11 Mar 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better tomorrow, a thief in the night, agony, amateurs, Anselm, aspire, at any time, be sober, bearing me up, breathing fire, build up one another, cares of life, carousing, children of darkness, children of light, comfort yourselves, darkness, depart this earth, drunkenness, edify, encourage each other, enjoy our tomorrows, equal opportunity employer, evil doers, exterminate, fair, faithfulness, fat fannies, forgiving, get up and go to work, helmet, hurs, inspiration, inspire, invent, knickers, leads and guides, licentious lifestyle, lord jesus christ, LOVE, loving-kindness, make amends, minutes, plead for forgiveness, positive difference, rich people, salvation, scientists, Second Coming, self-controlled, sit and wait, sleep, surfeit, swing of things, take heed to yourselves, the breastplate of faith, the hope of salvation, the Lord's Day, the Warrior King, the wicked, time, tomorrow, trials, tribulations, unawares, under the weather, up to scratch, use our time wisely, wake, warning, watch, weighed down, white charger, winter's morn, wrath, your hearts be overcharged
Luke 21:34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (carousing), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Aye mih people, how all yuh doing this cold winter’s morn eh? The ole fella’s feeling a bit under the weather this morning, seems like I’m getting a cold or something of the sort. But not to worry, for the Lord is bearing me up, as He faithfully promised in His word, and I’m soon going to get into the full swing of things and begin writing the Bit like a champion. (smile)
Ah friends, how could I not LOVE the Lord eh after all the faithfulness and LOVING-kindness He’s shown me over the years? I come to write, and I don’t know what to write, and He leads and guides me. I come to write, and I’m not feeling up to scratch, and He uplifts me, gives the wherewithal to do His bidding.
Consequently my heart rejoices and my lips offer Him much thanks and praise, for He is a most wonderful God! Amen! So now that I’m uplifted, (smile) let’s get on with writing the Bit nuh. And since today is Saturday, we’ll look at a couple of quotes from our friend Anselm, who aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow.
The first one is fairly long, and says: ‘Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.’
Now all of that is quite true, but the problem is, how many more tomorrows do we have eh? Moses in his only Psalm, Psalm 90 – From everlasting to everlasting thou art God – pleaded with the Lord: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom). (Ps.90:12)
Yes my fellow believers, none of us know when we’ll depart this earth, so we have to use our time wisely. That’s why we have to do what the second quote advises. ‘Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.’
Ah friends, we can’t afford to be like amateurs and sit on our fat fannies and wait for inspiration. We just have to get up and do whatever needs doing! That’s the only way to make a positive difference in our world and also enjoy our tomorrows, regardless of how many we have left. And that segues very nicely into out Bit; Jesus warning re His Second Coming, and the way we should not live our lives.
‘And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (carousing), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’
That means we ought always to be prepared, be ready for whenever He returns, be it today tomorrow or many years hence. The important thing to remember here friends, is that Our Lord and Saviour will one day come back as the Warrior King, on His white charger, breathing fire and ready to exterminate the evil doers.
That we know for a fact, but we just don’t know when. And since it could be at any time, we can’t afford to be caught with our knickers down at our feet. (smile) So we cannot live a licentious lifestyle and be caught unawares, either by our passing, or His return, for then there will be no further opportunity to make amends and plead for forgiveness.
Now yesterday we saw where Bruh Paul told the Thessalonians that the Lord’s return might come like a thief in the night (1 Thess.5:2) Today we’ll continue his message. ‘But ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. But ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (self-controlled).
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage each other), and edify (build up) one another, even as also ye do (are doing).’ (1 Thess.5: 4-11)
There we have it friends, straight from the mouth of Bruh Paul! We are not children of darkness but of light, and as such ought to live sober and self-controlled lives, watching out for Jesus’ return. And if we do that, then we won’t be affected by the trials and tribulations, the agony that the wicked, the children of darkness will suffer on the Lord’s Day.
As true believers, we will be spared the Lord’s wrath. So let’s be sensible and wisely redeem whatever time we have left nuh mih breddren, for that time could be up at any second, without any warning. Much LOVE!
…either your last breath…or Jesus’ return…can spell the end of your time…so please be prepared…
08 Aug 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adversities, affection, anger, blessed, Bruh Paul, busyness, christ jesus, Christian life, commandment, conforming to God's will, Corinthians, daily struggles, eternal reward, expectant faith, faith, fight the good fight of faith, flee these things, follow after righteousness, gentleness, god of all comfort, godliness, grace, hardships, hunger and thirst, hungry hope, in the sight of God, keeping up with the Joneses, lake of fire, lay hold on eternal life, lord jesus christ, Lord of Lords, LOVE, love for money, Lucifer, meekness, negative consequences, O man of God, obedience, patience, peace from God our Father, perseverance, Praise the Lord, resentment, reverence for God, salvation, sin, spiritual life, steadfastness, stress, striving for material wealth, struggle with sin, the Father of mercies, the King of Kings, the Lord jesus christ, the prize, things of God, things of the world, Timothy, wisdom, with every beat of our hearts, with every breath we take
1 Timothy 6:11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness.
Aye Friends, on this summer Saturday morning, I greet you with the words of Bruh Paul to the Corinthians. ‘Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ! Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.’ (2 Cor.1:2-3)
Yes my brethren, we have indeed been blessed by seeing another day on God’s great earth! And grace, and peace, mercies and comfort are all ours for the taking. So please, let’s take them as we need them nuh, through expectant faith and hungry hope, turning to Jehovah God in every circumstance of our lives, with every beat of our heart, with every breath of life we take!
That’s what He expects of us my brethren, faithful followers that we are. And since we have lots of stuff to look at, I won’t ramble on today… ‘Praise the Lord!’ several voices mutter in the background. (smile)
So let’s get straight to our Bit, wise words from Bruh Paul to his protégé Timothy. ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness.’ Wisdom indeed Friends! Bruh Paul had just finished telling him what not to follow.
And the scholars have a good explanation of that verse. ‘6:11. Flee these things means shun a LOVE for money (v.10) and the striving for material wealth (v.9) with all its resulting woes. Follow after means pursue. 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.’
