Today’s Scrip-Bit   16 July 2022 Luke 18:27.

16 Jul 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luke 18:27.       The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

And then it was Saturday – our lazy day! And boy oh boy, did I ever feel like being lazy all day! And in keeping with that feeling, though I was already late waking up, I nevertheless lay there in bed, awake, thinking all sorts of delicious lazy thoughts. But then, as always, reality intruded, it burst my lazy bubble; the Lord’s work needed to be done, and I needed to get my lazy self, up and about to do it! Ah brother, no rest for the wicked nor the righteous! And I muttered an insincere: ‘Thank you for the reminder, Lord!’ (smile) 

So, as we do on Saturdays, let’s see what interesting quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And the first one says: ‘Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.’ Yes, that’s quite true. We can’t just talk positive thinking, but like everything else we must put it into action for it to bear fruit. And when we do that, it not only makes us better, but also rubs off on those we encounter. 

But let me make one proviso here: positive thinking as the world proposes can’t make miraculous changes to your life. Oh yes, it will help you some, but the real test comes when your positive mindset includes Jesus! Oh glory be mih people! When Jesus is actively in our lives, miracles happen all around us all the time, we become doers of seemingly impossible stuff, because as He said. ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’ (Luke 18:27) And once you believe that, even if your faith is only as big as a small grain of mustard seed, you too can move mountains, do miracles, (Matt. 17:20) 

So, it’s not simply positive thinking we need to improve our lives and situations, but more importantly strong belief in Jesus and the fact that all things are possible through and with Him. As Bruh Paul said so confidently to the Philippians: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phill. 4:13) And that’s the glorious truth my faithful brethren! We can do anything that Jesus wants us to do, because He empowers us to do whatever He desires of us! 

That brings us to this next quote that’s in a similar vein to the first one. It tells us that ‘An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.’ Now in the world that might be true to a certain extent, but as we just saw, mere positive thinking doesn’t move mountains, it’s only when Jesus is involved in that positive mindset that things truly begin to happen. 

And then, with Jesus, we never have issues of superiority, for as He says, ‘I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble)’ (Matt. 11:29) That means we don’t think we’re better than anybody else, so we wouldn’t say we have a superior personality, but possibly more wisdom, we’re wiser than most because we have the good sense to choose Jesus above all the foolish, perishable trappings of the world. 

Now, isn’t it just wonderful to have Jesus in our lives? It certainly is, for it enables us more than the unbelievers to handle the next quote, which says: ‘What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.’ Yes friends, our attitude towards life in general and our individual circumstances in particular is what sets us apart from the unsuccessful throng, or multitude. As the quote so truly specifies: ‘Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.’ 

And do we ever know about that. For though simple opportunities may seem to abound, every one of them will present some difficulty at some stage of the game. It very seldom ever runs smoothly all the way through. And it’s only when we have the belly and backbone that comes from knowing Jesus that we can fight through those difficulties and not give up. 

Likewise, in most difficult situations there is usually an excellent opportunity for us to get hold of and pursue to a successful end. But there again, we need the perspicacity, the insight, the shrewdness inspired by our walk with Jesus to discern those fruitful opportunities within those difficult situations, and purposefully go after them. Oh, what would we do without Jesus eh? I don’t know nuh. (smile) 

And all of it culminates in this last quote which advises us to: ‘Cultivate an optimistic mind, use your imagination, always consider alternatives, and dare to believe that you can make possible what others think is impossible.’ Now all of that is obviously good advice, whether or not you believe in Jesus. But the crowning glory of it all is that when you sincerely believe in Jesus, then you can indeed make those things that others think impossible, possible, because ALL things are possible to and through Him!  

And please don’t think that Jesus isn’t all for positive thinking and optimism, because He is. He is the most positive thinker and greatest optimist that ever lived! Just check out these facts about Him nuh. Who else would think that His dying, His shed blood could pay for all the sins of mankind eh, from beginning to end? He had to be a powerful positive thinker and optimist. 

And likewise, who else but a major optimist and positive thinker would think to only leave a dozen, mostly uneducated men to evangelize the world eh? And that’s exactly what Jesus did. And look at how far we’ve come in doing that. Most of the known world now know about Jesus, and the number of those who don’t Him are getting fewer each day with the marvellous advances we’ve recently had in communication technology. And neither should we forget that in Jesus’ vocabulary and kingdom, the words ‘quit, give up, and can’t do it’ don’t exist…and never will! 

Now, let’s go out into the cruel, evil and ungodly world and just live for Him, because He not only died for us, to wash and make us clean from our abominable sins, but He also rose for us, so that we too could rise again on the last day and be with Him in heaven, where He is right now, sitting at the Father’s right hand, advocating on our behalf! 

Oh my fellow saints, all that Jesus has done, and is still doing, is strictly for our benefit. So please, let’s remember that nuh, and show some gratitude by sincerely living for Him! Much LOVE!

…if there’s only one word and/or thought that should guide our lives…it’s JESUS… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​          

Today’s Scrip-Bit   25 June 2022 Acts 1:7.

