26 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dispensary for spiritual food, a wise and godly manner, accept His easy yoke and light burden, advocating on our behalf, all knees must bow, all we want is you Jesus, an outward indication of an inner condition, as the manner of some is, as ye see the day approaching, be considered righteous, bring all things to your remembrance, came down from heaven, Christ our High Priest, Christ's return draws near, come to our senses, comfort us, dark midnight was my cry, every tongue confess, exhorting one another, faith, fellowship, give me Jesus, his sinless life on the cross, holy spirit, in the morning when I rise, Jesus Christ, Jesus gives us true peace, Jesus is all I need, Jesus is all we really need, Jesus is Lord, just about the break of day, keep encouraging each other, like white on rice, live with me till eternity, looking unto Jesus, Lord of Lords, LOVE, love him the way we ought to, mercy, no more death, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, our rest and our refuge, poetic licence, reciprocal encouragement, remember the Sabbath day, salvation, seek Jesus with a sincere heart, selflessly sacrificing, showed his undying love for us, steadfastly cling to Jesus, strengthening, sweet sacrifices of praise, teach you all things, that we could be set free, the answer to our prayers, the assembling of God's people, the author and finisher of our faith, the calm in the storm, the church is a body interacting, the Comforter, the entire worship of Christ, the great invitation, the King of Kings, the name that is above every other name, the new heaven and the new earth, the peace that surpasses all understanding, the Prince of Peace, to keep it holy, to the glory of the Father, truth, we worship you Lord, what a treasure we have in Jesus, when I am alone, when I come to die, when I want to sing, wipe away all tears, wisdom, worthy to return to God, you can have all this world
Hebrews 12:2b. ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (originator and perfector) of our faith.’
It’s Sunday my brethren, and you know what that means; it’s time to fellowship in the Lord’s sanctuary, as that’s His command for the Sabbath day: ‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ (Ex. 20:8) And the author of Hebrews also reminds us of the importance of a regular gathering of believers, when he writes: ‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:25) Yes friends, it’s ever so important for us to keep encouraging each other as the day of Christ’s return draws ever closer.
And I like how the scholars explain that verse. They say; ‘Not forsaking the assembling is an admonition that involves far more than erratic attendance. It involves the entire worship of Christ and is an outward indication of an inner condition. The assembling of God’s people provides opportunity for reciprocal encouragement, strengthening, and the stirring up that is gained from one another (cf. Col. 3:12-16) It consists of participation in worship and fellowship. The church is a body interacting (1 Cor. 12:14-27); it is not merely a dispensary for spiritual food and medicine.’ Please my people, let’s remember that and attend church regularly and also get involved with the activities that take place there.
Now, let’s get to today’s song of worship. It’s simply but oh so elegantly and importantly titled: ‘Give me Jesus.’ And it seems this Christian song has been around for a long time, since about the mid-nineteenth century. No one knows who really wrote it, and apparently even the slaves sang it. But in the twenty-first century, people like Fernando Ortega have revised and recorded it. And for our purposes, I’ve taken poetic license and included a couple of verses from other renditions. However, as always, we’ll do a Danny Gokey soulful, scintillating version, with its haunting piano, soulful strings and beautiful background vocals.
So, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise with truly heartfelt sentiments. Singing: ‘Ohhh ohhh, Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus…In the morning when I rise, In the morning when I rise, In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus. (Chorus: Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus.) When I am alone, Oh When I am alone When I am alone, Give me Jesus, You can have all this world Just Give me Jesus For He is all that I need, Just Give me Jesus.
Dark midnight was my cry, Dark midnight was cry, Dark midnight was my cry, Give me Jesus. [Chorus] Just about the break of day, Just about the break of day, Just about the break of day, Give me Jesus. (Chorus) And when I want to sing, And when I want to sing, And when I want to sing, give me Jesus. (Chorus) Oh, when I come to die, Oh, when I come to die, Oh, when I come to die, Give me Jesus. (Chorus: Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, give me Jesus.
Yes, you can have all this world, Just Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus, for He’s all I need. In the morning when I rise…when I lay my head down…when I wake up…all I want is Jesus… I need Him…Just give me Jesus… All I need is Him. We worship You Lord, Yes, we worship You. You’re the answer to our prayers, You’re the calm in the storm, You are our rest and our refuge…All we want is You Jesus… So, you can have all the world, Just give us Jesus… Yes, You can have all the world, Just give us Jesus, Yes, just give us Jesus…’
And that’s exactly how it ought to be my faithful brethren! They can take all the world has to give, once we have Jesus, we’re more than satisfied, for He is ALL we really need. Who else has done, or can even dream of doing all that He’s done for us eh? Who else came down from heaven and showed His undying LOVE for us, by selflessly sacrificing His sinless life on the cross so that we could be set free, to be considered righteous and thus worthy to be returned to the Father’s fold? Nobody else did it friends. Nobody else but Jesus!
And tell me who gave us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to remind us of His commandments and to lead, guide and comfort us in a wise and godly manner? Only Jesus! As He says in John’s gospel. ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.’ (John 14:26) And what about peace? He alone gives us true peace; peace that surpasses all understanding. (John 14:27; 16:33) Why? Because He is the Prince of Peace! (Is. 9:6)
And what about our Christian faith eh? It’s Jesus who also gave us that. As the Bible tells us: ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (originator and perfector) of our faith.’ (Heb. 12:2b) And who gives us that Great Invitation, to come to Him whenever we’re weary and heavy burdened, so that we can find rest for our souls and take up His easy yoke and light burden? (Matt. 11:28-30) No one else but Jesus! And who is the mightiest of them all eh; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? The name that is above every other name, to which all knees will eventually bow? And every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. (Phil. 3:9-11) That’s Jesus!
