04 Mar 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all thy getting, almighty god, ask God, aura of love, Bomb Competition, Carnival Monday, Christians, confidence, doubleminded man, doubting, enthusiasm, exalt wisdom, forsake her not, friends, get understanding, get wisdom, gives liberally, good doctrine, grin and bear it, holy spirit, humble servants, in Jesus name, instruction of a father, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, keep my commandments and live, let thy heart, lies, LOVE, love her, mas, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Ole Mas, promote thee, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, retain my words, reverential awe, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, steelband, taunts, the fear of the Lord, the principal thing, the sight of my mother, the words of my mouth, them's the breaks, trust, ungodly world, unstable, wavering, wiles, wisdom
Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
And the clock ticks…and the seconds, minutes, hours and the days roll by…until they come to Monday…then they just seem to stop, to hang there in mid-air, as though everything suddenly gone in limbo! Oh how we wish that were true eh and we didn’t have to get up and get out and begin a new work week!
And for many of us it’s actually true because this is Carnival Monday, the beginning of the yearly bacchanalian festival in several parts of the world the two days before Ash Wednesday…but nothing to touch the Ole Mas celebration in T&T this Monday morning!
That is where you get real down and ‘dutty’ (dirty), playing in any ole and dirty looking costume, but making sure yuh ketch a steelband coming down the road beating a sweet bomb tune, so you and yuh lady and yuh friends and them could carry on in the street, wine down in the road, carray yuh body any ole how, (ramajay), and just get on bad and disgusting. (smile)
Well that use to be ole mas, don’t know what it morph into these days since I don’t take part in it again. Don’t even know if they still have Bomb Competition – the steelbands beating some favourite tune as they come out on the road Monday morning, vying for Best Bomb Tune. And ah laughing here as I remember some of them ole times.
But leh we move on yes, because some people have to go to work, and they even more distraught than ever because they missing carnival in T&T. So to help us all this Carnival Monday, let’s belt out we Monday Morning Battle Hymn, even if we heart not truly in it, and we mind somewhere down in T&T misbehaving in the road. (smile)
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And yeh friends, ah know we feeling better after that, but still…we’d rather be somewhere else partying, making a fool of we self, in the hot weather. But them’s the breaks, so we just have to grin and bear it and get out there and labour in Jesus name. Yeh, reminisce li’l bit every so often, but doh daydream the day away on the people work nuh, because then you’ll be stealing their time and Jesus wouldn’t approve of that. (smile)
Break the spell by telling yuhself that if God spare yuh life, next year Carnival not going to catch yuh up here in this cold weather, but in some warm, tropical climate playing a serious mas, and then seriously start saving yuh money and vacation time from now! And since I know plenty of you won’t like my suggestions, I’m turning to Cousin Sol to pass on a father’s wisdom. Hope you’ll listen to him, cause he was once the wisest man in the world.
‘Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live.
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline (turn away) from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: LOVE her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.’ (Prov.4:1-7)
Yes my brethren, wisdom, knowledge and understanding are the most important aspects of living a fruitful and sensible life. And how do we get all that? Friends, it begins with this warning from Cousin Sol: ‘The fear of the Lord (reverential awe) is the beginning of knowledge (principal beginning): but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov.1:7)
Ah mih people, until and unless we revere the Lord God Almighty, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, true wisdom, knowledge and understanding will NEVER be ours. Why? Because that’s where it all comes from!
As James says: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
Yuh see friends, a wise life all has to do with reverence for God, blended with sincere trust and faith in His Word, His promises and plans for our lives. And Cousin Sol ends that li’l speech by declaring (right ho): ‘Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou doest embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.’ (Prov.4:8-9)
Yes my people, that’s how powerful and important true wisdom and understanding are in our lives. We talking about that wisdom and understanding which comes from and through God, not the worldly stuff. So stop with all the horrors about carnival! Now that we finally see the light nuh, leh we go and do the people work and forget about carnival, because that is what Jesus expects of us. (smile) Much LOVE!
…thinking too much about mas…is not a sign of true wisdom…(smile)
03 Mar 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a mountain so high, able to do, abundantly, an ocean too deep, away from my love, be filled with, Christian life, church at Ephesus, current generation, dirge-like, dissension, enormous love of Christ, exceedingly, from now until forever, I love him, I will follow him, in heaven, it can keep me away, Jesus Christ, lambs to the slaughter, more than you can ask or think, Moses, my destiny, new fangled churches, old fashioned churches, our Lord and Saviour, passeth knowledge, Peggy Marsh, petty things, pop song, sing and praise the Lord, spiritual growth, strengthened, the fullness of God, The Lord make his face to shine on you, the riches of his glory, the whole family, to know the Love of Christ, unity, with all might, world without end
Ephesians 3:19. And to know the LOVE of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Oh friends, oh friends, it’s time to gather once again, time to gather once again on a Sunday morning! Why? To sing and praise the Lord our God, hear His Word and experience His mercy and LOVING-kindness, as our inner being is refilled with His Holy Spirit and our spirits soar to heaven on high!
Yes my faithful brethren, it’s time to refuel our souls! Just like we refuel our bodies with food, we also need to refuel our spirit man with heavenly grace and power, and our Lord has made it a rule to do so at least once a week, and we do it generally on a Sunday. And as always, we begin the proceedings with joyful song, praising our heavenly Father, exalting His holy name and giving Him much thanks for being the wonderful God He is.
And today is no different, but the song is. Today’s song of praise is one written as an ode to teenage LOVE, way back in 1963, a pop song titled, ‘I will follow Him,’ sung by Peggy Marsh. But friends, I don’t know if there’s a song ever written that captures so wonderfully, what, or how, a true believer ought to feel about Jesus, although it wasn’t written for that purpose. Please, let’s raise our voices now in sweet harmony as we sincerely sing and believe these most appropriate words of ‘I will follow Him.’
