19 May 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better tomorrow, a glorious day, alive and kicking, an injustice, Anselm, be the best, Bless His Holy Name, boundaries, checks and balances, children turned out, discipline, drew a breath of life, even when he's old, exalt, friend, from a child, glorify, good foundation, gossip, grandchildren, guns don't kill people, Hawaiian volcano, he will not depart from it, I forget, I learn, I remember, in one ear, in the way he should go, in the world, Involve me, involvement, judge for yourself, key to successful learning, known the holy scriptures, LOVE, never too late, no real knowledge of christ, of the world, offer up prayers, opened our eyes, parental training, people kill people, Praise the Lord, receive the message, rules, sacrifice, serious reservations, small potatoes, stuffed up nostrils, teach me, tell me, Texas school shooting, the living truth, the spirit of the Most High God, to make amends, train up a child, try our best, ultimate expression, unappreciative generation, wise unto salvation
Proverbs 22:6. Train up a child in the way he should go, and (even) when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Well friends, the sun’s not shining this morning, instead the rain is falling, and it looks like it’s going to be a wet, sombre day. But yuh know what? It’s still a glorious day, because the shining sun isn’t what really makes a day glorious.
What makes a day truly glorious is the mere fact that we opened our eyes this morning and drew a breath of life, felt the Spirit of the Most High God Jehovah coursing through our bodies! That’s the ultimate expression of a glorious day!
And all God’s people declared a loud and thankful: ‘Praise the Lord! Bless His Holy Name! Glorify and exalt Him to the highest!’ Yeh friends, that’s how we ought to react to seeing a brand new day, alive and kicking!
And thankfully I’m feeling better than I did yesterday, though my old nemesis, stuffed up nostrils returned to haunt me last night and I had to breathe through my mouth again. Oh Lord eh! And what really annoyed me, is that when I got up, my nostrils began functioning decently again.
Chuh! But that’s small potatoes compared to the worsening Hawaiian volcano situation and the ten students shot down in a school in Texas yesterday by a fellow schoolmate, using his father’s guns. When is that nonsense going to end eh? When are they going to put some proper checks and balances to try and stop it?
I believe I heard that there have been something like sixteen school shootings in the U.S. already this year, and we’re only halfway through May. Steups! But as the gun proponents keep saying, ‘Guns don’t kill people, it’s people who kill people.’ And we’ll leave it at that. Just offer up prayers and whatever other help you can give.
Now, since it’s Saturday, let’s check out some quotes we got this week from our friend Anselm, as he sincerely aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And the first one says: ‘Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.’
And that’s the living truth. All the Lord our God expects from us is that we put sincere effort into all that we do. To use the talents that He equipped us with to the fullest. He knows that we’re not perfect, but he does expect us to come up as high as we can.
And the second quote says: ‘Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.’ Well generally speaking I agree with that, but there are times when we don’t have an opportunity to see for ourselves and the info we can gain from others is very reliable and informative. In the case of gossip though, I’d say, yes, see for yourself. (smile)
Then there is this quote: ‘Let us sacrifice today so our children can have a better tomorrow.’ Now I have some serious reservations about that, because that is exactly what our generation did and yuh see how our children turned out? Not as good as we expected, because we gave them almost everything they wanted without any rules or boundaries or whatever.
In fact we did them an injustice by sacrificing so much of ourselves so that they could have a better life than we had, but since they did not have to earn or work or sacrifice anything in return, they did not, and don’t appreciate our sacrifices and now believe that they are entitled to everything they want.
Unfortunately we have raised a totally unappreciative generation. The old saying is still ever so true, that when you work and or sacrifice for something you appreciate it much more than if it just falls into your lap.
And the last quote is: ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’ Gospel truth friends! It brings to mind the popular saying about give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day, but teach me to fish and I’ll eat every day, or something like that. (smile)
And I want to use that last quote as a reference to our Christian lives. We can tell others about Christ and all that He stands for, but oftimes it will just go in one ear and out the other. And then we can teach them about Christ and they will remember some.
But the only way they will ever truly learn about Christ is when we get them personally involved, by doing stuff like reading the Bible and other religious texts on their own, praying, going to church, getting involved with church activities and fellow believers. That’s when they truly learn and experience the full expression that’s Christ!
That’s why the Lord admonished the Israelites continually throughout the Bible to teach their children the word and get them involved in community activities, not only so they could pass it down through posterity, but so that they too could learn and enjoy and profit from the teachings.
No wonder Cousin Sol declares in our Bit. ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and (even) when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ That means to teach them from very young about Christ, lay a good foundation from very early on, so that they will always have it to help them in their daily lives.
As Bruh Paul said to Timothy: ‘And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ (2 Tim.3:15) His mother Eunice and grandmother Lois taught him the word from a very young age. (1. Tim.1:5)
Unfortunately though, that effective parental biblical training and discipline is something we, as parents, did not do sufficiently with this current generation, that’s why they either have no real knowledge of Christ, or desire to have none. That’s why so many of them are not only IN the world, but are also OF the world.
However friends, it’s not too late, it’s never too late to try and make some amends, if not with this generation, then with the next. Let’s make sure that our grandchildren receive the message nuh. Much LOVE!
