17 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abusive language, all is not lost, aura of love, bad habit, begin the workweek on the wrong foot, behind the eight ball, blessings, charity begins at home, confidence, Creator of the universe, discipline, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil world, free gifts, fundamentals of life, generation, glorious kingdom, gospel truth, guidance, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, instruction, invincible, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, jobs, let the heathen know about Jesus, lies, LOVE, mercy, miffed, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, on the cross at Calvary, one generation shall praise thy works to another, provoke rebellion, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, sacrificial and substituionary death, salvation, social media, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, time is of the essence, train up a child, truth, ungodly world, when he is old he will not depart from it, wisdom, work for Jesus
Psalm 145:4. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
‘Monday, Monday! Oh how I LOVE you! Can’t wait for you to come around, so that I can get back into the wicked world and work for Jesus!’ And suddenly there erupts a barrage of inflammatory and abusive language. (smile)
Okay, okay. So I am laying it on a bit thick. But Friends, technically speaking, that’s how we ought to be; anxious to get out into the evil world and let the heathen know about Jesus and His awesome free gifts of salvation and eternal life, through His sacrificial and substitutionary death on the cross at Calvary.
But I guess most of us are miffed at having to get up and go out and earn a living, especially in the cold, snowy weather that’s currently permeating my area. But them’s the breaks yes Friends!
So we had better get accustomed to it, otherwise we’re only going to stress out ourselves more than is necessary, and always begin the workweek on the wrong foot, behind the eight ball. Ah Lord eh! When are going to get out of this bad habit? (smile)
Anyway, to help the situation, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, in full, sweet, heavenly tones. As one great voice 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!’
Now that wasn’t so bad, was it? At least it energized us and lifted our spirits so that we can lose our miserable, pitiful attitude and can get on victoriously with life, as we ought to. That means turning to our Bit. ‘One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
And as we saw yesterday through Moses’ command, (Deut. 6:6-9) teaching our children about Almighty God and all the great and wonderful things He has done down through the ages is essential, absolutely necessary, if we want to propagate Him and His Word to future generations.
How do you think it got to us eh, so many thousands of years later? Because one generation told the other. But we, in our proud, high-minded and busy world, considered it not important enough to spend the time teaching it to our children. And that’s one of the main reasons why we now have such disobedient, uncouth, ungrateful, ignorant children in this ungodly society!
Remember Cousin Sol’s wise words though my people. ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and (even) when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ (Prov.22:6) And that’s indisputable, undeniable, gospel truth my brethren!
But I think we need to check out the scholars’ explanation here, so that we get it right. ’22:6. Train up a child refers to the total process of molding a child’s life. The word ‘train’ (chanak) comes from the root word meaning to “put into the mouth” and implies the idea of conditioning the palate.
Thus parental training should help children develop a taste for the things of God. The biblical pattern of effective parental training emphasizes a balance of instruction and discipline (cf. Eph.6:1-4). The ideal parent is to be neither overly authoritarian nor overly permissive. Rather, he must balance LOVE and discipline so as not to “provoke” his child to rebellion.
When he is old means simply, “when he is grown up,” or a mature adult. It does not refer to his elderly years. The verse stresses the simple principle that education in the home forms the man throughout his lifetime.’
More gospel truth my brethren! As the old people so rightfully said; charity, or LOVE begins at home! Home is where the basic fundamentals of life, including God, and decent living ought to be taught!
Sadly though, that no longer seems to be the way. The world, through radio, television and the ever invasive and pervasive social media are now our children’s teachers. So what else can we expect eh, but unruly, ungodly, worldly children… and eventually adults.
But as I said yesterday Friends, all is not lost, we still have some time to teach them about Jehovah God and His mighty and wonderful acts – don’t know how much though. So please, let’s get on with it nuh. Ask the Lord to show you how to address the matter at this late stage, and He will surely give you the necessary guidance.
We certainly don’t want to be known as the generation that allowed God to go under, do we? Absolutely not! Then let’s get a move on, for time is of the essence. Much LOVE!
…Jesus is depending on each generation to keep His name and Word alive…by passing it on to the next one…
10 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fair day's labour, a fair day's wage, aura of love, busybodies, challenges, Christian soldiers, complaining, confidence, Creator of the universe, deceit, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, excuses, feeling our oats, fraud, glorious kingdom, God's help, gospel truth, groaning, hard work never kill anybody yet, harmony, holy spirit, I shall be slain in the streets, idle hands are the Devil's workshop, if you don't work then you shouldn't eat, Jesus Christ, jobs, labour, labour honestly, languishing, laziness, lazy, leisure, live high on the hog, LOVE, low ebb, meddlsome ways, moaning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, overwork, partying, pleasure driven society, posititve spin, prayer, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, righteousness., sage advice, Scrip-Bit people, sense of purpose, serve a useful purpose, sloth, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strong voice, the gospel of God, the lusts of the flesh, the slothful man, theft, there is a lion without, toil, true believers, truth, ungodly world, will, wisdom, work ethic, working with his hands
Proverbs 22:13. The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Aye my beautiful Scrip-Bit people, our nemesis Monday is here! And the ‘steupsing’ and the ‘chuhing’ along with the moaning, groaning and complaining begin. (smile)
Yeh mih breddren, I know it’s hard to get up and get going this Monday morning after either a lazy and languishing or too busy partying weekend. But do it we must. And the bigger the positive spin we put on those dreaded circumstances, the easier we’ll be able to handle them.
