28 Jun 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abhor, affectionate, avenge not, be patient in tribulation, belief, bless, bounce our heads, brotherly LOVE, caring, Christian's conduct, circumstances, cliques, condescend, curse not, dissension, dissimulation, divisions, does not hold back, Dr, epitome, evil for evil, evildoer, expects to win, faith, faithful believers, falls apart, Father of Positive thinking, fervent in spirit, fuss and fume, genuine, good, gossip, headaches, heap coals of fire, heartening, help, honest, hope, hospitality, humble, hypocrisy, I am the beloved of god, instant, life, live peaceably, LOVE, loving, low estate, lustful nature, mind not high things, motivators, necessity, needs, negative attitude, Norman Vincent Peale, overcome, pacifism., patient, persevering, positive manner, power, prayer, reassuring, recompense, rejoice, rejoicing in hope, repay, rest, revenge, rush and push, saints, sense of shame, shame, share His love, sinful, slothful, speak well of, starting point, steadfast in prayer, success, take everything to God in prayer, take it by the tail, the proverbial wall, the service of love, the winner's crown, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, unfeigned, unfriendliness, ungodly world, vengeance is mine, weep
Romans 12:12. Rejoicing in hope; patient (persevering) in tribulation; continuing (steadfastly) instant in prayer.
Welcome to another beautiful day in God’s great realm my people!
Regardless of what our individual circumstances might be, we need to look upon everyday that we’re alive as a beautiful one, that’s the only way we will get through it without too many unnecessary headaches.
Negative stuff will come against us, whatever we do, so there’s no need to add to it with a negative attitude of our own. Life happens to all of us, but it’s the ones who take life by the tail and deals with it in a positive manner that gets the winner’s crown.
And now I want to share an interesting quote from the Father of Positive Thinking, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) on that most wonderful of emotions and attitudes, ‘HOPE.’
Dr. Peale is reputed to have said that, ‘Hope is the great power that can move you to success. Why? Because when a man expects to win, he does not hold anything back, but gives his project all that he’s got. Most people fail not because they lack ability, intelligence or opportunity, but they fail because they don’t give it all they’ve got.’
Now that ‘s packed full of truth my brethren! For hope is one of the most powerful motivators in God’s great world. It’s the starting point of everything we want or plan to do. Without hope, why begin anything eh?
And furthermore, without hope, we can’t even have faith, which is what keeps us going during the hard times. So please, let’s never lose hope, because then it will be so much easier to lose faith, and then everything falls apart.
Now let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra with a whole lot of enthusiasm, energy and sincerity. Let’s say it like we truly believe it.
As one now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Now ain’t that something truly wonderful friends? It surely is! For what can be more heartening and reassuring than being beloved by Almighty God, and also being a friend of Jesus, and getting to share His LOVE with a godless world? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
That means there’s nothing for us to worry about. We don’t care what others say about us, we don’t have to rush and push to just barely get by. No my fellow believers, in our strong and steadfast belief and faith in Jesus Christ, all of that is worked out for us.
So let’s not fuss and fume and bounce our heads against the proverbial wall when troubles come against us. Please remember who and whose we are, and just take everything to God in prayer!
Enough sermonizing now though, (smile) let’s turn to our Bit. ‘Rejoicing in hope; patient (persevering) in tribulation; continuing (steadfastly) instant in prayer.’
Yes friends, as faithful believers in Jesus, those are some of the things we’re required to do! It’s a part of Bruh Paul’s sermon to the Roman church re the service of LOVE to All.
Earlier on, he sets the stage by saying: ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:9)
And what does all of that mean? The scholars explain: 12:9. Without dissimulation (lit. “without hypocrisy”). The Christian’s conduct in the local church toward fellow believers is to be a volitional (exercise of will) caring for others, loving faithfully in spite of the response received. The LOVE is to be genuine and unfeigned.’
Unfortunately though people, we are seeing less and less of that in not only the local churches, but also the church as a whole. That’s why there is so much dissension, which ultimately leads to divisions. Contrary to God’s word and desire, cliques, gossip, unfriendliness and hypocrisy abound in today’s church.
Why is that eh friends, when we’re supposed to be the epitome of true LOVE, caring and compassion? The only reason I can come up with is that we allow the enemy to raise up our sinful, lustful nature, which causes us to think and act like the evil and ungodly world that surrounds us.
But Bruh Paul is advocating the exact opposite. ‘Be kindly affectioned (affectionate) one to another with brotherly LOVE; in honour preferring (giving preference to) one another. Not slothful in business (lagging in diligence); fervent in spirit; serving the Lord…
Distributing to the necessity (needs) of saints (fellow believers); given to hospitality. Bless (speak well of) them which persecute you; bless (speak well of), and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one to another.
Mind not (do not set your mind on) high things, but condescend to men of low estate (associate with the humble). Be not wise in your own conceits (estimation). Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men (have regard for good things).
If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.’ (Rom.12: 9-11,13-20)
Ah friends, it’s all laid out there for us; the basic application of our Christian faith! What more can I say eh? It’s up to us now to put it into action.
And we’ll end with this explanation from the scholars. ’12:19-21. Give place unto wrath: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and He certainly will avenge.
Heap coals of fire on his head (cf. Prov:25:22). This may refer to a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’
So friends, let’s ponder all that we’ve said today nuh, and see how it is reflected in our own lives, and then ask God to help us fix whatever is wrong. He will NEVER turn us down, or away. Always remember that. Much LOVE!
…be not overcome of evil…but overcome evil with good… (Rom.12:21).
P.S. Excuse the lateness. I don’t understand it. I went to be earlier than usual, but still had a hard time getting up. (smile) Guess the body needs more rest than I’m giving it. Much LOVE!
22 Jun 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a more excellent way, a path of life, accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, apostles, attitude, behaviour, believers, better hands than All State, charity, Christians, coming up to scratch, communing, contentious striving, Corinth, Corinthians, covet, desire, disrupt the future, faith, gifts of healing, glad to be alive, glory hallelujah, God's working all things for good, god-like, governments, halfway home, hands fixed on the plough, helps, hodge-podge lives, hope, I am nothing, I'm not looking back, leave my mark, LOVE, loving, magnify, meaningful, members individually, miracles, move mountains, muddy up the present, my best days are still ahead, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, mysteries, ONE body in Christ, pagan worship, peace, priorities, priority, prophets, purposeful, quiet, sounding brass, spiritual gifts, summer, teachers, the best gifts, the body of Christ, the breath of life, the greatest of these three, the language of the gods, the Way of LOVE, those who love him, tinkling cymbal, tongues, tongues of men, vibrant, walking in LOVE, Wednesday Wail
1 Corinthians 12:27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (individually).
Welcome, welcome one and all to this glorious summer’s day! Yes friends, it’s now officially summer in the northern climes, as of last Monday evening! Glory be!