…personal involvement…is the key to successful learning…
15 Mar 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a gift, a present, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, abundance, bring His church to fruition, compassionate heart, courage, curse, died for us, don't walk a good walk, enter the kingdom of heaven, evil associates, evil world, exalt, exceed the righteousness, except your righteousness, faithfully, genuine Christian character, goodness, grow Jesus' church, He deserves our all, hypocrites, I say unto you, inner attitude, interceding for us, Jesus gave His all, Jesus Spirit lives in our souls, Jews, loving kindness, necessity of righteousness, need the warning, negative word, of the scribes and Pharisees, one more day, outward show, penny-pinch, play the scrooge, practical application, Praise the Lord, prosper, put his whole heart and soul, rose from the dead, sacrificed His sinless life, salvation, self-righteousness, spiritual living, succeed, talent, talk a good talk, the gospel in action, the heart God desired, the law, the living truth, the LOVE of Jesus, the One and Only, the present, Thursday Blessings, tomorrow, true living God, unbelievers, undeserving children of men, what a bam bam, work tirelessly, ye shall by no means, yesterday
Matthew 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter the kingdom of heaven.
One more day friends! Yes one more day; that’s what we’ve been given, and that’s why it’s called a present, a gift, as well as the present, because it’s all we have to work with.
Yesterday has gone by for ever, and tomorrow has not come as yet, if it ever will. Therefore, we need to do all that we can in this present day to exalt the ONE and ONLY, True, Living God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as best we can.
And all God’s children said a loud, proud and grateful, ‘Praise the Lord! Thank Him for all His goodness and LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men. Amen!
And as the li’l thought from the Daily Bread Devotional tells us: ‘Jesus gave His ALL; He deserves our ALL.’ I couldn’t have put it any better my brethren. Jesus did not penny-pinch and play the scrooge when He sacrificed His sinless life for us. He gave it everything He had, put His whole heart and soul into what He was doing for us.
Now, after He died for us, then rose from the grave, from the dead, so that we too can rise eventually, given us salvation, and is interceding for us at the Father’s right hand in heaven, while His Spirit lives in our souls, leading and guiding us in all truth, don’t you think the least we can do in return is to work tirelessly and faithfully to bring His wonderful church to fruition?
Wow! What a mouthful my people! (smile) But it is the living truth. We’re definitely not doing as much as we ought to grow Jesus’ church. And WE ALL KNOW IT! We’re still letting the evil world and it’s evil associates control too much of our time and our actions. We talk a good talk, but don’t walk a good walk.
That’s why the unbeliever looks at us askance, with a knowing smirk on their faces. They know that many of us are just a bunch of ole hypocrites, like the scribes and Pharisees of bygone days. That’s why Jesus declares so definitely in our Bit: ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter the kingdom of heaven.’
What a bam bam my people! Imagine that nuh; the most righteous, or supposedly righteous people of Jesus time could not get into heaven. And I know that we’ve used this scripture as our Bit fairly recently, but the Lord just put it on my heart to do it again today, possibly because He knows that we need the warning badly. So don’t get vex with the messenger. (smile)
Now listen to the scholar’s explanation, once again. ‘5:20. Because of the necessity of righteousness as a requirement to enter heaven, Jesus then declares that except their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees they could not enter heaven.
The significance of this is seen in the fact that the Jews of Jesus’ day considered these people to be the most religious in all Israel. However, their religion was largely an outward show of self-righteousness. In communicating the depth of His message, Jesus used a series of contrasts between the outward behaviour demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God.
Here we discover the practical application of genuine Christian character to true spiritual living. Here we see the gospel in action.
Law Spirit
No murder No anger
No adultery No lust
No divorce Commitment
No oath-taking Speak the truth
No retaliation Forgiveness
Hatred for your enemy LOVE for your enemy
(tradition allowed it) (commanded)
And there you have it friends! As Christians we need to come up higher in the spiritual realm than in the law of the world, if we are to be sincere believers. And I’m pleading with us today to stop giving Christ a bad name with our hypocritical behaviour. If we can’t live up to what He expects of us, then let’s stop talking the high talk we talk, and walk whatever low walk we can. Let’s not talk more than we can do.
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, blessings that the Lord has specially prepared for us who sincerely try to do His will. As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Oh friends, doesn’t it make you feel bad when you enjoy all those heavenly blessings and don’t at least try to reciprocate as best we can? It ought to. Much LOVE!
…righteousness is simply…the LOVE of Jesus…in action
11 Feb 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a song of joy, abide with me, all God's works, beautiful, bitterness, bubbling in our hearts, change, cloud, comforts flee, companionship, death, death's sting, decay, dissipation, done in truth, drunk with wine, earth's joys, encourage each other, Ephesians, Eventide, fear no foe, filled with the Spirit, first day of the week, flowing from our lips, foil the tempter's power, for all things, gathering, giving thanks always, gloom, God's presence, gospel truth, grace, grave, hearts, heavenly Father, help of the helpless, helpers fail, Henry Francis Lyte, human craving, hymns, in the name of, invite Jesus, joy, life, listen to God's holy word, looks death in the face, loves righteousness, loving kindness, making melody to the Lord, miss a great time, our Lord Jesus Christ, pilgrimage, praise, praise is comely, Praise the Lord, psalms, rain, Rejoice in the Lord, rejuvenating everyone, sacrifice of praise, shout of joy, sing unto God a new song, snow, speaking to yoursleves, spiritual songs, Sunday gatherings, sunshine, tarry with them, tears, thanksgiving, the darkness deepens, the day is far spent, the fear of God, the house of God, the joy of the Lord is our strength, the Lord is in the house, the Lord's goodness, the Lord's sanctuary, the road to Emmaus, the upright, time everlasting, to offer up thanks and praise, triumph, true believers, unto God, vain shadows flee, victory, William Monk, ye righteous
Psalm 33:1. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright.
