02 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a challenge, believers in Jesus, depression, destruction, evil doers, followers of Jesus, fractured, from the bottom of my heart, going to say hello to my neighbour, greet him with a smile, he that dilgently seeks good finds favour, he that seeks trouble it shall come to him, i've made my resolution, in our own neighbourhoods, Johnny Reid, make sure my children know right from wrong, one day at a time, opened up my eyes, positive change, right up our alley, run and hide, shake the hand of a stranger, tell someone I love them, today I'm going to try and change the world, troubled world, turn our world around, war-like, warmongers
Proverbs 11:27. He that diligently seeketh good procureth (finds) favour: but he that seeketh mischief (trouble), it shall come unto him.
Oh Friends, on this Thursday morning in early October – yes, it’s already October – as the leaves begin to change colour and fall, I believe we need a challenge that’s right up our alley, right in our faces, one to which we cannot say no, from which we cannot run and hide.
Our world is becoming increasingly more fractured and war-like every single day, and we believers are the ONLY ONES who can change it for the better. The warmongers and evil doers are happy to see it slide into further depression and eventual destruction, so it’s up to us sincere followers of, and true believers in Jesus Christ to do whatever it takes to turn our world around.
And today we’re going to do it in song, one I shared with you some time aback. I just found it amongst some other papers in my Bible and thought it was a sign to share it again. (smile) That’s because it details such simple and workable ideas that all of us can do in our daily lives, to bring positive change to a seriously troubled world, starting right in our own neighbourhoods.
And it’s a song by Johnny Reid, which advocates: ‘Today I’m going to try and change the world. Gonna take it one day at a time. I’ve made my resolution, opened up my eyes, Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m gonna say hello to my neighbour, going to greet him with a smile, and shake the hand of a stranger, sit and talk to him for a while.
Gonna tell someone I LOVE them, from the bottom of my heart. Today I’m gonna try and change the world. I’ve made my resolution, opened up my eyes; Today I’m gonna try and change the world. Gonna make sure my children know right from wrong; Never turn my back on those in need.
Always gonna try to see myself through another’s eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world. I made my resolution, opened up my eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world.’
Oh my fellow believers, what heart-warming sentiments! And the beauty of it all is that they are simple, everyday things that we all can do to make our world a much better place in which to dwell!
Now that segues very nicely into our Bit: ‘He that diligently seeketh good procureth (finds) favour: but he that seeketh mischief (trouble), it shall come unto him.’
And isn’t that generally how life goes my brethren? If we sincerely seek good, then we find favour, while if we look for trouble, it usually finds us. That’s why I’m asking us today my people, to seek good, and not evil.
As Bruh David advises in Psalm 34 – the Lord hears the righteous: ‘What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit). Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it.’ (Ps.34:12-14)
Oh Friends, that is so plain and simple and straightforward that it truly amazes me when we find it difficult to do! And many of us blame our naturally sinful nature, but that’s just a convenient cop out. We can all stop doing evil and do good if we so desire. We’re just too fascinated by the evil doings of the world.
And you’ll notice how over the last few years the things of darkness, in books, movies and games are ruling the roost as best sellers and award winners. What do you think that does to the minds of our children eh, when they become comfortable with the things of the dark side, including war and violence at such an early age?
They either become enamoured of them, or comfortable and undisturbed, possibly concluding that that’s the norm. And sadly my brethren, that’s the kind of children we’ve raised in this generation. They have come to learn of and glamourize the things of darkness, because that’s what the evil powers are raising up.
Meanwhile, things of the light, things of Jesus, are being portrayed as inferior nonsense. But Friends, that’s a fool’s wisdom! For whatever we seek or sow, that is what will boomerang back to us. And a wonderful biblical example of that is the story of Haman in the book of Esther.