Yes Friends, it all applies to us in these troubled times too. And in simple language it means don’t run behind the evil, idolatrous, destructive things of the world, but rather concern yourself with the good, wholesome and everlasting things of God. I don’t know how many times we need to hear that before we believe it and put it into practice nuh.
But too many of us are still running behind the things of the world, especially material wealth and money and are suffering the resultant negative consequences like general unhappiness, busyness, weariness, stress, anger and resentment.
Ah my people, trying to keep up with the Jones’ is a rough scene yes, which could eventually cost your life, and there are no guarantees of success. So please pay serious attention nuh, and let go of the flimsy, worthless things that Lucifer and his evil hordes are pushing. It will serve you much better in the long run.
Then Bruh Paul goes on to tell Timothy: ‘Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed (confessed) a good profession (confession) before many witnesses.’ (1 Tim.6:12) Ah mih people, all of that also pertains to us in these dreadful and distressful times.
Hear the scholars’ explanation. ‘6:12. The good fight concerns the daily struggle with sin in the Christian life, and the hardships and adversities in the ministry. A genuine believer demonstrates the reality of his faith by being engaged in this warfare. Lay hold on eternal life does not negate the fact that a believer now possesses spiritual life (John3:36); rather, it speaks of fully realizing or appropriating salvation as the believer matures.’
Yuh see mih breddren, as we face the daily struggles and hardships of life with steadfast faith, we grow, we mature in the Christian life. Oh it’s by no means an easy journey, but when we consider the prize, the eternal reward that’s waiting for us, it certainly makes it all worthwhile.
I don’t know about you nuh Friends, but I surely prefer to have salvation and eternal life with Jesus amidst plenty hard knocks down here, than to satiate myself with the things of Lucifer, then end up in the burning lake of fire when the time of judgement comes.
And to show how most of the things of the world that we hunger and thirst for are a waste of time, just take a look around your homes and you’ll see that amongst those things that we had to have, most of them are languishing, or have languished in obscurity for ages, as the shine and desire wore off in the early days. Most of them we only want them until we get them, then our interest quickly fades. So why do we still run them down eh? The Lord alone knows!
And Bruh Paul continues: ‘I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth (gives life to) all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; (c.f. John 18:36-37). That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable (blameless), until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Which in his times he shall show (manifest), who is the blessed and only Potentate (sovereign ruler), the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; who hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.’ (1 Tim.6:13-16)
Oh Friends what glorious words of truth, what a perfect word picture of Jesus Bruh Paul paints there! Glory be!
And the scholars’ explain thus: ‘6:13. A charge is a command. Quickeneth contains the idea of giving life to. Since god gives life to all things, He can also enable Timothy to “fight the good fight” (v.12).’
‘6:14. This commandment refers back to the charge in verse 13 which embraces the injunctions of verses 11-12. Thus ‘this commandment” is the charge to pursue godliness (v.11) and to fulfill one’s ministry (v.12). Without spot, unrebukable means Timothy is to be meticulous in his obedience of verses 11-13, that is, without fault and failure in compliance.’
So Friends, there’s no more left to say today. Please pay careful attention to all we’ve said, and I do hope that the Most High God Jehovah will help us to understand it, then put it into practice, as soon as possible. Much LOVE!
…Jesus…the ultimate ruler…King of Kings…and Lord of Lords…Potentate of all He surveys…
15 Jun 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abuse the weekend, almighty god, aura of love, blessings, Colossians, comfort your hearts, complaining, confidence, conquerors, corrupt communication, Creator of the universe, enthusiasm, eternal life, evangelism, everlasting consolation, evil, faith, fellowship, for by grace you have been saved, friends, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, glory in my infirmities, good hope, gospel truth, grace, His only begotten Son, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, it is the gift of God, Jesus Christ, lies, living God, lord god almighty, lord jesus christ, LOVE, magnificent and magnanimous God, minister grace, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, Monday Morning, my grace is sufficent for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness, negative, not of yourselves, Oh Lord God Almighty, opportunity, pep in our step, pity parties, redeeming the time, rejuvenation of spirit, rise to the occasion, sacrifice, saved through faith, seasoned with salt, self-serving, sins, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, that which is good, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the power of christ, the thorn in his flesh, to the use of edifying, ungodly world, unmerited favour, walk in wisdom, whining, wisdom, wise behaviour, witnessing
Ephesians 2:8. For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Oh Friends, unfortunately the two big days off for the weekend are now over… And I hear a loud ‘Steups!’ in response. (smile)
That means today is Monday…yes Monday, and we need to get ourselves up and out to labour for another week, so that we can earn some money, often a pittance, to try and lead a half-decent life.
We all know it’s not the ideal scenario, but it’s what we have, so let’s just get over ourselves, stop the pity parties, the whining and complaining and rise to the occasion as Jesus desires of us. And remember that if you abuse the weekend, you won’t be fit for anything come Monday morning. So enough with the sermon, (smile) instead let’s belt our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with a whole lot of vim and vigour.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh chuh people! That was a rather hoarse, half-hearted and off-key rendition! Jesus wasn’t thrilled at all. You could see Him shaking His head all through it, while His face bore an unhappy, puzzled ‘what else can I do eh?’ expression.
Anyway Friends, it’s too late to worry about that now. Hopefully though, just singing it boosted our adrenalin output and put a li’l pep in our step, enabling us to go out and do a good job in Jesus’ name.
We also need to remember quite clearly from whence all our blessings flow; from Almighty God. And one of the biggest blessings, if not the biggest, ever to befall mankind is enshrined in our Bit. ‘For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:’
Mama Mia! I can’t help but say it Friends – what a magnificent and magnanimous God we serve and worship! And there should be NO DOUBT whatsoever about that, just judging from the fact that He gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our disgusting sins. Has any of the other supposed gods ever done anything like that? Obviously not, because they are all dead, inanimate, ephemeral objects. But the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the ONE AND ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD!
And all God’s people shouted a loud and lusty: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Yes Friends, our God is a true living and breathing Being, who sees and knows all that goes on in our world.