And the best positive spin to put on ANYTHING is prayer! Consequently, let’s get the day going by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with a true sense of purpose. Let’s reach deep down into our very souls and raise up the dormant enthusiasm and will that’s buried there.
Altogether now, in strong voice and beautiful harmony. ‘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!’
Now that was good Friends, very good! So good that it evoked a rousing cheer from the hosts of heaven, including Jesus. Yuh see what we can do when we put our minds to it! And if we can dredge up such strength and power when we’re at low ebb, just imagine the challenges we can meet and conquer, with God’s help obviously, when we are truly feeling our oats! (smile)
That’s why, to be true believers, we need to be the exact opposite of today’s Bit. ‘The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.’
That’s utter nonsense my people! But it just goes to show how low we can sink to get out of work. As the scholars say: ’22:13. The slothful man uses preposterous excuses to avoid work.’
And that’s no lie! Far too many of us in today’s leisure and pleasure driven society, have a serious apathy towards work, and will do whatever is necessary to avoid or get out of it. But we still desire to live high on the hog though. But let’s remember some of Bruh Paul’s fateful and very relevant words on the subject.
Listen to this rather sage advice in his second letter to them. ‘For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.’ (2 Thess.3:10-12)
And the scholars tell us: ‘3:10-12. Paul expounds his simple and straightforward work ethic; if a person will not work, he should not eat. The Thessalonians’ diversion encouraged their meddlesome ways, demonstrating that “idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.”
Gospel truth that, my Friends!
And in Bruh Paul’s first missive to the Thessalonians he reminds them: ‘For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail (toil): for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable (a burden) unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.’ (1 Thess.2:9)
Yes Friends, he tried to practice what he preached, actively working wherever he went, so he wouldn’t be a burden on his hosts.
And I like this bit of advice to the Ephesians. ‘Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.’ (Eph.4:28)
Ah mih people, unfortunately, the exact opposite seems to be the norm these days, for theft, fraud and other deceitful measures are rampant in blatant form, instead of being on the wane. However, as good Christian soldiers, we need to labour honestly; put in a fair day’s labor, hopefully for a fair day’s wage.
But sadly, even that is being seriously compromised in these unsavoury, rough economic times, because far too many employees are shirking their lawful duties, and too many employers are trying to get lots on work done for too little pay, thus the very negative and unhealthy atmosphere in the workplace.
And we’ll close with an interesting piece of wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘He that laboureth, laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him (his hungry mouth drives him on).’ (Prov.16:26)
Please let’s take that to heart my people, and allow the cravings of our mouth to lead us to work. But please note, we need to do so within reason, not overdoing it, by having the lusts of the flesh drive us, through greed and ‘gravaliciousness’ to overwork, for one extreme is just as bad as the other. Much LOVE!
…as the old people were wont to say…hard work never kill anybody yet…but laziness and sloth has…
03 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: aura of love, basked in god's love and peace, battle the infidel, be gracious to me, be sober, blessed be God, blessings, Bruh David, confidence, deleted expletives, earthly arsenal, enthusiasm, eternal life, exalts, extols, fear God, fellowshipped, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, gave thanks and praise, give us His peace which passes all understanding, God is so wonderful, God will forgive us, godly wisdom, going from bad to worse, gospel truth, have mercy upon me, hear me when I call, hear my prayer, I cried unto him with my mouth, invincible, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, lies, lord god almighty, LOVE, may the Lord bless and keep us, Monday, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, most mighty weapon, most valuable commodity, O God of my righteousness, our flesh is weak, our spirits are willing, peace, peaceful communication, pilgrim's journey, pour out any invective, power of prayer, prayer, prayer power, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, righteousness., so-so, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, the efficacy of prayer, the end of all things is at hand, the Good Book, the great works of God, the most powerful force in the universe, the need for prayer, the result of prayer is life, the voice of my prayer, thou relieved me when I was in distress, till we meet again, ungodly world, watch unto prayer, wiles, wisdom, worshipped, worthwhile inroads, write it indelibly in our hearts
Psalm 4:1. Hear me when I call , O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.
Awright Friends, here’s today’s good news: that day which we all tend to dislike, despise and shout out all sorts of deleted expletives at….well it has rolled around again.