Haman is the king’s right hand man, boastful and arrogant as so many of us in high positions are. But as the Lord would have it, one old Jewish fellow, Mordecai, Esther’s guardian, refuses to bow and scrape to Haman. And when Haman discovers that the king is about to honour Mordecai, his hatred increases, and he sets up a plot to have the Jews killed.
However, through the good works of Esther and Mordecai, it was Haman who met a terrible end. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified (subdued).’ (Esth.7:10)
Oh Friends, please let’s learn from Haman’s example, and don’t plot to do evil against anyone, for there is a very great chance that it will backfire, and we will then be on the receiving end of the evil we had meant for others. Wisdom my people, let’s practice wisdom today nuh. Much LOVE!
…that which a man sows…he will reap…therefore it’s only a fool…or a madman…who will consciously set out to do evil…
19 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 12 men, a legacy of true faith and good works, acclamation, accomplish His purpose, adopt Jesus' optimism, angel of the Lord, annals of history, anxiety of the Jewish leaders, apostles, christianity, council of elders, current day and age, devious ways, each and every day, eternal optimist, fear of the authorities, filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, follow in Jesus' footsteps, from the bottom of my heart, glory hallelujah, go stand and speak, god moves in mysterious ways, gonna say hello to my neighbour, good works, greet him with a smile, high heaven, Holy Spirit of Jesus, how I want my people to live, I made my resolution, impossible, improvement, incredible aftermath, indignation, jealousy, Jesus, Johnny Reid, legacy, live a decent and upright life, LOVE, low status, make changes, make sure my children know right from wrong, moving mightily in our hearts, never turn my back on those in need, obeyed, one day at a time, opened up my eyes, optimism, Pentecost, pride and wonder, prison, proselytize, proselytizing the world, Sadducees, see myself through another's eyes, serious followers of Christ, shake the hand of a stranger, simple ills of the world, simple things, sit and talk for a while, sojourn on earth, sphere of influence, teaching the people, tell someone I love them, the words of this life, today I'm going to try and change the world, true believers, true faith, truly believed, turn our troubled world around, two thousand years, uneducated, went out and did good everyday, Yes
Acts 5:20. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, I have a most wonderful way for us to begin our day today! I was driving out in my car yesterday evening when this song came up on the C.D player and immediately awakened me to some of the simple ills of the world that we can all fix without any problems.
I was also guided to share it again with you. It’s a song from Johnny Reid, a wonderful song of acclamation. So let’s acclaim together this Thursday morning nuh. ‘Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m gonna take it one day at a time. I made my resolution, opened up my eyes.
Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m going to say hello to my neighbour, gonna greet him with a smile, and shake the hand of a stranger; sit and talk to him for a while. I’m gonna tell someone I LOVE them from the bottom of my heart.
Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m gonna make sure my children know right from wrong. Never turn my back on those who need someone. Always going to see my self through another’s eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world. Gonna take it one day at a time. Yes, I’ve made my resolutions. I’ve opened up my eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world.’
And Jesus, looking down from His high heaven, pumped His right hand with a clenched fist and said, ‘Yessss! That’s how I want my people to live, each and every day!’
Wow mih breddren, Wow! What a statement that would make in Jesus’ name eh, if we could just go out and do those simple things everyday! Because yuh know, that is exactly what Jesus did during His sojourn here on planet earth. He just went out and did good everyday. And that’s all we need to do to follow in His footsteps.
Oh yes my people, it’s time for the Holy Spirit of Jesus to be moving mightily in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, like it did with the apostles and the other believers back then in the incredible aftermath of that memorable Pentecost day!
And following on from yesterday, where the multitudes were believing and coming to Jerusalem to be healed, we see the anxiety of the Jewish leaders.
Listen to the good Book tell it: ‘Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation (jealousy). And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’ (Acts 5:17-20)
Oh Friends, it never ceases to amaze and amuse me, the way our God moves in such mysterious and devious ways to accomplish His purpose!
