24 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a learned behaviour, all these things shall be added unto you, allergies, Chrisitanity, complaining is a part of human nature, contentment is a learned behaviour, contentment isn't learned in classroom, contentment isn't learned overnight, drown men in destruction and perdition, endure to the end with Christ, erred from the faith, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, fall into temptation, follow after righteousness, for one man who can stand prosperity, fraught with pitfalls, godliness, godliness with contentment is great gain, halfway home, hands on the plough, having food and raiment, holy spirit, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I have learned, I know both how to be abased, I know how to abound, in regard of need, in whatsoever state I am, into many foolish and hurtful lusts, Jesus Christ, keep God first place in our lives, let us be content, live humbly, live in prosperity, lose your soul, LOVE, make Jesus our number one priority, material possessions, meekness, mercy, Not that I speak in respect of want, not turning back, O man of God flee these things, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, patience, pierced themselves through with many sorrows, practical everyday life experiences, relatively insignificant, ruin and destruction, salvation, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Sermon on the Mount, so glad to be alive, some in their greediness, strayed from the faith, thank God, the basic necessities of life, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the constant noise of lawn mowers, the Lord hates pride and boasting, the LOVE of money, the root of all kinds of evil, the skill required for successful living, therewith to be content, they that desire to be rich, Thomas Carlyle, tighten the belt in lean times, to a glorious future with Jesus, to abound, to be full, to be hungry, to discipline oneself, to suffer need, truth, we brought nothing into this world, we can carry nothing out, wealthy Chrisitans don't boast about their wealth, Wednesday Wail, which some coveted after, wisdom, with the help of Jesus
Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 June 2026 Philippians 4:11.
Philippians 4:11. ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard to need): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’
Ah friends, it’s Wednesday, our second wind day, and I surely wish that I could catch my second wind because my allergies are giving me some problems. We all long for the summer, but when it comes, we complain about allergies, the constant noise of lawn mowers and many other things. But I guess complaining is just a part of our human nature. (smile) And this current version of our society is exceptionally good at complaining, because very little seems to satisfy us.
We obviously have not taken Bruh Paul’s statement on the subject to heart. He wrote to the Philippians thus: ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard to need): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’ (Phil. 4:11) Now that’s something this version of our society needs to learn, and we can only do that by following Bruh Paul’s example, as he continues: ‘I know both how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity): every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need.’ (Phil. 4:12)
And the scholars offer some very valuable thoughts on Bruh Paul’s statements. The most important being, that being contented is a learned behaviour. ‘I have learned … to be content: The Greek here suggests that contentment is a lesson learned neither in a classroom nor overnight, but through many practical experiences in life.’ And that’s the gospel truth! We cannot learn contentment over night or in a classroom, but only from practical everyday life experiences.
And per verse 12, the scholars declare: ‘By listing some specific examples, this verse elaborates upon the very general and broad “in whatsoever state I am” of verse 11. Be abased means literally to discipline oneself, that is, to tighten the belt in lean times. To abound means to live in prosperity. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed (or, “in all circumstances I have learned the secret of how”) to be full, that is “well-fed..” To abound means to have plenty. To suffer need means to go without. Paul has acquired the skill required for successful living with little and with much, the latter probably being harder. ’
And they end the explanation with an appropriate quote from the 19th century Sottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881). ‘For one man who can stand prosperity, there a hundred that will stand adversity.’ And most of us know that prosperity is fairly easy to live with, but adversity is a completely different kettle of tea. However to live a successful life, we need to be able to live in both camps without too many problems or complaints. But let’s note Bruh Paul’s next words in that passage, possibly the most important. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil. 4:13)
Now that’s the secret of the whole exercise. We learn to live successfully, either in prosperity or need, with the help of Jesus Christ, for He is the one that strengthens us, as we live in His will and do His work. So, if we don’t have that foundation of Christ in our souls, then most likely we’ll have trouble living a truly successful life.
And there are several other scriptures throughout the Bible which warn about contentment. Like this one from Bruh Paul to Timothy. ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment (clothing) let us be therewith content. But they that will (desire to) be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful (harmful) lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition (in ruin and destruction). For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith), and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (1 Tim. 6:6-10)
Oh friends, nobody really wants to live in poverty, but desperately trying to get rich is fraught with all sorts of pitfalls, all sorts of evil possibilities, wherewith you can lose your soul and cause yourself even more sorrows than if you were living in poverty. And once we have food and raiment or all the basic necessities of life, we ought to be content. Now let’s note that it’s not money that causes the problem, but the LOVE of it; the helpless desire to go after it, forsaking everything and everyone else to get it.
Thus Bruh Paul warns Timothy: ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness.’ (1 Tim. 6:11) Yes my fellow believers those are the things that should be uppermost in our minds and lives. Now please don’t think that material possessions have no place in the Christian’s life, but as we can carry nothing out at death, that makes them relatively insignificant in comparison to the things of verse 11 above.
And it’s like Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount when teaching about worry. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) That tells us that if we sincerely keep God first place in our lives, He will satisfy all our basic needs. And He might also make us very wealthy in material terms; just like he made Cousin Sol wealthy, although he did not ask for it.
And believe me, there are lot of wealthy Christians out there in today’s world, and you’ll never know that just by seeing or listening to them, for they don’t boast on their earthly wealth, like so many non-believers do. They know on which side their bread is buttered, who gave them their wealth and how He hates pride and boasting, so they just go about quietly doing His work. And that’s how we all ought to be!
Now, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And for those who endure to the very end with Jesus, there’s an even more glorious future promised, that we cannot comprehend or imagine. So, let’s be wise and endure to the end with Jeus nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…true contentment… can only be acquired…if Jesus is our number one priority…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
17 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a blessed scripture, all guns firing, be able to comfort them which are in trouble, be careful for nothing, be not afraid neither be thou dismayed, be of good cheer, be strong and of a good courage, blessed be God, Bruh David's men spoke about stoning him, Bruh David's reaction to the burning of Ziklag, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God, casting all your care upon him, christianity, comfort in hard times, David followed the Lord's advise, David's men blamed his for the disaster, do better, do good work for Jesus, don't even have time to think, encouragement is right at our fingertips, endure to the end, faith, for our sakes and Jesus', give thanks for being alive, greater is he that is in you, halfway home, hands on the plough, have all the tools and parts, have I not commanded thee, have overcome them, he careth for you, He giveth power to the faint, he may exalt you in due time, hearing and putting into action are two different things, hold our horses, holy spirit, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, I have overcome the word, i have overcome the world, I'm so glad to be alive, in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, Jesus Christ, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, know the scriptures, let your request be made known unto God, LOVE, mercy, mount up with wings as eagles, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, not looking back, on an early bus, our second wind day, run and not be weary, salvation, scriptures that provide encouragement, sterngth and courage, than he that's in the world, thank God, that in me ye might have peace, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Father of mercies, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of All Comfort, the Lord sometimes allows hardship to come against us, the Lord thy God is with thee wherever you go, the peace of God which passeth all understading, the way we live this earthly life depends a lot on us, the young men shall utterly fall, the youth shall faint and be weary, these things I have spoken unto you, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, to a glorious future with Jesus, to find a wife asap, to them that have no might he increaseth strength, truth, use them when the time comes, wait on the Lord, wake up to the seriousness of the situation, walk and not faint, Wednesday Wail, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, wisdom, ye are of God little children
Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 June 2026 John 16:33.