Now let’s turn to some provocative scriptures that deal with grace. And one of the most famous ones occurs when Bruh Paul asks the Lord three times to take away ‘the thorn in his flesh.’ But the Lord’s response is certainly interesting. ‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ (2 Cor.12:9)
Yes my people, in our weaknesses God’s power is demonstrated, for when we are unable to bear up in our own strength, God’s grace pulls us through. Please remember that in times of weakness and frailty. He doesn’t always solve our problems, but He ALWAYS gives us the wherewithal, the grace to handle them in our weakness.
Now hear what Bruh Paul says later on to the Ephesians, re the new life in Christ. ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.’ (Eph.4:29)
Ah mih people, are we following those wise words of advice? I certainly hope so, because it is imperative that our words lift up, benefit those who hear them. We can’t expect others to come to Jesus if our words are negative and self-serving.
Then to the Colossians, he says: ‘Walk in wisdom toward them that are without (outside), redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.’ (Col.4:5-6)
And the scholars offer these explanations on those verses. ‘4:5. Paul turns from his responsibilities for evangelism (v.3-4) to the Colossians’ evangelistic duties (v.5-6). They are to walk in wisdom or “live wisely” in their relations toward them that are without, that is, unbelievers. Redeeming the time is to make the most of every opportunity. They are to seize every opportunity to display wise behaviour toward the unsaved and to use it as a chance for witnessing.’
And yuh know what Friends? Those same sentiments apply to us in these worrisome and difficult times.
‘4:6. An example of wise conduct (v.5) is daily speech that is gracious (with grace) in nature. Such speech is to be seasoned with salt, that is, characterized by the wisdom of verse 5. Gracious, wise conversation will enable the Colossians to know how to answer every man when speaking to him about the gospel.’
That also applies to us today my brethren!
And we’ll end with Bruh Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. ‘Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath LOVED us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish (establish) you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thess.2:16-17)
Oh Friends, I wish those exact sentiments upon us all today, as we go out into the crazy world to live and work for Jesus. Much LOVE!
…grace…the totally unmerited favour of God…given to totally undeserving men…a true and wonderful testimony…of God’s great LOVE for us…
20 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a two-part being, acknowledgement of God's power, active, activities of the mind, all and sundry, almighty god, Amen, atonement for sin, body and soul, bone structure, Book of Hebrews, build our faith, celebration, christ jesus, Christmas, crooked places become straight, cross, darkness becomes light, discerner, endearing personality, eternal life, excuse, Glory Halleujah, God delights in our praise and worship, God is intently scrutinizing our lives, God's Word, greetings, Immanuel, Immaterial Part of man, impossible feat, in Jesus' name, incarnate birth, inept, intentions of the heart, intents, Jesus Christ, joints, joy, judge, leader, lord jesus christ, LOVE, magnificent and magnanimous God, majestic presence, marrow, maturity, mercy, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, peace, percolate, preserved blameless, pretense, prince of peace, reconciliation, resounding truth, reverence, salvation, saving grace, sharper than any twoedged sword, son jesus christ, soul, soul and spirit, spirit, thanks and praise, the Book of All Books, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the nature of humanity, the newborn Son of God, the reason for the season, the Word of God is quick, thoughts, under the weather, understanding of god's Word, warms the cockles of God's heart
Hebrews 4:12. For the Word of God is quick (living, alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.
Aye mih breddren in Christ! Warm greetings to all and sundry this glorious Saturday morning before Christmas, before the birth of our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Yeh Friends, it’s just another five days before the most celebrated birth in all of human kind! I hope you all are excited and enthused about the occasion, because if that miraculous incarnate birth had not taken place, then there’d be no cross, no atonement for sins, no reconciliation with God, nor the saving grace of salvation and eternal life.
So let’s give our most magnificent and magnanimous God a great big shout of thanks and praise for sending His only Son Jesus Christ to be our sacrificial Lamb, and consequently, our Leader, our Lord and Saviour, our Prince of Peace and our Immanuel!
And all God’s people declared a grateful, enthusiastic and resounding chorus of: ‘Thank You Father God! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! Thank You ever so much for Jesus, and all that He stands for! Help us to remember and greatly appreciate the reason for the season of Christmas; the birth of Your only Son!
And please keep on granting us your blessed mercy and grace each and every day, so that we can keep on honouring Your Holy Name and glorifying You to all the ends of the earth! This we pray in Jesus’ name! Glory Hallelujah to the newborn King, the newborn Son of God! Amen!’
Oh mih people, I don’t know if you all realize how heartwarming and gratifying writing those simple words of thanks and praise to Almighty God can be nuh! True joy, LOVE and reverence reverberate in my heart and soul like a plucked stringed instrument, because I know that our great God delights in our praise and worship!
There’s nothing that warms the cockles of His heart like our sincere and delightful acknowledgement of His awesome power, His majestic presence and His most endearing personality!
Consequently, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to share this beautiful and most appropriate poem from the One Year Book of Bible Promises called ‘The Book of All Books.’
Please pray it with me now: ‘Lord, I am overwhelmed As I read Your living Word. What power, what pungency I find within its pages. It stirs me, burns within me It challenges me, invigorates me And often disturbs me. When I obey its commands The results are what You claim: Darkness becomes light Crooked places become straight
The more I seek, the more I find. Within its pages, God I see beyond mere philosophy I see beyond a neat package of ethics. I crash head-on with a living Person The One who makes all things new. No other book can claim as much.’
Wow mih people! Wow! That’s all I can say to such resounding truth! There’s definitely NO ONE like our magnificent, magnanimous and merciful God! We don’t even have the words in our vocabulary to do justice to His description. And in truth, how could there ever be another One, another Deity of such magnitude eh? Now that might just be the only impossible feat in all the world!
And the promise on which that poem was based is also our Bit for today. ‘For the Word of God is quick (living, alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in (hidden from) his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (must give account).’ (Heb.4:12-13)
Yes Friends, Bruh Paul is making some mighty statements there! And I believe that the Book of Hebrews had to be written by Bruh Paul, or someone eerily similar to him, for there are two many of his trademarks therein. But that’s another sermon for another day. (smile)
Right now, let’s address ourselves to some explanations. And the scholars offer us a lot. ‘4:12-13. For the word of God: The reason given for one’s careful scrutiny of his life involves the reality that God is intently scrutinizing it. His word is quick (living).