Yes, my people, it’s Monday once again; a big, bright, bold, beautiful, juicy, edible Monday! (smile) So please don’t pour out any invective at it, just nibble quietly on its tantalizing parts, as we do whatever is necessary to get ourselves to go out and labour.
And if we worshipped and fellowshipped and gave thanks and praise to Almighty God yesterday, and wisely basked in His LOVE and peace, then getting ourselves together shouldn’t be too hard to do, because our spirits would already have been prepared to go out and battle the infidel this morning.
But regardless of what action we took yesterday, useful or harmful, let’s ratchet up our desire for Jesus this morning by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with all the oomph and Christ-like enthusiasm we can muster.
So in strong, harmonious and melodic voice, let’s sing. ‘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!’
Steupssss! What was that eh mh people? That was only a so-so rendition. Too many hoarse, out of tune, off key voices! What with all the rehearsals and the reminders to practice on your own, we should be doing much better by now.
But as the old people would say, like we going from bad to worse! And that’s no lie! But it is certainly unacceptable. Even Jesus had to shake His head in concern for our poor performance.
But yuh know what Friends, our God is so wonderful, that He will forgive us, because He knows that we are sincerely trying, that our spirits are willing but our flesh is weak. So please, let’s not get down on ourselves. Instead, let’s cry out to Him in the words of our Bit, like Bruh David did in his time of need and anguish.
‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’
Ah my people, the power of prayer is the most valuable commodity, as well as the mightiest weapon in our earthly arsenal! That’s because it connects us to the most powerful force in the universe; Jehovah God, its Creator and Controller!
Now here’s another instance from the Good Book, where our Poster Boy, Jesus Christ, our supreme example of the need for, and the efficacy and effectiveness of prayer, shrugs off everything else and gets quiet with the Father.
After He heals a leper and His fame is so noised abroad that multitudes begin coming to Him for healing, what does He do? ‘And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.’ (Luke 5:16)
Yes my brethren, even Jesus had to renew His spirit through peaceful communication with His heavenly Father. And that only highlights our desperate need for the same, especially since we’re of such sinful nature.
Now listen to these verses on prayer from Psalm 66, which extols the great works of God. The psalmist wisely cries out in testimony: ‘Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled (praised, exalted) with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.’ (Ps.66:16-20)
Ah Friends, what godly wisdom is ensconced therein! Please let’s show our own wisdom and accept it; write it indelibly in our hearts, souls and minds, so that we can, and will have prayer power always at hand!
And here’s a most appropriate ending from Peter. ‘But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.’ (1 Pet.4:7) That’s gospel truth Friends!
So till we meet again, may the Lord bless and keep us safe on our pilgrim’s journey; may He shine His radiant countenance upon us and give us His peace which passes all mortal understanding, and the wisdom to come to Him in prayer at ALL times, be they good or bad. Much LOVE!
…the result of prayer is life… (St. Francis of Assisi)
P.S. Chuh! I was less than perfect yesterday when I gave the reading for the poem ‘Enormous Rewards’ as being Ephesians 5:20. It should have been 3:20: ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’
Now that’s a much more appropriate scripture. I never felt right about it yesterday, but figured if that’s what the author said, who was I to question it? Then today I was drawn to the poem and discovered my error. Please accept my humble apology. The ole fella is only human…and getting on in age too, so he’s not as mentally nimble as he once was, or his eyesight as good. (smile) Much LOVE!
27 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a day of preparation, a sense of purpose, as the stars of heaven, aura of love, Be not afraid of them, clap your hands, complaining, confidence, depart out of thy mouth, enthusiasm, evil, fake it till you make it, fall on deaf ears, fatherless, fight for your brethren, God executes judgement, God is thy praise, God loves the stranger, God shows no partiality, God takes no bribes, gospel truth, groaning, guiding light, hard ears pickney, have good success, hello there mih lovelies, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, its worky worky time, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, jobs, lies, lively up ourselves, Lord of Lords, LOVE, loving kindness, make thy way prosperous, meditate therein day and night, moaning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Nehemiah, Oh Lord God Almighty, omnipotent god, opposition, overdoing it on the weekends, prosperity, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, remember the Lord, rise and shine, run our race, shining beacon, shout unto God, sincere prayer, slowly killing ourselves, spiritual armour, start from a position of strength, steadfast faith, success, the book of the law, the Lord is a great king over all the earth, the Lord most high is awesome, the Lord your God is God of gods, the voice of triumph, tired and miserable, trust, ungodly world, well intentioned pleas, where there is life there is hope, widow
Psalm 47:1-2. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome); he is a great King over all the earth.
Well hello there mih LOVELIES… its’ worky, worky time! (smile) I’m trying to tell us nicely that it’s Monday morning and we need to rise and shine and get ourselves ready to go back out to labour for massa’s pittance.
