And that’s only from the first nine verses, and the psalm has 43 verses all told.
Anyhow, in our sad and sorry current situation, I believe the verse about crying out to God in our time of trouble is what we should talk about; check out a couple scriptures on it, and see how our forefathers did it. So let’s turn to Psalm 50, God is the judge, where the psalmist Asaph wisely, provocatively and admonishingly writes on the Lord’s behalf: ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ (Ps. 50:12-15)
Yes my fellow believers, it’s obvious that we need to call upon our great God in these evil and sorrowful times, because He is the ONLY real source of help! It says so all throughout the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation! So why are we so loathe to call upon the Creator of the universe for help eh, especially when nothing else, no man-made solution is working? Are we afraid, because deep down our souls hide in darkness and evil and we don’t truly honour God like we preach? And we fall into the wicked and ungodly category that verses 16-21 of Psalm 50 talk about.
Under those circumstances, then these last two verses of Psalm 50, seem appropriate. ‘Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation (conduct) aright will I show the salvation of God.’ (Ps. 50:22-23) It’s so simple friends, we only have two options, be against God, live wickedly and suffer eternal death and damnation, or be for Him, live right and see His wonderful salvation!
But that most important decision has to be made on an individual basis, everyone deciding for themselves. And yes, others will try to persuade us to fall into one category or the other, but please, please, first check out all the facts for yourself, then make a wise and informed decision. Just in case it helps, I made mine to follow Christ, because, in my opinion, that seems to be the best option. And for all those of us who believe likewise, let’s go home declaring (chuh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong, sincere and confident 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 the world. Amen!’
Now let’s go out and action those words, sharing 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!
…when the righteous cry…the Lord hears…and answers…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
28 Dec 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a state of upheaval, a taste of the good life, an everlasting sign, be led forth with peace, between good and evil, bickering over petty stuff, calamity, call ye upon him while he is near, climate change, disaster, go out with joy, God's Sovereignty, he will have mercy upon him, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, incomprehensible God, it shall accomplish that which I please, it shall not return void, Jesus is the life, let the wicked forsake his way, like hot bread from an oven, LOVE, my thoughts are higher than your thoughts, natural and human induced, New Year's celebrations, our God will abundantly pardon, pandemic, partisan poltics, racial tumult, resnetment, seek ye the Lord while he may be found, self-righteousness, selfishness, share His love with the world, so are my ways higher than yours, strife, the battle for supremacy, the call of the Grim Reaper, the journey of salvation, the way the truth and the light, the wisest choice of help, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, worry
Isaiah 55:6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.
And then it was Tuesday, and all the partying done for a few days, time to go back to work. But by Friday, the party scene going to start back up in full swing for the New Year’s celebrations. Don’t know how much we have to celebrate this year’s end nuh, with all the disaster and calamity that’s taken place, both natural and human induced. What’s there to celebrate when we can’t get together and solve even a few of our many problems, and some of them are very petty and simple to fix, but ignorance and selfishness and self-righteousness prevent us from doing anything to help our overall cause.
Steups! What can be more foolish eh, than a lack of cooperation when it only makes matters worse in all of our lives. And they call man the smartest of all God’s creations…Hn! I certainly question that after all the unwise and foolish stuff that I’ve seen mankind do in the last couple of years. The resentment, the strife, the enmity between family and friends over unbelievable stuff is unbelievable! Between partisan politics, the pandemic, racial tumult, climate change and a host of other problems, the world is in a state of upheaval that I don’t think it’s ever seen before.
When yuh hear we even want to kick Almighty God out of our society, foolishly thinking that we no longer have any need for Him, then you’ve heard it all! Because He is the ONLY ONE who can bring us together and solve our problems! But like so often before, once we get a taste of the good life, we start believing that it’s our doing, and so we get a tad too big for our britches, and the Lord has to bring us back to reality. Well mih bredrin, this is certainly a time of reality.
But yuh know what? Too many of us are still not waking up to it. Some of us are seeing it in rose-coloured glasses, while others are covered with darkness all round them, but unfortunately the reality is none of those scenarios. The reality is that Jesus is the light, the life, the way, the truth, the Lord and Saviour of this embattled world! And until more of us realize it, and decide to stop the foolish bickering over petty stuff, and sit down and talk seriously about the important things, the battle for supremacy between good and evil, between right and wrong will continue with neither side gaining any useful traction, much less being able to win!