John 16:33. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’
Ah mih people, it’s Wednesday, our second wind day, so let’s catch it if we want to continue to do good work for Jesus. And would you believe we’re on an early bus, even though I went to my church group this morning! Glory be! Let’s also give thanks for being alive to see another day, despite the high level of evil and ungodliness that’s currently permeating our world. And as we promised yesterday, if the breath still flowed through our body today, we’d continue to look at scriptures that give us encouragement in our everyday lives.
And I like how this overview breaks down the scriptures according to purpose. Beginning with this famous one for Strength and Courage, as the Lord continues speaking to Joshua, after making him the Israelite leader following the death of Moses. For the third time in four verses He admonishes Joshua: ‘Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9)Now you cannot get encouragement from a better source, but hearing it and putting it into action are two entirely different things, for when the enemy comes at you with all guns firing, sometimes you don’t even have time to think, much less be strong and courageous, but we’re expected to be thus, because we have all the parts and tools to do so.
Then, as per Peace and Anxiety, these verses from Philippians show us the way. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:6-7)
And what about a scripture for Overcoming Weariness? This one we all know and quote although we don’t action it as we ought to. Isaiah wisely informs us: ‘He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is. 40: 29-31) What a beautiful promise my brethren! But it doesn’t happen automatically, we have to hold our horses and wait upon the Lord.
Then there’s this section about Comfort in Hard Times. Here Peter exhorts us: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet. 5:6-7) Yes friends, Almighty God is our greatest source of comfort, as Bruh Paul explains in these verses from 2 Corinthians. ‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble (tribulation), by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.’ (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
Wow! What a blessed scripture! We comfort others by the comfort we receive from God Himself! Then as per Assurance in Trials, John enlightens us from his first epistle. ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4) And that’s a known fact, Jesus in us is indeed greater than Satan that’s in the world. And Jesus confirms this when he reassures us: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33)
Oh my fellow believers, we certainly don’t lack for encouraging scriptures in the Lord’s Word, for that’s why it was written; to enlighten, guide, encourage, strengthen and comfort us. But it’s not always easy to do, and we first have to know the scriptures, then put them into action when the time comes. And here is one of the best examples in the Bible of putting scripture into action. It’s Bruh David’s reaction when the Philistines refused his help to fight with them against Israel, although he was then living in their territory, and he returned to his town of Ziklag and found it burned to the ground by the Amalekites, and all the women and children taken captive.
To make matters worse, although Bruh David had also lost his wives and children, his men were sorely grieved, and spoke about stoning him, blaming him for the disaster. (1 Sam. 30:1-6a) And how did Bruh David handle that frightening situation? The Bible tells us: ‘but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.’ (1 Sam. 30:6b) Yes friends, that’s what we need to do when things are really going badly; encourage ourself in the Lord our God, turn to Him in prayer with questions as to one’s direction, like Bruh David did. In that case, the Lord directed him to go after the Amalekites, (1 Sam. 30:7-8)
And he followed the Lord’s advice, went after the Amalekites and defeated them in a great victory and recovered all that he had lost… and more. (1 Sam. 30:9-12) Ah mih people, at times the Lord might allow life to become difficult for us, but He’ll never leave us in the lurch, that is if we turn to Him for guidance and encouragement. So, in the long run, the way we live this earthly life depends quite a lot on us. We have all the tools to make it good, but what good are tools that aren’t being used eh? No good at all! So let’s wake up and wise up to the seriousness of the situation and do better, for our sakes, as well as for Christ’s.
Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we endure to the end, then, an even more glorious future has been promised, one we cannot imagine or comprehend. So, let’s be wise and endure to the very end, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…we don’t lack for encouragement…it’s right there at our fingertips…just waiting to be taken…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
10 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a froward man soweth strife, a tinderbox, a whisperer separates chief of friends, above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, an ungodly man diggeth up evil, and have not charity I am nothing, and now abideth faith hope love, be ye therefore sober, beareth all things, become as sounding brass, bestow all my goods to feed the poor, charity envieth not, charity is not puffed up, charity suffereth long and is kind, charity vaunteth not itself, christianity, Christians, discretion over gossip, do today's work today, don't put aside for tomorrow what can be done today, doth not behave itself unseemly, endures to the end, endureth all things, enjoy a more than glorious future together, err from the truth, exercises restraint, extends forgiveness, faith, from the error of his way, give my body to be burned, halfway home, hands on the plough, hate seems to be making the world go round, hatred is causing chaos and disaster in our world, hatred is running amok, hatred stirreth up strifes, have faith to remove a mountain, have not charity, he that covereth a transgression seeketh love, he that repeats a matter separates friends, he which converteth a sinner, hide a multitude of sins, holy spirit, in his lips there is as a burning fire, infinite God rules both heaven and earth, is not easily provoked, it profiteth me nothing, Jesus Christ, keeps no account of evil, knowledge shall vanish away, life is moving at a fast pace, LOVE, love covereth all sins, love covers a lot of wrong doing, love does not broadcast flaws and mistakes of others, love is God's favourite tool, love is God's greatest attribute, love let's go of minor slights and annoyances, Love never fails, love shall cover a multitude of sins, love the ooposite of hatred, mercy, more strife-filled situations are happening every day, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, no time for pussy footing, not looking back at the past, not turning back, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, overlooking minor offences, prophecies shall cease, protects the dignity of others, rejoiceth in truth, rejoiceth not in iniquity, salvation, save a soul from death, seeketh not her own, set the world afire, so glad to be alive, speak with the tongues, strife-filled days, sweep things under the rug in the name of love, sweeping serious wrongdoing under the rug, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the end of all things is at hand, the gift of prophecy, the greatest of these is charity (love), the ultimate forgiveness shown by God, the wheel of life, tinkling cymbal, to a glorious future with Jesus, tongues shall cease, truth, understand all mysteries, waiting to be set alight, watch unto prayer, Wednesday Wail, wisdom
Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 June 2026 Proverbs 10:12.
Proverbs 10:12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.
Oh dear me, is it really Wednesday, our second wind day already? How quickly we’ve gotten there! (smile) And we had better catch that second wind, because at the fast pace that the days and life in general are moving, we don’t have much time for pussy footing and leaving things that should be done today, for tomorrow. The proverbial wheel of life that’s supposed to turn slowly, has certainly sped up in the last little while. As least, so it seems to me. But what do I know eh? Not much. For I am a mere mortal with a finite understanding, while the great infinite God in heaven, is the sovereign who controls things down here.
And He’s given me this scripture for us to look at today. Wise and oh so truthful words from the Proverbs of Cousin Sol: ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.’ (Prov. 10:12) And even if we didn’t know it from personal experience, there’s no doubting it in these strife-filled days, where hatred is running amok in our world and causing all kind of chaos and disaster. And the hatred doesn’t seem to be abating either; in fact it seems to be escalating because none of the strife-filled situations are being peacefully resolved.