Altogether now: ‘I Love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow – I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go There isn’t an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep me away. I must follow him (follow him), ever since he touched my hand I knew That near him I always must be And nothing can keep him from me He is my destiny (destiny)
I love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow He’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true love From now until forever, forever, forever – I will follow him (follow him), follow him wherever he may go There isn’t an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away Away from my love.
I love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow He’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true love From now until forever, forever, forever – I know I’ll always love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow I know I’ll always love him, I love him, I love him.’
Yes friends, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ought to be our truest LOVE, and nothing ought to stop us from following Him, no matter where He leads, we ought to be in tow, because He IS our Destiny! Without Him we’d be completely lost, and be led like lambs to the slaughter by the evil enemy. And I wonder how many of you noticed that I did not capitalize and highlight all of the ‘LOVES’ in the song eh? Why? Because they were just too many, and I didn’t think it would look good. (smile)
And I know some of you might be thinking that a pop song is not worthy of our Lord and Saviour, but you’re wrong, any kind of song that glorifies and exalts Him is appropriate. Why is a dirge-like tune more appropriate than an up-tempo, happy one eh? There’s nothing that says only slow, crawling music can be spiritual.
That’s partly why so many of this current generation are leaving the old-fashioned churches for the new-fangled ones. Not saying that is right, but that’s just how it is. Anyway enough of that discussion, for those are the petty kinds of things which cause so much unnecessary dissension and disunity between believers. And anyway, we done sing the glorious tune already and Jesus LOVED it, so matter fix! (smile)
Now it’s time to hear His Word, and allow it to sink right down into the very depths of our being, so that it can strengthen us, and be there for us to call upon it when we need it. And since we’re talking about inner, spiritual growth, then I believe these words of Bruh Paul to the church at Ephesus are rather appropriate.
‘For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in LOVE, May be able to comprehend (understand) with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the LOVE of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (Eph.3:14-19)
Now let’s see if I can paraphrase some of the scholar’s explanations on those verses. 3:15. Bruh Paul is praying for the whole Christian family, the saints both dead and alive, ‘who derive their spiritual life from God.’ 16-19. He makes 3 prayer requests for those at the Ephesian church. ‘(1) That they may be divinely enabled to successfully live the Christian life. (2) That they may be better able to understand the enormous LOVE Christ has for them. (3) That the life, character, and virtues of God Himself may be fully developed in them.’
And that’s the same prayer I would like us to make today my fellow followers of Christ: that ALL believers, all over God’s great earth be filled with that inner strength, so that they can successfully grow and mature in the faith. And Bruh Paul ends appropriately with these words. ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.’ (Eph.3:20-21)
Yes friends, please notice that Bruh Paul prayed to the ONE who was able to do all that he asked, Almighty God, not some incompetent, so-called deity. And now, as the Lord explicitly ordered Moses to bless His people: ‘May the Lord bless us, and keep us. The Lord make His face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: The Lord lift up his countenance upon us (look on us with favour), and give us peace.’ (Num.6:24-26) Much LOVE!
…to live a true Christian life…one must be enabled by the Father…through Jesus Christ…
25 Feb 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a high, a two step jig, antidote, anxiety, arouses brawling, aura of love, be filled with, be not drunk with wine, biteth, Christians, confidence, conquerors, controlled by alcohol, dangerous, difficult, dissipation, dulls the senses, enhance your faith, enthusiasm, evil, faith, fear, fellowship, free, friends, frustration, give the Lord thanks, giveth its colour, gospel truth, gratis, holy spirit, humble servants, indwelt by, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lead aright, lies, like a serpent, LOVE, meditating, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, moral intemperance, prayer, reading the Word, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, reuelling, salvation, seize control, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, tension, the best option, the Holy Spirit, truth, unfair, ungodly world, wherein is excess, wine is a mocker, wisdom, workweek dance
Ephesians 5:18. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit.
It’s Monday friends, that means it’s time to get up and do the new workweek dance: Yeah! Throw off the covers, sit up straight on the bed, give the Lord thanks for bringing you safely through another night, then put one foot on the floor, then the other, then stand up, put your left hand on your hip and your right hand in the air above your head, then twirl and sing ‘Thank You Lord, thank You,’ while simultaneously doing a two step jig! (smile)
Oh I know that sounds foolish to many of you, especially the ones who get up irritable and miserable, but you’d be surprised how something like that could lighten your mood and set you up for a more relaxed and peace filled day. You know the best way to begin the day is by being in fine fettle.
Anyway, if you disagree with that tactic (smile) then let’s see if this one fits you better. Please join us in declaring (right ho) our Monday Morning Battle Hymn which relieves all the tension and frustration and fear and anguish from our souls on a Monday morning. As we like to call it, the antidote for whatever ails on Monday mornings!
So altogether now, in loud voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh me, oh my! What a wonderful high! Yeh friends, there’s no high like that the Holy Spirit of God offers! You can run on that for ages without having to refresh it. But thankfully we only have to run on it for today, because tomorrow the Lord will renew it free and gratis; no money, just sincere belief and heartfelt prayer.
So now that we’ve gotten our fix of the Holy Spirit, it’s time to get out into the world and join the fray, fighting wisely and valiantly in Jesus’ name! No wonder Bruh Paul wisely advised the Ephesians thus: ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit.’
Yes friends, being drunk with wine dulls the senses and leads to moral intemperance. However when one is filled with the Holy Spirit it enables one to live in a godly manner, showing off His virtues and character.
Now we need to note here that once you become a believer, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you, but then you have to cultivate it, pay attention to it, help it to enhance your faith by reading the Word and meditating on it, as well as through prayer and fellowship with other believers.