And as the first day of the week rolls around again, let us gladly make our weekly pilgrimage to the House of God! There to meet in joyful fellowship, with praise and thanksgiving flowing from our lips and hearts, as we listen to His holy word and renew His Spirit within us. As I said the other day, there’s nothing as moving and monumental as a group of true believers gathering to offer up thanks and praise to our heavenly Father.
Now please don’t allow the snow, rain, or other physical circumstances to stop you from going to the Lord’s sanctuary, for you will miss a great time, where believers encourage each other and the Spirit of the Lord is in the house rejuvenating everyone. So let’s get the praise and worship going by singing another old faithful, ‘Abide with Me.’
Apparently it was written by an eccentric curate, Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) ‘haunted by the phrase, repeatedly muttered by his close friend, William Le Hunte, as he lay dying.’ Lyte wrote the hymn to its own tune, but it is now sung to the tune of ‘Eventide,’ a composition of the organist William Monk.
It’s supposedly based on the scripture Luke 24:29, where the two disciples met Jesus on the road to Emmaus but did not recognize Him, and as the daylight was drawing to a close, and they came to where they would spend the night, they constrained, petitioned, Jesus: ‘Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.’
Now let us, in our own way, invite Jesus to stay with us until time everlasting. In strong voice and humble hearts let’s offer up the sacrifice of praise that our Lord enjoys hearing so much. ‘Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see. O Lord who changes not, abide with me. I need your presence every passing hour. What but your grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like yourself my guide and strength can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
I fear no foe with you at hand to bless, though ills have weight, and tears their bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, your victory? I triumph still, if you abide with me. Hold now your Word before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.’
And there is no one better to undertake that task than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Now here are a couple of interesting comments on the hymn. One Erik Routley calls it a hymn that “looks death in the face” and embodies the human craving for companionship in extremis.’ So what of that eh? Though we know that all of us must face death, it’s till the hardest thing for us to come to terms with.
So if we have something that gives us comfort under the circumstances, why not cling to it? And besides, God made man to fellowship with Him and each other, so there is a built in need for companionship. (smile)
It’s also been noted that ‘the change to the singular pronoun is what gives the hymn its comforting emotional intimacy.’ That means the change from the disciples ‘abide with US,’ to the hymn’s ‘abide with ME.’ Whatever makes it more comforting yes!
And all of the above dovetails very nicely with our Bit. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright.’ Ah friends, that is exactly what our Sunday gatherings are about: rejoicing in the Lord, giving Him beautiful and comely praise in His house.
Now that doesn’t mean to say that it’s only in a building with several people is rejoicing and praise possible. Shoot no! Praise can be done anywhere, at any time, by at least one person! Our God doesn’t care so much about when, where and by how many He gets His praise, once He gets it on a regular basis from His children.
That’s why Bruh Paul warned the Ephesians, and by extension modern day believers: ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation), but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph.5:18-21)
Yeh mih people, as true believers, we ought always to have a song of joy in our hearts towards our wonderful heavenly Father! And it’s only fitting that we end with some more of the Psalm from which our Bit is taken. ‘Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise (shout of joy). The word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice): the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord.’ (Ps.33:2-5)
And isn’t that the gospel truth my brethren! Wow! That’s why we ought to rejoice and give thanks as much as possible! So as we go to the sanctuary today, or worship wherever, let’s try and keep that joy, that rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness actively bubbling in our hearts nuh. For remember, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Much LOVE!
…if you’re not giving God regular and sincere praise and thanks…then you’re not a true believer…
31 Dec 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a disastrous year, abundance, arrogant, blaspheme, bled, blemish, bless thou the Lord, blessed Redeemer, boll weevil, bore our sorrows, breath of life, Brook Benton, Christ is coming, cry down, died, disasters, doomed, endure for ever, finite minds, Frances Crosby, friends, glorify our heavenly Father, glory to God, god-like, godly love, gospel truth, grateful lips, hail him, happy, he touches the hills, heavenly portals, high-minded, Holy Name, hope of eternal salvation, hosannas ring, it trembles, Jesus, joyful song, king, lick our wounds, looking for a home, looks on the earth, mortal bodies, neighbours, no help, on the line, our rock, over the world victorious, plenty, praise him, Praise the Lord, priest, prophet, recuperate, rejoice in his works, returns to the earth, serving Almighty God, sing O earth, sing praises, sinless life, sinners, sound his praise, spirit departs, suffered, Sunday of fellowship, thankful hearts, the crucified, the glory of the Lord, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the god of Jacob, the sacrifice of praise, the Son of man, thoughts perish, trust in princes, tumultuous year, unto my god, welcome, while I have any being, while I live, wonderful LOVE
Psalm 146:2. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Welcome friends and neighbours to this last Sunday of fellowship in 2017! It has been indeed a tumultuous year, and let’s just hope and pray that 2018 will be quieter and more God-like, because our world doesn’t need another disastrous year like this one. We need something in which we can quietly lick our wounds, recuperate from all the disasters, natural and manmade, and get back to serving Almighty God the way we ought to.
Anyway, on this last Sunday of fellowship, let’s open with this old but beautiful hymn by Frances Crosby, ‘Praise Him, Praise Him.’ Yes friends, regardless of what our year has been like, our great God is worthy of much thanks and praise, so please lets offer up the sacrifice of praise from our thankful hearts through our grateful lips as one harmonious choir.
In full voice now: ‘Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy Name! Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long. (Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!)