And tell me nuh, who is going to wipe away all tears from my eyes, so that there won’t be any more death, sorrow, crying or pain? (Rev. 21:4) Nobody but Jesus! And who is our High Priest that sits beside the Father in heaven advocating and interceding on our behalf? (Heb. 4:14-15) Of course it’s Jesus! And finally, who’s going to offer me salvation and come and live with me till eternity in the new heaven and new earth eh? (Rev. 21:1-3) Only Jesus!
Therefore, with all that Jesus is, has done, can and will do, why I would I want or need anybody else but Him eh? No reason whatsoever! So, please let’s come to our senses and realize what a treasure we have in Jesus and appreciate and LOVE Him the way we truly ought to! Much LOVE!
…godly wisdom dictates…that you seek Jesus with a sincere heart…then steadfastly cling to Him…like white on rice…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
11 Mar 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a boost to our collective spirits, a formula for achieving peace, a much needed break, a set of wusses, a solid foundation, as the light, be not envious against, Bible, birds chirping, blessed are the meek, bring forth thy righteousness, cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, cease from anger, commit thy way unto the Lord, confidently trust in the Lord, delight themselves, delight thyself also in the Lord, do not fear, don't be jealous, duty bound, easy living, entitled to the good life, evildoers shall be destroyed, faith, for ever and ever, for faith and hope, forsake wrath, fret not thyself because of evildoers, get up the gumption, give thee the desires of thine heart, God's intervening hand, God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's, he shall bring it to pass, holy spirit, hurry, I am the Lord, I am the Lord I change not, in due time, in god's eyes, in the face of the wicked's prosperity, ineffectual people, Jesus Christ, justice, keep the devil at bay, keep the Lord in first place, like white on rice, LOVE, mercy, of the prosperous evildoer, power to resist the devil, prosperous times, resist the devil, Rest in the Lord, ruling the roost, salvation, shall inherit the earth, share His love with my neighbours, soon be cut down like grass, spring is near, the abundance of peace, the Beatitudes, the beloved of God, the man who brings wicked schemes to pass, the meek shall inherit the earth, the tools we need, the tough winter, the unchanging nature of God, the whole wide world, the workers of iniquity, those that wait upon the Lord, thy judgement as the noonday, tormented day and night, trust in the Lord and do good, trust my freind Jesus, truth, wait patiently for him, we'll all get our comeuppance, wisdom, with all of life's problems, wither as the green herb, without lifting a finger, worry, wrath only causes harm
Psalm 37:1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Oh friends, it’s another beautiful, sunshiny day in my area, with temperatures supposedly around plus 7 degrees. Wow! Now, yesterday it was also supposed to be around the same temperature, but it surely didn’t feel that warm. Thankfully though, most of the snow has now melted, and if this warm weather continues, then it shall soon be all gone.
And by the way, I heard some other good news this morning; some birds chirping outside my bedroom window. Was I ever surprised. Birds chirping in the second week of March? It’s either they didn’t go south for the winter, or they believe that spring is near, so they came back. And when I came downstairs just now and looked out the kitchen window, I saw a couple of them frolicking in their usual fashion out there. It would surely be a boost to our collective spirits if spring was right around the corner, giving us a much-needed break from the tough winter that we’ve now become unaccustomed to. (smile)
Yes, we’ve gotten so accustomed to the easy living of these modern and prosperous times that what in earlier times would have been a normal winter, has now become a winter of huge proportions. What a set of wusses, that’s weak, shallow, ineffectual people we’ve become! No wonder we feel so entitled to living the good life without even lifting a finger to make it happen. But do not fear, we will all get our comeuppance in due time. The Lord’s promised it, and we know that whatever He promises will come to pass…in His good time. (smile)
And what’s on tap for today, you ask? Well, I just opened the Good Library, and this most interesting and most relevant psalm jumped out at me. It’s Psalm 37, where Bruh David writes about Trust In the Lord. So let’s read it together nuh, and see what good and useful information we can glean from it. He begins: ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps. 37:1-2)
And right there in the opening verses my people, we have some very important and reassuring words. Don’t be jealous and envious of those who do evil and seem to prosper, for their undeserved prosperity will eventually be diminished by God’s intervening hand. Now, those words of reassurance have never been needed more than in these very evil and ungodly times, where Satan’s rule is at it’s highest. And how do we counter Satan’s attempts to inveigle us into his evil doings.
Bruh David lays it our very plainly in these following verses of the psalm. ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on God’s faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.’ (Ps. 37:3-6) Yes my brethren, those are the basic ways to keep the devil at bay and the Lord in first place in our lives, so that He can uplift and exalt us in due time.
And we all know that sticking to the Lord like white on rice is not easy in these very turbulent and chaotic times, but He’s given us all the tools we need to do it, we simply have to get up the gumption to use them, and not let the seemingly pleasurable things of the world get us off track, like Beelzebub is trying so hard to do. And if we do that to the best of our ability, here’s what Bruh David says will happen. ‘And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday.’ (Ps. 37:6) For sure! The Lord will ensure your justice and righteousness, if you make Him number one in your life.