We might not hear of some of them, but that’s not because they’ve been peacefully resolved, but because more newsworthy ones have come upon the scene. And right now, all we need is one flash of craziness from one person imbued with hatred to set the world afire. Our world is currently like a tinder box just waiting to be set alight. But then there’s LOVE, the opposite of hatred, which according to Cousin Sol, covers all sins. How true is that eh. According to the scriptures it’s very true.
Listen to Peter tell it: ‘But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).’ (1 Per. 4:7-9) Meanwhile James puts it thus: ‘Brethren, if any of you do err (turn) from the truth, and one convert (cover) him; Let him know, that he which converteth (covers) a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide (cover) a multitude of sins.’ (James 5:19-20)
Yes friends, LOVE does cover a lot of wrongdoing. And this commentary gives us a rough break down of what that means. ‘Overlooking Minor Offenses: True LOVE is patient and chooses to let go of minor slights, annoyances, and daily frictions rather than keeping score. Discretion over Gossip: Instead of broadcasting the flaws and mistakes of others, a LOVING person exercises restraint and protects the dignity of the person. Extending Forgiveness: Drawing on the ultimate forgiveness shown by God, LOVE forgives wrongs rather than allowing them to breed resentment and divide a community. What it doesn’t mean: It does not mean sweeping serious harm, abuse, or illegal actions under the rug. LOVE protects by addressing destructive behaviour appropriately.’
Now that last explanation needs to be more forcefully administered, because many of us sweep things like abuse and serious harm under the rug in the name of LOVE. But that’s not always right, for oftentimes it only encourages and increases the bad behaviour. It’s as Cousin Sol further says in Proverbs. ‘An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A forward (perverse) man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief (the best of) friends.’ (Prov. 16:27-28) And in the next chapter Cousin Sol declares: ‘He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth friends.’ (Prov. 17:9)
So LOVE is a powerful tool, motivator or attribute. And so it should be, since it’s God’s greatest attribute and His favourite tool, the one that caused Him to send His Son Jesus to earth to die for our sins and causes Him to reach out to us in times of need. And with all we’ve said about LOVE, here’s the best treatise on it from the pen of Bruh Paul to the Corinthians.
‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (LOVE), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling (clanging) cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge: and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (LOVE), I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (LOVE), it profitheth me nothing.
Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (LOVE) envieth not; charity (LOVE) vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), is not puffed up (arrogant), Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil (keeps no account of evil); Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (LOVE) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (cease); whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (cease)… And now abideth faith, hope, charity (LOVE), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (LOVE).’ (1 Cor. 13:1-8; 13)
And that’s why LOVE is so great, and so necessary in our too evil world! And hopefully with all that talk on LOVE, some more of it will seep into our souls, bodies and minds and help us turn our world around, as we so badly need to do. Now let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice:
‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And it’s been promised that whoever endures to the end with Christ will enjoy an even more glorious future than we can ever imagine. So let’s endure right to the very end nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…LOVE is supposed to make the world go round…but right now…hate seems to be doing it…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
03 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a deep consuming conviction, a long and arduous journey, a more than glorious future, a proof of spiritual rebirth, a world class facility, an expected attitude of a believer, attain the threshold that God is enough, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, but not enough, christianity, deep down in our souls, desires to reach out to God, endure to the end with Jesus, enhances our earthly lives, every cluttered chamber, experience a deep desire for personal rightousness, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, free me from every shallow substitute, from every hidden pretense, hands on the plough, hang all the law and the prophets, holy spirit, how i hunger and thirst for you, how I love you my Lord, hunger for that which only God can give, I am halfway home, I rejoice in your inimitable goodness, into every vacant hollow, Jesus Christ, LOVE, love the Lord with all thy heart soul and mind, love thy neightbour as thyself, Loving God is our number one duty, mercy, MY Glorious Enough, negative circumstances, not looking back, not turning back, of my longing heart, on these two commandments, One Year Book of Bible promises, our puny minds can't comprehend, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, pour yourself lavishly, recognize the depth of their need, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, seeking God with our whole heart, seeking the righteousness of God, so glad to be alive, spiritual maturity, spiritual poverty, strong longings for God, thank God, the Beatitudes, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the characteristics of a saved person, the greatest commandment, the local hospital is now a world class facility, the pinnacle of the abundant life, the second is like unto it, the Sermon on the Mount, these tense and fearful times, they shall be filled, thwarted in our search for God, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, until I shall know, various stages of our spiritual growth, Wednesday Wail, when ye shall search for me with all your heart, wisdom, with deep consuming conviction, ye shall seek me and find me, yearning for God, You are My Glorious Enough
Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 June 2026 Matthew 5:6.
Matthew 5:6. ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’
Ah mih people, like we’re on the late bus again this hot, sunny Wednesday morning, our second wind day. But this time it’s not my fault, for after my church group, I went directly to the local hospital for some tests. And is it ever big and busy now, and you have to walk so far to get wherever you’re going. I remember the days when it was first built, and it looked like a li’l two by four on the side of the hill. I really shouldn’t be complaining though, because whenever I go there, they treat me well. It’s just that recently I’ve been going there a little too often for my liking. (smile) And I’m certainly amazed at how over the years it’s turned into a world class facility.
But enough of my jawing, let’s see if we can’t write a short and sweet Bit today. No promises…because we’re not known for short…but we’ll certainly try. And for brevity’s sake, we’ll check out this short but most appropriate poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. The poem is uniquely titled, ‘My Glorious Enough.’
So please read with me. ‘Oh how I LOVE You, my Lord But not enough. How I hunger and thirst for You But not enough. How I rejoice in Your inimitable (matchless) goodness But not enough. Pour Yourself lavishly, dear God Into every vacant hollow Into every cluttered chamber Of my longing heart. Free me from every shallow substitute From every hidden pretense Until I shall know With deep, consuming conviction That You are my Glorious Enough.’
Wow! I like that! And I don’t think I’ve ever shared it before, because it seems new to me. but who knows there are 365 poems in the Book, and I can’t remember them all. Anyway, it is a most interesting and appropriate poem for many of us, especially in these tense and fearful times. We all are at various stages of our spiritual growth or spiritual maturity, and many of us have strong longings for and desires to reach out for God, but somehow are thwarted in our search for Him.
However we can’t ever stop reaching and searching, for as God said through the prophet Jermiah: ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer. 29:13) And that’s what the person in the poem seems to doing; seeking God with their whole heart. And that’s the only way to truly seek Him. Remember how Jesus answered the Pharisee lawyer that tried to draw Him into an argument by asking which was the greatest commandment in the law?
‘Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt LOVE the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thy self. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matt. 22:37-40) So we see from Jesus, that LOVING the Lord is our Number One duty. But that’s not always easy to do, especially when our lives are filled with many negative circumstances. However, we’ve got to begin somewhere, and yearning for Him deep down in our souls is a wonderful start.
As the poem says we continue seeking Him ‘until we know, with deep, consuming conviction that He is our Glorious Enough.’ Yes friends, we cannot be satisfied until we reach, or attain the threshold that God is truly enough for us, is all that we will ever need. Unfortunately though, it is often a long and arduous journey to get to that point. But it is one we must never stop reaching for, because it’s ever so worthwhile. We never really know how great our God is until He fills ‘every vacant hollow and every cluttered chamber of our longing hearts.’