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died. He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation, Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified. Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows, Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong. (Refrain)
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever; Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King! Christ is coming! over the world victorious, Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong. (Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!)’
Oh my people, what an excellent song of praise! Jesus deserves every word of it because He did put His sinless life filled with Godly LOVE on the line for us while we were yet sinners! Wow! No other supposed deity has, or will ever come close to that. All the other deities want to take what little we have from us, while Jesus comes to give of the plenty, of the abundance that He has.
Glory to God my precious people! How can we not LOVE, praise, honour and worship Him eh? No wonder the psalmist proudly declares in our Bit: ‘While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.’
Yes my faithful brethren, that is exactly what we need to do while there is any breath of life left in our mortal bodies! For we were made to sing praises to and glorify our heavenly Father, the One who blessed us with His awesome breath of life.
Hear the psalmist as he continues his song of praise. ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help (salvation). His breath goeth forth (spirit departs), he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.’ (Ps.146:3-5)
Words of gospel truth my friends! If we don’t have the help of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob then we’re in plenty trouble. And that is why this year of 2017 has been such a disastrous year; we haven’t had God’s help, because as a society, we have turned away from Him. How can He help us if we don’t cry out to Him for help eh?
Instead, we foolishly cry down, blemish, and blaspheme His holy name, while trying our best to get rid of him completely from our society. How stupid, arrogant and high minded can we get eh people? How can you remove the One who created the society from the society eh?
We’ve become so blinded by the supposed brilliance of our small, finite minds that we refuse to see ourselves as we truly are; in comparison to God, mere insects scurrying around aimlessly, like the boll weevil in the old Brook Benton song, looking for a home.
And the truth of the matter friends, the ONLY home there really is, is that provided by Jesus Christ, for all else will eventually be destroyed. But let’s place these truthful words of the psalmist deep in our hearts and souls nuh. ‘The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.’ (Ps.104:31-32)
Well then people, if that’s the awesome truth, then the only sensible recourse we have is to do like the psalmist says: ‘I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more: Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord, (sing Hallelujah).’ (Ps.104:33-35)
Yeh my fellow believers, there is no better road down which we can travel than one of praise and glory to our great God. So let’s seriously resolve to do that this upcoming year nuh, because that’s the ONLY way our fortunes will be changed. Much LOVE!
…if Jesus isn’t a big part of our life and our world…then we’re surely doomed…
29 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a beautiful day, a beautiful morning, a better tomorrow, a fleeting thought, a sense of humour, Amen and Amen, Anselm, aspire to inspire, barbecue, blessed be the Lord God of Israel, block, bounden duty, constructive, doubling up work, downsizing, everything's going my way, fabulously made, fears, filled with God's glory, football, free medicine, from everlasting to everlasting, frustration, get to work, good management, gospel truth, heaven is excited, heavenly Father, housework, jungle-like atmosphere, Labour Day, laugh at yourself, laughter, lazing around, let everything that has breath, LOVE, opportunity, persistence, picnic, pilgrim's journey, Praise the Lord, problems, proud like a peacock, resilience, saints of God, score points, shopping, shout Hallelujah, solutions, sourpusses, stand strong, tackle, tension, the cold white stuff, the firmament of his power, the game of life, the loud cymbals, the sun and Son are shining, two out of three ain't bad, Winston Churchill, wondrous things
Psalm 41:13. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
‘Oh what a beautiful morning…Oh what a beautiful day! Oh what a beautiful morning…Everything’s going my way!’
Yes friends, it is indeed a glorious morning in my neighbourhood! Both the Sun and the Son are shining brightly. And you know when that happens all of heaven is excited.
I just wish I could get my body to respond with the same level of excitement that my soul and spirit currently enjoy. (smile) And I know a lot of you feel the same way.
But as the song says,’ two out of three ain’t bad.’ Let’s be thankful, for many others are batting zero for three…if you get my drift. (smile)
But it’s Saturday, and we’re either doing housework or shopping, or simply lazing around the house, if we’re lucky, or getting ready for a picnic or barbecue or some such outside entertainment.
And we had better get in as much as we can because this is the last Saturday in July, which means the summer is almost done; just August to go now…then it’s September – Labour Day, the cooler weather, and back to school!
Wow! Can you believe that the summer’s just whisked by like a fleeting thought? And we haven’t even had any real hot days…Even today is cooler than it usually is. But yuh know what, most of us will take this kind of weather over the cold, white stuff any day! Glory be!
Now let’s see what our friend Anselm had to say this week, as he aspired to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And here is the first one: ‘Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends? We only learn persistence and resilience when we’re confronted by tough problems, then we stand strong, work persistently on them, and finally conquer them.
And this next quote, though it might be the proverbial truth, it surely isn’t widespread in practice today. ‘Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them.’
Hn, hn! In which companies today do we see people excited to deal with problems eh, especially with all the downsizing and doubling up of work on those left behind?
Then we have: ‘The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.’
That surely is in the realm of truth in this crazy, strife filled world. Life is certainly full of blocks and tackles and attempting to score points, as we try to manoeuvre through its wild and jungle-like atmosphere on a daily basis.
But I’ve left the best for last. ‘It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself and the problems you face in life. A sense of humour can save you.’ Now that has oodles of truth percolating through it.
Without a sense of humour we’re just sad, sourpusses, painstakingly trudging along on our pilgrim’s journey. But a sense of humour relieves the tension and frustration and helps us bear the burdens much better. Remember laughter is the best free medicine one can buy.