And please remember too that the tone we set for today, the attitude we go out with this morning, will most likely dictate our mental, emotional and physical state for the rest of the work week. For as the days increase, so will our enthusiasm and strength decrease. That’s why it’s always best to start out from a position of strength, rather than from one of weakness.
That’s why I also encourage us to use Sundays, the first day of the week, as a day of preparation for Monday, and thus be able to get back into the work flow as easily as possible.
Hn, hn! But all my well intentioned pleas just seem to fall on deaf ears. (smile) We’re still overdoing it on the weekends, and moaning and groaning and complaining come Monday morning.
Ah Friends, when will we learn eh? Soon, I hope, because we’re slowly killing ourselves when we get out there on Mondays, starting the way we should be ending; tired and miserable.
Anyway, let’s see if we can’t lively up ourselves some by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with a strength and sense of purpose we don’t really feel, hoping that as we fake it, it will eventually become real. Or as they say; fake it, till you make it! (smile)
With one accord now, let’s all loudly and lustily declare: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh my people, that rendition wasn’t really so hot nuh; too many hoarse, scratchy and out of tune voices, not enough enthusiasm, etc. etc. It had Jesus shaking His head, sighing and concernedly saying: ‘What’s to become of them eh? They just don’t learn! Is just a setta hard-ears pickney (stubborn, disobedient children)!’ (smile)
But Friends, as we all know, where there is life there certainly is hope, which means we can definitely improve. But until then, we just have to go out and do the work Jesus calls us to do, in whatever state or condition we find ourselves. And though He might not be too thrilled with us, He will surely enable us to do the work if we come to Him in sincere prayer.
That’s just the wonderful kind of Lord and Saviour He is! And that’s why He also deserves many glorious accolades from us, like the one highlighted in our Bit. ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome); he is a great King over all the earth.’
And again my brethren, we can’t help but acknowledge that as gospel truth! No wonder then, when Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and met fierce opposition from his enemies, he took this unassailable position in his omnipotent God.
‘And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible (awesome), and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’ (Neh.4:14)
And Friends, they did just that, and rebuilt the wall in record time, something like 52 days! Yes my people, we have to invoke the help of our mighty and magnanimous God in ALL of our problems, if we truly desire to be victorious in them!
And as Moses so eloquently and truthfully exhorted the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness to the Promised Land. ‘Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked (stubborn, rebellious). For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward (the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality, nor takes a bribe).
He doth execute the judgement of the fatherless and widow, and LOVETH the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. LOVE ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave (hold fast), and swear by his name.
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible (awesome) things, which thine eyes have seen. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.’ (Deut. 10:16-22)
Now Friends, there’s simply no refuting any of that! So I implore us, let’s take it all to heart nuh, and diligently run our race of life with it as a guiding light, a shining beacon in this dark and troubled world. For it is only as we walk and talk sincerely with Almighty God that we will have true success and lasting prosperity! Much LOVE!
…this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous…and then thou shalt have good success… (Josh.1:8)
13 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: appreciation, aura of love, be not far from me, blessed land, blessings, bounden duty, confidence, courage, diligently, do good, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, evil cohorts, faithfully, feed the fire that's burning for Jesus, fight the good fight, for there is none to help, for trouble is near, friends, from sea to shining sea, further God's glorious kingdom, generous, glory, grace, Granny's advice, guidance, Happy Thanksgiving Canada, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep, help, holy spirit, honour, humble servants, I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, Jesus Christ, joyful celebration, keeping lives and families together, lies, Lord God of Abraham, Lord God of Abrahm Isaac and Jacob, LOVE, Lucifer, magnanimous god, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my help comes from the Lord, omnipotent, Praise the Lord, prosperity, rejoice, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, saviour, serving, sincere thanks, spiritual armour, spirituality, steadfast faith, taunte, thanks and praise, the joy of the Lord is your strength, the Lord is thy keeper, true wisdom, trust, trust in the Lord, trustworthy source of help, truth, undying gratitude, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, worshipping
Psalm 22:11. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY CANADA!
Well a Happy Thanksgiving Monday to all Canada! May we rejoice in the blessings of our omnipotent and magnanimous God, and celebrate this joyful day with much thanks and praise, seeing that He has been so generous to us over this past year!
Yes Friends, we are living in a very blessed land, and to continue to do so, we need to continue faithfully worshipping and diligently serving the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because it is He who provides the opportunities for our prosperity. Without His help and guidance, we are nothing! Let’s never forget that.
So today, let’s join together in joyful celebration, all over this glorious land, from sea to shining sea, raising our sincere thanks and undying gratitude to heaven, so that the Father can hear and see our true appreciation of all His mercy, grace and LOVE!