And we go right back to the wise words of the prophet Isaiah, when he declared on the Lord’s behalf: ‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.’ (Is. 55:6) Oh my people, that would be the wisest decision we could ever make in this quickly deteriorating and sinking world of ours! And sincerely seeking the Lord is not the complete answer to the problem. Hear Isaiah put it all into proper perspective. ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.’ ( Is. 55:7)
Now isn’t that so very encouraging, mih people? It certainly is, but we’re not paying attention, merely continuing in our stubborn, hard-headed ways, which unfortunately will only lead us further down the path to destruction. And if these next two verses don’t smarten us up, make us wake up and take notice, then I don’t know what will nuh. Listen up to Isaiah again, as he delivers the one two knockout punch. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is. 55:8-9)
Doesn’t that just make you put your finger to your lips and go ‘Hnnnn!’ all lost in thought, as you consider the truth of those words? It ought to, because it is the reality of the situation. When are we going to learn that since we have no say in how long we live, or what condition we live in, means we are not rulers of the universe? All the money and power we possess doesn’t stop us from succumbing to the call of the Grim Reaper, whenever he calls.
And until we fully realize that we are just a created being with a limited shelf life, we will always fall prey to the deceit and lies of the foolish enemy Satan, who unfortunately thought that he could wrest power from the Creator of the universe, Almighty God, and suffered an ignominious defeat; that a humiliating, embarrassing, mortifying defeat! Disgracefully cast out to the fires of Hades, he is now seeking revenge by taunting and inducing fear into the lives and hearts of those who want to believe. And seeing that Satan had no power to stop himself from being kicked out of heaven, why do we foolishly believe his lies and deceits that he can do anything worthwhile for us eh?
Now let’s hope that these words of scripture make it clear, once and for all time, who is the King of glory, the Creator and Controller of this wonderful universe, so ruined by man and the devil. Isaiah puts it forth: ‘For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void (empty, without fruit), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir (cypress) tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.’ (Is. 55:10-13)
Oh my people, can the evil one, the prince of darkness make such a faithful promise? Obviously not, because he doesn’t’ have that kind of power. But the Lord God Jehovah has, and He showed His faithfulness when two thousand years ago, he sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to be sacrificed on the cross of Calvary to save our sinful souls. Now has Beelzebub ever done anything even close to that? And an emphatic ‘NO’ is the answer! So why do we still believe Him over the Lord God Almighty eh? I don’t know nuh.
But listen to the scholars’ explanation of those verses. ‘55:8-13. God’s sovereignty and omniscience are extolled by the statement that His thoughts (i.e. purposes or intentions) and ways (directions) are higher than ours. While God may certainly be known by men, He is still incomprehensible in the totality of His person and purposes. Therefore He reveals Himself to men by His word, which shall not return to Him void (in vain). The Word of God, therefore, accomplishes His purpose in announcing salvation to all mankind.’
Yes friends, we can never fully comprehend the Lord’s purposes and ways because of our inferior intelligence. But through His awesome and faithful Word, He lets us know what’s happening, and it’s in this Christmas season, with the birth of Christ that He began the journey of salvation, of bringing us back into His fold, making us know of His exceeding LOVE and tender care. Now if all of that doesn’t touch a tender spot in your heart and soul, and make you seriously consider seeking Him, then I don’t know what else to do. I can only tell it like I know it.
However, for those of us who already believe and are doing our best to stay connected to Jesus, let’s go home now, sincerely and loudly declaring (steupsss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting everybody know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. Altogether now: ‘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 the world. Amen!’
Now let’s take all that LOVE and friendship to market and sell it like hot bread from an oven! (smile) Share it with all we meet, for that’s Jesus’ desire. Much LOVE!
…the wisest choice of help…our Creator and Controller…who else eh…
P.S. I know it’s somewhat long and late, but I think it’s good, (smile) so please take it seriously. Much LOVE!