And nothing can be more soul stirring and uplifting than that, for it’s like the Bible Verse for the poem states: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matt. 5:6) Now that’s one of the statements Jesus made in the Sermon on the Mount in that group we call the Beatitudes; Jesus’ way of describing the attitude and characteristics of a person who has been saved.
And according to the scholars, ‘those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are those who experience a deep desire for personal righteousness, which in itself is 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. Thou shall be filled refers to a complete satisfaction. The psalmist proclaimed: “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” (Ps. 107:9)’
Yes my fellow believers, a big part of our duty as followers of Christ is to hunger and thirst for the righteousness that only God can provide, for it enhances our earthly lives and leads to the pinnacle of the abundant life that Christ died for us to have. And with that boost to our faith, (smile) let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And it’s been promised that those who endure to the end with Jesus, will receive an even more glorious future, one that our puny minds cannot comprehend. so, let’s be wise and endure right to the very end with Jesus nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Now that’s as short as we can get today! (smile) Much LOVE!
…seeking the righteousness of God…is an expected attitude of the believer…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
27 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a more than glorious future, a spiritual wake-up call, a time of intense persecution, as in the day, be ready and waiting for Jesus, be watchful, be ye also ready, behold I come as a thief, blessed is he that watcheth, cast off the works of darkness, Christ can come like a thief in the night, Christ's return is fast approaching, Christ's Second Coming, consistent with the new life in Christ, don't seek opportunities to satisfy our sin nature, enanmoured of sinfulness, encourage vigilance and purity., endure to the very end with Christ, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faithlessness, for in such an hour as ye think not, going about their creator's business, halfway home, hands on the plough, high time to awake out of our sleep, hold fast and repent, holy spirit, I have not found thy works perfect before God, Jesus Christ, keepeth his garments, knowing the time, known when the thief would come, lack of enthusiasm, lest he walk naked, like a thief in the night, lost in the darkness, LOVE, lustful pleasures, make not provision for the flesh, mercy, not in chambering and wantonness, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in strife and envying, not looking back at the past, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, put on the armour of light, put on the Lord jesus christ, remember how thou hast received and heard, salvation, so glad to be alive, spiritually prepared, strengthen the things which remain, thank God for all his blessings, that are ready to die, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the day is at hand, the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night, the earth also, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the end of the age is near, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the new era of righteousness, the night is far spent, the period of spiritual darkness is coming to an end, the seriousness of the situation, the Son of man cometh, the works that are therein shall be burned up, they see his shame, to a glorious future with Jesus, to fulfil the lusts thereof, today's state of our world, truth, ungodly behaviour, urgent readiness in a christian's daily walk, walk honestly, walk properly as in the daytime, watch therefore, Wednesday Wail, will you be ready if the trumpet sounds today, wisdom, works consistent with the new life in Christ, ye know not what hour your Lord doth come
Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 May 2026 Revelation 16:15.
Revelation 16:15. ‘Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.’
And then it was Wednesday, our second wind day. Already, you ask? Yes already. The days are not waiting for us my brethren, they’re going about their Creator’s business, just like we should be doing, instead of wasting time on lustful pleasures and other unnecessary stuff.
And remember how Bruh Paul warned the Romans: ‘And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of our sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we (first) believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly (properly), as in the day, not in rioting (revelry) and drunkenness, not in chambering (licentiousness) and wantonness (lewdness), not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’ (Rom. 13:11-14)
Yes friends that’s a mouthful, but it’s very appropriate for today’s state of our world and our ungodly behaviour. And I like how this overview summarizes the passage. It says: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand” is a famous passage from the Bible (Romans 13:12). It serves as a spiritual wake-up call, urging believers to cast off the works of darkness, walk properly as if in the daytime, and put on the “armor of light”.
The verse uses the natural transition from night to day to illustrate a major spiritual concept: the period of spiritual darkness, sin, and ignorance (“the night”) is coming to an end, and a new era of righteousness, salvation, and Christ’s return (“the day”) is fast approaching. Because the end of the age is near, this phrase is often cited to encourage vigilance, purity, and urgent readiness in a Christian’s daily walk.’
And that’s how we ought to be behaving, because Christ’s Second Coming is drawing nearer with each passing day, and if we’re not ready for it, then we’ll be lost in the darkness with Satan and his evil cronies. And as the scholars explain: ‘Make not provision for the flesh means: One should not seek opportunities to satisfy the deep-seated desires of the sin nature, but should seek occasion to manifest works that are consistent with the new life in Christ.’ Now that’s exactly what we ought to be about instead of the sinfulness with which our world is so enamoured.
And to further highlight the seriousness of the situation, let’s remember what Jesus said about His Second Coming? ‘Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman (master) of the house had known in what watch (hour) the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered (allowed) his house to be broken up (into). Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt. 24:42-44) That’s right my brethren, Jesus summarized His Second Coming like that of a thief in the night; unexpected, sudden, and unpredictable.
And Bruh Paul wrote it thus to the Thessalonians. ‘But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.’ (1 Thess. 5:1-2) Neither should we need to be told about the times and the seasons for we ought to already know them, and be ready for whenever Jesus returns. But unfortunately many of us seem unprepared, either because we don’t know, or because we believe we have time to carry on with our carnal lives then hopefully shift to godliness just before Jesus comes back.
But that’s a sad and foolish game we’re playing my people. For Peter also warned us of the unpredictability and suddenness of Jesus’ return, when he writes: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.’ (2 Pet. 3:10)
And if you still persist in doubt or unbelief, then listen to the message that Jesus sent to the church in Sardis, through John in the Book of Revelation. ‘Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect (complete) before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’ (Rev. 3:2-3)
Ah mih people, more warning right from the horse’s mouth! The godly remnant should strengthen themselves, while the rest of us must remember what we’ve received and heard; the wonderful gospel of Christ; and therefore hold fast to it and repent of our faithlessness and lack of enthusiasm for His work. And later on in Revelation, Jesus also issued another warning to be ready and on the constant lookout for His sure but unpredictable return. ‘Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.’ (Rev. 16:15)
Yes friends, the time is coming when Satan will intensify his persecution of the brethren, but we need to remain faithful and loyal to Christ and be both spiritually and physically prepared (have garments and not walk naked). So we cannot say that we’ve not been warned, several times, by several people, including Jesus Himself, of His unpredictable and unscheduled return. It’s therefore our obligation to be ready and waiting for whenever He shows up…provided we desire to spend eternity with Him.
Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you endure right to the very end with Jesus, then He promises that the future will be even more glorious than your finite mind can imagine or understand. So let’s be wise and endure to the end nuh, so that we can endure that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…if the trumpet sounds today…will you be ready for Jesus’ return…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
08 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a big Glory Hallelujah, a more than glorious future, Always there, be diligent and efficient for Jesus, be like a well-watered garden, be your best, blessed is the man maketh the Lord his trust, bring us to our knees, casting all your care upon him, catch our second wind, challenging changes, christianity, despite our innate strength, distressful and hurting times, do your best, don't know what to do, don't know which way to turn, down to nothing, Dr. Charles Stanley, dry places, endure to the end, established my goings, established my steps, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, feel totally impoverished, from the depths of despair, get ourselves together for Jesus, god, God commendeth his own love toward us, God's timing is perfect, halfway home, hands on the plough, he brought me up also out of an horrible pit, he cares for you, he hath put a new song in my mouth, he heard my cry, he inclined unto me, he may exalt you in due time, holy spirit, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, humility, I call your name, I reach the bottom of the abyss, I waited patiently for the lord, I want to vanish into nowhere, it is there exactly there, Jesus Christ, like a spring of water whose waters fail not, loneliness, look your best, LOVE, make fat thy bones, many are feeling lost and lonely, many shall see it and fear, mercy, my own helplessness, never run from God, not looking back at the past, not turning back, obedience, of all self-sufficency, One Year Book of Bible promises, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, out of the miry clay, perilous and hazardous times, Praise for God's Deliverance, praise unto our God, present circumstances looking dire and hopeless, respecteth not the proud, Ruth Harms Calkin, s promised to work everything out for our good, salvation, satisfy thy soul in drought, set my feet upon a rock, shall trust in the Lord, sincerity, sinking deep into a miry pit, so glad to be alive, so often Lord, strengthen your frame, such as turn aside to lies, sun-scorched lands, taste the dre, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the gospel truth, the joyful Easter celebrations, the Lord shall guide thee continually, the succour that God alone can provide, the true healing and loving that only come from Him, the ups and downs of life, the vicissitudes of life, time to cry out to God for help, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, turn immediately to God, ungodly and ungrateful sinners, wallowing in the mires of despair, Wednesday Wail, while we were yet sinners christ died for us, wisdom, worthlessness, you are always there for me, you come to my immediate rescue
Psalm 40:2. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).
So we’ve come to Wednesday, our second wind day. But we shouldn’t need to catch any second wind, for most of us have only worked one day so far this week. What we might need to catch our second wind from is the joyful Easter celebrations that are still weighing us down. We’d be lucky if we can get any serious work done this week.
But we need to get ourselves together for Jesus’ sake, for although celebrating His Easter resurrection is a big deal and a must, we also need to abide by His wishes that we give the best of ourselves to our work, doing so with diligence and efficiency, behaving as though we were working directly for Him. As Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) liked to say: ‘Always look your best, do your best and be your best.’ And that is exactly what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ expects from His followers.
Now today, we’re going to check out an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin simply titled ‘Always There,’ and I’m sure it will strike a note in many of our hearts because it’s so appropriate in these distressful and hurting times. And as always, I don’t know if I’ve shared it before, but it’s certainly worthwhile sharing again. (smile)
So please read with me: ‘So often, Lord I reach to the bottom of the abyss. So often I taste the dregs Of my own helplessness. Yet it is there, exactly there That You come to my immediate rescue. When I feel totally impoverished Of all self-sufficiency When I want to vanish into nowhere From the depths of despair I call Your name And You are always there for me!’
And that calls for a big ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ my people, because that is the gospel truth! Whenever we are down to nothing, wallowing in the mires of despair, loneliness and worthlessness, that is the time to desperately cry out to God for help, for the succour that He alone can provide, for the true healing and LOVING that only come from Him!
And I know that in these perilous and very hazardous times a lot of us are feeling like we’re lost, lonely and don’t know which way to turn. However, the best advice you can ever get in such a situation is to turn immediately to the God of Abraham, Isacc and Jacob for He cares very much for you. As Peter so wisely puts it in his second epistle: ‘Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (2 Pet. 5:6-7)
And He certainly does, else why would He send his only begotten Son to earth to die for you eh? Simply because He cares a whole lot for His finest creation. As Bruh Paul says in one of my favourite scripture verses: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) Now, if that isn’t showing amazing and abundant LOVE for a bunch of ungodly and ungrateful sinners, then I don’t know what is!
That’s why we never have to run from God. We might not like everything He does or desires of us, but we know in the long run He’s promised to work everything out for our good, (Rom. 8:28) and we definitely know that He is a God who keeps all of His promises, never reneges on any of them. And yes, the ravages and vicissitudes of life, those unpredictable, often uncontrollable, and frequently challenging changes, the ups and downs that we all experience at some time or other, tend to bring us to our knees, despite our innate strength.
And that’s exactly when we need to turn to Almighty God, to cry out for His help, and yuh better believe that His timing will be perfect; He will lift you up out of the mire and bring you to safety. It’s like Bruh David says in Psalm 40 – Praise for God’s Deliverance. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps). And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.’ (Ps. 40:1-3)
Oh my people, that’s exactly what the Lord will do for those of us who feel lost and sinking deep into a pit of miry clay. But the most important part is that we have to call out to Him, call out to Him in all sincerity and truth for His help! And when you do that, have no fear, He will be there to help you. It’s like the Bible Promise for our poem today from the prophet Isaiah says: ‘And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought (dry places, sun scorched lands), and make fat thy bones (strengthen your frame): and thou shalt be like a well-watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (never fail).’ (Is. 58:11)
Oh my fellow believers, that’s a promise our God will always keep if we come to Him in humility, sincerity and obedience. And Bruh David said that in spades in Psalm 40. ‘Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps, 40:4) So, on this Easter Wednesday, please, let’s make up our minds to seek God sincerely, especially if our present circumstances are looking dire and hopeless. For that’s what He’s there for.
Now, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting all the world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And here’s an even greater promise: all who endure to the end with Christ, will enjoy a more than glorious future with Him. One that we cannot even imagine or comprehend. So, wisdom dictates that we endure to the very end, that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…the ONLY ONE…truly able to pull you out of the mire of life…is Jesus Christ…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
11 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a call to contentment and courage, a cheerful hearth fire, a glorious future with Jesus, all should come to repentance, alone in a huge computer universe, as some men count slackness, be content with such things as ye have, bet your bottom dollar, But God commendeth his love toward us, called thee by thy name, cast down, christianity, Christians, claim God's unlimited resources, die such a horrible death, does it really matter to God about me, endure to the very end with Christ, even to the end of the world, eyes straight ahead, faith, fear not, fear not neither be dismayed, get the feeling, glad to be alive, God doesn't seem personal, God has passed me by, God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, God will never pass us by, God's guidance, governed by our Father, halfway home, hands on the plough, Has God Passed Me By, He will not fail thee neither forsake thee, heartbreaking measures, holy spirit, I am the Lord thy God, I am with thee, I don't really matter, I gave Egypt for thy ransom, i have loved thee, I have redeemed thee, I will be with thee, I will give men for thee, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, I will not fear what man shall do unto me, Jesus Christ, learn to trust, let your conversation be without covetousness, listening to the wind beat against the house, lo I am with you always, looked pensive, LOVE, mercy, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, not a guessing game, not goverened by chance but God's choice, not governed by fate, not looking back, not willing that any should perish, One Year Book of Bible promises, our second wind day, our sinful souls could be saved, people for thy life, prone to ask questions. why life's tragedies, regardless of circumstances, relevant to our times, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, save us from sin, sitting in our living room, sound morbid, tested, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the doubts of a seventeen-year old, the gospel truth, the Holy One of Israel, the intensity of the promise, the Lord he it is that doth go before thee, the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, The Lord is my helper, the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, the Lord will never pass us by, the universe in in God's control, the world through him might be saved, thou art mine, thou hast been honoured, thou shalt not be burned, thou wast precious in my sight, thy Saviour, truth, we may boldly say, Wednesday Wail, what better evidence than the cross, what better evidence than the Lord's promise, when thou passest through the waters, when thou walkest through the fire, while we were yet sinners christ died for us, why disease pain and heartache, why life's tragedies, why the sense of futility, wisdom, wisdom to the nth degree
Romans 5:8. ‘But God commendeth his LOVE (demonstrated his own LOVE) toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’
Then it was Wednesday, our second wind day, but it’s wet, cloudy and chilly! The recent sunshine and spring-like warmth have faded away. However, we do know that it will come again, for that’s how the Lord decreed it. So, a li’l more winter won’t hurt, for spring will soon be back, you can bet your bottom dollar on that! (smile)
And today we’re going to look at a very interesting and rather appropriate poem for many of us, from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s titled ‘Has God Passed Me By?’ And as always, I don’t know if I’ve shared it before because I don’t keep a check on them. The beauty of these poems though is that they are very relevant to our times, and thus can be shared over and over.