And my brethren, please remember the many in our society who don’t have as much as we do, and as the Good Book says: ‘send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh.8:10)
Yes Friends, we need to remember those who don’t have, as well as those who have to go out and labour today, while we celebrate. That means they need the help of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to boost their confidence and courage, before they face the evil world that’s lying in wait for them.
Therefore, as one voice, let’s belt it out in sweet harmony and awesome power. ‘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 Friends, that was a most beautiful rendition! However, I strongly suspect that the loudest and most harmonious voices belonged to those who don’t have to go to work today. (smile) And I really can’t give you wrong for being so elated. But please, please remember Granny’s sage advice: ‘Sonny boy… drunk or sober, please mind yuh business!’
And that’s no joke my people, because it’s when we are celebrating that we are the most susceptible to the wiles and leis of Lucifer and his evil cohorts. And for those of you who have to go out and labour; may the Lord strengthen your spirits, raise up all that you need to fight the good fight in His Holy Name!
Now let’s turn to our Bit, for this last time in the series of messages on HELP. ‘Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.’
And for the last few days we’ve been coming up with scripture passages which proclaim that the Lord God Almighty is the ONLY truly trustworthy source of HELP in this universe, for man’s help is often unreliable and deceitful. And we’re going to try and keep it short this morning … and a whole lot of ‘Thank You Lord!’ went flying up to heaven. (smile)
Oh Friends, it’s not that I like being long-winded, it just happens that way. There’s usually so much to write and when the passion grips me, I just can’t help myself! Anyway, as I was saying we’re going to keep it short by simply quoting Psalm 121 – God’s sustaining power, since it’s very appropriate.
Listen to these comforting and encouraging words of the psalmist: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hill (mountains) from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved (slip): he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper (protector): the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (keep) thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve (keep) thy going out and coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more.’ (Ps.122:1-8)
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
Yes my people, those are words of undisputable truth! So I implore us, that whatever we do today, to allow them to feed the fire that’s burning for Jesus in our souls, that we might further His oh so necessary LOVE Revolution, and bring even greater glory and honour to our heavenly Father, for that is our bounden duty, as well as true wisdom! Much LOVE!
…trust in the Lord and do good…so shalt thou dwell in the land…and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on His faithfulness)… (Ps.37:3)
29 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a standing O, Aaron, Adam and Eve, aura of love, Beelzebub, blessings, bondage, confidence, conquerors, consigened to the trash heap, Creator of the universe, death, deceits, destruction, destruction unto them, dismantling god, disobedience, evil, faith, fathom the gravity, foolish pride, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, Glory Halleujah, God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, humble servants, I have redeemed them, inroads into the enemy's ranks, invincible, Israelites, Jesus Christ, jobs, keep on pushing for Jesus, largesse, lies, look a gift horse in the mouth, Miriam, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Moses, new wisdom, obeying God, Oh Lord God Almighty, one and only living God, Praise the Lord, prosperous, raise our passion for Jesus, raise the roof of heaven, rebellion, rejuvenation of spirit, reprisals, righteousness., shuddering with fear, sinful nature, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, stubborn, sunshine and saltwater, taunts, testify, therapeutic remedy, they have fled from me, they have spoken lies against me, they have transgressed against me, Tobago day, too big for their britches, trust, truth, uesful purpose, understand the reality, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, woe unto them
Hosea 7:13. Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
Oh Friends, these Tobago days are surely wonderful yes! (smile) And another one seems to be in the offing this blessed Monday morning. I don’t know if it’s my brother who brought them when he came, but he’s been dreading the cold even before he arrived. Hn, hn! However, so far, I don’t think he’s experienced one really cold day yet, for they have been mostly Tobago days.
Anyway, whatever the reason that God’s blessing us with such lovely weather at the end of September, let’s just enjoy it, be thankful and say, ‘Praise the Lord! Glory Hallelujah!’ Yes, let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. The only thing I’m missing now is the salt water, that great therapeutic remedy!
Chuh! But them’s the breaks, we can’t have everything we desire. And I know that someday soon, I’ll have both the sunshine and saltwater to cleanse and heal my aching body and bones. We got to have faith Friends! (smile)
So with all these good things we have going for us, let’s now raise our passion in, and for Jesus by bursting out in song, by sending up a marvellous rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, one that will raise the roof of heaven and also have Beelzebub shaking and shuddering with fear in his evil, muddy boots.
All together now, in loud harmonious voice! ‘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 fellow believers! We didn’t quite raise heaven’s roof, but we did get a standing ‘O’ from heaven’s host, and had the evil one quaking in his boots. Now let’s go out into the ungodly world that surrounds us and keep on pushing, pushing for Jesus!
Let us not allow our Creator and our God to truthfully say about us: ‘Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.’
Oh my brethren, I use to wonder how the Israelites could rebel against God after He had done so much for them. But having watched our once godly society change over the last thirty or so years, I can now understand it. Prosperity certainly breeds pride and self-centredness!