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
21 Dec 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bunch of ingrates, a purveyor of love, before we make the decisions, bounden duty, cannot be my disciple, consequences to every decision, depraved lifestyle of the enemy, disobedience, eternal separation from God, evil deeds, for God so loved the world, God sent not his son into the world, have everlasting life, he gave his only begotten son, hurry, I am the beloved of god, immoral living, in god's eyes, incarnation of Christ, living in love and harmony, LOVE, made in God's image, My God my God, not as I will but as thou wilt, quick to complain, reap the rewards of that ungodly life, seek ye first the kingdom of God, share His love with the world, slow to obey, surrender our free choice, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, the Birth of Christ, the devil Beelzebub, the power of the Holy spirit, the ultimate in love, the word was made flesh, the world through him might be saved, think carefully about the consquences, to condemn the world, to hearken than the fat of rams, to obey is better than to sacrifice, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, victory over hell death and the grave, whosoever doth not bear his cross, why hast thou forsaken me, worry
John 3:16. For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It’s Tuesday friends…! Only four more days to the big one…Christmas Day, when we celebrate the awesome birth, the miraculous and magnificent incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, where God became man, ‘the Word became flesh,’ through the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, so that we could be saved from our abominable sins, as had been promised many centuries before! Now that’s a big sentence, chocked full of wonderful and amazing information to which this evil world ought to pay much attention, because it all resounds and abounds to our benefit, both now and into eternity.
With the birth of Christ our heavenly Father decided it was finally time to pull out all the stops and let His creation know exactly who He was, what He stood for, the glory of His kingdom and the awesome LOVE He bore for a prideful, selfish, evil and disobedient people, all through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, through His incredible birth, His martyrdom on the cross of Calvary, and His amazing resurrection, His triumphant victory over death, hell and the grave!
A better LOVE story has never been, or will ever be written or enacted like that one! Simply because it was written by the Master of LOVE, the true embodiment of the word, the fountain wherein the emotion is created and from which it so generously flows. And it’s all laid out so beautifully and graciously in these few words of our Saviour, as He explains the Father’s reasoning and basic purpose for His coming to earth. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17)
Mama Oh Mama! What beautiful sentiments! In fact, there could be none more beautiful! Why? Because God was doing the ultimate in LOVE; saving His stubborn, recalcitrant, disobedient children from a fate even worse than death, that of eternal separation from Him, the One who created them for fellowship with Himself. Now, you know how badly we feel, the utter grief and heartache that we go through when we lose one of our children, so why wouldn’t our heavenly Father feel the same way when He loses His children eh?
Remember, we were made in His image, that means He is a living, breathing and feeling soul, with heartfelt emotions just like us, so He also feels pain, anger and grief. Can you imagine the heartache it cost Him to send His ONE Son to earth to die for a bunch of ingrates? And can you imagine how He felt when His Son came to Him three times, pouring out His heart in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking for a reprieve from His imminent sacrificial death on the cross. How His whole being must have trembled when Jesus pleaded: ‘’O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt. 26:39)
And not once, but three times, He had to endure that searing pain and say no to His only child. Now we also know how it hurts us sometimes when we have to say no to our children. So just imagine how the Father felt having to condemn His Son to death for people who really didn’t give a damn! And how do you think the Father felt when Jesus cried out to Him, outstretched on the cross in His dying throes eh?
Don’t you think the Father had to swallow His immense hurt when the words ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ or ‘My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?’ reached His ears, knowing full well that that was the first time they had ever been separated, and He had to turn away from Him, and lay the whole weight of the world’s sins on His Son’s shoulders to provide an option for His frail, spineless creation to be saved?
Yes friends, our great and wonderful God put Himself through a lot of heartache on our behalf, but all we do is repay Him with stubborn disobedience, sinful, immoral living and evil deeds rather worthy of His and our enemy, the devil Beelzebub! We are very quick to complain, but ever so slow to obey. And that kind of behaviour doesn’t work well in God’s kingdom. Remember what the prophet Samuel, told Saul, the first king of Israel, when he lost his kingdom through disobedience? ‘Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken (listen) than the fat of rams.’ (1 Sam. 15:22b)
And those words still hold true today my people! Our God desires obedience to His laws above and before anything else! That’s why Jesus pleaded with us: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) Yes my people, in this earthly life, God, and the things of God need to come before everything else! We need to give up our will, surrender the free choice He gave us, and choose to follow His will.