The strange part though is that we’ve been experiencing some rather strong winds for the past couple of days, along with some reassuring summer temps. But who knows what our omnipotent and ever-wise God is up to and about eh? Nobody!
Anyway, we do know that He’s working all things out for our good, for those who LOVE Him and are called to participate in His wonderful world, and that’s enough for true believers like us. We’re in much, much better hands than All State! (smile)
And to prove that we sincerely believe that, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with great gusto and superior faith. Altogether now: ‘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!’
Ah mih people, how glorious that future with Jesus will be! And yuh know what, though life can be somewhat rough sometimes, I’m still grateful to be alive, because as far as I’m concerned my best days are still ahead of me. I haven’t done anything as yet to leave my mark on the world, which means that better days are still to come.
Consequently, I can’t afford to look to the past, else it will only muddy up the present and disrupt the great plans God has for me in the future.
Oh friends, we have to believe that God has great plans for our lives, otherwise life won’t be worth living! Christians won’t created to lead, mediocre, hodge-podge lives, but strong, vibrant, meaningful, god-like and purposeful ones!
But we won’t be able to do that until we sincerely accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour and genuinely work with Him to bring to pass His good plans for our earthly days.
And all God’s people declared a loud, proud and grateful; ‘Hallelujah! All praise and glory to Jesus, our ever-faithful and ever-LOVING Lord and King!’
And that brings us to our current Bit: ‘Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (individually).’
Yes my people, we are supposed to be one body in Christ, composed of different parts, as members, and that consequently means there is a certain kind of behaviour and attitude that’s expected of us. Unfortunately though, we are not coming up to scratch, which means that Christ’s organization is also not coming up to scratch, since we are its purveyors.
Now let’s hear what Bruh Paul said to the Corinthians a long time ago, because it also pertains to us in these trying and desperate times. ‘And God hath set some in the church (appointed these), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities (varieties) of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? Are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?’ (1 Cor.12:28-30)
And the obvious answer to all of that my friends is a big NO!
So what? Bruh Paul provides the answer. ‘But covet (desire) earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.’ (1 Cor.12:31)
And here the scholars give us a lengthy explanation of what Bruh Paul means. ’12:31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: This expressions explains why the apostle has arranged the list in verse 28 in order of priority. He wants his readers to be clear in their own minds as to which gifts are the best.
Obviously, his intent is to steer them away from the more spectacular gifts such as tongues. Covet here is not to be construed negatively but means “earnestly desire.”
A more excellent way: The import of this statement is to be seen in Chapter 13. Paul will show that a better way is not through contentious striving but through LOVING.
Many feel that Paul is here showing how the gifts are to be administered, that is, in LOVE. However, the use of way (Gr. hodos) in the sense of “a path” instead of the way (Gr. tropos) in the sense of “manner,” and the statement of 14:1, indicates that Paul was pointing out a path of life superior to a life spent seeking and displaying spiritual gifts.
Paul’s interest here is not to instruct his readers in how they may best use their gifts, but how to have their priorities straight. They should strive for LOVE, not spiritual gifts.’
Ah friends, I hope we understand what the scholars are saying: that though spiritual gifts are important, our priority should not be striving to get and display them, but our priority should be walking in LOVE.
For as he says in the opening of Chapter 13 – The way of LOVE – ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (LOVE), I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling (clanging) cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (LOVE), I am nothing.’ ( 1 Cor.13:1-2)
So you see friends, regardless of what spiritual gifts we have, if we don’t have the overwhelming gift and attitude of LOVE, we are nothing, of no importance!
And the scholars share some important and interesting info re verse 1. ’13:1. Tongues of men and of angels: Such was the association of tongues speaking in pagan worship at Corinth. When a priest or devotee spoke in tongues, it was considered that he spoke in the language of the gods.’
And for all you know, some of us still hold that belief today. However my people, please, please, let’s stop seeking the spiritual gifts to magnify ourselves, and instead, simply walk in the way Jesus did nuh – the way of LOVE! For that’s our priority as Christians! Much LOVE!
…and now abideth faith, hope and charity (LOVE)…these three…but the greatest of these is charity (LOVE)… (1 Cor,13:13)
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit. It was just one of those late mornings. I was outside on my porch at 3.am communing with my Creator, enjoying the peace and quiet, while listening to the rain fall softly on the earth. Sometimes we just have to do these things. (smile) Much LOVE!
24 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a child of God, a friend of Jesus, a summer's day, adversary, apologies, armour, be able to stand, beauty of the day, belief, caring, celebrations, Christians, compassionate, deep down inside, eternal life, faith, fallen angel, flesh and blood, focused on God, foe, forgiveness, glad to be alive, glory to God, god, God's armour, God's protection, God's provision, grace, having done all, he that is in the world, He that is in us, how good god is to me, humanity, I've got a joy, Iam, inspiration, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, just one of those days, LOVE, loving, Lucifer, makes me want to shout, mercy, ministry, miserable, my friend Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, overwhelmed with joy, planet earth, powers of darkness, practice what we preach, put on the whole armour of God, rebelled, reggae riddim, resisting Satan, sacrificial death, salvation, schmes, share His love, shout, sincerity, spirit, spiritual warfare, the beloved of God, the happiest people, the Holy Spirit, the whole armour of God, the wiles of the devil, tiredness, to stand, trust, truth, Tuesday Mantra, unconditional LOVE, unhappy people, witness, wrestle
Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.
Oh friends, oh friends, my sincerest apologies for the lateness of the Bit, but it’s just been one of those days. Hn! One of those days when my body rebelled, refused to get up before it was good and ready.
Believe me, I had no idea that the ole bod was so tired nuh, since I didn’t do anything tiring yesterday, and the celebrations didn’t cause me to get to bed any later than usual. I guess though that it was just a residual tiredness from my earlier activities.
Anyway, though I’m still physically groggy, when I went outside just now and experienced the wondrous beauty of the day – like a perfect summer’s day – my spirit was overwhelmed with joy. It made me feel truly glad to be alive.
And consequently, it brought to mind one of my favourite songs that I heard yesterday. It’s an easy lover’s rock reggae riddim that I’ve shared before, but as they say, these gems are never too tiring or old to be heard again and again, because they lend great inspiration to our souls.
It’s a song titled ‘I’ve got a joy,’ sung by a lady named Mounia Sahara. Please sing this very inspirational chorus with me. ‘I’ve got a joy deep down inside, that makes me want to shout, how good God is to me! Yes, I’ve got this joy deep down inside that makes we want to shout how good God is to me!’
And isn’t that the awesome truth my brethren! All Christians ought to feel that way because our wonderful God has indeed been exceedingly good to us all!