This word is first in the Greek and is the emphasis. God’s Word is not old or archaic; it is alive. It is not inept or inactive; it is powerful (active). It reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eye sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuse or pretense.’
Then, re the Immaterial Part of Man, they offer: ‘4:12. The writer here draws an interesting parallel between the joints and the marrow, which have different functions, yet both are part of a human’s bone structure. Thoughts and intents are also two distinct activities, yet both are activities of the mind.
And while the soul and spirit are distinct in function, both have an immaterial character. When considering the nature of humanity, we must realize a person is a two-part being, that is, with body and soul. But in activity or function the body, soul, and spirit of a person each has a different function.
Paul desired that his converts’ “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess.5:23). (First Reference, Gen.2:7; Primary Reference, 1 Thess.5:23;cf, Prov.4:23).’
Oh my brethren, please let all of that percolate in our souls, bodies and minds today and thus bring us to a better understanding of God’s Word. Please let it encourage us, build our faith and raise our level of maturity in Christ. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
And please excuse the lateness of the Bit, the ole fella was tired and somewhat under the weather, so I decided to sleep in some this morning. But as they say; better late than never. (smile) Much LOVE my beloved brethren in Christ Jesus!
…until you truly know and adore Jesus…your joy and peace will be severely limited…
27 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, lord jesus christ, Thanksgiving Day
Matthew 15:36. And he (Jesus) took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY U.S.A.
And a Happy Thanksgiving Day to all you folks in the U.S. of A!
I know it’s your biggest holiday, so please be careful in your drinking and driving, eating and partying. Please remember not to give Lucifer any chances to enter your souls and pollute them. That means to also remember Granny’s warning: ‘Drunk or sober mind your business!’
Eat, drink and be merry, and give sincere thanks to Almighty God for all that you have, for He is indeed the Creator of everything, and also the one who enables us to get whatever we have. Now here’s an interesting poem from the One Year Book of Bible Promises, titled ‘Thanksgiving Day Dream.’
‘On this fragrant, frosty Thanksgiving day The huge turkey browns beautifully In our king-size oven. The tender yams are evenly candied; The corn soufflé is beginning to bubble; The congealed salad is ready to unmold. The homemade bread with its crunchy texture Is wrapped in foil for reheating.
The ice cubes are bagged in plastic; The relishes are artistically arranged On a round crystal plate. The pumpkin pies are still slightly warm. Fresh yellow chrysanthemums Grace the long, colourful table. The house glistens and shines. My make up is evenly applied….
So, dear family How about settling down In our favourite chairs For an hour of relaxation before our guests arrive! Lord, I dream of this happening Some ethereal Thanksgiving Day!’
Now that would really be a dream day, for no day of celebration ever runs so smoothly, with all the preparations made and time to sit and relax before the guests arrive. It’s always a rush to do last minute stuff, and people always arrive long before you are ready to entertain them.
And when it finally all comes together, there are always problems cropping up, with lots of them boiling over into anger and resentment. But that’s just life! There’s not much we can do about it, except try to get along.
Now let’s look at our Bit: And he (Jesus) took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.’
That’s when Jesus fed the four thousand men and recovered seven baskets of leftovers. And what I want us to pay close attention to in that verse Friends, is that though Jesus was God in human form, He still thought it necessary to give thanks to His heavenly Father in the breaking of bread. Do we give thanks at meal times? We ought to.
And today we’re just going to look at a couple other examples of Jesus giving thanks at meal times. First up is that time when He fed the five thousand with the five loaves and two small fishes belonging to a young boy.
The Good Book declares: And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.’ (Matt.14:19)
Yes my people, please note that Jesus also gave thanks there ‘looked up to heaven,’ before He broke and distributed the food. It just shows the importance of thanking our Creator.
Or as Bruh Paul says to the Ephesians: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) Yes Friends, technically speaking, we should give thanks in ALL situations, not just at meal times.
Then possibly, the most important occasion when Jesus gave thanks was at the Last Supper, the Passover meal He shared with the disciples. The Good Book relates it thus: ‘And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired (I have earnestly desired) to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament (covenant) in my blood, which is shed for you.’ (Luke 22:14-20) That was Luke’s version.
The end of Matthew’s version goes like this. ‘And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you In my Father’s kingdom.’ (Matt.26:27-29)
What a symbolic remembrance my brethren! That means every time we take communion, celebrate the Eucharist, we symbolically remember Christ and the ‘sufferation’ He endured for us.
And the scholars add. (Luke) 22:20. A testament is a covenant, a God-initiated and God-fulfilled arrangement that results in the reconciliation of people to Himself.’
And that’s exactly what Jesus’ crucifixion brought about, for which we all are eternally grateful!
Oh Friends, please remember the importance of giving thanks to Jehovah God, our Creator and Provider! And better still, let us take pleasure in doing so, because in the first place, it is only through His good pleasure that we have anything to give thanks for.
Enjoy the day and weekend, but please don’t go overboard, do use a modicum of circumspection, because that’s the zenith of wisdom. Much LOVE!
…but thanks be to God…which giveth us the victory…through our Lord Jesus Christ… (1 Cor.15:57)
23 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Bruh David, Bruh Paul, friends, Jesus Christ, keep the Lord's day holy, lord jesus christ, neighbours, the Lord's Day
Psalm 16:9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.
Well a good Sunday morning to all you Friends and Neighbours within the scope of my writing – and that means the whole wide world, now that we have the Internet. Wow! What an opportunity to spread God’s Word my brethren!
As you’ve no doubt noticed, (smile) it’s the Lord’s Day once again, so let’s remember to keep it holy with worship, praise fellowship and thanksgiving. A visit to His sanctuary is also a must if you are able to, even in my state this morning, where I’m dragging myself around. (smile)
If you ask Him sincerely for the wherewithal to get up and get out to worship, He will give it to you. So there are no excuses if you are of fairly sound body and mind.
And today we will revisit a subject that all of us believers, in fact the entire world needs to embrace. That subject is HOPE, which we remember Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) defining as ‘HOLDING ON PRAYING EXPECTANTLY.’