Jesus did it when He acquiesced to the Father’s will and became the sacrifice for our sins. Then He said it loud and clear for us: ‘If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren (brothers), and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:26-27)
Oh my fellow saints, to be a true disciple of Jesus, we must be willing to forsake everything and everybody for His sake. Being a true disciple of Christ and a purveyor of LOVE, involves sacrifice, ofttimes on a small scale, but also possibly on a large one. The important thing is that we must be prepared to make whatever sacrifice it entails to do Jesus’ work and share His awesome LOVE and compassion. Now, most of the world is not prepared to do that, they prefer to embrace the easy, sinful and depraved lifestyle of the enemy Satan, but don’t worry, they will also reap the rewards of that ungodly life; death and eternal separation from God.
Meanwhile, for the relatively few of us who choose to follow Jesus, making sacrifices as best we can, living in LOVE and harmony to the best of our ability, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know whose we are, 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 the world. Amen!’
And having declared all of that, it’s now our bounden duty to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…there are consequences to every decision…let’s think carefully about the consequences…before we make the decisions…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
07 Dec 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all about making sacrifices in His name, can separate us from the Love of God, Covid19 virus, deep dissatisfaction and disaffection, ever-faithful God, foolish pride, for brethren to dwell together in unity, heal the sick, how good and how pleasant it is, I am persuaded, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, Jehovah, lift up the dead to eternal life, living for Jesus, natural disasters, nay in all these things, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, right the sinking ship, share His love with the world, stubborn disobedience, that neither death nor life nor angels, the joy of brotherhood, the Love of Christ, the power to calm the storm, through him that loved us, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, up in arms, wars and rumours of wars, we are more than conquerors, we value the easy life, when the chips are down, Yahweh
Romans 8:37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.
Oh mih bredrin, we moving on! Yes, we conquered Monday, and we going to do the same to Tuesday! Glory be! And how could we not be conquerors when we have a conquering Lord and Saviour named Jesus Christ! As the Good Book so confidently declares of us: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom. 8:37) Yes friends, with the LOVE of Christ flowing through, over and under us, how can we be anything but mighty conquerors eh? And yuh know what too? We can never lose that LOVE, unless we foolishly decide to give it up.
And if you don’t believe me, then listen to what God’s Word says about it. ‘For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom. 8:38-39). What an awesome statement of LOVE, encouragement and assurance my people! Nothing…yes NOTHING can separate us from God’s LOVE found in Christ Jesus!
Wow! How big and beautiful is that knowledge eh! That brings us to question then, why do we act powerless, afraid and discouraged when we have all those wonderful assurances from our omnipotent and ever-faithful God? Remember, there is only one thing that can match the LOVE of God, and that’s His wrath! So, what do we need to experience then eh, His LOVE or His wrath? We might say the former, but too often we behave like it is His wrath we want to experience.
Why then the stubborn disobedience, the foolish pride and the overwhelming ungodliness that’s permeating our world eh? We must think that He’s joking when He speaks of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Otherwise, why would we behave in the foolish and disobedient manner that we’ve manifested in this last generation? We’ve come to value the easy life with all its amenities so much, that we are unwilling to make any sacrifices whatsoever to uplift ourselves or others.
But we talk about living for Jesus…Hogwash! Heifer Dust! How can you be living for Jesus when you don’t want to make sacrifices eh, when living for Jesus is all about making sacrifices in His name? He said it Himself. If we want to be His disciples, we have to die to ourselves, give up our will, surrender it to His, then take up our cross and follow Him. Now that does not necessarily mean living a broken down, destitute life, but it does mean willing to do it if that’s what He asks of you, although He does not usually go to such lengths.
And there is something else that we’ve also lost in this past generation…that’s the joy of brotherhood. Remember the marvellous and ever so truthful words of Bruh David from Psalm 133? ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment (oil) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard : that went down to the skirts (edge) of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.’ (Ps. 133:1-3)
We obviously have forgotten that living together in unity, be it at the family or nation level is a blessed thing, authored by our God. Else why would our world be in such turmoil, with resentment, anger, hatred and fighting oh so prevalent, right from the basic family unit up through to national scene itself? There’s war and rumours of war all over the world, and the uncertainty and disagreements over the Covid 19 pandemic has only served to make matters even worse. And as each new variant of the virus crops up, our world becomes more discombobulated and separated.