So on one side it’s a one and done thing; the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in you, but on the other it’s a continual renewing, as the enemy constantly attempts to break down your barriers and you keep refuelling with the Holy Spirit to help you keep those barriers erect.
And the scholars give this interesting explanation. ‘5:18. The words ‘be filled’ here mean ‘be continually filled,’ emphasizing that the fullness of the Spirit is a repeated experience for believers. When a person is drunk with an alcoholic beverage, his walk, talk, and sight are controlled by alcohol.
God desires that the minds of Christians be controlled by the Holy Spirit so that they will walk in the Spirit, speak on behalf of God, and understand the things of God. Because people are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at salvation, they do not need to get more of the Holy Spirit, but the filling of the Spirit occurs when the Holy Spirit gets more of the believer.’
I like that: It’s not so much we getting the Spirit, but the Spirit getting us. That means friends, to be godly we desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us, but He can only do that if we allow Him to do so. He just won’t jump into your life and seize control.
The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and waits to be invited to do His thing. The same way you can invite an alcoholic drink to enter you and take over, is the same way you can invite the Holy Spirit to take control! (smile)
But here’s the difference, in the words of Cousin Sol, the man about town: ‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink (intoxicating drink) is raging (arouses brawling); and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.’ (Prov.20:1) And that’s the gospel truth! And the scholars add: ‘20:1. Wine is personified as a mocker because it deceives those who partake of it. It is contrary to wise living.’ You can’t argue with that friends.
And we’ll end with these further wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour (sparkles) in the cup, when it moveth itself aright (goes smoothly). At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder (serpent). Thine eyes shall behold strange women (strange things) and thine heart shall utter perverse things.’ (Prov.23:31-33)
And the sad fact of the matter is that many of us have experienced that very feeling, but yet we refuse to leave it alone and turn to the Holy Spirit instead. Ah friends, that certainly is not wisdom! So let’s ‘wisen’ up nuh and let the Holy Spirit rule our lives, so that we can have the abundant and joyful life that Jesus died for us to have! Much LOVE!
…if you want to be lead aright in this life…then the Holy Spirit is the best…no…the ONLY option…
18 Feb 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anti-virus, children of God, Christian brethren, christianity, church at Rome, confidence, encouraging scripture, enthusiasm, evil, faith, firewater, groanings, heart-felt desires, Helper, holy spirit, imbibed, intercession, intercessor, invincible, Jesus Christ, lies, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, patience, peace, perseverance, power of prayer, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, saints, serenity, sincerity, sinful nature, snowstorm, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strength, succour, sure conquerors, taunts, thanks, truth, ungodly world, weaknesses, weary souls, wiles
Romans 8:26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Well a Happy President’s Day and Family Day to all my Scrip-Bit Friends and Family in the U.S of A and Canada! I just wish I could say that my day’s been happy. Yes the Bit is late, terribly late too, but there’s good cause. First off, I was writing something earlier this morning that I wasn’t happy with and just couldn’t get my head around it to make the necessary changes. So, in all wisdom I decided to invoke an Executive Emergency Power, not arrogantly, or foolishly like some leaders do. (smile)
I invoked the Author’s Right and Privilege to leave said work alone for some time then come back to it later. And so I did, after a couple hours of refreshing sleep. But lo and behold, when I turned on my desktop computer downstairs it was slow and unresponsive and freezing up like crazy! Steups! I’ve never had those kinds of problems to such an extent as since I’ve installed this new anti-virus system. But romantic fool that I am, I persisted with it for about an hour because I just prefer writing on that computer rather than this laptop.
But then I had no choice but to come up here and get acclimatized to an entirely different way of doing things. Ah Lord eh! And I guess the Lord knew why He made today a holiday in the northern climes because a serious snowstorm hit us this morning and you can imagine the carnage on our roads if it was a busy workday Monday! Anyway friends and neighbours, right now the sun is shining somewhat brightly in my neighbourhood and the snow seems to be melting…Thank You Lord!
And I don’t know about you all nuh mih people, but I do need the sanity and sanctity (smile) of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn if I’m to write anything remotely sensible this morning. Those of you had to go to work in our 24/7 society are already there, safely, I hope, and for those of you at home enjoying the day off, shout ‘Glory be!’ as you join us in reaching out for succour and strength of all kinds to our most magnanimous and merciful God.
All together now, with sincerity and as much enthusiasm as you can muster: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And as always, on Holiday Mondays, it’s those of us at home enjoying the day off, who are loudest, most enthusiastic and most raucous from having already imbibed some firewater! (smile) But I’m sure that that prayer has lifted your spirits, whether you are at home or at work. It certainly has brought some peace and serenity to my soul!
And that’s the power of sincere prayer my people! Whenever we come sincerely and humbly to our wonderful God, crying out for help, we can be assured that He hears us and will help us. And if He even hesitates (smile) we have two of the most powerful forces in the universe, the other two persons of our Triune Godhead right there to intercede on our behalf; the Holy Spirit referred to as our Helper, in actuality, the foot soldier of the three, and Jesus our wonderful Lord and Saviour and High Priest and eternal Intercessor!
Mama Yo! Nothing can be better than that my Christian brethren! Two out of three on our side! Glory Hallelujah! But who knows if it’s a democracy eh, or if the Father holds the ultimate power? (smile) Anyway, we know that if we’re doing the Father’s will, He will be very accommodating to His saints down here on earth. Chuh! I don’t even have a decent place up here to set up my Bible! And seeing that we’re already so late, we’re just going to look at the job the Holy Spirit does on our behalf when it comes to prayer.