And that’s exactly what happened to both the Israelite and our societies: we got prosperous by obeying God, but then, foolishly, like Adam and Eve, we listened to the lies and deceits of the enemy which suggested that the prosperity was all our own doing and began dismantling Jehovah God from our society.
But Friends, that couldn’t be any further from the truth than disobedience won’t bring serious reprisals! The Israelites experienced it, several times too, and we’re now experiencing it too. The difference though, is that the Israelites were smart enough to eventually recognize from whence their largesse had truly come.
Right now though, I’m not sure that we have even begun to understand the reality, to fathom the gravity of our situation, much less to consider and find a way to change it.
Oh Friends, I keep telling us that the history books are full of societies who made it big on God’s back, but then got too big for their breeches and were then unceremoniously consigned to the trash heap of history by their omnipotent Creator.
And just as the Lord contended with Israel back then, unable to understand their disobedience, I believe He’s also contending with us today, asking the question: ‘O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants (bondage); and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.’ (Mic.6:3-4)
And yuh know what Friends, just like Israel was unable to testify against God with any serious slights, likewise we have no real grounds for rebellion and disobedience against Him besides a sinful stubborn nature and foolish pride.
So today my brethren, for the sake of our descendants, let’s cast off that unwise behaviour nuh, which is only leading us closer to death and destruction, and begin flaunting a new wisdom, like the Israelites did, return to sincerely serving and worshipping the One and Only Living God: He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Now that’s truly wisdom at its zenith! Much LOVE!
…But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God…for it is he that giveth thee the power to get wealth… (Deut.8:18a)
22 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a burning desire in our souls, a fountain of life, a new song in my mouth, a place of refuge, a sense of purpose, a shout of praise, adrenalin, aura of love, come up over our problems, complaints, confidence, confidence in man, confidence in princes, Creator of the universe, destiny, disappointed, enthusiasm, faithful help of Jesus, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, glory, God endures from generation to generation, grace, groans, here today gone tomorrow, holy spirit, humble servants, ignite our spirits, in good hands, in the fear of the Lord, it is better to trust in the Lord, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, keeping lives and families together, kindle a fire, lies, light up the universe with song, lord of hosts, LOVE, loving god, lustful appetites, moans, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, mortal man, Oh Lord God Almighty, omnipotent god, proud, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., serve a useful purpose, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the breath of life, the duty of man, the first, the last, The Lord God is a sun and shield, the snares of death, them that walk uprightly, trust, truth, ungodly world, vim and vigour, weary souls, whimper, wicked taunts, wiles, wisdom, wise decisions, zenith
Psalm 118:8-9. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Oh Friends, that day that many of us have been dreading, and a few of us longing for, is finally here! Yes, it’s Monday! Give the Lord a shout of praise for that nuh!
And you better believe that the shout was a mere whimper in comparison to the moans and groans and complaints. (smile) That means that many of us still did not prepare properly yesterday for today, consequently the whining is plentiful this Monday morning.
But my people we have no choice, if we want to eat and have a roof over our heads, then we must work. So let’s be up and at ‘em nuh. Let’s have the sense of purpose that Jesus had, and desires all His followers to also have, whereby we come up over our problems with His faithful help, rather than endlessly whine and complain.
And to assist us in doing that, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much vim and vigour. Let’s kindle a fire, a burning desire in our souls to get out there and do His bidding. As one harmonious body now, let’s light up the universe with song:
‘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!’
Not bad at all Friends, not bad at all! Sufficient to ignite our spirits and cause the adrenalin to bubble up and flow like a lively stream just skipping along delightedly over its bed unconcerned, not worrying where it was going, or how and when it would get there, because it knew that it was in in good hands, the hands of its Creator. So too should we be my people.
And with that we’ll segue into our Bit. ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’
Yes my brethren, confidence is a helluva thing, and it’s oh so important where we put it, and where we get it from! And the psalmist is definitely right when he declares that the Lord God Almighty, our Creator and Provider, is the most appropriate personage in whom to place our trust and confidence, rather than in mortal man, be they lowly or powerful.
And it’s a very logical conclusion since mortal man does not control the universe, has no effective control even over his own destiny. He’s here today and gone tomorrow, blown away in the wind and forgotten, like the dust from which he was formed. He has no control over the breath of life in his finite body, which was breathed into him by the infinite Jehovah God, His Maker.
So why should we put our confidence and trust in such a flimsy and unsure body eh? Meanwhile, as the scriptures tell us, the Lord, our omnipotent God, endures from generation to generation. He was the FIRST, and He will be the LAST! No doubt about that my fellow believers!
Now let’s check out some scriptures that wisely advise us to put our trust and confidence in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And we’ll get the ball rolling with some wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart (turn one away) from the snares of death.’ (Prov.14:26-27)
And in my humble existence Friends, I can find nothing to dispute the truth of those words.