I don’t know what it will take for us to realize that the only option left to us is turning back to the God of our forefathers, whom we have so petulantly, that’s childishly and unwisely tried to drive out of our society. We obviously can’t seem to fix what’s wrong on our own, because everything we try turns out worse and there appears to be no agreement on anything at all these days, for everybody is up in arms about something or the other, whether it be the virus, the climate, the economy, race and gender problems, religious differences, etc. etc.
No one seems satisfied with the status quo, and all want their concerns to be met with and fixed immediately, if not yesterday. What else can we expect then but deep dissatisfaction and disaffection throughout our individual societies and the world at large. And a good point to note here, the natural disasters also seem to be getting worse, with more fires, floods, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and famines all happening at the same time. There’s no doubt that our world is in a mess, and at a most important crossroad in time.
Who knows what the future holds? Only Almighty God! The same one we are trying to rid our society of. But friends, wisdom and common sense decree that if we want to right our world, a major revival in the name of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to go! For He is the Saviour, the ONLY ONE who has the power to calm the storm, right the sinking ship, heal the sick and lift up the dead to eternal life. And do we ever need those divine remedies in our world right now my people! So let’s try and get wise nuh, and turn back to Jesus…that is, if we want our world to survive the death throes it’s currently experiencing.
Now, for those of us who are trying to do the right thing, live sincerely for Jesus, let’s go home declaring (oh yeahhh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are, to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong 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 the world. Amen!’
And having made those magnificent statements, it now behooves us to go out and share the reality with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Jesus like we do. Much LOVE!
…to whom do you turn when the chips are down…Jesus!…Yahweh!…Jehovah!…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
30 Nov 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a good attitude, a prayer in my heart, a smile on my face, an act of disbelief toward God, bounden duty, complaining increases our frustration., complaining is dangerous, complaining is very contagious, complaining spreads discord and negativity to others, Covid-19 virus, deceptive and dangerous stuff called snow, from the frying pan into the fire, give the enemy ahold in our lives, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, it be loathesome unto you, it displeased God, joyful when doing difficult stuff, LOVE, many more will die, many more will suffer, negate the Creator of the earth, our only option is to turn back to God, share His love with the world, suffer dire consequences, the anger of the Lord was kindled, the fire of the Lord burnt among them, the joy and strength of Christ in our lives, the Lord smote the people with a great plague, the rabble rousers, they gathered the quails, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, until it comes out of your nostrils, when the people complained, while the flesh was yet between their teeth, why came we forth out of Egypt
Numbers 11:1a. And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord:
And then it was Tuesday! We’ve left a miserable Monday in its wake! Glory be! And thankfully too, there are no more piles of dead leaves littering my driveway…not for another year anyway. (smile) But yuh know how it is when we wish for something to stop happening, it does stop, but oftentimes something worse takes its place. As they say, we go from the frying pan into the fire. Well, I believe that’s what’s happening to me right now. Although there are no more dry leaves in my driveway to collect, we now have that beautiful white, but ever so deceptive and dangerous stuff called snow covering it.
However, there is a small silver lining to that situation, namely, I no longer shovel snow. Too old and broken down for that now. And sometimes I do miss it. I remember those days I would get out in the driveway, open my garage door and the trunk of my car, turn up the stereo and dance and sing while shovelling. People walking by would look at me and laugh, but that was okay. I was enjoying myself, although I was doing some hard physical labour.
And that’s the way we ought always to be my fellow believers; joyful when doing stuff that seems difficult, because we have the joy and strength of Christ our Lord and Saviour flowing through us and enabling us to do our tasks with a good attitude. Too many of us adopt a bad attitude when we face difficult situations, but that’s one of the purposes of having Christ in our lives, to give us a good attitude. That’s why, in collecting the leaves, even though I knew my back would hurt me from bending so often, I still tried to keep a smile on my face and a prayer in my heart, that the back pain would not be too bad and would soon go away.