Yuh know, Christians ought to be the happiest people in the world because of all that we have; God’s unconditional LOVE, mercy, grace and forgiveness, plus salvation and eternal life paid for by the sacrificial death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
But unfortunately we are some of the most miserable and unhappy people on planet earth. Steups! Ah Lord eh, when are we going to learn to practice what we preach eh?
Anyhow, it’s a beautiful Tuesday, God is still on His heavenly throne, and still in control of His world! So let’s sing our Tuesday Mantra with true sincerity, strong faith and total belief.
All together now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen.’
Oh isn’t that just wonderful my fellow believers? It surely is! What can be better than being a beloved child of God and a friend of Jesus eh? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
And we certainly don’t have to worry about what the world says about us or how it defines us, because greater is He that’s in us – the Holy Spirit of Jesus – than he that’s in the world – the foolish, fallen angel Lucifer. (1 John 4:4)
And to help us prove that, let’s turn to our Bit, that remarkable verse of scripture, which so rightfully declares: ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.’
And that my people, is indisputable truth! When we are wearing the whole armour of God, we are invincible! Glory to God! And please note that it requires the whole armour, all of it, not bits and pieces.
And before we get to what that armour consists of, I’m going to repeat a couple verses from yesterday because there are some interesting and important explanations from the scholars that I did not get to share.
After our Bit, Bruh Paul declares: ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world (age), against (hosts of) spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you (take up, put on) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:12-13)
Now here are the scholars’ explanations of those verses. ‘6:12. Wrestle, used of hand-to-hand combat, emphasizes the personal and individual nature of spiritual warfare waged against each local church and Christian.
Flesh and blood refers to humanity. Such is not the church’s adversary. Instead she opposes principalities (rulers), powers (authorities), rulers (world-rulers), spiritual wickedness (wicked spiritual beings), that is, fallen angels, demons, and Lucifer himself.’
Yes friends, a lot of powerful spiritual enemies are lined up against us. And per ‘6:13. Wherefore means “because of this,” that is, because we face such a formidable foe, we must avail ourselves of God’s provision lest the enemy destroy our Christian witness and ministry.
The evil day refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and Satanic assaults. Having done all includes both dressing oneself in God’s armour and resisting Satan. Having done all these, be ready, for the Devil will attack again.’
And that’s no lie friends! The evil powers of darkness will continue to come at us, time after time, wave upon wave, trying to gain serious entry to our souls.
However, once we are clothed in God’s protective spiritual armour, and our minds are focused on God, rather than the world, those evil spirits won’t be able to harm us. And on that upbeat note, we’ll close today. (smile)
Now let’s put on that spiritual armour of God and walk strong, tall and proud, caring, compassionate and LOVING, about God’s great earth, because that’s what He expects of us. Much LOVE!
…as Christians in an evil world…God’s protection is ALWAYS necessary…
07 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool's wisdom, actions, agenda, apple cart, asaph, atonement, backbone, backsliding, be in the world, belly, blessings, bondage, character, Christians, comfortable, compromise, confession, covenant, cowardly, deliver us, deliverance, do not fear, faith, for thy name's sake, give in, God is always with us, good living, goodwill, habits, hallmark, help us, jeopardize our good thing, Jeremiah, kind, long-suffering, LOVE, loving, lustful dealings, magnanimous god, material prosperity, mercies, merciful, mercy, not of the world, O God of our salvation, O Lord our God, obedience, our redeemer, patient, pressure, purge away our sins, rebellion, remove God from our lives, repentance, righteousness, rights and privileges, rub mih belly, safety, save us, scared, scratch yuh back, seek first the kingdom of God, sleep in, stress, testimonies, the BIBLE, the glory of thy name, the hope of Irael, the weakest generation of Christians, thoughts, Trini, true believers, trust, truth, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, wickedness, wisdom, words, worry
Psalm 79:9. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away (provide atonement for) our sins, for thy name’s sake.
So now it’s Saturday morning friends, meaning that our magnanimous God has granted us another meaningful day on His great earth, to do His glorious work and enjoy His unending mercies and blessings! Oh what a wonderful God we serve and worship my people!
Now some of us are lucky, or preferably, blessed to be able to sleep in, but many others have to get up and get busy around the house, as well as go out and buy food and other necessities for the upcoming week. But fellow believers, whatever our agenda for today, please remember that our wonderful, kind, LOVING and merciful God is ALWAYS with us, ensuring our safety and goodwill.
If we don’t sincerely believe that, then every time the enemy comes against us, even in minor situations, we’ll worry unnecessarily. And if Jesus said it once, He said it a million times – DO NOT FEAR!
And the other day I heard a preacher declare that that sentence was possibly the most used in the entire Bible. I forget how many times they said it was used. But from the beginning of time the Lord has been telling His people not to be afraid.
But despite it all, we Christians are still a scared and cowardly bunch. We let the enemy beat us down too easily, and we don’t seem to have the belly and backbone needed to stand up strong and steadfast again the evil one. Steups!
This has got to be the weakest generation of Christians that our world has ever seen! I guess that’s because we’ve become too comfortable with the good living, and the material prosperity of the world, and we don’t want to upset our precariously balanced apple cart, to jeopardize the good thing we have going in the world.
So we sheepishly give in and/or compromise with the evil world, and consequently loose most of the rights and privileges that our forefathers died to have ensured and enshrined. Remember Jesus said we ought to be IN the world but not OF the world. Too many of us have fallen, and are still falling by the wayside with that directive.
And we also conveniently forget that He declared that if we first seek the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, then all the stuff that we need will be granted to us. (Matt.6:32) But we don’t seem to have the true faith and trust in our Redeemer that that directive implies, so we try to do it, work for it all ourselves, and then die from the stress and pressure. That’s certainly not wisdom my brethren.
Now here is an interesting but true Trini quote a Trini friend just sent me. ‘Rub meh belly, ah go scratch yuh back.’ Used to reassure someone that there is a need to look out for each other: I’ll help with your issues and you help with mine: Let’s help each other to achieve success. It can even be used as a gentle, but loving scolding — come on and pull your weight because I should not be doing most of the work to build our relationship. Have a great day.
Watch your thoughts: They become words. Watch your words: They become actions Watch your actions: They become habits Watch your habits: They become your character.’ True and faithful words my people! I certainly hope we can successfully apply them to our lives.
And now, turning to our Bit, we hear the psalmist Asaph plead with the God of his fathers. ‘Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away (provide atonement for) our sins, for thy name’s sake.’
Ah friends, Asaph was not the only man of God who pleaded fervently with God for deliverance. Let’s listen to a couple of others who did the same, beginning with Bruh David, from Psalm 25 – A prayer for guidance and protection. ‘All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name’s sake, O Lord pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.’ (Ps.25:10-11) That was Bruh David pleading on a personal note.