Listen to Bruh Paul to the church at Rome talking about living life in the Spirit: ‘But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’ (Rom.8:25-27)
What powerful and encouraging scripture my dear fellow believers! Isn’t it amazing and oh so wonderful to know that when our sins, our weaknesses and whatever else incapacitate us, and we don’t know how or what to pray that the Holy Spirit steps up to the plate and conveys our heart-felt desires to the Father! No other faith has such an awesome Helper and Intercessor!
And please remember that we also have Jesus to intercede on our behalf! So please let’s be joyful and faithful and LOVING and kind like is becoming of saints and children of Almighty God nuh, so that our intercessors will have good reason to gladly intercede on our behalf! Much LOVE!
…godly intercession is so wonderful…for people of a weak and sinful nature…
P.S. Hope this turns out awright, since I’m not accustomed to writing the Bit on this computer. Good excuse eh? (smile) Much LOVE!
hi
13 Feb 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a beautiful word, a deliberate setting of our will, a fresh beginning, a miracle is performed, a new vitality, a spirit of unforgiveness, arrived spiritually, as we forgive our debtors, beyond our highest expectations, bowels of mercies, Christ forgave you, Christian virtues, common sense, concentrating on God, concentrating on hurts, creates, deficiencies, fallen short of God's glory, flaws, forbearance, forbearing, forgive us our debts, forgiveness, forgiving one another, glad to be alive, gospel truth, grin and bear it, halfway home, hands on the plough, heartfelt compassion, humbleness of mind, hypocritical hearts, Jesus Christ, kindness, long-suffering, looking forward, loud voice, LOVE, makes us free, meekness, negative emotions, no emotional high, no magic wand, not looking back, One Year Book of Bible promises, our soul is washed clean, paid in full, put on, quarrel, Ruth Harms Calkin, sense of purpose, sin debts, sincerity, sinned, tangled seaweed of resentment, the Colossians, the elect of god, the forgiven, the forgiver, the gift of forgiveness, the key to freedom, to a glorious future with Christ, trespasses, undergo transformations, unforgiveness, weaknesses, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, with God's help, wonder of wonders
Colossians 3:13. Forbearing (bearing with) one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And the snow has stopped falling – at least for the time being! Who knows what’s next eh? But what to do, nothing but grin and bear it as best you can. It’s not like we don’t expect snow to fall in winter, but yet we complain so much when it does! (smile)
Anyway friends, we not going to talk anymore about the weather, I have to go out the street and do some stuff today, so we’ll just leave it all in the Master’s hands, to carry me and bring me back safely. I do hope though, that the fellow we’ve already paid to clean our driveway will come and do so before I’m ready to go out. End of complaining! (smile)
Now let’s move on to the topic for the day; a rather important one in the lives of ALL believers, and one which we don’t do as well as we should, we’re talking about ‘Forgiveness.’ And that’s the title of the reading from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin.
It says: ‘Forgiveness. What does it do for us? In an amazing way it creates a fresh beginning. It lifts us out of the tangled seaweed of resentment. A miracle is performed! It may not happen in a moment or a day. We may have to forgive at six o’clock on Monday and start over again at two o’clock on Tuesday.
There is no magic wand to simplify forgiveness. Forgiveness is a deliberate setting of our will, often with no emotional high whatsoever. But once having genuinely forgiven, our soul is washed clean. We walk in dignity again. We sense a new vitality. We’re no longer concentrating on hurts; we’re concentrating on God. If we would only forgive, our lives would undergo transformations beyond our highest expectations.
Above all, Jesus Christ would be exalted, for it is His forgiveness that makes the difference. Forgiveness is a beautiful word. It is God’s word passed to us to use freely, joyfully. When we ask for the gift of forgiveness, God always says yes. He gave His Son to make us free, and forgiveness is the key to freedom.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends; we can’t be free until we’ve been forgiven…and we have forgiven! That’s just the way the Lord set it up! And the most important thing we need to know, understand and get deep down in our spirits is that forgiveness is not merely for the forgiven, who oftimes don’t even know or care, but forgiveness most of all is for the forgiver! It’s for us above all else. Because it sets us free from resentment and all the other negative emotions that can occur through a spirit of unforgiveness.
Hear how Bruh Paul puts it to the Colossians nuh, when talking about the Christian virtues. ‘Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (heartfelt compassion), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; Forbearing (bearing with) one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.’ (Col.3:12-13)
And the scholars have an interesting explanation of that last verse. ‘3:13. The fact of believers being urged to assume the virtues of verse 12 signifies that none has yet “arrived” spiritually. As the believer is developing these virtues, he must be forbearing and forgiving toward his fellow church member. For his Christian brother is also in the process of acquiring the virtues of verse 12 and therefore retains some flaws, deficiencies, and weaknesses. Hence the need of forbearance and forgiveness.’
That’s simple common sense friends, all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, therefore we need to be compassionate and forgiving of each other’s faults and weaknesses, just like Christ forgave us. And so many of us forget that oh so important fact; that Christ forgave us, that’s why our sin debts have been paid and we’re heaven bound.
But foolishly and selfishly and arrogantly we refuse to forgive others while we go with hypocritical hearts to God crying out for forgiveness for our own deficiencies. That’s so wrong my brethren. And Jesus made that quite clear early on in His ministry. Note in the prayer that He taught, which we call the Lord’s Prayer, the second to last line says: ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’ (Matt.6:12) And it means just that; as we forgive, so we will be forgiven!
And Jesus made it even clearer a couple of verses later: ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt.6:14-15) It couldn’t be any clearer than that friends!
So let’s get some wisdom and common sense going in respect of forgiveness nuh, because we only hurt ourselves when we don’t forgive. No one says it’s always easy, but with God’s help we can ALWAYS accomplish it, no matter how long it takes!