So please read with me: ‘We were sitting in our living room before a cheerful hearth fire, listening to the low March wind beat against our house. My pretty seventeen-year old friend looked pensive. She said finally, “You’ll probably think I sound morbid, but sometimes I just get the feeling that God has passed me by. He just doesn’t seem personal. It’s like being all alone in a huge computer universe where I don’t really matter.” The doubts of a seventeen-year old? If we’re honest we’ll all confess that we’re prone to ask questions: Why life’s tragedies? Why disease and pain and heartache? Why the sense of futility so often? Does it really matter to God about me?
What better evidence than the cross? What better evidence than the Lord’s promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Our vast universe is in God’s control. We are not governed by fate, but by our Father. Not chance, but His choice. Not a guessing game, but His guidance. He chose us to be the object of His lavish LOVE. Cast down, perhaps – that we might learn to trust, regardless of circumstances. Tested, that we might claim God’s unlimited resources. Passed by? Never!’
Now that my friends is the gospel truth! Our God has never and will never pass us by? Why would He do that eh, after all the trouble He’s been through to first create us, then save us from the sin we so foolishly embraced? As the poem asks: ‘What better evidence than the cross?’ And that’s another most important fact. If the Lord didn’t care very much about His human creation, do you think He‘d send His only Son to earth to die such a horrible death so that our sinful souls could be saved?
No! That doesn’t make any sense. Remember what Bruh Paul says in Romans – one of my favourite scriptures: ‘But God commendeth his LOVE (demonstrated his own LOVE) toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) Now why would He take such drastic, heartbreaking measures if He didn’t care deeply for us eh? It’s very obvious that He did, and does care for His most remarkable creation. Remember what Peter says: ‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (2 Pet. 3:9)
Yes friends, that’s possibly one of the reasons Christ hasn’t returned as yet; the Lord’s patiently giving as many of us time to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour and thus receive salvation and eternal life, because He doesn’t want to lose anybody to hellfire and damnation. And there are several verses in the Bible where God has promised to never leave nor forsake us. As the one that’s the Bible Promise for the poem. ‘’Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Heb. 13:5) And consequently, when we add the next verse, we get a call to contentment and courage. ‘So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’ (Heb. 13:6)
And right from the very beginning the Lord, through Moses, also made that promise to the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land. ‘And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:8) What more can I say eh friends? How much more encouragement do we need eh? But if you need more, then listen to these words of the Lord though the prophet Isaiah. ‘But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon (scorch) thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee (in thy place). Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable (honoured), and I have LOVED thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee:’ (Is. 43:1-5a)
What more can our God say or do to make us understand our importance to Him eh? He redeemed Israel in olden times, gave men for them, and He’s done the same for us under the New Covenant; He gave the life of Jesus to redeem us. As Jesus stated so clearly to Nicodemus and also to us: ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world though him might be saved.’ (John 3:16) Now what’s there not to understand eh?
And I like how this commentary describes God’s promise never to leave nor forsake us. ‘The Intensity of the Promise: In the original Greek, this phrase uses multiple negatives, translating to an emphatic “I will never, ever, under any circumstances, desert you, nor give you up nor leave you without support”. That’s how strong God’s promise of never deserting us is! And Jesus gave us His final assurance when He said: ‘and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:20b)
Now that’s certainly good enough for me! Let’s hope it’s good enough for many more people out there who still have doubts and fears about the Lord by passing us. And to help with that, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Now, that leads to an even greater promise: those who endure to the very end with Christ, will enjoy an even more glorious future than the one mentioned above; one we cannot comprehend. So, why don’t we all endure to the very end, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together eh? That seems to be wisdom to the nth degree! Much LOVE!
…The Lord might refuse our requests…but He’ll NEVER pass us by…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
04 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a lack of respect for God, beat upon that house, built his house upon the sand, challenges to be responsiby handled, cherish freinds and loved ones all the time, children of the Most High God Jehovah, christianity, Christians, defining our lives by our possessions, do not worry about tomorrow, don't put off for tomottow what can be done today, each day has its own troubles, eat drink and be merry, endure to the end with Jesus, everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, false voices crying out the devil's lies, focus on today, for the sake of our descendants, God's right time, gone home to meet your maker, great was the fall of it, halfway home, hands on the plough, here today gone tomorrow, holy spirit, hypothetical problems of tomorrow, I will say to my soul, is not rich toward God, it fell not, it was built upon a rock, Jesus Christ, left holding guilt and regrets, less divisions and dissensions in christ's church, life is topsy-turvy, life is very fragile, liken him unto a wise man, likened unto a foolish man, LOVE, make a concrete decision, mercy, need to turn things around, no real truth and love to life, not in tune with God's will for our lives, not turning back, on a late bus, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, rain tomorrow, ran a couple of errands, revels in his own wisdom, salvation, so glad to be alive, so is he that layeth up treasure for himself, Soul thou hast much goods laid up for any years, stop all strife and resentment, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, take no thought for the morrow, take thine ease, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the floods came, the house fell, the man who built his house on a rock, the parable of the rich fool, the rain descended, the winds blew, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, thou fool, to a glorious future with Jesus, tomorrow shal take thought for the things of itself, too much emphasis on planning for tomorrow, truth, Wednesday Wail, whose shall those things be which thou hast provided, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, wisdom, you can't be a saint while behaving like a sinner, you cannot be a Christian and not live by Jesus' dictates
Matthew 7:24. Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a (the) rock.
Then it was Wednesday; the day we catch our second wind. And unfortunately we’re on a late bus because I finally went to my church group today after missing several weeks. And they were all glad to see me, like I’d risen from the dead (smile) Then I ran a couple of errands, then had to come home and rest, before writing the Bit. So that’s my story…and I’m sticking to it.