And to add to that, we’re going to pray his ‘Prayer for Hope,’ found in his Hour of Power Devotional. Please pray with me. ‘I have a strong, serene feeling that God is planning something good for me today. I cannot explain it, but I have a deep feeling that wonderful things are in store for me.
I am expecting God to surprise me with His tender mercy. He will turn my hurts into halos. He is guiding my life in such a way that whatever happens to me will prove to be a beautiful blessing. Thank you, Lord. Amen.’
Yes Friends, we have to feel that way, have that optimism that whatever we ask God for in faith, we will receive it. But you know that if we don’t first have hope, we can’t have faith, we can’t believe.
That’s because hope is what gives us that mindset which enables us to believe, where we hang on with great expectations. It is the basic foundation of faith and belief!
And that’s why the author of Hebrews, who I strongly believe was Bruh Paul, declares: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1)
Faith is definitely based on hope. And all I intend to do today is bombard us with scriptures on hope. Most, if not all of them, we ought to know already, but every so often we need a refresher course.
And we’ll begin with our Bit, as Bruh David boldly declares: ‘I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the abode of the dead): neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.’ (Ps.16:8-10)
And the Lord indeed did not suffer His ‘Holy One’ – Jesus Christ – to see corruption or languish in hell!
Ah mih people, Bruh David truly had lots of hope and faith in the God of his fathers! Listen to some of his passionate pronouncements.
From Psalm 22 – A cry of anguish and song of praise, he declares: ‘But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.’ (Ps.22:9-10)
That’s gospel truth Friends! From the very moment of our conception we belonged to Jehovah God, because He is the one who formed us in our mother’s womb and gave us life.
Now hear these words of wisdom, truth and encouragement from Psalm 31 – ‘In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. ‘Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.’ (Ps.31:24)
Words to live by my fellow believers! And that’s the beauty and relevance of Bruh David; he didn’t only mouth those words and sentiments, he lived by them to the best of his ability!
And this last scripture from Bruh David, from Psalm 39 – A prayer for understanding, is oh so true and so inspirational. ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ (Ps.31:7) Short, sweet and to the point my people!
Ah mih breddren, there are so many scriptures on hope in the Good Book, that finding them, made the Bit even later than it was already going to be. (smile) Now listen up, as Jeremiah tells us flatly: ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.’ (Jer.17:7) No ifs, ands, or buts, about that my people!
And in Romans 4, Bruh Paul, while talking about Abraham declares: ‘Who against (contrary to) hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.’ (Rom.4:18)
The reality of the situation seemed impossible in the physical realm, re Abraham and Sara’s age, but Abraham developed that strong spirit of hope in the spiritual realm, which led to faith in Almighty God.
And again in Romans 8, Bruh Paul proclaims: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it’ (Rom.8:24-25)
That’s just the reality of life Friends. You don’t have to hope for something that you can see, but when you can’t see it then you persevere in the Word of God and wait with eager expectation for it.
And we’ll close with these words from Bruh Paul to the Thessalonians. ‘Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath LOVED us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thess.2:16-17)
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
Yes Friends, it all starts with hope, that tingling feeling that stirs our souls. So let’s go out and manifest that hope which we received from Jesus Christ, in our own words and deeds today nuh, for it’s our bounden duty, as well as the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!
… to hope…to hope…and yet to hope in Jesus Christ…is the Christian’s duty…also his stronghold…his place of refuge…
13 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adoration, arise o Lord, atrocities, author and finisher of our faith, bow before you, Christian persecution, Christians, cruel and unjust punishment, dilly-dally, enemy, evil influence, evil ungodly world, fateful wednesday morning, fellow believers, fellowship, fight tooth and nail, float up prayers to heaven, for my name's sake, forget not the humble, freedom, goodness, grace, grace to stand strong, heartfelt, heathen, horse of a different dolour, humble servants, inroads, Jesus Christ, lift their sagging spirits, Lord and Saviour, lord jesus christ, loving kindness, misery, mitigate, onslaught, overthrow of the wicked, persecution, physical realm, power and glory, praise, pray in faith, prayer, prayer is the most powerful tool in the universe, protective arms, reality of the situation, rectify the situation, resolve, reward, sanctions, soldiers in battle, spiritual battle, spiritual realm, steadfast faith, suffering, take freedom for granted, thanks, tribulation, trust in jesus, unfortunate believers, why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble, why standest thou afar off o Lord, worship
Psalm 10:1. Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Oh Friends, oh Friends, on this fateful Wednesday morning in mid August 2014, I would like to open our deliberations with a prayer for the thousands of Christians being cruelly and unjustly persecuted for their religious beliefs in the Middle East, Africa and several other parts of the world.
The situation is reaching epidemic proportions now and simply cannot be allowed to continue. And it’s all simply because of their faith and trust in Jesus Christ! Ah my brethren, our fellow believers are suffering such cruel and unjust punishment like we couldn’t even begin to imagine!
And though most of us can’t do much to help in the physical realm, we certainly can in the spiritual world, through prayer, for remember that prayer is the most powerful tool in the universe.
So please pray with me: ‘Dear Lord Jesus Christ, author and finisher of our faith, this morning, we, your humble servants come before you with praise and adoration, gladly acknowledging you as our Lord and Saviour.
We give you sincere thanks for your goodness and LOVING-kindness, but Lord there are many of our brothers and sisters in faith, all around this evil and ungodly world, who are being cruelly and unjustly persecuted simply because they profess belief in your name.
Lord Jesus Christ, as your body here on earth, we ask, we plead with you to rectify the situation for those unfortunate believers.
Oh Jesus, you’ve said that when we pray in faith, you’d hear and answer our requests. This morning Lord, we beg you to strengthen our persecuted brethren, keep their resolve to serve and worship you unbroken, lift their sagging spirits, give them your grace to stand strong in the face of such unjust persecution.
Father in heaven, we pray that you will not stand idly by and see your children suffer the atrocities they are being put through. Please work on their persecutors; either help them to see the evil in their ways, or if necessary Jesus, strike them down.