Now, in this current day and age, if the same scenario took place, how many of us would do what the angel said eh? I dare say, not too many, for fear of what the authorities would say and do. But the apostles back then were filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, which by the way we too are, and they immediately obeyed.
‘And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel (council of elders), and sent to the prison to have them (the apostles) brought.
But when the officers came and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told (reported), Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety (security), and the keepers standing without (outside) before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them (wondered) whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.’ (Acts 5:21-25)
Now my people, generally speaking, the Lord isn’t asking us to go and stand up on the street corners or in the church and preach, although that might be the calling of some. All He’s asking is that we live a decent and upright life, like in our acclamation above.
We only live one day at a time, so it’s obvious we can only make changes one day at a time too. But if everyday, each one of us does a little, makes some little improvement in our lives and somebody else’s, eventually we’ll turn our troubled world around.
But it has to begin with us; the true believers, the serious followers of Christ. Each of us has to take it upon ourselves to fix what we can in our small sphere of influence. We have to adopt Jesus’ great optimism. For yes, He was, and still is the eternal optimist!
Why else would He choose 12 men, yes my brethren, 12, low of status, uneducated men to proselytize the entire world eh? 12 men simply filled with Holy Spirit of Christ!
And my people, you’ll notice that they did it! 12 men filled with only the Holy Spirit of Christ changed the entire world! Glory Hallelujah! Two thousand years later we’re still talking about them.
Please, I implore us; let them be talking about us that same way nuh, with pride and wonder, if our troubled world lasts another two thousand years.
Let’s go down in the annals of history, of Christianity, as having left a legacy of true faith and good works, so that all can declare: ‘They truly believed!’ That’s all Jesus is asking of us. Much LOVE!
…Jesus would never have given the apostles the task of proselytizing the world…if He thought it was impossible…and that goes for us too in this modern age…
24 Oct 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundant life, abundantly, Beatitude, bless your Holy Name, blessed, Christians, consider, dearth, deep desire for righteousness, derogatory situation, destroy, disatrous mess, empty, everyday we draw breath, faithless, filled, fills the hungry soul, foolish, generosity, god-forsaken, goodness, gracious Lord, Guide, have life, humility, hunger and thirst, hunger of soul, hypocritical eyes, in Jesus' eyes, indisputable truth, Jesus, judging others, kill, less fortunate, LOVE, made my resolution, mainstay of society, mercy, one day at a time, one more day, opened up my eyes, planet earth, ponder, poor, possessors of the earth, put your money where your mouth is, ramp up the project, right from wrong, righteousness., rightful heirs, satisfaction, satisfies the longing soul, see myself through another's eyes, Sermon on the Mount, servant mentality, servant part, sincere resolution, spineless, spiritual depth, spiritual poverty, spiritual rebirth, steal, take them to god in prayer, thanks, try and change the world, turn my back on those in need, ungodly, we Love you Lord, wisdom, worthwhile changes
Matthew 5:6. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Ah mih people, one more day has been added to our years on earth…!
And all God’s children loudly and gratefully declared: ‘Thank You most gracious Lord, for allowing us to see another beautiful day here on planet earth! Please guide and bless us, so that we can walk worthy of You. We LOVE You and praise your Holy Name! Amen!’
Well Friends, if we’re so thankful, then let’s put our money where our mouth is nuh, by ramping up that project we began yesterday, of trying to change the world. Remember we said we’d take it one day at a time, so that means we have to continue doing it today too, and every day that we draw breath in this world.
And just so that you’ll remember what we’re talking about, here’s Johnny Reid, in his Kenny Roger’s sounding voice, to remind us.
‘Today I’m gonna try and change the world. I’m gonna take it one day at a time. I’ve made my resolution, opened up my eyes. Today I’m gonna try and change the world.’
That’s just the chorus, now here’s the second verse… and it’s not the same as the first. (smile)
‘I’m gonna make sure my children know right from wrong. Never turn my back on those in need. Always gonna try to see myself through another’s eyes. Today I’m gonna try and change the world… Chorus.’