Anyway, it’s a bright and sunshiny, comparatively warm day, with a little more of the snow melting. However, the computer is calling for a fair amount of rain tomorrow. But we’ll wait and see how that pans out, for as Jesus says; ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow (do not worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34)
Yes, though we should not completely forget about tomorrow, we must concentrate on the day before us, for as the scholars explain: ‘This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’ So let’s focus on today while we’re alive to do so, for who knows, we might not even be around to handle tomorrow’s challenges. (smile) That just points to how fragile life really is. You can be here today in flourishing health, but the next, for one reason or another, you’ve gone home to meet your maker.
That’s why it’s so important to cherish your friends and LOVED ones all the time. Let them know without any doubt that you sincerely care about them. It’s also important to stop all strife and resentment, do it now, don’t put it off for tomorrow, for without a moment’s notice, they can just vanish out of your life, and then you’re left holding all sorts of guilt and regrets, that you didn’t tell them you LOVED them, or didn’t straighten our your selfish and child-like disagreements. That’s why we are always admonished to not put off for tomorrow, what we can and should do today, because tomorrow might just be too late.
The very same thing goes for accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour! Why put it off for tomorrow when you can do it today eh? That reminds us of Jesus’ parable about the rich fool. This fellow was blessed with an abundant harvest, and instead of sharing it, in his foolish wisdom decided to tear down his old barns and build bigger and better ones to store the abundant harvest. (Luke 12:13-18)
And as Jesus tells it, he then revels in his own wisdom: ‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’ (Luke 12:19-21)
Yes friends, that doesn’t only show a lack of respect for God and the abundance He blesses us with, but also too much emphasis on planning for tomorrow, or defining our lives by our possessions. Oh, he was going to ‘take his ease, eat drink and be merry.’ Hn! But God had other plans for Him. That’s what happens when we are not in tune with God’s will for our lives. We plan to do stuff that He doesn’t agree with, and next thing we know, all our plans fall apart. Not necessarily because they are bad, but because we didn’t first consult God before making them.
And I’ve learned that from hard experience during my numerous years. There have been things I tried to do without any success, but later on those same things just fell into my lap, most likely because it was God’s right time. So before we make any great plans, let’s make sure we talk to our heavenly Father first on the wisdom of those plans, for sometimes He might say a definite No; or simply wait. But let’s remember it’s all in His hands.
That brings us to these other wise words of Jesus, where He talks about building foundations on rock or sand. ‘Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a (the) rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a (the) rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.’ (Matt. 7:24-27)
Oh my brethren, that’s exactly what happens to those of us who supposedly are of the faith, but yet refuse to do what Jesus expects of us. Like the rich fool, and the fellow who built on the sand, our houses will eventually tumble down if we don’t buck up and start behaving the way we ought to. We can see definite damage already happening all over the world, because people are not listening to and following Jesus’ teachings. You can’t be a saint while behaving like a sinner. Saints do saintly things, while sinners do sinful things, and a lot more of the later is currently happening in today’s society.
No wonder life is so topsy-turvy. There is no real truth and LOVE to it; just false voices crying out the devil’s lies. But all is not lost. We are the children of the Most High God Jehovah, and if we decide to get up and turn things around, then that is exactly what will happen. However, we first have to make that a concrete decision, then live up to it. That though will only come to pass through a lessening of the divisions and dissensions in Christ’s church. Let’s hope and pray that we will wake up real soon and see our errors, and become willing to change them, not only for our sakes, but more so for those of our descendants.
Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And that’s a good future, but there’s an even more glorious one in store for those who endure with Jesus right to the very end, one that our puny minds cannot comprehend. So let’s make plans to endure to the end and thus enjoy that more than glorious future together nuh! Much LOVE!
…you cannot be a true Christian…and not live by the dictates of Christ…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
18 Feb 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a place of show, anoint thine head, another round of snow, appear not unto men to fast, appear unto men to fast, Ash Wednesday, by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, call a solemn assembly, command that these stones be made bread, disfigure their faces, endure to the end with Jesus, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, falsehood, fasted forty days and forty nights, fasting, freezing rain, God is gracious, God's Word is all we need, halfway home, hands on the plough, holy spirit, if God spares life, if thou be the Son of God, in whom I am well pleased, into the wilderness, it is written, Jesus baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Jesus was led up of the spirit, Jesus' source of strength, Jesus' use of scripture to resist temptation, Lent, LOVE, man shall not live by bread alone, material wealth, merciful, mercy, mourning, not looking back, obedience to the Father's will, of a sad countenance, of great kindness, on a late bus, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, outward deceitful doings, physical pleasure, prayer, raise our societal stature, relents from doing harm, rend your heart and not your garments, repenteth him of evil, repentnace, salvation, sanctify a fast, self-examination, slow to anger, so glad to be alive, suffer for suffering sake, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Spirit of God descending like a dove, this is my beloved Son, to a glorious future with Jesus, to be tempted by Satan, to be tempted by the devil, to please man, truth, turn unto the Lord your God, turn ye even to me with all your heart, wash thy face, Wednesday Wail, weeping, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, wisdom
Matthew 4:4. But he (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Oh friends, it’s Wednesday, our second wind day…and unfortunately we on a late bus! But many of us shouldn’t need to catch a second wind, since this is only our second day of work this week, unless we’re still tired rom the Family Day celebrations this past weekend. (smile) However, we will certainly need some help to deal with the serious freezing rain that’s happening in our area. The above freezing temps of the last few days have suddenly disappeared and the computer is calling for snow later. So let’s get prepared for another round of snow and cold temperatures, for that’s what happens in winter. (smile)
Now, today is also a special day in the life of the Christian Church; Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent. Lent represents the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan, without wavering in His faith. During these forty days before Easter the believer is expected to carry out a serious discipline of fasting, repentance, prayer and self-examination. However within those confines there are certain parameters of do’s and don’ts. And we’ll begin with this interesting scripture from Joel, who after warning about the Dark Day of the Lord, (Joel 2:1-11) then announces the Lord’s Call to Repentance.
And is there ever a great need for repentance in today’s very sinful world! Not only from the unbelievers, but also from we supposed believers. So, listen up, as Joel writes: ‘Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend (tear) your heart, and not your garments, and turn (return) unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness (LOVING-KINDNESS), and repenteth him of the evil (relents from doing harm).
Who knoweth if he will return and repent (turn and relent), and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering (meal or grain) unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet (ram’s horn) in Zion, sanctify (consecrate) a fast, call a solemn (sacred) assembly.’ (Joel 2:12-15) Now friends, that’s possibly what we need to do; call a big, sacred fast, and turn back to the Lord our God, from whom many have turned away in the search for physical pleasure and material wealth.
But before we move on, hear this crucial explanation from the scholars . As per ‘rend your heart and not your garment,’ they say: ‘The customary way a Jew showed his grief was to tear his outer garment. This external sign could be meaningless. The tearing of the outer garment is useless unless the heart is also broken in repentance and contrition.’ And sadly, that’s what many of us do nowadays; have outward shows of fasting, repentance and all the other sacrificial stuff when in reality our hearts are not truly involved.
That’s why Jesus warned us thus about fasting. ‘Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites (pretenders), of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.’ (Matt. 6:16-18) Ah mih people, this society has become such a place of show and falsehood, of outward deceitful doings to please man, and raise our societal stature that you don’t know what or whom to believe. But as true disciples of Jesus, we should not be doing anything just to be seen and uplifted by mankind.