We know that suffering and persecution are parts of this earthly life, and no one knows that better than you from your earthly experience. But Father God, this persecution of your people is so unjust, unfair and uncalled for, all because of their faith in you.
Please reward their faith and trust with strong sanctions against their evil persecutors, and continue to fill them with steadfast faith. Please hide them safely under your protective and everlasting arms, so that they won’t have to endure the unjust tribulation any longer.
We know that you have the power to mitigate their circumstances, and that we prayerfully ask you to do today Father in heaven.
Please release them from their persecution, however you see fit Lord, so that the heathen will see your might, your power and your glory, and eventually come to bow before you too. This we pray in the holy and sinless name of your Son, and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Oh my people, those words may not be spectacular, but our great and wonderful God knows that they are sincere and heartfelt. Now, in your own time and manner, please keep on praying for those unfortunate brethren on the other side of the world who are facing such cruel injustice, all because of their trust in Jesus.
We, in these parts, are free to worship as we like, and sadly take that freedom for granted, but millions of other believers are not so lucky. They have to hide and pray and worship and fellowship with each other.
Let’s make it a habit to float up prayers to heaven on their behalf, as well as taking our freedom to worship more seriously, because if the infidel has his way, their evil influence will be spread all over the world. And that we can NEVER allow to happen my brethren!
So let’s get truly serious about our faith nuh, and take steps to see that it is firmly entrenched in these parts, for while we foolishly dilly and dally, the enemy is making serious inroads into our positions. Remember Friends, we’re soldiers in a battle, a spiritual battle that is growing more heated with each passing day, and we need to step up and be counted.
Oh my fellow believers, this is not just some idle fairy tale, this is serious business, life defining business, and unless we want our descendants to face such unjust persecution, we need to come together and fight tooth and nail for what we proclaim to believe in.
Oh Friends, we can no longer stand idly by and see other believers being unjustly persecuted, because if that is successful, then we’ll be next in line for the evil onslaught. And if you haven’t noticed, it’s already begun.
Oh Friends, I know that Jesus warned us: ‘Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.’ (John 15:20-21)
But still my people, when the reality of the situation really occurs, it’s always a horse of an entirely different colour, one for which we’re never really prepared. And I can just picture those persecuted brethren, in their great misery, like the psalmist of old, calling out for the overthrow of the wicked, in the sorrowful words of our Bit.
‘Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride doth persecute (hotly pursues) the poor: let them be taken in the devices (plots) that they have imagined (devised).’ (Ps.10:1-2)
And on their behalf my people, we sincerely declare: ‘Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble… Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness till thou find none.’ (Ps.10:12, 15)
Yes Friends and fellow believers, that’s our hope and prayer for today! Much LOVE!
…when persecution comes…as it must…only the grace and strength of Jesus can help us to bear it…
11 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a smiley kind of day, arduous task, aura of love, blessings, Bruh Paul, bugler's call, christ jesus, common sense, Corinthians, Creator of the universe, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, fellowship, forgiveness, friends, fun, get with the programme, give thanks, glorious kingdom, goodness of god, grace, heavenly hosts, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, irony, Jesus Christ, joy, justified, laughter, lord jesus christ, LOVE, military training, miserable, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, peace, Philippians, pray without ceasing, rejoice, rejoice evermore, rejoice in hope, Rejoice in the Lord, Rejoice in the Lord always, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, reveille, righteousness., rise and shine, Romans, salvation, smile, sour, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, summer, the glory of God, the vine and the branches, the will of God, times of sorrow, truth, wisdom, your joy might be full
Philippians 3:1. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. to write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous (tedious), but for you it is safe.
‘Spah na na na na na na nah!’ Hey Friends… ‘Spah na na na na na na nah!’ It’s the bugler’s call to reveille! That means it’s time for all able bodied persons to rise and shine and get with the program on this glorious Monday morning, in the final days of the wonderful summer of 2014! (smile)
Yes Friends, I believe that if we all had some military training early on in our lives, waking up on a Monday morning would not be such an arduous task. But as we said yesterday, the time and place to begin preparations for Monday is Sunday, fellowshipping with other believers. And if you don’t believe me, then just try it. I dare you. (smile)
Anyway, let’s get our usual adrenalin rush from our Monday Morning Battle Hymn; loud and clear and harmonious my people.
‘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!’
That was wonderful my brethren! So wonderful, that the heavenly hosts felt the magnetic pull of the riddim and sang along with us. Yuh see how powerful we can be when we put our minds to it! (smile)
Now let’s turn to our Bit, from Bruh Paul’s epistle to the Philippians, re continual pressing towards the mark. ‘Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous (tedious), but for you it is safe.’
And I just had to chuckle as I realized the irony of the similarity of the situation; meaning that writing to you my fellow believers is not tedious for me, while it is safe and sensible for you. (smile)
And the scholars’ note on this verse is very educational. ‘3:1. Finally is a transitional word that might be rendered “as for the rest” or “in addition to.” It turns from the old subject just discussed in 2:19-30 (i.e. the coming visits of Timothy and Epaphroditus) to a new subject in 3:1-4:1 (i.e. the readers’ religious enemies).
To write the same things refers to matters that Paul touches on again and again, namely the call to rejoice found throughout the epistle, and the repeated warnings about their adversaries (1:28-30; 3:1-4:1).’
And today I just want to reiterate to us Bruh Paul’s advice re rejoicing in God. Ah mih people, that is such an important part of a believer’s life that we can never overestimate its importance. Without a sense and purpose of rejoicing in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds, we’d be like…like… I can’t even find the words to describe it.
We’d be so serious and inhibited that there’d be little or no laughter, fun or joy in our lives. And unfortunately that’s how some believers live their lives, always sour and miserable, unwisely believing that to have a pleasant and laughing personality goes against the dictates of Jesus. But that’s ever so wrong my brethren.
Remember Jesus’ words to the disciples when talking about the vine and the branches? ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ (John 15:11) Now you can’t be full of joy and be sour and miserable.
Now let’s look at some scriptures where Bruh Paul advises us to rejoice. And we’ll begin with the most famous one to these same Philippians. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.’ (Phil.4:4)
Oh Friends, there are so many things in our lives to rejoice about that we should indeed be continually rejoicing in our wonderful and merciful God!