So many of us complain about our jobs, our friends, our spouses, etc. etc. But you know how many other people would gladly take who and what we’re complaining about, because they don’t have any of it? We have life so relatively easy now, that we complain about anything that exerts us even a little. But friends please realize how dangerous Complaining is, and how much it displeases God. And these words from the website JollyNotes.com explain how complaining is the work of the devil and can lead to further sin.
‘Grumbling and complaining are sins that can lead to further disobedience, and give the enemy a hold in our lives (God forbid!). In the Bible, complaining is considered an act of unbelief toward God. We have to remember that complaining does not change situations, or even make anything better. Conversely, complaining increases our frustration. Complaining is also very contagious and if not checked, it will spread discord, discontentment and negativity to others.’
Unfortunately, complaining is not a new thing, it’s as old as mankind itself. The Israelites began complaining the moment they crossed the Red Sea, about lack of water and fresh meat and the hard journey. They even contemplated going back to their servitude in Egypt. Eventually the Lord got so fed up with their complaining about the manna they received from His merciful hands, that the Good Book tells us: ‘And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled (aroused); and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts (outskirts) of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.’ (Num. 11:1-2)
But that did not stop them from complaining, for the rabble rousers stirred them up again to complain about fresh meat. Just like the rabble rousers of today are stirring things up leading to much anger, hatred and strife in our society. But I like how the Lord dealt with the Israelites about their plea for fresh meat. He told Moses: ‘And say unto the people, sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh (meat): for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord saying,
Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and you shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you, because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?’ (Num. 11:18-20)
And as always, the Lord kept His promise. Later on, the Good Book details: ‘And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.’ (Num. 11:31) Brother! Our God doesn’t make joke nuh! When He says He’s going to provide a thing, He surely does. The Israelites had meat around them a day’s journey on either side of the camp, and two cubits high at that!
‘And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh (meat) was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath (anger) of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote (struck) the people with a great plague.’ (Num. 11:32-33)
Oh my people, doesn’t that sound very much like what’s happening to us today? For ages we’ve been complaining about all kinds of stuff, turning away from God, being evil, disobedient and proud as ever. Then up crops the plague Covid! And it is a plague because it’s worldwide and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. In fact, it’s mutating and getting more dangerous as we bicker and complain and don’t want to get together and fight it as ONE! Just like the Israelites way back then, thousands have died from it.
Our greed, disobedience, and efforts to rid our society of God is no doubt fuelling His anger against us. And until we wake up and see that our only option is to turn back to God, many more will suffer, and many more will die. Oh friends, there’s much more to say on the subject, but we will end on that hopefully sobering note. Tomorrow, God spare life, we will continue with the subject of ‘Complaining, Murmuring, Griping, Whining, Grumbling, Beefing, Belly-Aching, Moaning’; call it whatever you like.
Now, for those of us who are sincerely trying to do the Lord’s work, let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we joyfully belong…Christ Jesus! As one strong 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 the world. Amen!’
And our bounden duty is to go out and do just that; share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can get to know and LOVE Him like we do. Much LOVE!
…it’s only logical…that if you try to negate the Creator of the earth and all therein…you will suffer dire consequences…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
23 Nov 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a Sunday evening walk in the park, a way which seemeth right to a man, aced Monday, ask for the old paths, be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, being alive in Christ, blessed is the man, bringeth forth his fruit in season, come unto me all ye that labour, enter ye in at the strait gate, eternal separation from God, everchanging unfaithful world, few there be that find it, foolish and hard ears, his delight is in the law of the Lord, his leaf also shall not wither, I am meek and lowly in heart, I am the beloved of god, I will give you rest, in god's eyes, Jesus never changes, LOVE, make the sacrifices necessary, my yoke is easy and my burden light, share His love with the world, sitteth in the seat of the scornful, standeth in the way of sinners, stubborn refusal, take my yoke upon you, the end thereof are the ways of death, the Great Invitation of Jesus, the same yesterday today and forever, to walk in the traditional ways of true righteousness, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, walk therein, walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, we are sure to make it home, we will not walk therein, whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper, where is the good way, wide is the gate that leads to destruction, with Jesus as our guide, with the Lord's awesome help, ye shall find rest unto your souls
Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.
