19 Oct 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, abrogated, action, active, against the evildoers, beacons, cannot be hid, Christ's body, Christ-like, Christian faith, Christians, comfortable, compromising, courage, creativity, curse, desire, distinction, divided, do for christ, do God's will, dreams, dwelt in silence, eliminated, Enjoying Everyday Life Magazine, evil cohorts, evil stuff, flavour, fractured, glorify God, glory to God, good for nothing, good works, have life, held me up, hypocrites, imagination, in our hearts and souls, in the name of Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joyce Meyer, let your light so shine, light houses, light of the world, living the good life, lost his savour, Lucifer, make disciples, mercy, more abundantly, moving God out, negative word, our Lord and Saviour, passive, prosper, prosperity of the wicked, protection, raise a hue and cry, reality, repelling, rights, rise up, self-control, self-discipline, set on a hill, share blessings, shining brilliantly, sit passively by, stand up, succeed, success, taking away our rights, talk a lot, the church, the Holy Spirit, the Lord my help, the penultimate day, the salt of the earth, the workers of iniquity, the workweek, Thursday Blessings, trampled upon, trodden underfoot, under a bushel, up in arms, uphold what jesus stands for, vision, wisdom
Psalm 94:16. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
And then it was Thursday, the penultimate day of our workweek! And some people shout ‘Glory to God!’ thankful that the week is almost over. Hn, hn! It’s amusing that we don’t give God glory when the week begins, but are quick to do so when it ends.
Anyway, though the day has dawned somewhat cloudy, chilly and windy, it’s always nice to know that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is still out there shining as brilliantly as ever, both in our hearts and souls, so that we can be safely guided to do His will and accomplish whatever plans He has for our lives.
Now that is something for which we should all be shouting ‘Glory to God!’ The wise believers will undoubtedly do so. But let me share a li’l something from Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) that I found in one of her articles in a recent Enjoying Everyday Life Magazine.
She succinctly states: ‘The distinction between dreams and reality is called action.’ And that’s ever so true friends! Dreams will never turn into reality until we DO something with them. Otherwise, they will simply remain dreams; a glorious vision in our imagination.
Unfortunately that seems to be something that’s happening a lot in our Christian faith today. We all have dreams, some placed in our hearts by God, and we talk a lot about what we’re going to do for Christ, but nothing much ever happens, because we don’t get behind the talk and action our dreams and desires.
It’s one reason why the enemy is slowly pushing us back, and moving God out of our society. We’re not being active enough in repelling the evil stuff that’s coming against us. Everybody’s talking about their rights but Christians. And it seems that our rights are the ones that are constantly being trampled upon, and even abrogated or eliminated.
But we’re not up in arms about it. We talk some, but sit passively by, while others raise a hue and cry and eventually get what they desire. Then we claim they are taking away our rights. Steups!
That brings us to our Bit, an interesting verse from Psalm 94 – How long shall the wicked triumph? ‘Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?’
The psalmist was there bewailing the rise and prosperity of the wicked, but he did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, as we now do, so he had to look to the Lord totally for help.
Thus he continues: ‘Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost (would soon have) dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.’ (Ps.94:17-18)
And of course friends, when the going gets too rough for us, the Lord’s mercy will hold us up. But until then we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us so that we can do God’s will, make disciples of others, which also means fighting against the workers of iniquity. Otherwise why have the Holy Spirit indwelling us eh?
The church is Christ’s body, His organization here on earth, and we’re supposed to uphold all that He stands for! Are we doing that? Definitely not as much as we should!
In the first place we’re too fractured, too divided. Then overall we’re too passive, too compromising, too comfortable living the good life of the world. And remember the Lord did die that we might have life, and have it more abundantly, (John 10:10) but not the way Lucifer and his evil cohorts envision it.
So what am I saying? Listen to Jesus’ words, for He says it much better than I can. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth” but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:13-16)
There you have it my fellow believers, the words, the instructions, the desire of our Lord and Saviour, our Leader Jesus Christ. He wants us to be the salt of the earth, add His Christian, Christ-like flavour to the earth. And also shine like bright beacons; like the lighthouses that were once set on hills to guide the passing ships.
People won’t come to Him unless they see good and favourable examples in us. And sadly, I must say that right now we’re not being either salt or light because too many unbelievers are looking at us and instead of declaring us Christians, they are crying out ‘Hypocrites!’ And I doubt that that sits very well with Christ.