Now hear the psalmist pleading in Psalm 106 on behalf of Israel sins against God’s LOVE. ‘Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord.’ (Ps.106:43-48)
Oh my fellow believers, the Israelites were surely hard-headed and stubborn, but at least they knew whom to run to when they had gone their own way and things backfired on them. Today, more than ever we need to cry out to our Creator for mercy, grace and forgiveness for our continuing rebellion against Him. But that’s the furthest thing from the minds of the majority of our society.
Unfortunately, we are still so tied up in the bondage of material wants and lustful dealings that we are dying, trying to remove God from our lives, instead of reinstating Him on the throne of the world. Ah friends, as I said yesterday, that’s a fool’s wisdom and no good can ever come from it!
And we’ll end with the words of the prophet Jeremiah, pleading for his people, as the Lord communicates the message of the famine to him. ‘O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against thee.
O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.’ (Jer.14:7-9)
And later on in that same chapter, he declares: ‘We acknowledge, O Lord our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.’ (Jer.14:20-21)
Yeh, I like the reasoning; we can callously and stubbornly break our covenant with Almighty God, but He must not break His with us. Hn! Sadly though friends, it just doesn’t work like that. Our God is patient and long-suffering, but even His patience runs out, especially in the face of boldfaced and continuous rebellion.
My people, we cannot continue rebelling against God and expect Him to still show us grace and mercy. Until sincere repentance and confession become a big part of our society, like the Israelites, our fortunes will continue to decrease. Let’s think seriously on that today nuh. Much LOVE!
…continuous obedience to God’s Word…is the hallmark of true believers…
02 Mar 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a loving manner, being, believed the Lord, boggle our minds, brow beat, calamity, caring, chosen people, compassionate, conviction, Counselor, deity, Egypt, Elohim, enthusiasm, Everlasting Father, fellow believers, fellowship, forgiving, friends, furrows, Genesis, glory hallelujah, holiness, holy, holy spirit, homework, I am halfway home, I'm not focusing on the past, I'm not turning back, ingenuity, Israel, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour, Lot's wife, LOVE, loving, lure sweet words, made man, madness, might, mighty god, more flies are caught with honey, Moses, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, not worthy of the kingdom, Paradise, peaceful life, pillar of salt, plagues, ponder, positive actions, power, prince of peace, relationships, sacrificed, sense, serving, sincerity, sinful mankind, sinless life, son of god, spiritual breath, spoke it into existence, stood in awe., sufficent, template, the breath of life, the dust of the ground, the earth, the Exodus, the heavens, the Lord in favour, the Lord of the universe, the Passover, the Red Sea, the sanctuary, thy way O God, to a glorious future with Jesus, Tobago, unbelievers, Wednesday Wail, who is so great a God, wisdom, Wonderfu, worshipping
Psalm 77:13. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (holiness): who is so great a God as our God?
Well hello there my beautiful fellow believers in the ONE and ONLY Jesus Christ; Lord and Saviour of sinful mankind, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, etc. etc….!
Yes friends, that is the magnificent Being, Deity, and God we serve! Now one would be extremely foolish to serve and worship any other!
However, as sad as it is, there are many, too many on His planet earth who serve and worship other non-gods, foolishly placing them above the ONE who made the heavens, the earth and all therein.
To them we can only say, ‘that’s madness,’ in a decent and LOVING manner now (smile), try to tell them about our great Saviour Jesus, who sacrificed His holy and sinless life on the cross at Calvary to pay for our sins, theirs included, and bring us once more into the eternal fold of His Father, Jehovah God.
But even more importantly, while telling them all that, we should endeavour to live the kind of LOVING, caring, compassionate, forgiving and peaceful life that our Lord and Saviour espouses. For as they say, more flies are caught with honey than with vinegar.
Yes my believing brethren, we cannot afford to brow beat the unbelievers, as so many of us do, because that will only turn them away. Best we lure them to Jesus with our sweet words and positive actions.
Hn, hn! And I have to chuckle here friends, because I don’t know where all of that just came from, because I didn’t plan it. But came it did, and it does make wonderful sense, providing a useful template for us all to follow in our earthly relationships.
Now it’s a beautiful Wednesday in Paradise, unfortunately my last, so let’s wail our Wednesday Wail with much enthusiasm, sincerity and conviction.
As one proud and loud wailer now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home.
My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And I will add another ‘Glory Hallelujah’ to that my brethren, because I’m so thankful for being alive in sweet Tobago on such a beautiful day! Glory to God my fellow believers! Now how can I look back at the past and dwell in it eh, when there’s such a glorious future to be had with Jesus?
Remember we’ve got to keep looking straight ahead, so we can create straight furrows, for as Jesus says, he who looks back is not worthy to be in the kingdom. And we all see what happened to Lot’s wife when, against the Lord’s directive, she looked back as they were hurrying away from the godly devastation that was Sodom and Gomorrah; she became a pillar of salt. (Gen.19:26)
We obviously wouldn’t want any such calamity to befall us, that is why we have to keep on worshipping and serving the Lord of the Universe, who provides us with sufficient to meet our earthly needs.
That brings us to our very timely Bit. ‘Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (holiness): who is so great a God as our God?’
Ah mih people, as per the second half of that sentence, there are so many scriptures to show the might and power of our God, that I don’t even know where to begin. But as they say, the best place to begin is at the beginning.
So let’s consider how He made the universe and all therein nuh. He spoke it into existence. Note, He used mere words to create the universe, not any kind of heavy or busy action, just simple words. How much more powerful can we get eh? And if you don’t believe me, you can read all about it in the first chapters of Genesis. (smile)
And note how He made man too eh: by simply forming him from the dust of the ground, then breathing His own spiritual breath of life into him. Up to now no other supposed deity or even the brilliance and ingenuity of present man can do that.
Look at how He brought His chosen people, Israel out of Egypt nuh. Starting with the mind games He played with Pharaoh, the nine plagues and the killing of the Egyptians first born, from which the Jewish Passover was derived. You can check that out in Exodus chapters 7-10.
Then look at how He got the Egyptians to give and lend their jewels to the Israelites, so that when they finally left Egypt after four hundred and thirty years, many of those under tough bondage, they left very wealthy. (Ex.11:1-3) All praise and glory to our great and powerful God!