And I believe it’s Winston Churchill himself who said that the best ability one could have was the ability to laugh at oneself, for it keeps us solidly grounded and not overly proud like a peacock. (smile) By the way, that last part was mine, not Winston’s.
And since today is such a glorious day, and we’re so joyful, I’ve been led to keep it simple and thankful, thus our Bit; words of Bruh David from Psalm 41 – Abuse and assurance. ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.’
Oh precious saints of Jehovah God, we couldn’t do any better than to praise His holy name, for that’s why we were so fabulously made. And in a Bit earlier on in the week, we saw how the living creatures and elders in heaven continually praised and worshipped their Creator. So how could we do any less eh?
Now we’re just going to wind down by checking out some joyful scripture along the lines of our Bit. Hear the psalmist from Psalm 106 – Israel sins against God’s LOVE. ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. (Hallelujah) Praise ye the Lord.’ (Ps.106:48)
And Listen to Cousin Sol from the first of the only two psalms he authored. The other is Psalm 127. ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.’ (Ps.72:18-20)
And according to the scholars that psalm closes the Second Book of the Psalter – The Exodus Book – Concerning Israel as a Nation. And we’ll end appropriately with these glorious words of Psalm 150 – Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness… Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord (Hallelujah). (Ps.150:1-2, 5-6)
And that’s how it ought to be my fellow believers! So please let’s go out and do that nuh, let’s do our bounden duty; praise the Lord, shout ‘Hallelujah!’ Much LOVE!
…giving much deserved thanks and praise to our heavenly Father…is one of the best things a believer can do…
27 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a calf, a Deity, a face as a man, a flying eagle, a lion, a sea of glass, a walk of faith, an abundant life, angelic vision, angels, character, compassion, courage, creative powers, creativity, curse, day and night, diligence, divine promotion, excellence, favour, forgiveness, full of eyes, God's throne room, good health, grace, in Jesus' name, intelligence, Isaiah's vision, Jesus Christ, John the Revelator, like crystal, lord god almighty, LOVE, mercy, movement, negative word, our Lord and Saviour, praise and thanksgiving, praise and worship, Praise the Lord, prosper, saints, saying Holy holy holy, self-control, self-disicpline, seraphim, sincerely cares, sincerity, six wings, strength, succeed, success, swiftness, talent, the Alpha and Omega, the beasts worshipped God, the body of Christ, the church, the Creator of All, the First and the Last, the four beasts, the Holy Spirit, the Lord's help, the right to rule, they rest not, Thursday Blessings, to serve and worship God, truth, wisdom
Revelation 4:8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest (cease) not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Well hello there all you beautiful saints in the body of Christ! Top o’ the morn to you!
The rains have fallen and washed and refreshed the earth, let’s hope the Holy Spirit has done, or will do the same work within each of us on this new day.
And that’s fill us with the LOVE, mercy, grace and forgiveness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that we can do His earthly work with diligence and excellence. For remember, we can’t do much of anything without the Lord’s help, and He expects a lot from us.
Yuh know friends, it’s so wonderful to serve a God who refreshes and renews us daily to enable us to do His bidding. No other supposed god does that! Only a Deity who sincerely cares for His people does that kind of thing.
So let’s praise and worship Him nuh, exalt His Holy Name and give Him all the glory He so rightfully deserves as we go through our day, because without His great and genuine compassion, we’d be nothing at all.
And all the saints of God declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord! Bless His Holy Name! For He is indeed a wonderful God! May He live and reign forever! Amen!’
And we surely don’t have to worry about that last part nuh mih breddren, because our God is the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of All, and He will most certainly live forever, ruling All creation from His heavenly throne! Glory Hallelujah!
Ah mih people, I’m chuckling here because it seems that the ole fella is in a worshipful and praising mood this Thursday morning. And so should we all be, since that is one of the reasons why the Lord created us; to serve and worship Him all the days of our lives, even until eternity.
And as out Bit tells us, even those in heaven praise and worship Almighty God! And if you don’t believe me, listen to John the Revelator, as he describes some of what he saw in God’s throne room.
‘And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne were four beasts (living creatures) full of eyes before (in front) and behind.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast was like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest (cease) not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.’ (Rev.4:6-8)
Yeh friends, that’s some of what John claims he saw around God’s throne in his vision of heaven. And day and night the beasts worshipped God!
And the scholars add these explanations. ‘4:6-8.The four beasts or living creatures (lit, “living ones”) are probably angels (cf. Ezek.10:15-22) who guard the throne of God. The eyes symbolize wisdom, and the wings depict movement. They worship God as did the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision (cf. Is.6:1-3).
The lion represents strength (cf. Ps.103:20), the calf service (cf. Heb.1:14), the face of a man intelligence (cf. Luke 2:52), and the eagle swiftness (cf. Dan.9:21). The angelic vision has a strong allusion to Ezekiel 1:4-14.’
Hopefully that enlightens us somewhat to the happenings in heaven, (smile) but we would be even more enlightened if we took the time to read the references that the scholars gave us for their contentions.
Now let’s continue with John’s vision. ‘And when those beasts (living creatures) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him, that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (by your will they exist).’ (Rev.4:9-11)
Yes my people, twenty-four elders also sat around the throne of God on their own thrones, ‘sitting clothed in white raiment (robes); and they had on their heads crowns of gold.’ (Rev.4:4) But when the time comes for worship, they all cast down their crowns and fall on their knees before God. That’s how revered He is.
Here is what the scholars say about that. ‘4:9-11. All of heaven worship the Father. The angels extol His character, and the elders (church) extol His creative powers. God has the right to rule and the sovereign authority to judge the earth, because He is both holy and the Creator of all.’ Matter fixed mih people!