So let’s try and do better nuh mih people. Remember we have the Lord’s help, and with that we can do ANYTHING, if we so desire. But we must first have the desire. Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings… And friends, with such wonderful blessings being bestowed on us, how can we not have a great desire to serve and worship the Lord eh?
‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
And the corollary to that is to go out and share our blessings with others. Much LOVE!
…we have ALL we need…to be the salt of the earth…and the light of the world…except possibly the desire…
10 Jan 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anger, awesome, balance, beloved of God, bitterness, blessed, Christian mission, comforting place, darkness, dr robert h schuller, exciting thought, faith, fantastic lesson, friend of Jesus, glorification of God, glorify your heavenly Father, glory hallelujah, God LOVES me, good news, good works, graceful truth, happy report, human depravity, Jesus Christ, lay down their burdens, let your light so shine, light, light of the world, LOVE, omnipotent god, peaceful, plans of mice and men, salt, salt of the earth, set on a hill, share His love, shine, strife, the absence of light, Tuesday Mantra, under a bushel, work it out for good
Matthew 5:13-14. Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…
Ah friends, it’s a snowy Tuesday afternoon in my neighbourhood, and I so wanted to get the Bit our earlier, but as they say the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray.
I’m still trying to find a new balance in this era of heart problems and it’s not proving to be very easy. But fear not, our wonderful and omnipotent God is in full command and in His time, all will work it self out for good.
And to help us come to terms with whatever problem(s) we are facing today, here is this li’l reminder from our Hour of Power Devotional by Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H Schuller) that’s simply titled ‘GOD LOVES ME!’
Please pray with me: ‘Thank you, Lord, for this holy sentence, this good news, this happy report, this exciting thought, this graceful truth, this fantastic lesson. God LOVES me! Even when I’m at my worst – God LOVES me. Even when my faith is dim – God LOVES me anyway! It’s incomprehensible and fantastic! Thank you, Father. Amen.’
And isn’t that the gospel, gospel truth friends? Our wonderful, amazing, awesome and incomprehensible heavenly Father LOVES us in what ever state we may be in; good, bad or indifferent! And that will NEVER change! Glory Hallelujah! We are so blessed and don’t truly realize it nuh.
Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…’ Yes my fellow believers, that’s how our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ desires us to be in this lost and fallen world – salt and light!
Yesterday we looked at the salt aspect, today, let’s look at the light portion. Jesus puts it thus: ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket),
But on a candlestick (lamp stand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:14-16)
Ah mih people, our Saviour wants us to shine, and shine so brightly that we light up this entire world of darkness!
Hear how the scholars explain those verses. ‘5:14-16. Ye are the light of the world describes the essential mission of the Christian to the world. He is the condition (salt) to meet the world’s needs and he has a mission (light) to the world. His light is to clearly shine forth into the darkness of human depravity.
He is to set his light upon a candlestick, not hide it under a bushel, that is a basket. Darkness is the absence of light; and darkness alone cannot dispel the light, but the smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness.’
Always remember that please friends; the smallest light can displace great darkness! Once there is light, the darkness will flee! That’s why we need to shine, regardless of the intensity, for any bit of light is better than darkness.
And as always, the bottom line of our earthly behaviour is to glorify our heavenly Father! That’s our number one reason for being! I wonder how many of us though, even consider the effect our actions have on the glorification of our great God?
And I think that’s where a lot of us err; we don’t think enough, or sincerely about the effect our actions have on the glory of God.
Oh, I know it’s not possible to consider the effect of every action, but overall I believe we can do a better job in that department, because that’s where people are either drawn to Christ or are turned away from Him.
And I do believe that too many people are being turned away from Him these days by our less than stellar salt and light actions. But friends, it is of the utmost importance in these days of worldwide strife, anger and bitterness, we followers of Jesus give the world a peaceful and comforting place to come and lay down all their burdens.
It’s becoming more essential everyday that we be true salt and light in this wicked world. So let’s try and up the ante nuh, so that others can find a true place of rest in Jesus. Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra with a positive outlook and sense of purpose.
As one now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ Much LOVE!