Now let’s go home declaring (right ho) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know our position in Christ Jesus: With sincerity, in loud voice and strong sense of purpose: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And please believe it, that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…forgiveness frees the forgiver…so that Christ can forgive them…
P.S. I just went upstairs to reheat my coffee, and looked outside…and wonder of wonders, the snow has begun falling again! So who knows what the day will bring eh? (smile) Much LOVE!
04 Feb 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heart-stopping event, a rushing mighty wind, antidote, aura of love, cloven tongues, communicating with the Father, confidence, Day of Pentecost, dream dreams, enthusiasm, evil, excited to work for Jesus, faith, faithfulness, filled with the Holy Ghost, flood warnings, friends, God's promises, Great Tribulation, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, it shall come to pass, Jesus Christ, Joel, lies, LOVE, millennial kingdom, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, not drunken, of much repute, old men, omnipotent god, on all flesh, passed the test, peace, Peter, pour out my Spirit, prophecy, prophesy, put a smile on our faces, renewed vitality, rest, roll with the punches, see visions, speak with other tongues, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, testimony, third hour of the day, trust, truth, ungodly world, up to scratch, wiles, wisdom, work, young men, your sons and daughters
Joel 2:28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
And after the snow and the freezing cold, come the rain and the flood! Yeh friends, flood warnings have been issued in these parts for the next couple days due to the quickly melting snow and the rain accompanying it. As they say, when it’s not one thing, it’s another!
But that’s just life, and we have to roll with the punches, and as believers in Christ we are better prepared to do that than most of the population, so there should be no cause for overly serious concern.
Nonetheless, we’re only human and still liable to fall prey to the deceitful whispers of the enemy, which means we’re somewhat less than up to scratch this wet and rainy Monday morning. (smile) But it’s all good, for we have just the right pick-me-up to solve your problem; that’s our Monday Morning Battle Hymn; antidote of much repute!
So without further ado, let’s get seriously, but humbly and confidently communicating with the Father. As one body now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
There you go friends, matter fixed! We’re bright and bubbly now as the Holy Spirit works in us to put a smile on our faces, strength and confidence in our hearts and souls and have us excited to go out now and work for Jesus! Wow! What a transformation can take place when the Spirit of the Lord God Jehovah goes to work in His children! There’s nothing else like it in this whole wide world!
And that points us to God’s promise of that future event through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.’
And then Joel goes on to prophesy about the things that will go on during the Great Tribulation and the establishment of the earthly Davidic millennial kingdom that follows the events of the Great Tribulation. However, we’re only interested here in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh, and we all know that happened on the miraculous Day of Pentecost!
What a majestic showing that was mih people! Nobody can put on a show like our omnipotent God nuh! Can you imagine sitting down in that room with the disciples, and all of a sudden you hear this sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind which then proceeded to fill the whole house? (Acts 2:2) I know they were all waiting for and anticipating the coming of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised, but I doubt that they were expecting it to be so such a heart-stopping event.
And the mighty rushing wind wasn’t all, for as the Good Book tells it: ‘And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:3-4)
And can you imagine the confusion when these uneducated men from the surrounding area came out and began speaking in the languages of the different Jews who had come to Jerusalem for the big feast? They were all amazed, some even claimed that they were drunk: ‘Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.’ (Acts 2:13)
But that’s when Peter gave his great speech: ‘ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said, unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day (9.am). But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;’ (Acts 2:14-16) And then he goes on to specify the words of our Bit and the rest of Joel’s prophecy.
So you see friends, it’s not wise to write off any of God’s promises, especially if He doesn’t give a definite time frame, for remember His thoughts and ways and times are not like ours, so some of those promises could be earmarked for hundreds of years later, like that of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all believers.
Now I sincerely hope we have all been encouraged some this Monday morning, and that our faith has also been strengthened by this review of one of God’s great promises! So please hang in there and don’t ever give up, even when things seem like they can’t get any worse, because they can always get better when our hope and trust and faith are safely placed in our Triune God! Much LOVE!
…logic dictates…that when you’re at the bottom…the only place left to go is up…and Jesus can…and will reach down and pull you up…
P.S. I’m chuckling here as I just realized that I passed the test, and thus have a testimony! Hear it nuh. The ole fella had a rough night, and so was one of those in the not up to scratch group today, (smile) and was really struggling to write the Bit. But I hung in, didn’t give up, and yuh see how Jesus eventually reached down and pulled me up out of the mire and helped me to write something sensible. (smile) Bless His holy name and His faithfulness! That means He can and will do the same for you too. Much LOVE!
28 Jan 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a different take, a fish, a serpent, accustomed, all things, ask, ask amiss, ask for in prayer, ask god for help, aura of love, awesome power of prayer, believe the best, believers, believing, confidence, contented, covet, earthly pleasures, enthusiasm, evil, experience the worst, faith, fervent prayer, fight, find, frequent prayer, friends, genuine prayer, get into your blood, give good gifts, glorious kingdom, have not, heartfelt pleas, heavenly Father, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, James, Jesus Christ, joy, kill, knock, lies, lifted spirits, LOVE, lust, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, motives, no excuse for failure, northern climes, overcome all odds, perseverance, prayer, receive, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, right motives, sad, Seasonal Affective disorder, seek, shall receive, sincere heart, smiles, spiritual armour, spiritual success, steadfast faith, striving with each other, sullen reply, the power of the Holy spirit, tired with it, treat others, trust, truth, ungodly world, war, will be opened, wisdom, work for Jesus, wrestling with God, ye ask not
Matthew 21:22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Well my Scrip-Bit brethren, in these northern climes, it’s a chilly Monday morning out there! Yes, it’s winter, so what else do you expect eh? ‘Oh we tired with it!’ comes the sullen reply. ‘Chuh! We tired with the snow and the ice…and the cold…and all the other problems that winter bring!’ But that’s nothing new eh? It’s something you ought to be accustomed to by now…
‘Foolishness!’ is the angry reply. ‘Who could ever get accustomed to that nonsense eh, much less like it? That’s why they call it the winter of our discontent! Every blooming time it comes around we discontented, so much so that we get sad and miserable and develop the winter blues, what they now call some big name…can’t even remember the blooming thing…Oh…Seasonal Affective Disorder! Yes, it happens every winter season, so how you could tell me about being accustomed and contented eh?’