Yes my brethren, some more ways in which we can try changing the world every day that we’re alive!
And Friends, those things might seem simple, but they are ever so important, for they are the very things we need to deal with if we’re going to change this god-forsaken, ungodly world in which we live.
We’re talking about things like making sure our children know right from wrong… Steups! Many parents don’t even know that, so how are they going to teach it eh, even if they could find the time?
And then ordinary things like not turning our backs on those in need… Chuh! That’s now a mainstay of our society, for too many of us do it too often. That’s where the servant part, the servant mentality of Jesus comes in. But how many of us supposed Christians want to be servants eh?
Not a whole lot, for in spite of Jesus’ command to the contrary, we still prefer to be served rather than serve, because the name implies a derogatory situation, and being served makes us look important in the hypocritical eyes of the world. But Friends, in Jesus’ eyes, that makes us look real foolish, faithless and spineless.
And before critically and oftimes harshly judging others, many who are less fortunate than us, let’s first try and put ourselves in their place nuh, and see how we’d like others to see us, if the situations were reversed. We so get off on judging others these days, even though we don’t know them from Adam, or have a clue about their circumstances. That’s certainly a big part of why our world is in such a disastrous mess.
However my people, we can’t make any of those worthwhile changes unless we have the words of our Bit buried deep in our hearts, souls and minds. ‘Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’
Yeh Friends, it’s another Beatitude from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. It seems like we’re dealing with Beatitudes this meeting, so though we’ve done this one already, some 17 months ago, it’s useful to do it again, because every so often we need reminders. (smile) And I’m sure there’ll be new and different stuff than the last time.
Now here’s what the scholars’ have to say about our Bit: ‘5:6. These future possessors of the earth are its presently installed rightful heirs, and even now they hunger and thirst after righteousness. They experience a deep desire for personal righteousness, which in itself is a proof of their spiritual rebirth.
Those who are poor and empty in their own spiritual poverty recognize the depth of their need, and they hunger and thirst for that which only God can give them. They shall be filled (Gr. chortazo) refers to a complete satisfaction. The Psalmist proclaimed: “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” (Ps.107:9)’
And that’s indisputable truth, as many of us can testify to! The problem though is to recognize the dearth, or lack of spiritual depth and then sincerely try to fill it. That means coming to God in humility and hunger of soul, so that He can generously and mercifully fill up that empty space that’s keeping us back from truly enjoying all He has to offer.
Remember Jesus’ promise: ‘The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10)
That simply shows my people, that we can’t have abundant life, unless Jesus dwells in us abundantly. Let’s ponder on and consider all these things today, then take them all to God in prayer to help us fix whatever needs fixing. That’s wisdom from on high… therefore of the highest order! Much LOVE!
…oh to be meek and humble…hungry and thirsty for righteousness…so that our eyes can be opened…and cause us to make a sincere resolution…to try and change the world today…
23 Oct 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a pleasant hello, a smile, Abraham, Abrahamic Covenant, abundance of peace, afraid, alleviate tragedies, almighty god, anger, balance, Beatitudes, blessed, blessed are the meek, blessedness of heaven, boast, church at Rome, delight, dictates of our Bit, diligently, divine wisdom, embrace Jesus, every day, faith, from the bottom of my heart, God's wisdom, greet with a smile, heartfelt feeling, heir of the world, humble, humility, inherit the earth, inner confidence, inner strength, Jesus, Jesus sojourn on earth, Johnny Reid, kingdom of god, live by faith, live by sight, LOVE, meek, meekness, memorable words, Mosaic Law, one day at a time, opened up my eyes, physical, ponder, positive difference, promise, promise of the kingdom, resolution, righteousness of faith, say hello to my neighbour, Sermon on the Mount, shake a stranger's hand, show off, simple things, sincerity, sit and talk awhile, solid truth, spiritual, steadfast faith, strong, surrender, tell someone I love them, the last trump, the law, the only way, the strength of our faith, tragedies, trust, truth, try and change the world, weak, wonderful project
Matthew 5:5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (land).