…shine on…shine on…you believers…shine on…shine on for Jesus…
16 Nov 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a chance of rain, a cloudy day, a conscious decision, alive and kicking, Alpha, associated with the Saviour, Be All, believers in Jesus Christ, comforting power, confident, contentment, create happiness, day of trouble, defense, deliverance, deliverer, end all, eternal life, evil, fortress, glory to God, halfway home, happiness, healing, his anointed one, howl, I am helped, I will love thee, invalids, joy, let your light so shine, meaning, meat, mercy, Most High God Jehovah, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, my heart greatly rejoiceth, my heart trusted in him, my high tower, my rock, No one is guaranteed happiness, not looking back at the past, Omega, passion, pay for our sins, peace, refuge, rooted in Christ, sacrificed, salvation, saved from mine enemies, shining in our lives, shining like a light, sincerity, sing aloud, sinless life, solace, straight furrows, strife-filled world, stronghold, thank God, thanksgiving, the breath of life, the cross at Calvary, the foot of the cross, the horn of my salvation, the light of Jesus, the Lord is my strength and shield, the Messiah, the rich and famous, the right path, the saving strength, the spiritual Son, their own peril, time and space, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, ungodly world, wander up and down, Wednesday Wail, worthy to be praised
Psalm 28:7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Well friends, it looks like it might be a cloudy day in my area, with a chance of rain, but just because we can’t see the sun, doesn’t mean that it’s not up there behind the clouds.
And thankfully, contrary to the physical sun, the spiritual Son is always shining His light brilliantly in all His believers’ lives! Glory to God!
Without the light of Jesus shining in our lives we’d be little more than invalids in an evil and ungodly world. But through His awesome power and Spirit living in us, we can do any and every thing! What a joy to be associated with the Saviour!
Now here is an interesting quote from my ‘P.S. I LOVE YOU’ Poster. It tells us: ‘No one is guaranteed happiness. Life just gives us time and space. It’s up to us to fill it with joy and meaning.’
And isn’t that the indisputable truth! Even the rich and famous don’t just find happiness because of their wealth and fame. They too have to make a conscious decision to create happiness in their lives.
And as believers in Jesus Christ, we know that the best way to find happiness and joy is through His healing and comforting power. Constant companionship with Him, through reading His word and following His dictates gives us the wherewithal to find peace and contentment in this angry, strife filled world.
Now who wouldn’t want that eh? Apparently a lot of people don’t because they are turning away from Jesus, at their own peril.
Our job is to stop them from doing that. And for those who have already done it, to help bring them back to the foot of the cross of Jesus, where they can find solace, find joy, find eternal life and salvation.
But we can’t do that until we ourselves are fully rooted in Christ and are shining like a light in this dark world. And to help us do that today, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with true sincerity and plenty passion.
Wailing: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Yes friends, that’s how we ought to be today; thankful that we’re alive and kicking. And having taken up our cross to follow Jesus, we’re focused on what’s before us, looking straight ahead so we can plough straight furrows in His name, keeping in mind the awesome future He’s promised us. Wow! What a beautiful picture my brethren!
No wonder Bruh David could confidently declare in our Bit: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’
Oh my fellow believers, anytime we can declare that with sincerity, means we’re on the right path! It’s not always easy to do, but the more we cling to Jesus and His ways, the more we see the truth in that declaration, the more it comes to pass in our lives, and the more confident we become.
Listen to Bruh David as he declares in the verse after our Bit. ‘The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed (the Messiah, the commissioned One). (Ps.28:8)
Without a doubt friends, the Most High God Jehovah is our saving strength through His Son Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His sinless life on the cross at Calvary to pay for our sins. Now how caring and LOVING is that eh! More than enough for us to desire to shout it from the rooftops!
Now let’s look at a couple of scriptures that reinforce our Bit. Bruh David says in Psalm 59 – A prayer for deliverance. ‘Let them wander up and down for meat (food), and grudge (howl) if they be not satisfied.
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning; for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.’ (Ps.59:15-17)
Oh precious people of Christ, I do hope that that is the way we all feel, otherwise we’re in a whole lot of trouble!
Now let’s end with one of Bruh David’s most famous declarations; that from Psalm 18 – Thanksgiving for deliverance.
‘I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold). I will call upon he Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.’ (Ps.18:1-3)
Ah mih breddren, what joy and peace fills our hearts when we reach that stage where we can truly trust and believe in our magnificent and magnanimous God! There’s nothing else in this world that compares to it!
So today, as we go out into the world, let’s stand tall, hold our heads high, with our shoulders thrust back, proud that we are followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, our Be All and End All. For that’s what He expects of us. Much LOVE!