And what about the crossing of the Red Sea eh? Who else could have caused the simple stretching out of Moses’ hand over it, to part and allow the Israelites to cross over on dry land eh? Then when the Egyptian army tries to pursue them, Moses again stretches out his hand over the sea, and the water rushes back together and drowns the entire army? (Ex.14:21-30)
The Good Book ends that chapter with these words. ‘And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared (stood in awe of) the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.’ (Ex.14:31)
Aye mih people, that’s just the beginning of God showing His awesome might and power! We’ll continue with it tomorrow, the Lord in favour, because I doubt we can stand to hear about all of our God’s mighty works in one sitting; it’s liable to boggle our frail and simple minds. (smile)
And our homework for today is to sit and ponder how mighty is our God, and seriously consider why we, or anyone else, would even consider serving and worshipping any other deity. Much LOVE!
…Elohim…O Elohim…God of exceeding strength and mighty power…
15 Oct 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to your faith be it done unto you, always be ready, amazing, bondage, busy careers, Canton Juction, Christian movie, conviction, faith is the substance of things hoped for, Faith was made for moments like these, fight the good fight of faith, forgiving, free at last, glory to God, God's provision, gospel truth, gracious, have mercy on us, heaven is silent, hope that is seen is not hope, intravenous drip, John Hagee, keep on hoping, keeping up the Joneses, LOVE, loving, merciful God, mercy, negative tests, O ye of little faith, patience, perseverance, physical war, realization, simple logic, something sure to hold on to, Son of David, sorrow, sorrow brings healing to the broken, spiritual battles, stand steadfast, surrendering to Jesus, taxing experience, Thank the Lord, the evidence of things not seen, the Lord opened an opportunity, the Word of Jehovah God, truth, tyranny, War Room, we are saved by hope, when or how our number will play, wherefore didst thou doubt, wisdom
Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.
Free! Free at last! Yes Friends, the ole fella’s free at last from the bondage and tyranny of the medical and technological marvel of the mobile and portable intravenous drip! (smile)
Oh it does serve a very useful purpose, but five days of having to do everything with it, whether asleep or awake, is a rather inconvenient and very taxing experience.
And thankfully the wound on my leg that caused its use, seems to be healing, though rather slowly. But right now I’m thankful for any kind of improvement at all.
I’m now on oral antibiotics. I think I can handle that. (smile) And this is the best, the most rested I’ve felt in a little while. I suppose that’s because I had a decent night’s rest, with no tubes and bags to worry about, which meant I got up pretty late too.
So I do want to apologize for the lateness of the Bit, but I definitely needed the rest, as yesterday was a rather hectic and busy day. First I went to the funeral of a young lady, a former parishioner, who suddenly passed away at the tender age of thirty-eight.
Ah Lord eh! We never know when or how our number will play nuh! That’s why it’s in our best interest to be always ready.
After the funeral I went to my doctor to check on my situation. Then I got lucky, or rather the Lord opened an opportunity for me to go and get a test for any blood clots in my system. So I ran to the Vascular Lab to get that done. The tests turned out to be negative! Thank the Lord!
Then I ran home, had something to eat. The nurse came and discharged me from the home care programme, then I went to see a movie with my young daughter and her boyfriend.
But my people, it was all worth it. I don’t go to many movies, but this one came highly recommended by one of my many surrogate daughters, and it was excellent. It’s called ‘War Room.’ And believe it or not, it’s a Christian movie. And the war and the room are not about physical war but about spiritual battles; the kind that we all experience at some time in our lives.
Generally speaking it’s about a black married couple going through problems based on their busy careers and fighting to keep up with the Jones’ and Smiths, and the way the Lord oftimes sends someone into our lives to help bring us back to Him. I think ALL believers should go and see it. Please support this type of movie, as you don’t find too many of them being shown in the big movie chains.
So it was a busy day, but it ended with grace and mercy and wisdom. Glory to God!
And now it’s time to welcome our wonderful Bit: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’
And it surely is, my people! For as Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome: ‘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 it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25)
And that’s not only gospel truth my brethren, but also simple logic! If we can see something, why would we yet hope for it eh?
And that brings me to a song I heard last night by a Christian group called Canton Junction, featured on Uncle John’s (John Hagee) t.v. Programme. It’s called ‘Faith was made for moments like these.’ And I’ll only share a part of the second verse and the chorus, because I just got tired of pausing and writing and pausing and writing. (smile) But that’s enough to show the relevance of the song.
Here goes: ‘What happens if heaven is silent, and the silence seems to whisper, just keep hoping…oh hoping…What if it’s a sorrow… Sorrow brings a healing to the broken… to the broken… What if….Faith was made for moments like these. When God knows, what you can’t see. And you don’t understand what you choose to believe. Faith was made…for moments like these…’
Indisputable truth, my brethren! Faith was indeed made for the rough, unseeing, and not understanding times in our lives. If we could see and understand all our circumstances, then why would we need faith eh? No reason whatsoever!
But since we can’t see nor understand the majority of things we face in this earthly life, we definitely need something concrete, confident and sure to hold on to. And the only thing that does that in this evil and ungodly world is the ever-faithful and safely guiding Word of Jehovah God, and the promises found therein.
Oh glory to our most wonderful, amazing, gracious, LOVING, forgiving and merciful God!
Now I wish someone could explain to me why I shouldn’t surrender my all, my entire being to such a marvellous Deity? Oh Friends, there’s no good reason why we should not! Surrendering to Jesus Christ and obeying His dictates is indeed the wisdom of heaven and of earth throughout all the ages!
And we’ll end with some of Jesus’ thoughts on faith, how important He deemed it to be. Firstly in the Sermon on the Mount, He castigates His listeners for their lack of faith in God’s provision for them, if He had provided so wonderfully for the things of nature ‘O ye of little faith? (Matt.6:30)
Then He tells Peter, after he’s walked on the water for a few seconds, then becomes fearful, starts to sink and cries out for help. ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ (Matt.14:31)
And finally, hear this conversation between Jesus and two blind men who desired Him to heal them, and cried out saying: ‘Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?
They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened…’ (Matt.9:27-30)
Yes Friends, likewise, according to our faith, it will be done unto us! Much LOVE!
…fight the good fight of faith…and stand steadfast in it…
07 Oct 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool's wisdom, a no-brainer, a place of authority, aches and pains, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, as for me and mine, belief, caring, christianity, come boldly to the throne of grace, come unto me, compassionate, cramps, disappointments, discernment, earthly pilgrimage, earthly sojourn, faith, friend, genius, glory hallelujah, grace, guidance, hanging out with Jesus, hard experience, high priest, I am halfway home, I am meek, I will give you rest, I'm not focusing on the past, I'm not looking back, I'm not turning back, in the presence of Jesus, infirmities, intercession, Jesus Christ, LOVE, loving, lowly in heart, mercy, my burden is light, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, my testimony, my yoke is easy, natural inteligence, obtain mercy, our High Priest, our Lord and Saviour, out on a limb, praise and thanksgiving, promise, rest, sin, sympathize, take my yoke upon you, tempted, the breath of life, the Good Book, the great invitation, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, the Son of God, the throne of grace, them's the breaks, to a glorious future with Jesus, to help in time of need, we will follow the Lord, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, with God's help, without sin, worship
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ah Friends, it looks like it’s going to be another nice day, but right now the ole fella’s shaking it a bit on the rough side. (smile) I guess it all has to do with rest; with not getting enough of that most precious commodity. And to make matters worse, I was rudely awakened by a couple of cramps in my legs. It doesn’t get any better than that. (smile)
But what can I say eh? Them’s the breaks! Cause it’s nobody’s fault but my own. Anyhow we going to putter and stutter along in faith, and with God’s help, we WILL produce a Bit that’s worthy of our heavenly Father.