And there is a point to be made there my people. When the dark, gloomy, often sunless, snowy and slippery days get into your blood, it’s hard to be enthused about the weather, especially if you have to be getting around on P2 (on foot). But as believers in Jesus Christ we have a somewhat different take on the situation (smile).
We are encouraged to believe the best, even when we experience the worst. Now that’s not easy to do, or even comprehend, but with the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, if we’re serious, we can overcome all odds.
And for those of us who are shaking it rough this Monday morning, let’s apply some salve to our wounds nuh; let’s declare our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, call upon the omnipotence and mercy of our heavenly Father to give us some succour down here on a turbulent and ungodly earth.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And yuh see friends, our prayer has barely reached up to heaven when it’s quickly answered! Note the smiles on our faces now; the lifting up of our spirits, and the desire to get out there and work diligently and excellently for Jesus! That’s what we call the awesome power of prayer! With sincere heart, right motives and strong belief, any and everything is possible in Jesus’ realm!
But the responsibility to call out for help, through prayer, remains solely in our hands. If we don’t ask in prayer, we won’t get. And that needs the power of belief, both to get us to pray, and also for us to expect whatever we’re praying for to happen. And Jesus says it quite plainly in our Bit: ‘And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’
Oh my people, please remember that TWO conditions are necessary there; asking for in prayer, and believing. If those two aren’t present, then all bets are off. As Jesus also said earlier on: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’ (Matt.7:7-11) What an interesting question my people! And yuh see how Jesus builds up to it, ever the logical philosopher! (smile)
Now hear these explanations from the scholars: ‘7:7-10. The three imperatives ask, seek, and knock are in the present tense of the original language, suggesting both perseverance and frequent prayer. Fervent and continued prayer is to be made on behalf of those for whom we are concerned. God promises to answer all genuine prayer (vs.8). Everything we need for spiritual success has been promised to us. God leaves no excuse for failure.’
Yes friends, we have no excuses if we don’t pray, or if our prayer requests fail. As James, in his two cents worth on the topic declares, (wrong again): ‘Ye lust, and have not: ye kill (murder), and desire to have (covet), and cannot obtain: ye fight and war (battle), yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (earthly pleasures).’ (James 4:2-3)
It couldn’t be any plainer than that nuh my fellow believers. We either don’t ask, or ask for the wrong things, for the wrong purposes, and ‘instead of wrestling with God in prayer,’ we ‘are striving with one another.’
So today, let’s consider our lives nuh, both our earthly relationships as well as our prayer life. Let’s ponder on how we treat others and the things we ask for and the motives behind them. Then as always, let’s ask God for His help to do better. He will NEVER refuse such heartfelt pleas! Much LOVE!
…if the heart and the purpose are not right…then Lord will obviously say NO…
21 Jan 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a future and a hope, almighty god, antidote, aura of love, begun a good work, calamity, call upon me, calm after the storm, captive to babylon, confidence, confident of this very thing, crawl out of your hole, dangerous streets, delights, disobedience, eat and drink, enthusiasm, epitome, eternal life, eternity, evil, faith, For I know the thoughts, friends, from under your rock, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, grace, have a roof over your head, heavenly Father, higher in Jesus, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, Israelites, Jesus Christ, joy, lies, LOVE, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, not of evil, obedience, our Lord and Saviour, prayer, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, shall find me, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, that I think toward you, the aftermath, thoughts of peace, to give you an expected end, truth, ungodly world, until the day of Jesus Christ, warm cocoon, will perform it, wisdom, with all your heart
Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).
And then there’s the calm after the storm… But sometimes the aftermath of the storm is more dangerous than the storm itself, especially when it’s a Monday morning and you’ve got to crawl out of your hole, or from under your protective rock and make your way to work in cold, icy minus plenty degrees weather. Steups!
After being in your warm cocoon all weekend, it’s no joke to get out and face the frozen, dangerous streets. But that’s our lot. If you want to eat and drink and have a roof over your head, you have to find the wherewithal to get with the programme. (smile) And there’s no better way to do that than with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Bless His Holy Name my people!
Oh friends, He’s done so much for us, is still doing, and has promised to continue doing, even until eternity! There’s never been – or will ever be a more wonderful person than Him! Please give Him lots of thanks, for He deserves every ounce of it…and even more!
And since not all of us possess the necessary parts to handle the day successfully, let’s turn to our Maker and heavenly Father in prayer, the most powerful force in His universe, and cry out to Him in all sincerity, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, the antidote for all that affects us this January Monday. In unison now, with whatever enthusiasm we can raise:
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh my people, I don’t even remember how that prayer came about nuh, but it was obviously through the munificence, the most generous and bountiful grace of the Lord, because every time I pray it, it surely lifts my spirits. And I do hope it does the same to yours…
And I can see it does, because your eyes are now bright and shiny, instead of the old dull, hurting look they previously had; your shoulders are lifted up and strong, and your smile is as beautiful as ever, and above all, you’re prepared to do battle with the wicked and ungodly enemy in Jesus’ name!