Then to the Corinthians, when summarizing his ministry, he declares: ‘As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor. 6:10)
So even in his times of sorrow, he rejoiced because he knew and experienced the miraculous grace of God, which is to this day still available to all who sincerely believe.
Hear what he told the Romans: ‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.’ (Rom.5:1-2)
Oh my brethren, if we have faith in Jesus Christ, then peace, joy, grace and all the other goodness of God is open to us! Now if those aren’t overwhelming reasons to rejoice always, then I don’t know what is!
And we’ll end with some of Bruh Paul’s simple but mighty and memorable words to the Thessalonians: ‘Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess.5:16-18)
Oh Friends, those three simple statements cover God’s entire will for us! So let’s do them nuh. I won’t even go as far as calling it wisdom, because it’s only common sense… that is if you consider yourself a believer. Much LOVE!
…regardless of our earthly trials…when you have faith, peace, joy, LOVE, forgiveness, mercy, grace and faithful promises of salvation and eternal life from a mighty and magnanimous God…rejoicing ought not to be a problem…but should come automatically…
P.S. It’s certainly been a smiley smiley kind of day! (smile) But you can’t help but smile when you’re rejoicing! Much LOVE!
29 Jul 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a child of God, a righteous man, access by faith, accptance, advice, Advocate, ashamed, assurance, at all times dare to be the best, attempt to, awesome word, be prepared to believe, bless your Holy Name, Bruh Paul, certainty, challenge, character, Christ died for the ungodly, comfort zone, commandment, courage, courageous, DARE, dare to be the best, daring, daring believers, defy, disappoint, echoing Jesus' words, enmity, even dare to die, evil, experience, fear, feel sure that, followers of Jesus christ, for a good man, friends, get up off of our fat fannies, glory in tribulation, God rested on the seventh day, God's business, God's deliverance, God's great love, grace, heavenly wisdom, Holy Ghost, hope, I can do attitude, impudence, in Jesus' name, ingeniously reasons, iniquities, justification, justified by faith, kindness, lay down his life, lord jesus christ, LOVE, LOVE one another, mea culpa, mercy, not being afraid, pain, patience, peace with God, perseverance, plaintive plea, poured out in our hearts, praise and adore, presence of god, reconciled, Redeemer, rejoice in hope, rest, rest is an integral part of our lives, rise up and meet challenges, run amuck, sacrificing, servants, stand up strong and steadfast, Steve Marshall, stress, take the risk, Thank you Jesus, the glory of God, the LOVE of God, ungodly state, venture to
Romans 5:7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die.
Ah Friends and neighbours, it was one of those days where at getting up time, the old body plaintively cried out; ‘More rest! In the name of God, more rest please!’
And being a child of God, a reflection of His mercy, LOVE and kindness, how could I refuse such a plaintive plea eh? (smile) To tell the truth, the ole bod could still use some more rest, but sometimes we just can’t let it have it’s own way and must say enough is enough, else it will simply take over and run amuck on us.
So Friends, when your bodies seriously cry out for rest, don’t constantly ignore it, because it often knows better than us, what it needs. And remember too that rest was a big part of God’s concern when He created the universe.
For as the Good Book says: ‘And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.’ (Gen.2:3)
So Friends, if God needed rest from His labours, or rather saw fit to rest, then why shouldn’t we also. Please be aware that rest is an integral part of our earthly lives, though the world, in its evil, ungodly state, strives to keep us continually busy, but that only causes us considerable and unnecessary stress and pain.
And now that I’ve formally made my excuses, my mea culpas, (smile) let’s see what good word our almanac has for us today. And though it’s a small in stature word, it is big, bold, beautiful and mighty in its impact. Believe me, it’s an awesome word that ALL God’s children ought to heed.
And that powerful word is ‘DARE!’
Now I’m not sure which Steve Marshall the following quote can be attributed to, because there are so many. But whichever one it is, he is supposed to have said these simple but powerful words of advice: ‘Dare to be the best you can – at all times, dare to be the best!’
What wonderful words of advice my brethren, especially for followers of the Lord Jesus Christ! Why is that you ask? Because daring allows us to move out of our comfort zone, to get up off of our fat fannies and do the things Jesus desires of us.
The dictionary generally defines ‘DARE’ as ‘venture to, have the courage or impudence to, feel sure that, attempt to, take the risk of, defy, challenge, be prepared to believe.’
So you can see Friends, that daring involves getting up and doing, meeting challenges full on, not being afraid of and running from stuff.
And that stand up strong and steadfast, courageous, believing I can attitude is necessary in ALL believers if we seriously intend to do God’s work here in this evil, ungodly world, because the enemy will not allow us to just go about God’s business without any challenges and evil input.
Yes my people, believers are called to be daring, so daring that we would follow our Bit. ‘For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die.’
Wow! It surely is a hefty dare, but one that we should not shy away from if necessary. Oh my brethren, I know that ALL of us are praying that it won’t be necessary in our own lives. (smile) But Bruh Paul was simply echoing Jesus’ words there in our Bit, when He told the disciples:
‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.’ (John 15:12-15)
Then He went out and died for His FRIENDS; laid down His life for us!
And all God’s children gave out a mighty and grateful shout of: ‘Oh thank you Jesus for sacrificing your holy and sinless life for us! We praise and adore You, and bless your holy name, now and forever more! Amen’
Yeh mih people, that’s what daring does! It causes us to rise up and meet challenges, even though we may be sorely afraid.
As Bruh Paul so ingeniously reasons before our Bit; ‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience (produces perseverance); And patience, experience (character); and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed (does not disappoint); because the LOVE of God is shed abroad (has been poured out) in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due (at the right) time Christ died for the ungodly.’ (Rom.5:1-6)
Oh Friends, what marvelous scripture! Scripture that assures and ensures us of God’s great LOVE!
And it’s only fitting that we end with some scholarly explanations of those verses. ‘5:1-4. Justified by faith (lit. “because we have been justified by faith”): It was God’s doing, not man’s.
Peace with God: This is not a feeling but a standing. God and the believer are no longer at enmity but have been reconciled (cf. 5:10-11; 2 Cor.5:18). This is a primary result of our justification.