Then Bruh David adds a li’l langniappe, or extra for good measure, when he continues: ‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who propsereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (for it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place (look diligently for it), and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.’ (Ps. 37:7-11)
Oh my fellow saints, the wicked are ruling the roost right now, but we know that eventually the Lord will cut them down like the grass withers at high noon, so we should encourage ourselves and each other not to give up, not to let the worthless baubles and bangles that the enemy flashes in front of our faces to lure us into his evil trap. The Lord’s promised, and He’s faithful. So let’s stand strong and wait on Him. He knows what He’s doing. Remember His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours, that we cannot even begin to understand them. (Is. 55:8-9)
Remember too, that Satan is a created being just like us, and his power is nonexistent in our lives, unless we allow him to use it. And the Bible tells us that when the Lord’s ready, He will get rid of him forever. ‘And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.’ (Rev. 20:10) So friends, it’s certainly within our power to resist the devil, but we have to use the tools provided, if we wish to do it successfully.
And I like how the scholars explain it. ‘The psalm also contains a simple formula for achieving peace of mind in the face of the wicked’s prosperity: fret not…neither be thou envious (vs. 1), trust…do good (vs. 3), delight thyself also in the Lord (vs. 4), commit thy way…trust (vs. 5), rest…wait patiently…fret not (vs. 7), cease from anger…forsake wrath…fret not (vs.8). All of these exhortations urge the believer to confidently trust in the Lord with all of life’s problems. The psalm concludes appropriately with an undying affirmation of faith and trust in the unchanging character of God.’
Yes friends, our God is immutable, unchangeable! And we see the Lord saying that in Malachi: ‘For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ (Mal. 3:6) ‘That implies that God’s character and eternal purposes do not change, which gives a solid foundation for his people’s faith and hope.’ Amen!
Now let’s go home with boosted faith and spirits, declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that declaration (steups!!!) we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…Jesus reaffirmed Bruh David’s promise in the Beatitudes…blessed are the meek…for they shall inherit the earth… (Matt. 5:5)
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 Mar 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a light unto my path, a one-way street, a two-way street, all these things shall be added unto you, Ash Wednesday, ask and it shall be given to you, choose to do right, dieting, doing our part, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, fasting, giving up stuff, God-fearing life, halfway home, hands on the plough, help me love your every wish, His Part - My Part, holy spirit, I expect your help dear Lord, it is written, Jesus Christ, knock and it shall be opened, let not any iniquity have dominion over me, like white on rice, live by God's dictates, LOVE, make your word my guide, making music unto the Lord, mercy, more than we can ask or imagine, not turning back, obedience brings God's blessings, One Year Book of Bible promises, order my steps in thy word, reassure me, refresh and revive me, riotous living, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, seek and ye shall find, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, sinful excesses, stay steadfast, stop me wanting any plan but yours, thank God, that your promises are mine, the abundant life, the bacchanal finish, the breath of life, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Lenten season, thy word is a lamp unto my feet, to a glorious future with Jesus, to depend upon you increasingly, to obey you, to revere and honour you, trust, trust you totally, truth, unmoved by any circumstance, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, work in me that steadfast trust, you're not going to start with me, your will to be my will
Psalm 119:133. Order (direct) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity (sin) have dominion (rule over) over me.
And finally, all the bacchanal done now! After all the riotous living and excesses of Carnival, everybody suddenly get pious and godly this Ash Wednesday morning! (smile) Who not dieting and fasting, giving up something to make them feel good for the Lenten season. It’s a good thing that I don’t do much, so I don’t have anything to give up. If I give up anything, then I won’t be doing anything at all. I don’t need to fast either, because I do that every day with the hours I eat between meals.
And dieting…no way Jose! I need to put back on some pounds after the lot I recently lost from my illness. What I believe I need to do is to get back to doing some of the things I haven’t been doing, like writing something besides the Bit, and making some music unto the Lord. Anyway, we all have our own peculiarities and eccentricities in dealing with Lent, and who’s to say who’s right from wrong eh? Certainly not me! (smile)
Now today, we’re going to look at an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. As always, I’m not sure if I’ve ever shared this one, but since they are all so interesting and appropriate to our needs, they can all be shared several times. (smile) This poem is titled ‘His Part – My Part.’
So please read with me: ‘Lord You want me to trust You so totally That I am unmoved by any circumstance: Then work in me that steadfast trust. You want me to choose to do right: Then turn me from wanting any plan but Yours. You want me to revere and honour You: Then refresh and revive me. You want me to obey You uninterruptedly: Then make Your Word my guide. You want me to depend upon You increasingly: Then reassure me that Your promises are mine. You want Your will to be my will: Then help me to LOVE Your every wish. – – – – – I expect Your help dear Lord For You’ve never broken a single promise And you’re not going to start with me.’
Oh my people, we’ve got that ever so right! The Lord’s NEVER broken a single promise, and He’s not going to begin with us if we stick to Him steadfastly and closely like white on rice, and bring to His attention all the promises He’s made us. Let Him know, as Jesus said to Satan: ‘It is written.’ Written in His faithful Word. But please, let’s remember the title of the poem ‘His Part – My Part.’ The Lord is quite capable of doing His part, but are we capable of doing our part, and if so, are we willing to do it?
That’s the million-dollar question! We want the Lord to do all sorts of things for us, and we’re quite right, because Jesus also told us to: ‘Ask, and it shall be giving you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ (Matt. 7:7) So asking and seeking and knocking of God is not wrong, but we must also be manifesting, demonstrating some basic trust, faith, LOVE and obedience in His direction. Otherwise, it would just be a one-way street; coming from God alone, and not a two-way street like it ought to be.
Yes friends, we can ask for all that we need within God’s will, and He will meet those needs as Jesus promised. if we place Him first in our everyday lives. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) There we have it, another promise of God which we can make Him keep, if we seek Him and His kingdom above everything else.
And the Bible promise for our poem today comes from none other than the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. This verse says, quite appropriately: ‘Order (direct) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity (sin) have dominion (rule over) over me.’ (Ps. 119: 133) Now that’s a nice, overall, all containing request. It gets right to the heart of the matter; being guided by the Lord’s Word, so that no sin can overcome us.