And now it’s Tuesday! We aced Monday, so Tuesday should be like a Sunday evening walk in the park. (smile) Yes, but my walk in the park began with scraping up a pile of leaves in my driveway, so that the garbage people could take them away. Hope that’s the last time for that exercise. (smile) Now my ole back is aching from so much bending down.
What really hurts though, is that I look around the other driveways, and not even one single, solitary leaf litters any of them, but mine is littered with hundreds, if not thousands. But with the Lord’s awesome help, I picked up most of them, and with His help I’ll handle the backpain and whatever else comes against me on this wonderful day of being alive in Christ Jesus!
One can’t have anything better than that in this crazy world. Jesus is the one, solid, sure thing we can depend on in this ever-changing and unfaithful world! He NEVER changes. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever! LOVING, merciful, compassionate and kind to all who call upon His name for comfort and eternal life!
And for the life of me, I cannot fathom why so many people refuse to accept 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 (gentle and humble) in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
And yuh better believe that there are millions of people on this groaning and falling apart earth who are labouring and heavy laden, who could use the rest He provides. But yuh think they will even consider coming to Him and getting rest for their souls? No! Because they think that they know better than the One who created the world and all therein and still controls all aspects of their lives.
It’s like the prophet Jeremiah declared on the Lord’s behalf, re the destruction of Judah. ‘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)
Oh how foolish and hard ears were the people of Judah back then, just like we are today. Instead of running to God to alleviate our problems, we are running away from Him, trying to solve them on our own, which is only creating a messier, more dangerous, cruel and evil world! And the scholar’s explanations on that verse is so true of today also.
They say: ‘6:16. The people’s stubborn refusal to walk in the traditional ways of true righteousness is often mentioned by Jeremiah (12:16; 18:15; 23:12; 31:21). Moving in their own paths and following their own way could only lead to Judah’s destruction (cf. Prov. 14:12). The contrast of the way of righteousness and life with the way of the ungodly and death is often made in the Scriptures (e.g. Ps. 1; Matt. 7:13-14).’
Oh my brethren, the very same thing applies to us today; our world is facing destruction because we are trying to move in our own paths and not the paths of righteousness. And Cousin Sol hit the nail right on the head when he wrote in Proverbs: ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ (Prov. 14:12) Yes, that’s the verse the scholars referenced above.
And Cousin Sol found it so important that he wrote it once again as Prov. 16:25. And it’s so important and necessary for us to realize, to acknowledge to ourselves, that the way which seems right to us may not always be the best or right way. Until we come to that understanding, we will face the critical and unfortunate situation of being led along the wrong path, that of unrighteousness and wickedness which only lead to death and destruction.
The psalmist said it thus: ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly (wicked), nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate (ponder on) day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers (channels) of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ (Ps. 1:1-6)
Yes friends, as the scholars explain: ‘Blessed or happy is the righteous man, the one who avoids evil influences, deeds and attitudes, but delights in God’s word (vs. 2), and God causes him to prosper (vs.3). On the other hand, the ungodly is worth no more than chaff (vs. 4), and his destiny is judgement (vs. 5). Finally, the evaluation by the Lord Himself is described (vs. 6) The Lord knows the way of both the righteous and the ungodly. He will bless the former, but the latter shall perish.’
And if you don’t believe what the psalmist says, then listen to Jesus tell it again. ‘Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate, and narrow (difficult) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt. 7:13-14)
Oh my people, there are ONLY two ways to live this life; one is righteous and godly, while the other is unrighteous and ungodly. The latter is wide and open, but also leads to destruction and eternal separation from God. Meanwhile, the former which leads to eternal life is narrow and difficult to navigate, but with Jesus’ help it is readily attainable. However, we need to want it badly enough to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it.
That’s the whole crux of the matter; whether we want it badly enough to believe and trust and surrender our lives to Jesus, so we can spend eternity with Him. Now, for those of us who have made the wise decision to follow Jesus’ lead, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, telling the whole world who and whose we are, shouting out loudly to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. (smile)
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 the world. Amen!’
And having said all of that so boldly, we now have to go out and walk the talk, sharing the awesome LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to LOVE and serve Him like we do. Much LOVE!
…the road to eternal life might be narrow and difficult…but with Jesus as our guide…we’re sure to make it home…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
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