…let your light so shine…that others will come to believe…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit, it was just one of those late hockey nights. (smile) And please remember to pray for Scotty, our Scrip-Bit family member, sick in the hospital with blood pressure and diabetes problems. He desperately needs our prayers. Much LOVE!
30 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abckbreaking labour, abuse, aura of love, celebrations, Christ is Lord indeed, condemned, confidence, conquerors, conscience, degradation, distress, diverse culture, doctrine, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, ever-faithful, ever-Loving, every foe is vanquished, evildoers, faith, fire water, friends, glorify your father in heaven, good conduct, good works, Granny's warning, gusto, holy spirit, humble servants, incorruptibility, Indentured workers, Indian Arrival Day, inroads, integrity, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, let your light so shine, lies, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, made alive, Memorial Day, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, progeny, put to death, quickened, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, rest, reverence, rewarding, sincerity, sinful nature, slavery, sound speech, spiritual armour, stand up for Jesus, steadfast faith, suffer, taunts, the good fight, the trumpet call obey, the will of God, trust, truth, ungodly world, useful purpose, well doing, wiles, wisdom
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And then it was Monday… But fortunately, for many people it’s not a work day. In the U.S. it’s the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, where the brave men and women who died while serving their country in the military forces are remembered and honoured.
Meanwhile in T& T (Trinidad and Tobago) it’s a holiday celebrating Indian Arrival Day. That was the memorable day of May 30th 1845 when the Fath Al Razak docked in the harbor of Port of Spain with two hundred and something adult Indians; the first set of Indentured (contract) Workers from India.
Slavery had been abolished and it was difficult to find labourers to work in the sugar cane fields, so the Colonial masters turned to a new form of human abuse and degradation. I don’t know if it was any better than the slavery the African people suffered, because it was still back breaking labour and the Massa still held the upper hand.
If my history memory serves me right, I believe they were contracted for something like seven years and then were free to do their own thing on a plot of land so generously given to them by the plantation owners. Anyway, that’s how the diverse culture of T&T began, and continued down through the years with all sorts of other races coming to settle there.
That’s why T&T women are also some of the most beautiful in the world – and that’s no lie – (smile) with the progeny of all the different races mixed together.
Anyway, last weekend we in Canada were showing off with our Victoria Day holiday, now it’s our turn to face the music this Monday morning and go out to labour. And as always, to help us get up to speed, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty gusto and sincerity.
As one heavenly choir 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!’
Ah mih people, that wasn’t so hot nuh. Chuh! You could tell that the U.S. and T&T people with their hoarse, raspy voices were already into their cups. Hn! Our choirmaster, Jesus, just shook His head and sighed a knowing sigh.
And I guess I’ll have to take a little of the blame for that since I forgot to offer Granny’s warning per these long holiday weekends. ‘Sonny Boy, please, ah beg yuh; drunk or sober, please mind yuh business!’
And as true believers, we definitely have to remember that, because when we get into the celebrations, especially the fire breathing ‘waters’, we lose all sense of responsibility and give the ever lurking enemy a chance to get into our soul and disrupt it.
And with a disrupted soul we obviously can’t do what Jesus asks of us in our Bit. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’
When our brain is all muddled and befuddled our lights definitely are not shining, neither are we doing good works. And we’re definitely not glorifying our heavenly Father, but rather letting Him down, sullying His holy name.
So all you friends in the U.S and T&T, please be careful, let’s not spoil the good thing we have going, with our wonderful, ever-faithful, ever-LOVING God.
Now let’s check out what Bruh Paul had to say to his apostolic delegate Titus on the subject. ‘But speak thou the things which become (are proper for) sound doctrine… In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness (integrity), gravity (reverence), sincerity (incorruptibility), Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part (an opponent) may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.‘ (Titus 2:1,7-8)
Yes friends, it’s important that the enemy doesn’t have anything bad to say about us, as Peter talks about per suffering and reward. ‘Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation (conduct) in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit.’ (1 Pet.3:16-18)
Ah mih people, a Christian’s life can be indeed be difficult and somewhat unfair at times, but overall, believe me, it is very rewarding. And we’ll close with some explanations from the scholars. ‘3:16. A good conscience refers to a clear conscience, that is, one void of offense.’
‘3:17. In the will of God we are sometimes called on to suffer for well-doing as a testimony to others.’ ‘3:18. That he might bring us to God means in order that Christ might bring us to, or give us access to God.’