And how do we do that? By allowing this other verse from Psalm 119 to be uppermost in our lives. ‘Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105) Yes my faithful brethren, the Lord’s Word was given to us to be our Guidebook for earthly living, and if we sincerely study it and put it into action in our lives, we will live the abundant life that Christ died for us to have. Not that we won’t have problems, but we’ll be able to handle those problems in a calm and peaceful manner, just like Jesus did when He lived here on earth.
And that’s the beauty of making Jesus our Lord and Saviour; He enables us to live a good, strong and solid, God-fearing life despite the trials and tribulations we will face. No One else, or no other organization, even if they promise it, can truly do it! Only Jesus Christ! And having said that, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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!’
Now, there’s one more promise that you might not know of; it’s said that if you endure with Jesus right to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. Wow! So please, let’s stay steadfast with the programme nuh, so that we can meet and enjoy that more than glorious future at the very end! Much LOVE!
…if we truly want to be God’s people…then we truly have to live by His dictates…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
03 Mar 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a maturing affection for God and man, be reconciled with God the Father, bear good fruit, Christ sacrificed His sinless life for us, come unto me all ye that labour, conforming to God's will, curse, divine protection, faith, filled with the joy peace and love of Christ, follow after righteousness, for we brought nothing into this world, get close to Jesus, godliness, I am meek and lowly in heart, I will give you rest, in the midst of confusion, indwelling Holy Spirit, lay not up earthly treasures, lay up treasures for yourselves in heaven, like white on rice, living for Jesus, LOVE, meekness, my yoke is easy and my burden light, negative word, patience, promotion, propser, rise from the dead, stay sane, succeed, take my yoke upon you, the great invitation, the only wise way to live, the ultimate way to live, Thursday Blessings, turbulent world, we can carry out nothing, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves break through and steal
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
And a good morning to all you my wonderful Scrip-Bit friends and family out there in the many parts of this crazy and turbulent world! I do hope that your day is going well, that you are filled with the joy, peace and LOVE of Christ Jesus, for that is the ultimate way to live. But I know that’s not always easy because of our constantly changing circumstances, which tend to confuse and muddy the waters of this earthly life. (smile) However, if we want to stay sane and unruffled in the midst of the unprecedented confusion that’s going on around us, we have to get as close to Jesus as possible, and more importantly, stay as close to Him as possible, like white on rice. (smile)
Why is that you ask? Because it’s only when we are closely aligned with Him that we can successfully handle the trials and tribulations that surround us. Nothing, or no one else but Jesus can give us the confidence and the faithful promises of always walking beside us, of never leaving nor forsaking us, of their indwelling Holy Spirit leading and guiding and comforting us through all the hardships of our earthly journey.
Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who sacrificed His sinless life on the cross to pay for our sins, and who rose again from the grave, thus defeating death and its allies, and thereby giving us the magnificent opportunity to be reconciled with God the Father and rise also from the dead and live forever with Him! No one else can lay claim to such a miraculous feat! Now to me, that means Jesus is someone very worthy to be associated with, to live for…and even to die for!
And living for Christ is not that difficult if we truly consider it. Listen to how He puts it in His Great Invitation to all who would put their sincere trust in Him. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
Mama Mia! Can you find a better invitation than that anywhere in this world my brethren? Obviously not! And the good thing about it is that we know Jesus has the parts and the power to keep all the promises He makes! So why do we refuse to accept His marvellous invitation eh? Especially when we don’t have any better to turn to. Would you consider what Satan offers, better than Christ’s? Not on your life! Because all Satan has to offer is a bunch of lies, deceit, and fraud, with worldly stuff that rots and grows old.
Listen again, to how Jesus makes His case for hanging out with Him. ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ (Matt. 6:19-21) Yes friends, the treasures of this world are not worth losing our souls over, for they eventually rot and turn to dust, even when thieves steal them. (smile)
Furthermore, as Bruh Paul said to Timothy: ‘For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.’ (1 Tim. 6:7) Now that’s the gospel truth! We came with nothing and will leave with nothing! Even if they embalm you and put all your worldly wealth in a tomb like the Egyptian Pharaohs did, your spirit will float away to the next life and leave it all behind. So what’s the point of running down earthly wealth.
And the scholars provide a rather interesting explanation of that verse. They say: ‘Man enters the world at birth possessing nothing, in order to teach him that he will exit the world in the same manner – taking nothing with him. This is a divine means of showing man that since material wealth is relatively insignificant, he should pursue the important things mentioned in verse 11.’
Now what are those things you ask? Hear Bruh Paul spell them out. ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things (the LOVE of money, the root of all kinds of evil, the striving for material wealth and the resultant woes they bring); and follow after (pursue) righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness.’ (1 Tim. 6:11) And those are the things which will cause us to store up treasures in heaven, as well as live a good and godly life down here on earth.
And the scholars explain those things as follows: ‘Righteousness is practical correctness, conforming to God’s will in one’s thinking and acting. Godliness is proper reverence for, and obedience to God. Faith is a trust in God that grows stronger. LOVE is a maturing affection for God and man. Patience is perseverance or steadfastness in life and service. Meekness is gentleness.’ And that’s the way we live for Jesus, in simple, practical and understandable terms!
Now tell me, is living for Satan in hate, sin, anger, evil, fraud, lies and deceit better than living for Jesus? No way! Especially when Jesus can also give you the worldly wealth without you having to sell your soul, like Satan requires. And whatever Jesus gives you will not diminish or disappear like whatever comes from his Satanic majesty!