25 Jun 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acts 1:7.       It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (authority).

Oh friends, our lazy day Saturday is here! And I suppose some of us are so lazy right now that we don’t even have the energy to celebrate it, since we’re just right into the laziness mode. But that’s okay, for it’s a day to do exactly as we want without any constraints or restraints whatsoever. However, that doesn’t give us leeway to be sinful. We can do whatever is right and comely in God’s eyes, according to His marvellous word. On Saturdays though, we do have to check out the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow, and see how they fit into our Christian milieu or environment. 

So, here’s the first one. ‘The power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment: You create a good future by creating a good present.’ And that’s the truth in spades my brethren, since the future is based on the present which we learn to handle by studying the past. In other words, the present is the building block, the foundation of the future, and whatever you sow today is what you will reap in the future. So, if you desire to have a good future, then you must begin by creating a solid foundation for it today. And the best foundation for anything in this universe is Jesus! 

Yes friends, it’s like Jesus said of the man who built his house on the rock, that’s Him, and the rains and the floods and the winds and everything came, but they couldn’t wash away that house that was built on the solid rock that is Jesus. Glory Hallelujah! However, the house that was built on a porous foundation, one that was not Jesus, like sand, chaff, sin, or some such weak material, was immediately swept away. Yes, ‘great was the fall of it.’ 

And that’s what happens to those lives that are not built on the solid rock that’s Jesus Christ; their futures are sad and gloomy and filled with destruction. And if you don’t know the story, then you can find it all in Matthew 7:24-29. So, please read it asap, and if you haven’t yet built your house on Jesus, you better had do that right now yes, because yuh see how that major storm called Covid suddenly came upon us two years ago, and how many houses fell down because they weren’t built on Jesus Christ? As they say a word to the wise is sufficient. 

And the next quote advises: ‘The less you respond to negative people, the more positive your life will become.’ Now that’s a true statement to a certain extent, because not listening to negative people doesn’t automatically make your life positive, it just makes it less negative. Why is that, you ask? Because to have a positive life you must do positive things, not just restrain from negative ones. That’s why this next quote is so important. ‘I believe that you should gravitate to people who are doing productive and positive things with their lives.’ 

And that’s the awesome truth my people! As much as possible we ought to surround ourselves, or get involved with positive and productive people, for in that way some of their positive productivity will surely rub off on us, making our lives even better. And yes, it’s best if we can get around positive, productive Christians, but that doesn’t mean we have to shun positive, productive unbelievers for even they have useful stuff to teach us. We just have to be careful not to allow them to lessen our witness for Christ. In fact, we ought to use that witness to let them know about the wonderful benefits of living for Jesus, and hopefully when they see our faithful witness, they will want to give their lives to Him. 

Yes mih people, there’s nothing as exciting and incentivizing as seeing someone walk their talk. For, as we all know, actions speak more forcefully than words. And that’s why Christianity is not more pervasive throughout the world – not enough incentivizing witness from us, supposed believers. And maybe that’s why Christ’s return is taking so long, as Matt. 24:14 implies. ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’  

But Christ also told the disciples: ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (authority). But ye shall receive power after that (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ (Acts 1:7-8) The long and short of the story friends, is that we are not to concern ourselves with the when of Jesus’ second Coming, which only the Father knows. Our job is to be ready for whenever He comes and keep being good witnesses wherever we are. And how do we do that? 

The next quote intimates one way of doing it, by saying: ‘Change your thoughts and you change your world.’ And that’s no lie. Especially if you’re coming to Jesus as new believer, or intending to become more mature in the faith. That’s why Bruh Paul writes thus to the church at Corinth. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.’ (2 Cor. 5:17) Yes my brethren, if we want to change our world, the first place we have to consider is our minds, because that’s where all the activity in our life begins and ends. 

Our minds are the battlefield on which we fight life. Therefore, whatever we think is basically what controls our life. If we think evil or wicked thoughts then our actions will most likely be wicked and evil, and the same goes for good and positive thoughts. That’s why Bruh Paul says we need to change our thinking, change our thought patterns when we come to Christ. Our old way of thinking must be put away and be replaced by the new thinking that permeates Christ’s kingdom. And when we make that change in thinking, our lives change for the better, not necessarily for the easier (smile) because then tests are involved to find out if we are truly committed to Christ. 

But there’s no need to worry about that, because with each test, the Lord also gives us the wherewithal to pass it. And then, we are at last in a position to do what the last quote tells us: ‘Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.’ Now isn’t that a wonderful way to live this life? It surely is! What can beat looking up to heaven, with Jesus in your life, and seeing the myriad of heavenly bodies up there, shining brightly with God’s omnipotent help, and imagining yourself as one of those bright lights shining a heavenly light down here on this fallen earth? Nothing my fellow saints! 

Remember Christ died so that we could have abundant life down here on earth; that means a good and enjoyable life, heaven right here on earth, but it doesn’t just fall into our laps, we have to work towards it through living sincerely and diligently for Him. Much LOVE!

…oh, how sweet the name of Jesus sounds…in a believer’s ear…because it drives away…each and every fear… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​