Oh my brethren, none of us like pain and suffering, but it is the lot of our sinful nature, and if we sincerely turn to God in our times of distress, He will give us the wherewithal to bear it. Please remember that. Now let’s go out and continue the good fight so that Jesus’ LOVE Revolution can be successful! Much LOVE!
…stand up, stand up for Jesus…the trumpet call obey…till every foe is vanquished…and Christ is Lord indeed…
11 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a crying shame, a voice crying in the wilderness, all fired-up, around the mulberry bush, aura of love, boring, common task, confidence, covenant, Creator of the universe, darkness, elbow grease, enlightened, enthusiasm, evil, facade-filled lives, faithful believers in Jesus, fictitious, glamour, glory to God, graven images, gusto, hanker after, his inheritance in the saints, holy spirit, humble servants, hunger, I am the light of the world, invincible, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, jet-set life, jobs, John the Baptist, let your light so shine, lies, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, Messiah, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, open the blind eyes, praise, prison, prisoners, quit complaining, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., rise and shine, salvation, sit in darkness, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, surrender, taunts, the children of men, the daily grind, the dayspring, the eyes of your understanding, the Gentiles, the hope of his calling, the light of life, the rich and famous, the riches of his glory, the shadow of death, truth, ungodly world, walk in darkness, wiles, worked their butts off, Zechariah
Ephesians 1:18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
Well friends, here we go again; one more time around the mulberry bush. (smile) It’s Monday, that means getting into the daily grind and common task of work for another week. Obviously it’s no fun, but it needs to be done.
Too many of us look for and covet the exciting life we seem to think that others have, but believe me, most of what passes for glamour today is boring and fictitious. So please let’s not hunger and hanker after the façade-filled lives of the supposed beautiful people, the rich and famous who tool around in fancy cars and live the jet-set life, for many of them are not what they seem to be.
Oh I know we tend to say it’s better to be rich and unfulfilled, than to be poor and fulfilled. And besides, many of the rich actually worked their butts off to get to that position, so it’s not like you can just daydream and get rich and powerful, you do have to put in some elbow grease, whatever kind it may be, to reach those heights.
So quit the complaining, let’s rise and shine and get ourselves together like the faithful believers in Jesus Christ that we are! And as always, we do have our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to get us all fired-up. So let’s sing it with plenty gusto and enthusiasm.
‘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!’
Good job mih people, good job! It wasn’t spectacular, but it was certainly good enough to please our choirmaster, Jesus, to bring a smile to His handsome face.
Now let’s turn to our Bit, the same as yesterday. ‘The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.’
And I do hope we pondered what we spoke about yesterday and the eyes of our understanding were enlightened, (smile) because today I want to look at some scriptures where the Lord promised to open our eyes to what He was about.
And we’ll begin with this promise from Isaiah, when the servant (Christ) comes to glorify the Lord. ‘I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of (to) the people, for a light of (to) the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring them out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.’ (Is.42:6-7)
Yes my fellow believers, from way back then, the good Lord promised to open our eyes and show us the light, which He did through the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Now listen to the prophecy of John the Baptist’s father Zechariah when he regained his speech, re John’s mission. ‘And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring (dawn, Messiah) from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 2:76-79)
And that’s exactly what John the Baptist did! He was a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the path for Christ. Oh friends, our God is and has been so wonderful to us, that it’s a crying shame the way we respond to His LOVING-kindness!
Those prophecies take us back to Isaiah, where He declares: ‘I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.’ (Is.42:8-9)
Now that we cannot dispute, because all the Lord’s prophetic dispensations have come to pass!
And we’ll end with the words of Jesus on the subject. ‘Then spake Jesus again unto them (the scribes and Pharisees) saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12)
Oh my brethren, Jesus was indeed the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy! And did He ever open our eyes and lead us out of the dark prison that we were languishing in! All praise and glory to the Most High God for His goodness to the children of men!
Now let’s go forth in that light this Monday morning in this leap year of 2016, and light up the world through the strength and wherewithal of Jesus, for that’s what we are called to do! Much LOVE!