And furthermore, does the evil enemy bestow on you any of these things we call our Thursday Blessings? That’s blessings we don’t deserve, but which Jesus oh so generously bestows on us so we can do His earthly work. Absolutely not! Now let’s declare them in strong voice so that they can take hold in our souls, bodies and spirits, and thus be manifested in our daily lives.
‘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 every day! Amen!’
And having said that, it’s now time for us to go out and let those blessings bear good fruit…some sixty, some a hundred-fold. Much LOVE!
…living for Jesus…is the only wise way to live life…
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16 Sep 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a challenge, a crucial aspect of our work week, a done deal, according as God hath dealt, before you can ride on it, boasting, Christ is our strength, diversity, endowed with grace, every man that is among you, evil tentacles of modern society, face with honesty, festive folks, flowing through me, for men to search their own glory, genuine appreciation, go unto the heathen, God made us in in His own image, halfway home, hands fixed securely on the plough, it is not glory, it is not good to eat much honey, Jews, let another man praise thee, like white on rice, mire of self-pity, more highly than he ought to think, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, not looking back at the past, not thine own lips, not thine own mouth, not to think of himself, one baptism, One Body, one faith, one hope of your calling, ONE Lord, one spirit, One Year Book of Bible promises, oneness of Holy Spirit Father and Christ, remember the poor, Ruth Harms Calkin, Sane Estimate, self-aggrandization, somebody has to build the float, specail gifts, spiritual energy, stick to Christ, thank God, the apostleship of the circumcision, the breath of life, the evil world sends our way, the Gentiles, the gospel of uncircumcision, the grace given to me, the measure of faith, the measure of the gift of Christ, the right hands of fellowship, the talents and abilities, to a glorious future with Jesus, to think soberly, unique differences, unity, Wednesday Wail, with a twinkle in your eye
Romans 12;3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Yeh friends, it’s Wednesday once again…and getting over this hump is a crucial aspect of our work week. Once we do, we see it as a done deal rather than as a challenge that Monday, the start of the week, seems to throw out. But let’s remember that when Christ is sincerely in our lives, we are up to and ready for each and every challenge that the evil world sends our way, for He is our strength, and with Him running the show, we can do all things that need doing! Glory be my fellow saints in Christ!
And I believe that this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin gives us a good idea of how to suit up ourselves for the challenges of life. It’s titled ‘Sane Estimate.’
Please pray with me: ‘Lord, help me to face with honesty And genuine appreciation The talents and abilities You have given As special gifts to me. Give me a sane estimate of myself. Neither exaggerated nor mud-crawling. Just sane, as Your Word admonishes. May I be joyfully satisfied With Your unique plan for me. When at times I’d secretly LOVE to ride On a colourful float Beautifully adorned Waving to cheering crowds Smile at me, Lord. With a twinkle in Your eye Remind me again That somebody has to build the float.’
Yeh friends, somebody has to build the float before we can ride on it in the parade waving to cheering, festive folks! And ofttimes that somebody has to be us. The Lord has made each of us in His own image, but with unique differences and talents which we need to be able to successfully complete the also unique plan He’s made for every one of His creation.
And the Bible verse associated with that poem is also our Bit for today; the immortal words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome: ‘For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’ (Rom. 12:3)
Oh my people, so many of us in this current world need to take that advice so badly because so many of us think much more highly of ourselves than we ought to! Boasting and self-aggrandization has unfortunately become a way of life in our modern society, and its evil tentacles even reach out and embrace supposed believers, who ought to know better. Sadly too, we also have the believer who behaves like a ‘mud-crawling’ animal, not thinking enough of him or herself, and thus wallowing in the mire of self-pity and not functioning the way Christ expects.
But neither state is what the Lord planned nor desires of us. And I guess that’s why Bruh Paul wrote to the Galatians, re his meeting with the apostles in Rome. Some of them seemed to think little of Bruh Paul, neither did they impress him (Gal. 2:1-6)
‘But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually (worked effectively) in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty (worked effectively) in me toward the Gentiles.
And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be the pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision (Jews). Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward (eager) to do.’ (Gal. 2:7-10)
Yuh see friends, especially in high circles, and the church is no exception, there is great susceptibility to think more highly of ourselves and not enough of others, which causes us to make a mess of God’s plans. But thankfully James and John and Peter, the stalwarts of the then church recognized Bruh Paul’s God-given grace to take the Word to the Gentiles, and only reminded him to remember the poor which is a vital part of Christ’s ministry, something that he was already eager to do.
The two groups of believers had been entrusted with the very same gospel, but to two different groups of people. So it really doesn’t matter to whom God’s grace leads us, once we recognize the leading and fervently obey it. As Bruh Paul later wrote to the church at Ephesus: ‘There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.’ (Eph. 4:4-7)
Yes my brethren, the church is one body, speaking of Christian unity in the oneness of Holy Spirit, Father and Christ. It is the same ONE GODHEAD who gives to all of us, but who gives different gifts individually, to do the work He’s planned for each individual. So there is unity, as well as diversity in the church, because of the different gifts, but ALL of it is endowed with grace, spiritual energy from the One God so we can perform our God-given tasks successfully.
And these wise words on the subject from Cousin Sol make a good going-home present (smile). ‘It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search (seek) their own glory is not glory.’ (Prov. 25:27) Then there’s this: ‘Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.’ (Prov. 27:2) And with those awesome words of wisdom throbbing vibrantly in our hearts, bodies and souls, let’s go home declaring (ah Lord eh) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
Altogether now, in strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Oh yes mih people, if we stick to Christ like white on rice, (smile) and endure to the end, then the future will indeed be unimaginably glorious! Much LOVE!