And since today is Wednesday, it is only appropriate that we get wailing with our Wednesday Wail. So mih breddren, let’s wail nuh, in all sincerity and truth.
As one wailer now: ‘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!’
Ah Friends, what a glorious future that promises to be! Not looking back at all my past mistakes, but just ploughing straight ahead with Jesus by my side; continually being in the presence of, hanging out with the Son of God, Jesus Christ…Chuh!
How could it get any better than that eh mih breddren? No way! But for some inexplicable reason(s), too many of us opt not to accept that promise of being continually in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That’s a fool’s wisdom my people!
And yuh know what? To show you why that attitude is unwise, right now, in my rough and ragged state, I am going to take hold of that promise and do like our Bit says: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’
And oh how I do need grace aplenty right now to help me find the right things and words to say in this work of praise and thanksgiving to our great God! What other faith offers such a wonderful opportunity eh Friends? No other! So why would I not partner with Jesus under those conditions eh? To me it’s a no-brainer.
And listen to what the scholars say re our Bit. ‘4:16. Only Christianity provides such boldness for sinful men before a holy God, and that boldness is possible only because of our High Priest (Jesus Christ). That figure of a throne suggests a place of authority and provision. It is the place to obtain God’s grace when it is especially needed.’
And believe you me, I desperately needed it, and went straight to the Father’s throne and pleaded for grace to do His will. And without any problems, through His Holy Spirit which dwells within me, He granted me the discernment, the guidance and wisdom to write what I’m writing now.
How can I not LOVE and worship Him then eh? Otherwise I’d be left hanging out on a limb to dry, alone and unable to help myself.
Ah mih people when I talk about being Friends with Jesus, some of you no doubt chuckle and possibly think I’m crazy. But I am only talking from hard experience here. And you will never know how wonderful it is to serve Jesus, until you actually begin to do so.
As the Good Book says, it’s all done through belief and faith. If you don’t have them, how can you know what they’re all about eh? And how do you think I’ve been writing this Bit for…for some eight years now eh? Do you think it’s through my natural intelligence and brilliance, my innate genius? Definitely not!
It’s only been possible through the powerful, ever-faithful and ever-present help of the Holy Trinity! Many days I’ve come to write with no clue whatsoever about what I was going to write about. But in His own way and timing, He has ALWAYS led me to write something worthy of His name.
And the great thing about turning to Jesus for help and intercession is that He, in His earthly sojourn experienced all the aches and pains and disappointments that we’re now going through, so he understands what’s happening with us.
As the Good Book says before our Bit: ‘For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb.5:15)
Yes Friends, Jesus was tempted in all areas of life, just like we are. The only difference is that unlike us, He did not yield to the temptations and remained sinless during His earthly pilgrimage. But He understands better than anybody else, exactly what we are going through.
So this Wednesday morning in early October of 2015, I am beseeching, I am imploring us to turn to Him for succour and comfort. Nobody else does it the LOVING, caring, compassionate and friendly way that He does. Just listen to this awesome promise as we close. It is called the Great Invitation!
‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (gentle and humble) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh Friends, oh Friends, that is truly the GREATEST invitation that’s ever been uttered! And Jesus has no reason to lie, because He is God and thus able to do whatever He promises! So please wake up, be wise and turn to Him today nuh. I guarantee that that will be the wisest decision you’ll ever make in this life. Much LOVE!
…as for me and mine…oh…without a doubt…we will definitely follow the Lord…
P.S. Friends, today’s Bit is a fine example of our God’s grace and mercy. At the beginning I was feeling rough and had no idea what to write, except our Wednesday Wail.
And now, having gone confidently to the throne, look at how much I’ve written – more than I actually bargained for. And I know it’s not all nonsense. So that’s my story, my testimony. And I’m sticking to it. (smile) Much LOVE!
22 Sep 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A Prayer for later years, a sinful nature, a sour old person, a terrific Tuesday, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, accept with graciousness, aches and pains, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you, and I will bear, brow beat, complain about my aches and pains, enchilada of roadwork, encourages, endure the boredom with patience, eternal life, even I will carry and deliver you, even to your old age, expressing an opinion on every subject, favours, from creation in our mother's womb, generous, get to the point, God's mysterious workings, going to bed early is strictly for the birds, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, grace to listen to others, graceful, gracious, helpful, I am he, I have made, immortal spirits soar to heaven, independent, jack hammering, loving, make me thoughtful, Mary's Musings, merciful, mortal bodies return to dust, one true and living God, our Lord and Saviour, Praise the Lord, promises, push and keep us down, pushy, recital of endless destails, salvation, talkative, talkative society, the annals of life, the pleasure of discussing my aches and pains, the sounds of heavy machinery, the wisdom to keep my mouth shut, the work of the devil, tiresome habit, understanding, undeserving children, uplifts, walk the path of peace, wisdom
Isaiah 46:4. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs (gray hairs) will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Aye mih people, welcome to another wonderful day in the annals of life! (smile) It looks to be a terrific Tuesday, although a tad chilly and noisy in my area. Oh Lord eh! It’s never amusing, inviting or interesting to awaken to the sounds of heavy machinery rumbling along the roadway and jack hammering pounding away at the road.
Unfortunately that’s what I awakened to today. I thought they had finished working in the neighbourhood, and all that was left to do was pave the main road. But when I looked out it seems they were digging up around the manholes, after having smoothened out the road for paving last week. Steups!
Now couldn’t they have dug up around the manholes then, instead of doing it now? To my small mind that would have made much more sense. But the whole enchilada of roadwork and construction this summer has made little sense whatsoever. Anyway it seems as though they have moved on further down the road, so I’m not hearing the noise like before.
And here’s an interesting prayer that seems to cover all bases. It comes on a single sheet of paper. Somebody gave it to the duchess and she gave it to me, and now I’m going to share it with you…. Another of God’s mysterious movements! (smile) It seems to be taken from a Blog called ‘Mary’s Musings – Life and times of a small town Nana…’ And the prayer is titled ‘A Prayer for Later Years.’