Oh Friends, this is what I had planned for yesterday, until I read about the disastrous school shooting incident in Nevada. And in God’s everlasting wisdom, this project can, and will, definitely alleviate those kinds of tragedies, if we sincerely and seriously put our hands to the plough and furrow straight ahead without looking back.
Now it’s not a new project, but a very old one that we’re guilty of not doing properly. However, we’re starting over TODAY, in a more serious and sincere manner. So listen to the basic nature of the project, as Johnny Reid, in his drawling baritone, tells it to us in song.
‘Today I’m going to try and change the world. Gonna take it one day at a time. I’ve made my resolution, opened up my eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world.’
That’s just the chorus people, but even that’s very eye opening and inspirational!
Now listen to the verse. ‘I’m gonna say hello to my neighbour. Going to greet him with a smile. And shake the hand of a stranger, sit and talk to him for a while. I’m gonna tell someone I LOVE them from the bottom of my heart. Today I’m going to try and change the world… Chorus’
Oh my brethren, isn’t that a wonderful project? It sure is! And the beauty is that we’ll just take it one day at a time, no rush, doing the simple things that Jesus did in his sojourn down here on earth, and now wants us to carry on in His name.
And the whole thing is very easy; greet our neighbours with a smile and a pleasant hello; shake a strangers hand, then spend a li’l time chatting with them; tell someone we LOVE them, with a sincere and heartfelt feeling of truth.
Oh my people, my people, that’s the only way we can ever change this world!
But to do it sincerely and successfully, we have to live according to the dictates of our Bit. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (land).’
Yes Friends, we cannot do those things, or anything that Jesus requires of us, unless we’re meek, unless we’re humble. Now please remember that meek and humble don’t mean weak and afraid, like many people think, but rather strong, with an inner confidence in God, that you don’t have to huff and puff, get angry, or show off and boast.
Meekness and humility simple means we have a quiet, inner strength, steadfast faith, not afraid of the world or whatever it brings our way.
And this is the scholars’ take on our Bit. ‘5:5. The meek…shall inherit the earth refers again to those who have been humbled before God and will not only inherit the blessedness of heaven, but also will ultimately share in the kingdom of God on earth.
Here, in the opening statements of the Sermon on the Mount, is the balance between the physical and spiritual promise of the kingdom. The kingdom of which Jesus preached is both “in you” and is yet “to come.”
Solid truth that mih breddren!
And even before Jesus spoke those memorable words of our Bit in the Beatitudes, Bruh David solemnly declared in Psalm 37, The true state of the wicked: ‘For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider (look diligently for) his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.’ (Ps.37:10-11)
And as per inheriting the earth, Bruh Paul wrote this to the church at Rome. ‘For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.’ (Rom.4:13)
And the scholars’ explain that thus: ‘4:13. The promise: Many Jews thought that the privileges they enjoyed came from their adherence to the Mosaic Law. This is false. The promises were given to Abraham 430 years before the law was given, hence the law does not annul the Abrahamic covenant. It was merely added alongside until Christ should come to fulfill it. (cf. Gal.3:17-19)’
So we see Friends, it’s all based on faith, trust, and surrender to Almighty God; from the day Abraham received the promise, till the day the last trump sounds. Therefore let’s try and stop living by sight nuh, and instead live by faith, as we ought to, since it’s the ONLY WAY we can truly embrace Jesus and all that He stands for.
That means we continually need to ponder the strength of our faith and find ways to make it stronger. Now that’s where divine wisdom comes in. Much LOVE!
…if each believer tries to make a positive difference…each and every day…then we’ll soon change the world…as Jesus… so long ago, asked us to…
SCRIP-BITS 