…God ALWAYS gives us the grace…the spiritual power…to do whatever He asks of us…
15 Jun 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a word to the wise is sufficient, antidote, be not proud, beauty of holiness, chaos, come short in obedience, confusion, fear, for His goodness and mercy, forgiving, free will, give ear, give glory to the Lord, grace, gracious, guarantees of safety, havoc, he cause darkness, he who has ears to hear, hear our prayer, hear ye, humble servants, in the palms of his hands, judge the people righteously, let him hear, like white on rice, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, need your help, pandemic, power and insight, powerful wings, Praise the Lord, prayer, safely ensconced, sincere hearts, tete a tete, the Lord hath spoken, to the children of men, under the shelter of
Jeremiah 13:15. Hear ye, and give ear, be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken.
Monday, Monday, Monday… Chuh! Another blooming day to go to work! And as if going to work wasn’t bad enough after such a relaxing weekend, we have to go amidst all the confusion and chaos caused by the Covid-19 virus and a host of disgruntled and dissatisfied protesters in the street. Ah Lord eh! What a way we world in a sad mess!
But friends, the news isn’t all bad! No, there’s some good stuff too – namely that the Creator and Controller of this great universe, Almighty God Himself…Yahweh…Jehovah – whatever name you choose – has His people safely ensconced in the palms of His mighty hands, under the shelter of His powerful wings! And all His children declared a loud and proud: ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy to the children of men!’
But the problem we encounter though, is that with our free will it behooves us to come to Him, He won’t simply conscript us like soldiers in time of war. We have to join His army of our own free will, and once we do that, we then need to stick ever so closely to Him, like white on rice. (smile) He will keep and protect us. That’s His ever-faithful promise, and all the storms that are currently besetting us will pass, as they all do – just in His time.
So there’s no need to fear what’s currently happening in our world, although we must be concerned and do our part to help reshape life in a more equitable and Christian manner. And one of the ways we can ALL participate in that reshaping is through prayer; the most powerful weapon in the universe! It’s the method of communication that the Lord, in His eternal wisdom, devised for us to bring our problems and concerns to Him, as well as to just have friendly chats and tete-`a-tetes with Him.
So as one strong voice, with sincere hearts, let’s call out to Him right now nuh, invoking our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, asking for His mercy and grace in the worldwide problems that we’re now facing. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You that this Monday morning we’re alive, and hopefully haven’t contracted the virus that’s causing havoc around our world. And our anxieties have been recently deepened because some restrictions have been lifted in the lockdown, so more of us are going out to work now without any guarantees of safety.
Then to complicate matters Father, suddenly, and unexpectedly, just like the virus, worldwide strife and protests have also struck us in this sad time of pandemic, and we don’t have a clue how to handle either situation properly. Mass confusion is currently prevailing in our world, and we desperately need your help to solve both problems, as You are the ONLY One with the power and insight to successfully handle them.
Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously come short in obedience and compliance to Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, and You have faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us, ordinary folks, as well as our leaders, employers and medical personnel, wise guidance and direction.
Please show us how to successfully handle these scourges that are currently plaguing Your beautiful earth. Please help our leaders to wisely quell the strife and protests, and the scientists to find a positive solution, a sure antidote to the virus as quickly as possible. And for those who have already contracted the virus, or been injured in the strife, we pray that You will ease their suffering and heal them.
Father, please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again we say: Amen!’
And my people, if our hearts were truly sincere in that prayer, then we know that our faithful God has begun working on the solution to our problems, and they will be eventually conquered, but in His time, when He decides that His purpose for allowing it to happen has been achieved. Until then, we just have to hope and pray and stay strong in His LOVE! And living the way He desires just might help us too. (smile)
For interest sake, I just opened the Good Book and discovered these inspiring words uttered by the prophet Jeremiah to his people Israel when they were in a period of disobedience. ‘Hear ye, and give ear, be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness. And before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ (Jer. 13:15-16) Now wise people hearing those words would certainly take some time to ponder their lives and see if they are doing what the prophet advises. For who knows if that is one of the reasons our world is currently so dark, so overrun by darkness?
And the scholars add this interesting explanation: ‘13:15-17. A third illustration concerns a weary traveller in danger of being overtaken by the falling darkness of night. Such was Judah. It must renounce all pride and give God His rightful glory before the final darkness of national catastrophe engulfs it.’
And the psalmist also had these wise words of advice: ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give (ascribe) unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear (tremble) before him all the earth. Say among the heathen (nations) that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be (is firmly) established that it shall not be moved (shaken): he shall judge the people righteously.’ (Ps. 96:7-10)
What more can I say eh friends and neighbours? Just that a word to the wise is usually sufficient, and he who has ears to hear, let him hear! Much LOVE!
…obey God…and all will be well…
21 Apr 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abide in me and I in you, action those sentiments, apprehension of reality, bringeth forth much fruit, by his knowledge, by understanding, carrying ou the right measures, common sense, deceitful life, disastrous year, discretion, distinguish between true and false, equity, established the heavens, exalt her, fairness in one's dealing, forsake ye not my law, founded the earth, get understanding, get wisdom, good doctrine, good sense, I am the vine, I in, in god's eyes, in the home, it is imperative, Jesus, judgement, justice, laid it all on the table, like white on rice, living in a Christian manner, moral discipline, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, personal influence, provisions for earthly living, reverence the Creator, reverential awe, right behaviour, righteousness., share His love, she shall promote thee, skill in living, social distance, stay close to Him, stick-to-itis, the beginning of wisdom, the beloved of God, the clouds drop down dew, the created, the depths are broken up, the fear of the Lord, the friend of Jesus, the isntruction of a father, the Lord by wisdom, the Lord God Jehovah, the principal thing, Tuesday Mantra, turn away from the words of my mouth, unholy ruckus, wisdom, wise dealing, ye are the branches
Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Yes, it’s Tuesday, the penultimate one in this contrary and unpredictable month of April, in this disastrous year of 2020! And weather-wise, today looks like it’s going to be rather unpredictable too. The sun’s shining but there are some dark clouds hanging around, and the ground’s still wet from rain that obviously fell earlier on. However, the crazy wind that’s been causing an unholy ruckus during most of the night appears to have now settled down. So like everything else, who knows what will happen to day eh?