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings with a voice of praise and thanksgiving to the great and powerful and LOVING God who created us and wants us to live an abundant life.
In strong voice now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Okay saints of Christ, let’s go out now and bless others as Christ has blessed us! Much LOVE!
…man was made to worship God…in all sincerity and truth…
13 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, abundance, bend their tongues, controversy, courage, creativity, current incumbent, curse, demise, destroy yourself, destruction, divine protection, downfall, drizzle, evil, faith, farewell speech, favour, fight, followers of Christ, from evil to evil, hatred, heavenly blessing, hold my peace, humidity, Jeremiah's lament, Judah, learned the lesson, lies, like their bow, LOVE Revolution, negative backlash, negative word, not valiant for truth, others may hate you, overcome evil with good, pained at heart, piece of the pie, plundered, Praise the Lord, prosper, Richard Nixon, scratch, self-control, self-discipline, spoiled, strife, succeed, success, talent, the alarm of war, the sound of the trumpet, they don't know the Lord, Thursday Blessings, uncertain times, ungodly, weather prognosticators, wisdom, you don't win, you hate them
Jeremiah 9:3. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.
Ah mih breddren, at last a cloudy day! Yeh, so we can get a li’l rain, a li’l heavenly blessing to water our land. My area hasn’t seen any rain in almost two weeks, although the weather prognosticators have been daily promising it.
But rain has been falling in other areas. I guess the Lord’s been doing some selective blessing. Let’s hope today is our day, for the short drizzle we got yesterday afternoon was almost immediately dried up by the humidity.
And I do hear a few drops falling outside, and a rumble of thunder in the distance. Hopefully some meaningful rain will happen soon. Praise the Lord!
Moving on to other matters, I want to share a transcript from an old newspaper clipping I recently found amongst some papers on my desk. I shared it a long time ago, but is it ever so appropriate for these evil and uncertain times.
Now, according to the newspaper clipping, on August 9, 1974, the day ex-President of the U.S, Richard Nixon left the Presidency, he ‘gave an emotional farewell speech in the East Room to his staff, his friends, and his Cabinet. His family stood with him.
Near the end of his remarks, he waved his arms, as if to highlight the most important thing he had to say. “Always remember,” he said, “others may hate you, but those who you hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”
His hatred had brought about his downfall. Nixon apparently grasped this insight, but too late. He had already destroyed himself.’
Ah friends, such words of immortal wisdom eh! But as the paper says, Nixon learned the lesson too late. I think we can all take that lesson for ourselves today. When we hate, we destroy ourselves! It’s as simple as that.
And I believe that’s a very valuable lesson that the current incumbent of the U.S Presidency, ought to heed, because he is causing such unnecessary strife and controversy with his untoward behaviour that it can only lead to a severe negative backlash.
And sadly, it all fits in so smoothly with our Bit. ‘And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.’
Ah precious people of God, I sometimes wonder if our society can get any more evil and ungodly than it already is. And it shakes me to my very soul when I discover that the answer is yes, because I just can’t imagine our society getting worse than it is right now. But it surely seems possible.
That brings to mind Jeremiah’s sad lament over Judah so long ago. ‘My bowels, my bowels (inner parts, soul)! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled (plundered): suddenly are my tents spoiled (plundered), and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard (banner), and hear the sound of the trumpet (sounds of war)? (Jer.4:19-21)
Likewise friends, I am lamenting over our present world because it is filled with the same disgusting sounds of war and disaster all over. And the sad part is that those who really seem to care about its possible demise are in the minority, as the majority scratch and fight for their own li’l piece of the pie.
But that unwise activity also recalls one of Jeremiah’s most astute proclamations on behalf of Almighty God. ‘For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid, silly) children, and they have none (no) understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.’ (Jer.4:22)
Ah my fellow believers, it’s so sad that the saying History repeats itself is ever so true, because we are living the same kind of evil, ungodly life that Judah and so many others have lived down through the ages and eventually felt their sad demise. It’s just that ours is on a much bigger, wider and more intense scale because our world is larger than theirs..
Oh friends, as followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the Patriarch of LOVE, I’m imploring us to do our best, in our li’l corner of the world to promote the oh so necessary LOVE Revolution of our infallible Leader, because that’s the only way our world can, or will be saved from imminent destruction.
And having said all of that, let’s go home on a more positive and productive note, as we declare our Thursday Blessings. With one loud voice now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Yes friends, that’s the wonderful kind of life we have to look forward to when we live for Jesus! And since blessings need to be spoken to be most effective, let’s go out and speak them over others nuh, as our Lord and Saviour Jesus so avidly desires of us. Much LOVE!
…do not fight evil with evil…but overcome evil with good…
29 May 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: afflictions, as a roaring lion, aura of love, be sober, be vigilant, confidence, conquerors, dominion, enthusiasm, evil, faith, finite being, friends, glorious kingdom, glory, God is faithful, gospel truth, grace, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lies, LOVE, Memorial Day, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, omnipresent, patriots, Praise the Lord, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, resist the devil, Satan, seeking whom he may devour, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, temptation, trust, truth, ungodly world, walks about, war heroes, wiles, wisdom, your adversary the devil
1 Peter 5:8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Awright mih breddren, it’s Monday morning, so let’s be up and at ‘em nuh!
‘Not today,’ claim our U.S. breddren. ‘Today is our Memorial Day Holiday, where we celebrate our fallen war heroes, so no work for us today. Praise the Lord!’