Ah friends, like the ole fella’s on a roll this morning. I hope some of the enthusiasm and LOVE rubs off on you all and lifts you higher in Jesus, because that’s the whole purpose of this exercise! Enough of me though, let’s see if we can find some scripture to reassure and build our needy souls. Soon come…
I’m back, a minute later, with some wonderful news and promises! Hear the Lord our God, through the voice of Jeremiah, the prophet: ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’
Oh friends, that’s a promised scripture that we all know and claim to LOVE, but we don’t really hold on to it as strongly as we should, even though we know that ALL God’s promises are faithful and will be fulfilled. Just like we hear Bruh Paul telling the church at Philippi: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil.1:6)
But we don’t take it as seriously as we should. But our God doesn’t begin things and not finish them. So if He’s poured out His grace in you and saved you, then why would He not keep you safe and strong until His Son returns eh? No reason whatsoever my believing brethren!
Now let’s continue the reassuring words of Jeremiah to the Israelites who would soon be taken captive to Babylon because of their continued disobedience. ‘Then ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer.29:12-13)
Ah friends, obedience is ever so necessary if we want to truly serve the Lord, but even then, we still have to seek Him, with all our hearts, if we want to find Him. Our God doesn’t like halfway measures.
When we come to Him, we must come with all that we have! So let’s ponder on all that we’ve talked about today nuh, and please, please, HOLD ON to all those wonderful promises that our God has made us. We’ll be so much better of when we do, for that’s the epitome of wisdom. Much LOVE!
…faith in God’s promises…leads to both earthly and heavenly delights…
20 Jan 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Amazing grace, as long as life endures, be forever mine, being evil, best shotgun rider, British Slave Trade Act, brought me safe, celebrating, delivered me, driving to church, err, every good gift, fail, first fruits, flesh and heart, forbear to shine, give good gifts, give the Holy spirit, God Tube website, God's work, grace, grace will lead me home, gracious God, gratitude to God, his creatures, his word, how sweet the sound, humilation, immutable, Jesus Christ, John Newton, Lake Ontario, lashed to the helm, many dangers, merciful, mortal life cease, Mover, my hope secures, no variation, now I see, now I'm found, on the door of his heart, on the path of caution, once was lost, out of deep waters, plan for all creation, portion, praise and thanks, prayer, profligate sailor, promised good, property taxes, redemption, saved a wretch like me, Shaker, shield, shining as the sun, sing God's praise, slave trade, snares, snow, song of theology, stand in awe, ten thousand years, the Father of lights, the grace of God, the Lord knocked, the word of truth, to them that ask, toils, traumatic experience, unchanging, was blind, wicked life, within the veil, your heavenly Father
Luke 11:13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Ah Friends, it’s still white and somewhat beautiful, but possibly even more dangerous, deceptive and slippery because it’s also deeper! Yeh, not a single snowplough nor sand truck has come by to work on my neighbourhood since the first snowfall on Friday, and it’s been snowing some everyday since! I wonder where the people whom we paid so much money a couple months ago to clean our drive way are eh?
And I’m sure the crooked councilors on the City Council are soon going to write me raising my property taxes, citing the increased cost of snow removal, when they’re removing less and less snow every year! Chuh! And the worst part of it all is that I’d planned to resume driving today, and celebrating by driving to church, planning to boast about how I had the best shotgun rider, Jesus Christ riding shotgun with me! (smile)
But the powers that be seem to have had other ideas. I don’t even know how deep the snow is in my driveway, and there aren’t even any tire tracks in the lane. Added to that, I’ve never driven this car in so much snow yet, because I only got it in the summer, so I don’t know exactly how it will react.
And I definitely don’t want to go out there and screw up my shoulder fighting with the steering and whatever else might happen. I even tried to contact my pastor to find out what was happening but could not get him either. So I decided to err on the path of caution, and stay home. So having said all of that to say nothing, (smile) let’s have church!
And today we’re going to be opening the celebrations with those wonderful words of John Newton that we all know and LOVE so much, ‘Amazing Grace.’ And as the GodTube website tells us: ‘This song isn’t a song of theology—it’s John Newton’s own heartfelt expression of gratitude to God, who helped him turn from his profane and wicked life and eventually fight against the ills he practiced. Later in life, Newton became a supporter and inspiration to William Wilberforce who lead the fight to pass the British Slave Trade Act in 1807, which abolished the slave trade in that empire.’
Ah my people, our great God works in such wonderful and miraculous ways, that if He could save a die-hard heathen like Newton, He can save any of us. So let’s sing those awesome words with true heartfelt gratitude, giving all praise and thanks to a most merciful and gracious God.
‘Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.’
Ah mih breddren, can you imagine those words being written by a drunken, profligate sailor involved in the slave trade eh? But the story goes that on March 21, 1748, Newton’s ship was being battered by a major storm and he was lashed to the helm to try and keep the ship on course. He was there from one o’clock till midnight.
That’s plenty time to think when one’s life seems to be slipping away. And apparently it was during that time the Lord knocked loudly on the door of his heart, and he never forgot it, writing: “On that day the Lord sent from on high and delivered me out of deep waters.”
How many of us has God delivered out of deep waters eh my people, and not necessarily deep waters literally, but figuratively? Oh people, I am one of those He delivered out of deep waters literally on Lake Ontario many years ago, and whenever I remember that traumatic experience I surely give Him thanks and praise.
And, “Many years later, as an old man, Newton wrote in his diary of March 21, 1805: “Not well able to write; but I endeavor to observe the return of this day with humiliation, prayer, and praise.” Only God’s amazing grace could and would take a rude, profane, slave-trading sailor and transform him into a child of God. Newton never ceased to stand in awe of God’s work in his life.”