Only the Lord God Jehovah! Thus it is imperative that we stay close to Him; in fact cling to Him for dear life! Jesus said it so well: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5)
That’s telling it like it is friends! Jesus laid it all on the table right there; without Him we can do nothing, we’re helpless to bear any good fruit! So why are we so reluctant to get close and stick to Him like stick-to-itis, like white on rice eh? Because we’re either foolish, high-minded and stubborn, or severely led astray, or even all of those things! And that’s why our world is in the mess that it’s currently in.
But what we ought to be doing is listening to, and putting into action these wise words of Cousin Sol. ‘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. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver thee.’ (Prov. 4:1-9)
Oh my people that’s more exceedingly wise advice from the Good Book – the Book of Life! What don’t we understand about ‘keep my commandments and live’ eh? Likewise, what don’t we understand about wisdom being the principal thing eh? If we don’t have wisdom we can’t live this ofttimes cruel and deceitful life wisely. But we have to seek it, and get it, and then hold on to it tightly for goodness sake!
And the scholars offer this explanation on those verses. ‘4:3-4. Three generations are linked together in the transmission of wisdom: (the one that’s going out, the one that’s currently in ascendance, and the one that’s coming up). Note too that it is (wisdom) transmitted by personal influence, especially in the home.’
And that’s where we’re falling down badly my people. The Word of the Lord is no longer taught in our schools or written in public places, and neither are we teaching or practising it sufficiently in our homes, so how can the young people learn wisdom eh? And yuh see the good things wisdom and understanding will do in our lives when we adhere to their wise ways and commands? They’ll promote us, bring us honour, give us a bundle of grace, and a crown of glory! Now who wouldn’t want those things in this crazy and confusing life eh? All of us obviously. But it doesn’t just happen by osmosis my brethren, we have to make it happen.
And how do we make it happen? Cousin Sol also gives us that info: ‘The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is the (principal) beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov. 1:7) And isn’t that the awesome truth! Wisdom comes from the Lord, and it’s oh so important in our world and life, because it’s the same wisdom the Lord used to create our universe. Hear Cousin Sol again: ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths (deeps) are broken up, and the clouds drop down dew.’ (Prov. 3:19-20)
So friends, if the Lord God Almighty used wisdom to create our world, why wouldn’t we, in heaven’s name, need it to live in that self-same universe eh? No reason whatsoever! Except that we’re stubborn and hard-headed and like to do what we want to do, figuring that with our puny minds and free will, we know best. And perhaps to disavow that false thinking, is why Cousin Sol wrote the Book of Proverbs Here is it’s stated purpose: ‘To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding (understand or discern); To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity; to give subtilty (prudence) to the simple. To the young man knowledge and discretion.’ (Prov. 1:2-4)
But unfortunately too many of us shy away or simply refuse to accept those provisions for earthly living, and therefore we fail badly at it. Now let’s look at some explanations the scholars provide on the words used. ‘1:2. Wisdom is the key word of the book (of Proverbs), and basically means “skill in living.” It refers to the skill to live life successfully. Instruction refers to the moral discipline of one’s life, not to classroom instruction. Understanding means the capability to distinguish between true and false, good and bad, what matters most and what does not matter at all.’
‘1:3. Wisdom, a different Hebrew word from that used in verse 2, means “wise behaviour,” “wise dealing,” “good sense.” Justice is the same word as righteousness and refers to conformity to God’s law. Judgement is a legal term used of a judge’s verdict and refers to right behaviour. Equity is fairness in one’s dealing with others.’ ‘1:4. The simple are naïve young people open to any influence, among the chief addressees in the book. Knowledge mean the apprehension of reality, including an experiential knowledge of God. Discretion refers to the power of formulating and carrying out the right measures.’
‘1:7. The fear of the Lord means submission to the Lord and His revelation. When one is afraid of something, he either runs from it or submits to it. The latter idea is in view here. It is a healthy fear, like the fear of electricity or the fear of one’s parents, which causes one to act in an appropriate manner. The beginning does not mean that “the fear of the Lord” is left behind in the course of acquiring wisdom, but that it is the controlling principle of wisdom.’ So there we have it friends, some basic descriptions on the basics of living this earthly life in a Christian manner! (smile)
Let’s hope that these disastrous times will help draw us closer to those precepts and principles from which we have too long and too far gone astray. Now let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Tuesday Mantra, proudly letting the whole world know who and whose we are. In strong voice with sincere hearts: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Now we need to go out, or stay in social distance (smile) and action those sentiments! Much LOVE!