Yes friends, the shoe is on the other foot this week; last week we in Canada had Monday off for our Victoria Day Holiday, this week the U.S honours their patriots. But since it’s still a day of labour for most of us, we still need to sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to get us going. So with as much verve and enthusiasm as we can muster, let’s sing.
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And as expected, the loudest and most off key voices were those who did not have to go to work today, and were already into the celebrations. But just remember, please listen to Granny’s advice. ‘Drunk or sober mind yuh business.’ We don’t want to go giving the evil one any foothold in our souls, for he is always lurking around, always on the prowl to find someone he can invade and cultivate.
That’s why Peter, after telling us to humble ourselves before God, and to cast our care on him, because He cares for us, so strenuously warns in our Bit. ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’
And that’s the gospel truth friends! Remember when Satan came before God in Job? ‘And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.’ (Job 1:7)
And the scholars offer this explanation: ‘1:7. From going to and from in the earth refers to Satan’s activity. Though he does not admit it here, Satan’s character clearly shows that his many travels are for evil purposes. In 1 Peter 5:8. Satan is described as “your adversary the devil…seeking whom he may devour.”
The activity of Satan indicates that he only has limited access to God. This account in Job emphasizes that God is sovereign over Satan. It also teaches that Satan is a finite being and therefore not omnipresent (can’t be everywhere at the same time). Nor can he touch God’s servants without God’s permission.’
Oh glory to God my people! That means Satan has no direct say over us, he can only invade our souls and spirits if God gives him permission, or of we foolishly allow him to enter therein. That’s why Peter continues after our Bit. ‘Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in (experienced by) your brethren that are in the world.’ (1 Pet.5:9)
Oh friends, I know it’s no great consolation to know that our brethren are experiencing the same temptation as us, but it just goes to show that we are not alone in being tempted, as Bruh Paul tells the Corinthians. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor.10:13)
Now friends, we have to be careful and understand that God will not always make us escape the temptation, but will often allow us to go through it, to build our faith, but will eventually bring us out safely on the other side. Remember too, that even Jesus was tempted by Lucifer during His earthly sojourn, but He successfully rebuked Him, and we ought to try and do likewise.
James also warns us. ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7) Yes my fellow believers, if we keep resisting Lucifer, he will eventually flee from us; not that he won’t come back and try to tempt us later on, (smile) because he can be very persistent.
However, we’ll end with these reassuring words of Peter. ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you. To him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet.5:10-11)
What a blessed and faithful assurance my people. So let’s go out today strengthened in the Word of God, so that we can do His will. Much LOVE!
…the stronger our faith in Jesus…the more we are able to resist temptation…
15 May 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a shelter, abundant in goodness and truth, antidote, appreciation, attributes, aura of love, condemn self, confidence, cup of java, earthly pilgrimage, enthusiasm, expectant faith, faith, fear, friends, glorious kingdom, goodness, gospel truth, grace, gracious, gratitude, hoarded, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, hungry hope, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, judging others, lies, long-suffering, LOVE, meet the enemy, merciful, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Moses, Mother's Day, peace, plots of man, Praise the Lord, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, repentance, rest, righteousness., spiritual armour, steadfast faith, sure conquerors, taunts, the goodness of God, the land of the living, the Lord God, the Lord passed by, the state of our livers, the strife of tongues, the Ten Commandments, throughout the year, trust, truth, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, work
Exodus 34:6. And the Lord passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Well mih breddren, the Mother’s Day celebrations over now! Hope we celebrated our mothers in fine style, but that we’ll also show them a greater level of appreciation and gratitude all throughout the year, rather than on just this one day. I know they like the fuss and bother on their special day, but I’m sure they’ll prefer to have a li’l of that each and every day where possible.
Anyway, it’s time to get back to the common grind and daily task, the humdrum aspects of a working life, so that we can enjoy the fruits of our labour. And I know that many of us are suffering from too much celebrating, and it’s difficult to get up and face the very idea of going to work, but get up and go, we must.
So to help us with the Monday morning wake up, we have this antidote, this prayer called the Monday Morning Battle Hymn that jolts us awake even better than a hot, strong cup of java. (smile) So let’s sing it now with lots of enthusiasm, expectant faith and hungry hope nuh.
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
That was pretty good friends, considering the state of our livers! (smile) Jesus, our choirmaster smiled knowingly at some of the harshness, but He respected and acknowledged our enthusiastic effort. So with the adrenaline bubbling in our veins, let’s go out now and take the battle to the heathen, this Monday morning in Jesus’ name, for the glory of God the Father!
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud: ‘Praise the Lord! His goodness reigns forever!’
And that it surely does, as the Lord Himself proclaimed to Moses when he went up the mountain the second time for the tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments. ‘And the Lord passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.’
Now that’s our great God Himself, extolling some of His many wonderful attributes, goodness being one of them. And since we know that he cannot lie, then we must accept His words as gospel truth. Now, let’s just look at a few scriptures, from the human perspective, which prove the point.
And one of the most well-known is that verse from Psalm 27 – The Lord is my light and my salvation, where Bruh David ardently proclaims: ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ (Ps.27:13)
So true friends, so true! What’s the purpose of having this good God eh, if we can’t experience some of His goodness in our earthly pilgrimage?
Now hear another mighty man of God, Bruh Paul, as he admonishes the Romans re judging others is to condemn self. ‘And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?’ (Rom.2:3-4)
Ah mih people, so wonderful is God’s goodness that it leads us to repentance! Praise his Holy Name!