And neither should we, my believing brethren. It’s also been said that Newton, though he realized the folly of his life, still felt that he was beyond saving, even if the Good Book was true; that is until he read the reassuring words of Jesus in our Bit. ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’
Now that’s a very good question my brethren! One we should truly ponder ourselves, like Newton apparently did. And while doing that, we should also consider these most appropriate verses from James. ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation), neither shadow of turning. Of his own will he begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.’ (James 1:17-18)
Yeh friends, God is the Creator of Everything, and Giver of ALL good things! He’s ONLY and ALWAYS GOOD! He ‘s immutable, DOESN’T change! And all those who have been redeemed are His firstfruits; the first step in His redemption plan for ALL creation!
So let’s consider all of that today nuh, and hope and pray and ask Him to help us come up higher in our faith walk and our undying LOVE for Him! That’s all we can do as mere mortals. But the right motives of our hearts do make a big difference with our heavenly Father! Much LOVE!
…the GRACE of God…the most powerful MOVER and SHAKER in His universe…
P.S. The quotes above come from the GodTube website and John Newton Discovered Amazing Grace @Christianity.com.
P.P.S. And would you believe, just as I’m about to send out the Bit, I hear them cleaning my drive way! Steups! Much LOVE!
11 Jan 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: alive and well, another week of work, atrophy, august leader, bacchanal, Bacchus, broad is the way, but by me, capitalist slave master, chutzpah, comes to the Father, common task, confined, daily grind, damnation, destructive path, difficult, each step I take, enter in, eternal life, eternity, fellowship, few there be that find it, flippant attitude, four day workweek, Friday chant, fun, furthering your kingdom, generous help, goes though Jesus, heaven, hell, I am the way, in Jesus name, Jesus Christ, keep promises, killing our society, lack of productivity, laziness, leads to life, looming large, more beneficial, narrow is the way, no one, on your p's and q's, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, salvation, Satan, sense of direction, slavery, strait is the gate, technological society, technology, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, thanks, that leads to destruction, the enemy, the Life, the Truth, the weekend, tiredness, two options, verve, wide is the gate, work five days in a row, workingman's song
Matthew 7:14. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate, and narrow (confined or difficult) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Wow…and more Wow! What a lot of thanks and praise is floating up to heaven today because it’s Friday, and the impending weekend that will give our tired souls and bodies a break from the daily grind and common task, after the first full week of work in this new year of 2019! No more traffic jams and crowds of people for two whole, big days…that is unless we want it. Glory be!
Ah friends, our bodies and minds are not as strong and able as they use to be even one generation ago. That’s because we’ve become accustomed to an easy style of living in our technologically advanced society that doesn’t require a whole lot of hard, physical work. Not like back in the days when agriculture was king and technology was just coming into its own.
Now technology is indeed useful, if we use it to our advantage. But unfortunately these days we’re allowing technology to use us, run our lives, do almost everything besides discharge our bodily secretions. And soon it might even be able to do that too! (smile)
Seriously though friends, technology is killing our society at the same time it is providing us with some interesting perks. We’re thinking less and doing less for ourselves, and if we continue this way, our minds and bodies will eventually atrophy, lose their effectiveness, shrivel up and become vegetative because of lack of use.
Please notice that every great society in our history began to fail and fall the day they became overly prosperous. That’s because too much prosperity leads to laziness, and therefore lack of productivity and ingenuity, which keep a society growing.
Now tell me, how did I get on this track eh? (smile) Some days I just don’t know nuh…although it makes sense. However, it’s Friday, and everybody is waiting to hear the workingman sing his song. And though he’s tired, he still finds the energy to belt it out: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday…and the weekend looming large! Brother, what a week that was! Ah can’t remember when last ah work five full days in a row nuh. But that is surely slavery yes!
Why should a man have to work five straight days out of seven eh, especially with we big technological society now eh? Whatever happen to the four-day workweek that they promise we eh? It nowhere in sight! Steups! Should have known that the capitalist slave master doh keep promises. But anyway, the weekend here and ah have time to rest some…but also to party some! Hn, hn! Can’t let the whole weekend go by and doh party…that is a sin before God! Thank God for Fridays and weekends yes!’
Ah mih people, even in the midst of tiredness, Bacchus, the god of bacchanal, still raises his ugly head. That’s how our society has been programmed. But thankfully not all of us though. We believers know the value of rest and of play, and when to indulge in either, that’s why our Friday Chant is not as extreme as the workingman’s song. So let’s chant it now with much verve and chutzpah nuh. (smile)
As one: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen!’
We seriously give thanks and praise to God, not the flippant attitude that the workingman displays, and we stay on track most of the time, or at least try to, while the workingman goes running hither, thither and yon, without any sense of direction.
That’s why our august Leader, Jesus Christ warned: ‘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 (confined or difficult) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt.7:13-14)
Yes friends, the way to hell and damnation is broad, wide and easy to find. But the path that leads to salvation and eternal life is narrow and hard to find. And why is that eh? Because it all goes through Jesus; both the gate and the way! As He so emphatically said unto his doubting disciple, Thomas: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6)
Yeh mih people, there are only two options in this life, the wide destructive path that Satan offers, or the straight and narrow one that leads through Jesus to our heavenly Father. The billion-dollar question is, which path will each of us take? I implore us to take the latter that goes through Jesus! Yes it is the more difficult path, but ultimately it is indeed the more beneficial. Much LOVE!
…two paths to eternity…the one to heaven…and the one to hell…which one will you choose…hopefully…the former…
P.S. Ah friends, the enemy is alive and well, and can come at us from any direction at any time. Would you believe that just as I was going to type in Jesus’ directive to Thomas, I paused to take a sip of water, and darkness suddenly filled the room? Just for a second though. So I had to reboot and wait for everything to come back. It’s a good thing that I’ve learned from earlier mistakes and save stuff as I go along. So please be on your p’s and q’s! Much LOVE!
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