…ye are the light of the world…let your light so shine…
16 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a loss for words, Aloha Friends and neighbours, anguish, ask for the old paths, darkness, death, deliverance, disaster, divine revelation, evil, false prophets, familiar spirits, find rest for your souls, for signs and wonders, glorify your father in heaven, good works, hidden under a bushel, history repeats itself, holy spirit, house of Jacob, hungry, Israel, jehovah god, Jeremiah, Judah's destruction, let your light so shine, life, light of the world, lord of hosts, LOVE, Lucifer, male soothsayers, mediums, priest, profane, profane the name of God, prophet Habakkuk, punishment, righteousness., run rampant, salt has lost its flavour, salt of the earth, secrets of darkness, seek God, slippery ways, speechless, spiritism, stand in the ways and see, stubborn refusal, though it tarry, traditional ways, troubled times, truth of the matter, ungodly world, wait for it, wait upon the Lord, way of the ungodly, where is the good way, wickedness, witches, wizards, Zion
Jeremiah 6:16. 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 shall not walk therein.
Aloha Friends and Neighbours! The ole fella is at a loss for words this Saturday morning. Can you believe that? Chuh!
Well it happens to best of us at times, but I’m sure it won’t be for long, once the Holy Spirit jumps into the breach and shows me what our great God wants to talk to us about today.
Yeh, the anointing is taking a little while to come, (smile) but come it will. As the prophet Habakkuk says, ‘though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Hab. 2:3b)
Yes Friends, the Lord will not leave me speechless for long… then look out! You might end up wishing that He had left me speechless. (smile)
Anyway my brethren, let’s get to our Bit, so hopefully I can finish it up today. ‘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.’
And before we go any further, listen to these comments from the scholars. ‘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 lead only 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 Friends, I shared Jer.18:15 with you yesterday, now listen to this other scripture from Jerry that the scholars identify, which deals with the fate that awaits the false prophets.
‘For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness saith the Lord. Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil (disaster) upon them, even the year of their visitation (punishment), saith the Lord.’ (Jer.23:11-12)
Oh my people, how does history ever repeat itself eh? For in these troubled times there are also many false prophets and priests who exhibit wickedness rather than righteousness and profane the Lord’s Word. Don’t worry though, eventually they will pay the price, just as the Lord promised.
But listen to this passage from Isaiah, re deliverance foreshadowed: ‘And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (are mediums), and unto wizards that peep (whisper), and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead (hard pressed) and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves (be enraged), and curse (by) their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness (gloom) of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.’ (Is.8:17-22)
Now hear how the scholars characterize that scripture: ‘8:19-22. Familiar spirits refers to witches, and wizards refers to male soothsayers. Peep and…mutter is better rendered “chirp and whisper.” In times of distress people often turn to witchcraft instead of God.
The prophet warns them not to seek these mediums for the living to the dead, that is “Do not consult the dead on behalf of the living.” This warning speaks against spiritism and calls the reader back to the law and… the testimony as the only basis for interpreting a claim to divine revelation.’
But unfortunately my brethren, in these sad, troubled and fearful times, those who trade in the secrets of darkness are seeing a renaissance of their evil work, because more and more frightened people are going to these quacks than are turning to Jehovah God, as they should. How sad, my people.
But that’s where we believers come in. As Jesus said, we are supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; therefore it’s our job to bring true flavour and light to those who are still shrouded in darkness. (Matt.5:13-14) But are we doing as He commanded?
I daresay, not to the extent that is needed. We are falling down on the job my fellow believers, that’s why Lucifer and his evil cohorts are having such a field-day in the current world.
Jesus declared to His disciples, and therefore to us: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16)
Oh Friends, today I want us to sit down and seriously and truly ponder whether we are being bright lights in a dark world, as Jesus desires. It’s imperative that we fulfill that role, otherwise Beelzebub and his evil buddies will continue to run rampant and roughshod over the earth. And that we definitely can’t allow!
So let us each consider if we’re making a serious and sincere difference in this ungodly world nuh. And if we’re not doing as well as we ought to, then let’s petition the Lord for His help in doing so. You know He will be only too glad to grant our requests in that direction.
But seriously my brethren, we definitely have to do better, if we want to win the world for Jesus. There are no ifs, ands, and buts on that score my fellow believers, that’s just the way it is; simply the truth of the matter. Much LOVE!