And listen to Bruh David again, this time from Psalm 31 – In thee O Lord, do I put my trust. ‘Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret (places) of thy presence from the pride (plots) of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (shelter) from the strife of tongues.’ (Ps.31:19-20)
Oh friends, we can’t ask any more than that from God! He’s got all those who believe in Him covered on all fronts. And what’s the purpose of all that goodness eh? So that we can go forth here on earth and proclaim it, as well as show it through the way we live our daily lives. The Lord’s goodness is meant to be shared my people, not merely hoarded for one’s own good!
Now let’s go out today and show it in spades nuh; let’s broadcast it to all and sundry: the Lord is GOOD! He is GOOD INDEED! Much LOVE!
…true goodness can only beget goodness…
10 May 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a forgiving heart, a generous hand, a glorious future with Jesus, a life of godliness, a life of lasting significance, a steadfast desire, a thing of beauty, an ornament of grace, blessed, blessing, chains about thy neck, charity begins at home, Christian, Creator, deceit, depart from evil, do good, Dr. Charles Stanley, every new day, folly, forgiveness, fundamentals of Christianity, godless times, grace, gratitude, halfway home, hear ye children, I'm not looking back, impactful, in the home, interactions with others, Jesus Christ, keep thy tongue from evil, know understanding, listen to, loving-kindness, meaningful, mercy, mirror images of God, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, obey the Lord, our Lord and Saviour, personal influence, Praise the Lord, provider, rejoice, reverence for God's work, seek peace, sincere faith, sincere love, teaching others, thanks and praise, the breath of life, The eyes of the Lord, the face of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the instruction of a father, the Lord hears the righteous, the remebrance, the righteous, the splendour of nature, thy lips from speaking guile, to follow jesus, transmission of wisdom, undeserving children of men, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, without works faith is dead, write deep in our hearts
Proverbs 4:1. Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Oh my Scrip-Bit friends and family, another glorious day on God’s great earth is opening up before us! Let’s give the Lord some thanks and praise for that nuh. It’s not everyone who went to bed last night that got up to see the rising sun this Wednesday morning, so we ought to count ourselves very blessed indeed.
Oh, one of these mornings we won’t wake up either, (smile) but until then, let’s rejoice in the blessing of every new day that we see, and give many thanks to our Creator and Provider for each opportunity to behold the splendour of nature here on earth!
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord for His LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men!’
And without a doubt, our God does shower us with LOVING-kindness; things like grace, mercy, and forgiveness that we do not deserve! But that’s the kind of magnanimous God He is! So please let’s never forget it, and suitably show our gratitude.
Now here is some wonderful advice on living ‘A Life of Lasting Significance,’ I discovered on a card on my desk this morning. It comes from Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley).
And he says to live a life of lasting significance we must: ‘Ensure that your interactions with others are truly meaningful and eternally impactful by: Modelling a steadfast desire to follow Jesus and a sincere faith in His will and ways.
Demonstrating reverence for God’s work. Teaching others how to listen to and obey the Lord. Expressing a sincere LOVE, a forgiving heart, and a generous hand in every situation.’
Now that’s some wonderful advice every Christian ought to write deep in their hearts and do their best to put into practice, for remember, without works faith is dead, and they will know us by our works.
And I guess one of the best ways to achieve that goal above is by paying serious and sincere attention to our Bit. ‘Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.’
And before I go any further, let me share some info from the scholars that I wanted to share yesterday, but didn’t. ‘4:3-4. Three generations are linked together in the transmission of wisdom. Note that it is transmitted by personal influence, especially in the home.’
Yes friends, those words refer to verses 3 and 4 of chapter 4 that we read yesterday. You can read them for yourselves, but what I want to point out is the fact that the wisdom of God is transferred most often by personal influence, by the way we demonstrate it in our personal lives to those around us, especially in our homes.
As the old adage so rightly says; Charity begins at home! And that’s exactly where it ought to begin! We parents and elders have to show the young people the LOVE and wisdom of God first in our homes.
We can’t wait and expect them to find or learn them when they go to school or to church, especially in these godless times, when those things are no longer taught in schools, and churches are teaching, God alone knows what!
Remember my brethren, the teaching of, and the reflections, the mirror images of God have to begin at home!
Now let’s check out some other scriptures that agree with out Bit. Listen as Bruh David calls to us from Psalm 34 – The Lord hears the righteous.
‘Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).
Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut of (destroy) the remembrance of them from the earth.’ (Ps.34:11-16)
Oh precious people of God, that’s the simple, practical way to live a life of godliness! It couldn’t get any simpler than that: speak truth, do good, seek peace! Those are all the basic elements of our Christian faith.
Now hear this last scripture from Cousin Sol. ‘My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.’ (Prov.1:8-9)
And the scholars tell us. ‘1:8. My son begins the first of 10 similar discourses in which the father appeals to the son to listen to his counsel and choose wisdom over folly. The mention of the mother shows that the original setting of the book was the home, not the court or school.’
‘1:9. Chains about thy neck, that is, an adornment or thing of beauty in one’s life.’
Ah mih people, again we see the critical importance of teaching our faith at home, if we want to continue propagating it. So please, I implore us, if we want to see our children live wholesome, godly lives, then we desperately need to get back to teaching and living the fundamentals of Christianity in our homes.
Now let’s end by sincerely and truthfully declaring our Wednesday Wail. As one strong 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 as always, let’s go out and put all that we’ve talked about into action nuh, so that we can glorify our great God and Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…
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