Please pray with me Friends. ‘Lord, thou knowest that I am growing older. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and particularly keep me from falling into the tiresome habit of expressing an opinion on every subject. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details.
Give me wings to get to the point. Give me the grace, dear Lord, to listen to others describe their aches and pains. Help me to endure the boredom with patience and keep my lips sealed, for my own aches and pains are increasing in number and intensity, and the pleasure of discussing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that, occasionally, I might be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not wish to be a saint (saints are so hard to live with), but a sour old person is the work of the devil. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not pushy; independent; yet able to accept with graciousness favours that others wish to bestow on me.
Free me of the notion that simply because I have lived a long time, I am wiser than those who have not lived so long. If I do not approve of some of the changes that have taken place in recent years, give me the wisdom to keep my mouth shut. Lord knows that when the end comes, I would like to have a friend or two left.’
And all God’s people let out a loud shout of ‘Amen! Praise the Lord!’
The paper went on to say: ‘The author is unknown but I wish I had written it. I think it is appropriate for those of us of a “certain age.”
Now I agree with that to a certain extent, but with the kind of talkative society we now have, I believe people of all ages should embrace that prayer, for it does cover a lot of useful ground.
I also disagree with the point about ‘the pleasure of discussing my aches and pains is becoming sweeter as the years go by.’ Definitely not! They are certainly increasing, and discussing them only makes me remember them and dread their persistence in my life! (smile)
Overall though, it’s a blessed good prayer for ALL of us to pray, since we ALL are guilty of a lot of it. And now I’m going to do exactly what the prayer warns about; complain about my aches and pains. (smile) But it serves a useful purpose, explaining why the Bit is so late.
I went to bed earlier than normal, and woke up at some God-forsaken hour, but refused to get up so early. But as the Lord would have it, after much turning and tossing, I got up late, with a terrible back pain, which I seem to get anytime I lie down too long in bed. So I’m finally convinced that going to bed early is strictly for the birds! End of excuse! (smile)
Now there’s not a lot of time or space left for our Bit, but it is a very interesting promise of God, especially to us old fogeys. ‘And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs (gray hairs) will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.’
Yes Friends, the same God who made us, has also faithfully promised to carry us all the way through this earthly life; right down to our old age with our gray hairs prominently proclaiming our age and our wisdom. Now isn’t that something to be excited about? It certainly is!
No other supposed deity makes that kind of promise. Instead, they all try their best to brow beat us, push and keep us down, with all sorts of disadvantageous rules and regulations.
Only the ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, encourages, uplifts and promises to look after us from creation in our mother’s womb till the time our mortal bodies return to the dust from which it was taken, and our immortal spirits soar to meet Him in the high heavens!
And all God’s people gave out a loud and grateful shout: ‘Oh thank You heavenly Father for being so wonderful, so generous, LOVING, merciful and gracious to us undeserving children of a sinful nature. We LOVE You, praise and adore Your Holy Name, now and forever more. Amen!’
Now Friends, may we all walk the path of peace and LOVE, wisdom and understanding, blessed by the wonderful grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Much LOVE my brethren!
…blessed is the man or woman…who follows after Christ… from birth until death…to whom a wonderful earthly life is granted…along with salvation and eternal life…
20 Sep 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man lay down his life for his friends, a new perspective on life, all things are become new, ambassadors of Christ, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, be ye angry and sin not, become more like Jesus, butterfly, caterpillar, celebration, Christ walked His talk, compassionate, deceitful lusts, disobedient, encouragement, every tongue declare that Christ is Lord indeed, except a man be born again, forgiving, freedom of choice, friends, godly character, grab the bull by the horns, greater love hath no man, he cannot see the kingdom of God, he is a new creature, if any man be in Christ, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, let not the sun go down on your wrath, Lord of Lords, loving, madness, merciful, old things are passed away, Pharisees, praise, put away lying, rebellious nature, refusing to believe, renounce our sins, reviling, righteousness., saviour jesus christ, seeking the things of God, sinful, speak every man truth, stupidity, Sunday, thanksgiving, the be all and end all, the ungodly things of the world, to whom every knee must bow, truth, ungodly traits, upliftment, we are members one of another, worship, you are my friends if you obey my commands
2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.
Well Friends, that wonderful day called Sunday has rolled around once more. And we all know what that means; joyful praise and worship, thanksgiving and celebration, encouragement and upliftment in God’s sanctuary, for all those who believe in His glorious Son Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to whom every knee must bow and every tongue declare that He is the Sovereign Lord indeed!
Oh Glory to God my people, for such a wonderful champion! There’s none else as mighty, as LOVING, as forgiving, merciful and compassionate as Him!
Those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ need to have their heads, hearts and souls thoroughly examined for stupidity and/or madness because He is the be all and end all to every human being. There’s nothing we can ever want that won’t be found in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Unfortunately though, the Father gave human beings the freedom of choice; the freedom to believe or not to believe in His Son, and with our naturally sinful, disobedient, prideful and rebellious nature, a whole host of humans are foolishly reviling and refusing to believe and put their trust in Him.
Thank God we are not amongst that ignorant lot my brethren! We believe…and will keep on believing until the very end, because He walked His talk: ‘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.’ (John 15:13-14)
Then He went out and showed His great LOVE for us by sacrificing His holy and sinless life on the cross at Calvary, so that we could have salvation and eternal life. Now to prove that we are indeed His friends, we need to do what He’s commanded, otherwise we’re no friends of His. As simple as that.
Now here’s an interesting quote from our friend Anselm, who aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. It says: ‘How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.’
When I read that a few days ago, it brought a chuckle to my soul and I knew that at some time I’d have to share it. But it does make a whole lot of sense. To become a butterfly you must stop being a caterpillar, and if you want to fly so badly, the only way to do that is to stop being a caterpillar.
And the good thing about that statement my people, is that it applies to almost everything in our lives. If we want to be one thing, we need to stop being something else. We simply cannot be two things at once. And becoming something else is very seldom easy as the lowly caterpillar and many of us can attest to.
And it’s very applicable to our becoming believers in Christ, as our Bit informs us. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.’
That’s indisputable truth my people! To be a true believer in Christ, we must stop crawling through the ungodly things of this world, shed that old caterpillar skin and soar like a brand newborn butterfly into things of heaven!
Please note what Jesus told Nicodemus when he inquired about salvation. ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ (John 3:3)
So like the caterpillar that goes through a metamorphosis, a significant change to become a butterfly, so too we humans have to go through a significant change to become a true believer in Christ.
Now it’s not an easy task, especially with all the evil and ungodly bombardments we experience in this world. But with God’s help it can be accomplished, and believe me friends, it’s very worthwhile and rewarding. When we are born again, we develop an entirely new perspective about life, about living for Christ.