…simple common sense dictates…the created must reverence the Creator…
07 Jun 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dedicated life, a toothless tiger, able to stand before thee, adversity, all over us, all that comes against us, an awesome promise, as I was with Moses, be not afraid, be strong, be wise, believers in Christ, bondage in Egypt, borders, brewskis, burgers, calm, changeable like the weather, come to Jesus, common sense, crosses the line, do mih own thing, dogs, embrace Jesus, enemy territory, evil self, expletive deleted, fear not, fellowship, fences, Friday chant, fun, furthering your glorious kingdom, generous help, gives us the wherewithal all, goes overboard, goes with thee, gospel truth, grill, having the enemy infiltrate, hold on for dear life, I will be with thee, I will never leave thee, I will not fail thee, in blazing sunshine, in God's great universe, in Jesus name, in soul body and mind, Jesus, Joshua, kinda weather, life, life's ever changing circumstances, like white on rice, living for Jesus, mama yo, mature souls, Moses, no shame, nor forsake thee, not any man, of a good courage, one and only one, peace, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, right now, sense of purpose, short shorts, sip a few, stay away from danger, steadfast life, steaks, storm, tank top, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the enemy, The Israelites, the Light, the Lord your God, the most wonderful thing, the North Pole, the only one, the Promised Land, the slave driver, the way the truth and the life, the weekend, the workingman's song, to handle, to live for Jesus, to love Jesus, vicissitudes of life, week of work
Hebrews 13:5a. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Ah mih people, life is as changeable as the weather! Yuh remember yesterday I complained that it was going to be another ‘riney’ day? Well, lo and behold, by mid-day, it had turned into a perfectly beautiful warm and sunshiny day, lots of blue skies and cool breezes! Shorts and shirtsleeves weather!
Well it’s the same way our lives can change rather abruptly, with no warnings at all. One moment you might be going through a perfect period of peace and calm, then all of a sudden calamity and adversity strike and you feel lost and out of your element. Or the opposite can happen; you’ll be going through a real rough time, and then for no apparent reason, the storm, the winds and the seas just suddenly become calm and you find yourself sailing along in perfect peace!
Wow! That’s what we call life! Unpredictable, unreliable and unforeseeable! (smile) Consequently, too many of us struggle to maintain our equilibrium in the sudden and scary ups and down of life. But there is a most positive antidote, a positive and productive way to handle life…His name is Jesus!
Yes friends, Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can help us successfully handle and navigate through the vicissitudes of life! Without Him, we are at the very mercy of life’s ever-changing circumstances. And that’s the gospel truth! But more on that later, because the workingman is just dying to bellow out his song this bright and sunshiny morning. (smile) So let’s give him a listen nuh.
‘Woyoyo! At long last I can shout TGIF! Thank God is Friday! The weekend, the weekend, it’s here, alive and in blazing sunshine too! Let’s just hope it stays so yes. We’ve been disappointed too often in the last few weeks. And I’m all ready to get out there in mih short shots and tank top and grill a few steaks, dogs and burgers, while sipping some cold brewskis! It’s June now, a week into it, so is high time we could go out there and do that sorta thing without any worries about cold weather!
Steups! Wuh happen, we living in the North Pole or something, that the weather so blooming cold and miserable? And if yuh check it out, up there right now they must be having long, hot bright days, enjoying a good summer already, while we down here having this expletive deleted kinda weather!
But is not much we could really do about it nuh, so let me stop complaining and just have a positive mindset and get mih self ready to get out there this evening when ah get home and do mih own thing. Mama Yo! Thank God for Fridays and weekends yes, at long last, ah chance to get away from the slave driver and them work…and party hearty too! I’ll be in mih essence then!
Yeh friends, the workingman surely tells it like he sees it. And generally speaking, nothing’s wrong with that, it’s just sometimes he goes overboard, or crosses over the line that we believers in Christ Jesus can’t afford to cross over, for fear of having the enemy infiltrate our already less than strong and mature souls. (smile)
And there’s no shame in that, it’s just common sense to shy away from danger before it hits you…and believe me the enemy we’re fighting is pretty dangerous when we give him a chance. On his own, he’s harmless, a toothless tiger, but once we open the door, brother, he’s all over us with his evil self like white on rice! (smile) That’s why our Friday Chant is not as expansive and expressive as the workingman’s song. So let’s chant it now nuh, in full voice and strong sense of purpose.
‘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.’
Yes brothers and sisters in Christ, ours is a dedicated life that requires some borders and fences so that we don’t cross over into enemy territory. But that’s the beauty of living for Jesus…He gives us the wherewithal to handle ALL that comes against us, as well as constantly being by our side. And furthermore, He’s made an everlasting and ever faithful promise: ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’
Wow! What an awesome promise! And we know He’ll keep it, because that’s the kind of Lord and Saviour He is. And it’s not like it’s something He just said the other day; He’s been saying it for ages now! Listen to how He said it to Joshua when He assigned him leadership of the Israelites after Moses’ death. ‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Josh.1:5)
And we know that the Lord kept that promise to Joshua in spades! But even before that, the Lord had made the same promise to the Israelites through Moses, when He brought them out of bondage in Egypt, leading them towards the Promised Land. Hear this encouraging and reassuring part of Moses’ last speech to the Israelites: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut.31:6)
So friends, that’s definitely not a new promise, and every time the Lord made it, He kept it, so why should it be any different now with us eh? No reason whatsoever! The Lord our God never changes, so His promises last for a lifetime. That’s why we need to embrace His Son, Jesus Christ RIGHT NOW, and gratefully and humbly accept all that’s He’s already done, as well as all He’s promised to do for us.
That’s because there’s no one, or nothing else that can give us that kind of reliable, steady and steadfast life, through each and any situation, through calm and storm, through adversity and peace, like Jesus can! He is the ONE and ONLY ONE friends! So please, let’s be wise and come to Him in all sincerity nuh, and then hold on to Him for dear life, because He is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life…as well as the Light! Much LOVE!
…to LOVE and LIVE for Jesus…Wow!…it’s the most wonderful thing…in God’s great universe…
SCRIP-BITS 