Meanwhile, the sons of Korah staunchly declare in Psalm 84: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12)
Oh my brethren, in my three score and odd years, I’ve found no reason to doubt those words either.
Now listen to Bruh David expound on God’s goodness and power from Psalm 40 – praise for answered prayer. ‘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.
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee (recounted): if I would declare them, they are more than can be numbered.’ (Ps.40:3-5)
Now Friends, if we have a powerful and trustworthy Deity like that looking after our affairs, then why should we trust relatively powerless and unwise mortal man eh? No reason whatsoever my people.
But unfortunately, a lot of us can’t believe what we don’t see and/or feel, and are also greatly influenced by the lustful appetites of the world. Therefore we still put our sincere trust and confidence in wicked mortal man, though we are disappointed by him most of the time.
Oh Friends, if we ever hope to turn this evil and ungodly world around, then we have to start making wise decisions. And the first and wisest of them all is to stop trusting in untrustworthy man and begin trusting in a faithful and LOVING God. That’s wisdom at its zenith! Much LOVE!
…to trust…to trust…and yet to trust in Almighty God…that is the duty of man…
25 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A for effort, aura of love, bah humbug, blessings, confidence, disgruntled tone, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, falsehood, fellowship, friends, give ear to my words, God's day, heavenly wisdom, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, LOVE, LOVE to hate, Lucifer's world, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, opportunities, our heart overflows with love for Jesus, peace, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, rest, reverential awe, righteousness., spiritual armour, steadfast faith, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, thankful mentality, true believers in Jesus, unfaithful, ungodly world, ungrateful flunkies, wisdom, workers of iniquity
Psalm 119:147. I prevented (rose before the dawning) of the morning, and cried (cried out for help): I hoped in thy word.
Oh Friends, it’s that wonderful day, Monday…the day so many of us LOVE to hate!
But yuh know what, instead of moaning and groaning and treating Monday like an irritation to our souls, a drawback to our sedentary aspirations, (smile) like a bah humbug day, we ought to rejoice and be glad in it. Yes my people, we should be shouting, ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday!’
No, I haven’t gone crazy, at least not yet. (smile). And why should we do such an unheard of thing, you ask?
First of all, because it means we have been granted the wonderful blessing of seeing another day on God’s great earth. Secondly, and even more importantly, we would be acting like true believers in Jesus Christ; being grateful for our many blessings and opportunities, standing strong despite our many problems, and not behaving like the unfaithful, ungrateful flunkies of Lucifer’s world.
And I’m having the faith for all of us, that one day, in the not too distant future, we’ll all begin preparing for Monday on God’s Day, Sunday, getting peaceful in our souls from then, and also acquiring the thankful mentality we spoke of above.
And all the workers of iniquity gave out a loud unappreciative sigh and declared in a disgruntled tone: ‘Chuh… stupidness!’
Anyway Friends, till that time comes, let’s continue singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with as much moxie as we can muster.
As one magnificent choir now, let’s sing: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good singing Friends! Heaven was clapping and singing along with us. And what we just sang there reminded me of our Bit… or is it the other way around?
This morning in church, while thumbing through the Psalms, waiting for the service to begin, my eye fell on that verse, and I had a small Eureka moment, saying to myself, that sounds like a good Bit for our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. And please note that wasn’t simply my doing, but was a gentle nudge, a bit of guidance from the Holy Spirit.
The psalmist unashamedly declares: ‘I prevented (rose before) the dawning of the morning, and cried (cried out for help): I hoped in thy word.’
Yes Friends, that’s something like what we’ve just done. We’ve gotten up early, possibly not as early as the psalmist, and we’ve cried out for help to the Lord, to lead and guide and strengthen us so that we can handle this day in a manner worthy of His Holy Name.
And since we are true and faithful believers, we are indeed hoping and believing that He will do as He’s promised in His Word, and lead us safely through this thoroughly bizarre and crazy world. And that’s as it ought to be my people. Every day that we open our eyes to greet a new day, we ought to send much thanks and praise up to heaven.
Now hear how Bruh David appeals with heartfelt emotion in Psalm 5, a prayer for protection. ‘Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation (groaning). Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell (sojourn) with thee. The foolish (boastful) shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing (falsehood): the Lord will abhor the bloody (bloodthirsty) and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear (reverential awe) will I worship toward thy holy temple.’ (Ps.5:1-7)
Yes Friends, thankful, grateful, faithful and reverential words like those ought to escape from our lips each and every morning when we awake. That’s heavenly wisdom!
Now my brethren, in light of all that’s gone before, let’s go out and walk worthy of Jesus today in the evil and ungodly world that surrounds us. Let’s go out and at least earn an ‘A’ for effort. That’s all He asks of us. Much LOVE!