Listen to how Bruh Paul talked about the new life in Christ to the Ephesians. ‘That ye put off concerning the former conversation (conduct) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’ (Eph.4:22-24)
Yes my brethren, as new born believers in Christ we need to renounce our old worldly ways and sins, constantly being changed to become more like Christ every day, seeking the things that are God, and seeing the world from His viewpoint. All of that helps us to develop a new and godly character, so that we can walk in righteousness and truth.
As Bruh Paul continues to the Ephesian’s. ‘Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (an opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph.4:25-27)
Yes Friends, those are just a few of the things that we need to cut out from our old behaviour, and replace them with their opposite and godly behaviour. And there are many more characteristics of daily living that Bruh Paul advises us to change, which I won’t go through in detail, but you can read for yourself in Ephesians 4:28-32.
So my brethren, now that we are new creatures, new creations in Christ, let’s act and look the part nuh. We can’t afford to be exhibiting the same ungodly traits and characteristics we showed before we were born again, otherwise we’d be considered hypocritical, like the Pharisees of old, and give Christ a bad name and a less than stellar reputation.
And we surely don’t want to do that, so let’s grab the bull by the horns, get ourselves together, so that we can be good ambassadors for Christ. That’s everlasting wisdom! Much LOVE!
…to truly live for Christ…means throwing out the old ways of the world…and bringing in the new ways of heaven…
19 Jul 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a lost art, Aaron's beard, Abraham, anger, Anselm, be careful what you ask for, be not forgetful to entertain strangers, biological, blessings, blood is thcker than water, blood ties, bonds of unity, breakdown of the family, Bruh David, Christian faith, church, deterioration of our society, disunity, encourage, evil minions, faith, families, food, for brethren to dwell together in unity, friends, give thanks for your life and strength, gospel, greed, herdsmen, hospitable, hospitality, how good and how pleasant it is, indomitable resolve, infighting, kind, let brotherly love continue, life for ever more, live in unity with each other, Lot, loving, Lucifer, man was made before machines, morning light, obedient to God's will, patience, perseverance, praise and worship Almighty God, precious oil, preciousness of family unity, raise the level of our faith, resentment, selfishness, some have entertained angels unawares, strengthen our backbones, strife, summer weather, teachings of Christ, the breath of life, the dew of Hermon, the joy of living, the mountains of Zion, the vagaries of modern machines, ungodly world, unity, we are brethren
Psalm 133:1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Ah Friends, our God is surely something else yes! Remember yesterday I talked about not having much real summer weather although we were in the middle of July. Well what do you think His response was to my statement? Yesterday showed up with a temperature of 28 C, and today and tomorrow are forecasted to have temps of 30 degrees on both days.
Hn, hn! It just goes to show that you must be very careful with your words, and also in what you ask for, because you are very liable to get more than you bargained for.
Oh by the way, please accept my apologies for that messy looking Bit yesterday. I had some problems with the computer not doing what it usually does. And even after I separated the paragraphs in the second Bit, it still jumbled them together.
Ah Lord the vagaries of modern machines eh! They oftimes do their own thing, regardless of our directions. (smile) But please remember that man was made before machines and we must not allow them to lead us, or direct our lives in ways we should not go.
Now here is an interesting quote from our Friend Anselm, who aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. He says to ‘Live your life so that the fear of death can never enter your heart. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. Give thanks for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. And if perchance you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured the fault is in yourself.’
And that’s gospel my brethren. If we can’t find anything to give thanks for, then it’s our fault, because there are so many things in this life to be thankful for, especially the breath of life that’s flowing through our body.
And don’t forget that today is Sunday, so we are expected to gather together with other believers and praise and worship Almighty God, giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings He’s bestowed on us. And in the process have Him raise the level of our faith, strengthen our backbones with patience, perseverance and the indomitable resolve to be obedient to His holy will in the upcoming week.
Yes Friends, we gather every week so that we can encourage and be encouraged in our Christian faith. And all of that just fits in nicely, segues smoothly in to our Bit; Bruh David’s famous words on the joy of brotherhood. ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’
Yes my people, there’s no better way to live, both in our biological and our church families than in unity with each other. As Bruh David explains it. ‘It is like the precious ointment (oil) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts (edge) of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever more.’ (Ps.133:2-3)
The psalm’s short, only three verses, but sweet Friends. And the scholars have this to say about it. ‘Psalm 133. This psalm is all about the preciousness of family unity. Its blessedness is exclaimed (v.1) and explained (vv.2-3). It sanctifies (v.2) and solidifies (v.3).’
Ah mih breddren, if only we could regain the unity we once had in families, both biological and church that we once had! What a blessed world this would be! But unfortunately we have allowed Lucifer, his evil minions and an ungodly world to remove that unity, only to be replaced by disunity, infighting, greed, selfishness, resentment and anger to those closest to us.
Biological families are no longer guided by their blood ties, nor the church by the true teachings of Christ, but by whomever or whatever is most convenient and beneficial at the time. The old people once claimed that blood was thicker than water, and back then it was certainly true. Families stuck up for each other and stuck together regardless of the circumstances.
But sadly that doesn’t seem to be the case any longer, for blood ties are no longer held as sacred bonds of unity, and in the church, the overwhelming presence of Christ, has been certainly lessened. All of this simply leads to a breakdown of the family, and eventually the church and our society. And that’s exactly what we are currently seeing; the deterioration of all that we once held sacred.
And the sacrosanct idea of unity is well borne out in Abraham’s words to Lot when their herdsmen were engaged in strife over the feeding grounds of their cattle. ‘And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.’ (Gen13:8)
Yes Friends, those last four words said it all: ‘for we be brethren.’ And brethren are not supposed to be fighting amongst themselves. But how many of us nowadays would even say that, or even think that way eh? Not too many. For it seems as though there’s more infighting between brethren these days than fighting with outsiders.
And we’ll end with a couple of well-known verses from Hebrews, re service well pleasing to God. ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ (Heb.13:1-2)
Ah mih people, what wise words indeed! The author is there talking about the people who visited Abraham (Gen.1-3) and Lot (Gen.19:1-2) That means we’re to be LOVING, kind and hospitable to whoever shows up at our door, for we never know whom our visitors will truly be.
Unfortunately though, in these modern times hospitality is a lost art, but as Christians, we are advised to be hospitable, to all and sundry too, because that is what Jesus desires and expects of us. So my brethren, let’s sincerely and diligently try to regain that sense of family nuh, of unity, and of hospitality, for it will only serve us wonderfully in the long run. Much LOVE!
…how wonderful Christ must feel…when His people dwell in true unity…LOVE and hospitality…
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