… Jesus asked us to be salt and light to a darkened world…but it seems our salt has lost its flavour…and our light is being hidden under a bushel…thus the empowerment of darkness in the world today…
29 Jul 2012
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: belly and backbone, christianity, everlasting arms of Jesus, fear God, future generations, let your light so shine, light of the world, obey God not man, passing the torch of God, when the SON returns
Acts 5:29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Oh Friends, another glorious morn is preparing to come up over the distant horizon. Soon the Sun will be blazing forth in all its glory and majesty, just like the SON will do when He returns. In the meanwhile though, His true followers must reflect His light in a world so badly affected by the darkness that is evil. Jesus said: ‘Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:14,16) Therefore, in this evil world, Christians are to shine like a bright beacon on a hill in a dark, stormy night, so that weary travellers will be safely guided in their long, dangerous, earthly journey and finally end up at a place of rest, comfort, caring and peace. A place called the everlasting, ever-LOVING arms of Jesus. Yes Friends, we believers ought to be perceived by the unbelievers as guiding lights in a dark, destructive and wicked world! And here’s a quote by the famous Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) that wisely and rightly endorses Jesus’ contention. ‘Life is not a “brief candle.” It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.’ Gospel truth Friends, gospel truth! I guess we can compare it to the passing of the torch in the Olympic Games, the current edition of which is now taking place in England. Many of you must have seen the lavish opening ceremonies two days ago. I never planned to watch it, but the Lord in His mysterious ways had me do so. I had taped a football game and when I went to watch it, lo and behold the opening ceremony of the games jumped out at me. Obviously I was a bit perturbed, figuring that the football game had been bypassed for the ceremony, so I watched it. Now it was indeed a good show, but after writing the Bit that day about all the hunger, poverty, pain and the many other negatives in our world crying out for money, I was somewhat angered by it all. But we’ll leave that alone, for all the big, expensive, waste of time festivals that only enrich the already rich, don’t sit well with me. Anyway, the billion dollar question (a million is too small now) is how do we begin to shine that light of Jesus, so that we can pass that bright torch to future generations? Well, we’ve got to start with the principle laid out in our Bit: ‘Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.’ Yes mih people, all our good intentions are of no use until we actually begin obeying God’s sound principles and not the selfish, greedy, evil ones of man. We saw how the apostles put the Jewish council in their place when they told them to stop preaching Christ. Another excellent example of that is Daniel and his friends. When the Jewish teens were brought to Babylon and enrolled in a training programme to convert them to the Chaldean image, the young men refused to eat food offered up to idols or pray to the heathen gods. The Good Book tells us: ‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat (delicacies), nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.’ (Dan.1:8) Oh my people, how many of us today have the parts to stand up to the world’s evil and refuse to bow to their wickedness and idolatrous ways? Not sufficient of us I believe, otherwise our world wouldn’t be in such a sad state. But here’s what happens when we do. ‘Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender LOVE (sympathy) with the prince of the eunuchs.’ (Dan.1:9) Yes Friends, when we’re prepared to stand up faithful and strong for God, He will help us in whatever we’re going through. Remember that promise to never leave or forsake us. (Heb.13:5) Daniel and his friends chose to eat vegetables and drink water rather than the idol offered food of the king, and they ended up looking better than all the others in the programme. The Good Book also declares: ‘As for these four children (young men), God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning (literature) and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.’ (Dan.1:17) Praise the Lord Friends! He blessed the young men so that they were the fairest and brightest amongst the lot, and could therefore go forth into the heathen world and proclaim His glory. We know how three of the four were thrown into the fire and came out untouched, not even smelling of smoke. They had previously told king Nebuchadnezzar about their God saving them from the fire. ‘But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.’ (Dan.3:18) Oh mih bredden, it certainly took plenty B, B, and B, (balls, belly and backbone) for those young men to talk like that to an absolute monarch, one who could do whatever he desired with them. Likewise Daniel, when the jealous leaders plotted to have him thrown into the lion’s den for continuing to pray to his God despite the king’s decree. Daniel just kept right on believing in, following and praying to the God of his fathers. (Dan.6:10) And when he was finally thrown into the lion’s den, the Lord shut the lions mouth and he came out completely unharmed. (Dan.6:14-23) Oh Friends, such is the power of our omnipotent God! Remember that nothing is impossible for Him, and if we faithfully worship and obey Him, He will work wonders in our lives. Note how He used Daniel over some sixty years to bring three heathen kings to their knees and acknowledge His supremacy. ‘Then king Darius wrote unto all the people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men (must) tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He deilvereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power (paw) of the lions.’ (Dan.6:25-27) And all God’s people raised a mighty shout of ‘Amen!’ to heaven. Much LOVE my people!…when we stand up for Jesus…He will also stand up for us…
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