…when we truly know Jesus…our heart just overflows with LOVE for Him…and we try very hard not to let Him down…
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!
04 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: aura of love, Caribana, christianity, cry out for mercy, do unto others as you want them to do to you, doctrine, enthusiasm, eternal life, faith, fellowship, forgive your trespasses, forgiveness, friends, frogive men their trespasses, further God's glorious kingdom, golden rule, harmonious choir, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, hypocrites, inner motives, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, judge not, long weekend, LOVE, make Jesus proud, mercy, Monday, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, new week of work, Ontario, party like there's no tomorrow, pound of flesh, prejudicial info, refuse to forgive, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, Scrip-Bit followers, selfishness, smile, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, the shoe is on the other foot, tomorrow, trespasses, ungodly world, what you give out you will get back, wiles, wisdom
Matthew 6:15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Aye Friends, it’s Monday… and the ole back is aching from too much rest. (smile) It’s also late enough that many of you are already up and out the door to begin a new week of work.
Luckily though, for us here in Ontario, it’s a civic holiday, so many places are closed and the Caribana celebrations are moving ahead full throttle, with all sorts of activities scheduled for today, before it finally winds down tonight.
That means most of you out of the province couldn’t care less, because you can’t join in the fun and frolic. (smile) But don’t feel too badly, for not all of us are participating in the festivities. I for one, will most likely spend another quiet day at home with the Duchess, hopefully catching up on some paperwork I’ve been shunning for the last few days.
Anyway, let’s acknowledge the concerns of the majority and sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much enthusiasm, even you Scrip-Bit followers here in Ontario, whose eyes may be bleary and voices scratchy from too much partying over the weekend. (smile)
Please encourage your brothers and sisters who have to go out and labour today, while we can party like there’s no tomorrow. Don’t forget though, that our tomorrow will come tomorrow, Tuesday, when we have to get ourselves into the work arena after this long, exhausting weekend. So please be careful today, don’t overdo it.
Now let’s sing our song like the big harmonious choir we are: ‘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 fantastic Friends! Even the bleary eyed, scratchy voiced Ontarians sounded good! (smile) Now let’s run with that enthusiasm and passion all day long, in whatever we do, and make Jesus proud.
That brings us to our Bit. And it’s interesting how Matthew has Jesus tacking on these most important verses right after teaching us the Lord’s Prayer. I guess that’s because all of what went before is immaterial, if we don’t follow these dictates.
‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’
Ah my fellow believers, those two verses are extremely important in the proper functioning of Christianity. The doctrine is so simple, and so powerful… but yet we ignore it…obviously at our peril. What’s so difficult to understand about, ‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Don’t forgive, and you won’t be forgiven eh?’
Now it’s not always easy to forgive, but many of us REFUSE to forgive, and instead are always looking for our pound of flesh in return. However, when the shoe is on the other foot, we all are quick to cry out for mercy and forgiveness.
Unfortunately Friends, it doesn’t work like that. Jesus says it again in the next chapter of Matthew, though in a slightly different form. ‘Judge (condemn) not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement (condemnation) ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (use), it shall be measured to you again.’ (Matt.7:1-2)
And here we have some pertinent info from the scholars. ‘7:1-4. Judge not refers to an unfavorable and condemnatory judgement. This does not mean that a Christian should never exercise judgement of any kind under any circumstances.
The point being made here is that we are not to judge the inner motives of another. We are not to render a verdict based upon prejudicial information.
Nor are we to use ourselves as the standard of judgement for with what…ye mete (measure) you shall be judged. That ye be not judged refers to the ultimate judgement of God rather than our own judgement.’
It’s all so simple my brethren; whatever you give out, will, generally speaking, be the same that you receive. Jesus even went further, broke it down to the nitty gritty and gave us what we call ‘the golden rule. ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.’ (Matt.7:12)
Ah mih people, it couldn’t be put any simpler and/or clearer than that! But somehow or the other, that message is completely lost in today’s world, where selfishness and the I, myself and me principle are the prevailing standards and culture of this age.
Steups! How foolish can we get eh Friends? Apparently very foolish.
So on that most provocative and important note we’ll end today. Hopefully it will seep into our minds and consciousness, and give us cause and pause for thought.
Yes my people, I want us to ponder to day, consider very seriously our own reaction and behaviour to that golden rule. Do we practice it? And if so, how much, because it can easily lend itself to very selective times? However, it’s not meant to be selective, but general, to everybody, on every occasion!
So let’s analyze our lives today, and try to bring our lives into sync with that golden rule. For if we don’t, then we’re no better than the hypocrite Pharisees of old. And I’m sure we don’t want Jesus referring to us like how He referred to them.
So let’s get with it nuh, and do unto ALL others, as we would like ALL others to do unto us! That’s eternal wisdom my brethren! Much LOVE!
…the golden rule is the motto by which…EVERY believer ought to live his or her life…
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