Access: We can come directly into the presence of God. Jesus Christ is not only our Redeemer, but He is also our Advocate. By Him we gain entrance and acceptance before the Father (cf. 1 John 2:1)
Wherein we stand: This is the answer to the psalmist’s question: “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” (Ps.130:3) Rejoice (lit. “we boast”) in hope denotes the absolute certainty the believer has of God’s deliverance.
5:5. Holy Ghost…given: The believer has the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is not a “second blessing,” but is just as much a certitude as the believer’s justification (cf. 1 Cor.12:13).’
Oh my people, with all that assurance and certainty expressed in God’s Word, there’s no way we should fear to go out and ‘DARE!’
So starting today, right now, let’s put all that stuff deep in our souls nuh, bury God’s assurance deep in our hearts and thus allow it to make us not only believers, but even more importantly, daring believers. That’s heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…to dare…to dare…and yet to dare…in Jesus name…is what we’re called to do…
20 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new song, admonished, adversity, answered prayer, anxiety, awesome truth, brass tacks, break down our faith, Bruh David, character, develop possibilities, disappoint, doing good, dr robert h schuller, empathy, encouragement, encouraging, endurance, evil powers, experience, faith walk, faithful follower of Jesus, fear, follow in Jesus' footsteps, further God's glorious kingdom, God tests us, God's glorious kingdom, gospel truth, grace, grow, grow in love, guidance of God, healing, heartfelt words, help the needy, helping, helping others, Holy Ghost, hope, horrible pit, I waited patiently for the lord, in your patience, inspiring, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is counting on us, joy, justification, justified by faith, lord jesus christ, LOVE, mandate, mature, miry clay, misfortune, overdo the partying, patience, perseverance, personal experience, possess ye your souls, praise, praise to God, Queen Victoria, reaching down, reflection of Jesus, rejoice in hope, set my feet upon a rock, suck it up, suffering, sympathy, temptations, the glory of God, the heathen, the Lord heard my cry, the party's over, the top of the mountain, the unbeliever, time to call it a day, trials, tribulations, trouble, truth, turn aside to lies, underfire, ungodly world, uplifting scriptures, walking steadfastly in faith, wisdom, words of encouragement, work hard for Jesus
Luke 21:19. In your patience possess ye your souls.
Oh Friends, the party’s over! Yeh, like the man said, it’s time to call it a day and get back to labouring. (smile) So all you people who were fortunate enough to have yesterday off in honour of Queen Victoria, please get it together and get out there today and work hard for Jesus, like the rest of us, provided you didn’t overdo the partying yesterday.
And even if you did overdo it, then just suck it up and do what needs to be done, regardless of your physical feelings. I’m sure you didn’t have any qualms about anything when you were living it up yesterday, so please don’t have any today when Jesus is counting on you to be His ears, arms, eyes and heart in an ungodly world which badly needs His LOVE and encouragement.
And now that you’ve been suitably admonished, (smile) let’s get down to brass tacks here ourselves, and with the guidance of our great God, write something that’s inspiring and encouraging.
And in seeking something inspiring to begin, I found these words of encouragement from one of my favourite writers and preachers, Dr. Robert H. Schuller.
Listen closely Friends and fellow believers. Dr. Schuller tells us that ‘The joy of being at the top of the mountain is the joy of reaching down to help others see and develop their (own) possibilities.’
And what a riot of wisdom and truth that is my brethren! For what other purpose can their be at the top of the mountain if you’re a true and faithful follower of Jesus eh?
None really my people! Because that’s what Jesus did every day of His life; go about doing good, helping and healing people, and if we want to truly follow in his footsteps then we need to do the same. Yes my fellow believers that is our mandate; to help the needy, in all walks of life, in whatever way we are able!
But just as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, didn’t have it easy, we won’t have it easy either. There will always be trials and tribulations to face as our God tests us, and the heathen, the unbeliever and evil powers of this world try to break down our faith.
But as Jesus so wisely says in our Bit: ‘In your patience posses ye your souls.’
And that’s more awesome truth Friends! For it’s only if we settle down without fear and anxiety and accept the promises of Jesus and stand fast and strong on them that we will grow and mature in out faith walk and thus further His glorious kingdom.
And today again I want to fill our minds, hearts, souls, bodies and wherever else (smile) with more encouraging and uplifting scriptures on patience, perseverance and endurance, while walking steadfastly in faith with Jesus.
Now let’s start with some beautiful heartfelt words from Bruh David. Yeh, you can call me biased because I LOVE to begin with Bruh David and end with Jesus. (smile)
Anyway listen to Bruh David as he declares praise for answered prayer from Psalm 40. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps.40:1-4)
Oh my brethren, yuh see what can happen when we wait patiently on the Lord? Meanwhile Bruh Paul told it to the Romans this way when talking about the results of justification.
‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (produces perseverance);
And patience, experience (character); and experience hope: And hope maketh not ashamed (does not disappoint); because the LOVE of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ (Rom.5:1-5)
Ah Friends what a moving and touching scripture; one that we all know, but resist following because we’re afraid of trials and tribulations. But if we don’t experience some misfortune and suffering, then we won’t grow in the LOVE and reflection of Jesus.
And to show that it’s all gospel truth, James, in his epistle, tells it to us this way. ‘My brethren, count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting (lacking) nothing.’ (James 1:2-4)
And as the scholars so wisely remind us: ‘1:4. The natural response to adversity is to escape it. But God uses trouble to mature His people.’
And as we all know, but fear and refuse to accept, that’s undeniable truth! For it’s only when we’re under fire, that the real us comes forth, we find out what we’re truly made of, and how much we truly LOVE and desire to work for Jesus.
Anyway Friends, I think we’ll end there because I don’t want to give us too much scripture to ponder at anyone sitting. See how I consider your busy lives! (smile)
So in light of all that’s been said above, let’s go out today and do as Jesus did everyday of His earthly sojourn: help the hurting and the needy, despite our hurts and needs, thus reflecting the true character of Jesus. That’s wisdom from on high! Much LOVE!
…sympathy comes from the mind…but empathy comes from the heart…through personal experience…
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