And we could not talk about Ash Wednesday and not consider the temptations that Jesus suffered after being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, with the Spirit of God descending like a dove, alighting on Him, and the voice from heaven saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matt. 3:16-17) After that, the Bible tells us: ‘Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered (hungry) And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ (Matt. 4:1-4)
And according to the scholars, the victory in each aspect of the temptation is related to Jesus’ use of Scripture. It is written: First He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, about man not living by bread alone, but by the Word of God. The source of bread is more important than the bread itself. Later, during the conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus would say to the disciples, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” (John 4:32) Jesus’ source of strength was obedience to the Father’s will and He would not even work a miracle to avoid personal suffering when such suffering was a part of God’s purpose for Him.’
Wow! Not many of us would have the resilience and obedience to suffer for suffering sake. And imagine the contradiction in Jesus’ earlier situation nuh, where, after being highly praised by the Father, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to suffer and be tempted. But that’s often how it is in the Will of God, and we just have to learn to live with it, by looking at the rewards at the end. Now there are two other temptations that Jesus experienced in the wilderness, but because there is so much information contained in them, it would make the Bit much too long if we included them today. So, if God spares life tomorrow, then we will continue with those other temptations.
Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And for those who endure to the end with Jesus, there’s an even more glorious future to enjoy. So, hope to see you there! Much LOVE!
…the Bible…the Word of God…contains ALL we need to live this earthly life…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
11 Feb 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a major part of our lives, after ye have done the will of God, are you in the dark, believe to the saving of the soul, cast not away your confidence, cause our faith to doubt, christianity, Christians, confidently live life resting in God's faithfulness, consistently rely on God's immutable Word, deepen your understanding of Gods' faithfulness, despair, dig down deep and find the faith to trust, discover God's promises in new ways, disregard the darkness, don't understand God's timimng, don't' understand why life is topsy-turvy, endure to the end with Jesus, every promise of God has come true, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faith is all about trusting God, feeling or no feeling, God can be trusted, God keeps His promises, God waits for us to trust Him, God will give you a very precious message for someone else, God's immutable word, God's intention, God's promise remains certain through our deepest trial, God's promises, God's promises do not suddenly disappear, going the way of all the earth, great recompense of reward, halfway home, hands on the plough, he that shall come will come, he will not tarry, holy spirit, if any man draw back, if we stand strong in faith we will receive the promises, increasing joy, it stands firm, Jesus Christ, listen, loneliness, looking to Jesus, LOVE, mercy, my soul shall no pleasure in him, negative situations, not turning back, One Year Book of Bible promises, our courage fails, our fears become overwhelming, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, regardless of negative circumstances, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, sincerely and humbly ask for divine help, so glad to be alive, testify to the truth of that statement, thank God, the author and finisher of our faith, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the gospel truth, the just shall live by faith, the Lord always helps us to stand strong, the privilege of prayer, the truth of God's promises to be foundational in our lives, times of questioning, times of saadness, to a glorious future with Jesus, trusting seems the most difficult thing to do, truth, we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, weather the tough times, Wednesday Wail, when God gives a promise that speaks directly to our need, when you are in the light, wisdom, ye have need of patience, you have need of endurance, you might receive the promise
Hebrews 10:36. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Round three of our workweek fight is up today friends, that’s Wednesday. And it’s a good day, because it allows us to catch our second wind. So let’s do just that nuh, then keep on fighting the good fight for Jesus, as we are expected to do. (smile) And today we’re going to check out one of the amazing poems in our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, simply titled, ‘God’s Promises.’ And we all know that God’s Plentiful Promises are supposed to be a major part of our lives, but many of them don’t happen automatically, we have to seek them and then action them.
So please read with me: ‘With increasing joy I am discovering that God’s promises do not suddenly disappear when our courage fails and our fears become overwhelming. Feeling or no feeling, when God gives a promise that speaks directly to our need, it stands firm regardless of negative circumstances. There may be times of questioning, and we may not understand God’s timing, but His promise remains certain through our deepest trial.
If we consistently rely on His immutable Word, we can disregard the darkness. Oswald Chambers says, “Are you in the dark right now regarding your circumstances? Then listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you are in the light.’’ God waits for us to trust Him when trusting seems the most difficult thing of all.’
Oh friends, most of us can testify to the truth of that last statement, because it’s in our very dark, or our darkest times that the Lord expects our faith to rise up and trust Him. And that’s not always easy to do, but if we truly believe, then we dig down deep and find that faith to trust whatever promise He’s made to us, even if it seems most unlikely to come true.
And the unfortunate part is that we all go through times of sadness, of despair, of loneliness and all those negative situations that cause our faith to doubt, to stumble, to wonder what it’s all about. However, that’s why we have the Holy Spirit, God’s unchangeable Word and the privilege of prayer to help us weather those tough times. And believe me, the Lord will always help us stand strong when we sincerely and humbly ask for His divine help.
Now, the Bible passage that is attached to today’s poem is certainly an interesting and encouraging one for the hard times. The Book uses the New Living Translation (NLT), which says: ‘Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.’ (Heb. 10:35-36) And that’s oh so true: if we stand strong in faith we will receive the promises.
But yuh know what, I’m chuckling here because as I opened Our One year Book of Bible Promises just now, I stumbled across a very appropriate passage for this poem. It’s actually the Introduction to the Book. I don’t remember ever seeing it before, but in the Lord’s mysterious ways of working, (smile) He obviously intended me to see and use it today.
So, please read with me: ‘God keeps His promises. You’ve heard it; in fact, you’ve probably even said it a few times. But how well do you know it? God’s intention is for this great truth to be so foundational in your heart that you confidently live life resting in His faithfulness. God can be trusted. Discover His promises in new ways this year and deepen your understanding of His faithfulness.’ And it ends with this NLT translation of Joshua 23:14. “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”
Now isn’t that a marvellous intro my faithful brethren! Indeed it is! And it’s just what we’ve been talking about. The Lord desires us to live confidently in the truth of His faithfulness throughout all of our lives, despite the negative situations we will encounter from time to time! And that’s what faith is all about: trusting God, even when you don’t know or understand why your life is all topsy-turvy.
And for our information, that passage from Joshua, is actually Moses, on his death bed telling the Israelites about the faithful promises of God. ‘And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.’ (Josh. 23:14) And that’s the gospel truth my people! Not one of God’s promises have ever failed. When we interpret them properly, they all come true.
That brings us back to the scripture passage for our poem today, and we’ll look now at the King James Version. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry (delay). Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Heb. 10:36-39)
Yes friends, I thought we needed to hear the last few verses of that scripture, because they help to raise our level of faith and keep us strong, and remind us that we are not of those who turn away from Christ and end up in ruin, but those who believe and thus save our souls! Now let’s go home declaring (steupsss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we really want to see a more than glorious future, then we’ll endure to the end with Jesus, because then, a future so amazing that we cannot comprehend it will shine forth. And I do hope that we’ll all be there to enjoy it together! Much LOVE!
…true Christian faith…is found only by looking to Jesus…the author and finisher…the originator and perfector…of that faith…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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