21 Oct 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a still small voice, abundance, according to his riches in glory, all the days of my life, be ever ready to repel his assaults, be not afraid, be strong and of a good courage, clear direction for my life, curse, divine protection, he leadeth me beside still waters, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he restoreth my soul, holy spirit, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I shall not want, I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, in the presence of mine enemies, keeps coming relentlessly against us, LOVE, make evil inroads into our lives, my cup runneth over, my God shall supply all my needs, negative word, neither be thou discouraged, our part to play, prosper, reading and studying god's word, stand strong and steadfast, succeed, supernatural wisdom, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, talent, the awesome light of Jesus, the enemy though toothless and powerless, The Lord is my shepherd, the Lord thy God is with thee, the world and all its evil minions, thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, this is the way walk ye in it, thou anointest my head with oil, thou mayest prosper, thou preparest a table before me, Thursday Blessings, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, whithersoever thou goest, wise guidance for everyday living
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Well, it’s definitely not a bright, sunshiny day in my area today. Unfortunately, it’s wet and cloudy. But as we keep reminding ourselves, the physical state, the colour of the day doesn’t really matter, once we have the awesome light of Jesus shining within us, through the amazing Holy Spirit. That means, every day is a bright and shining day for believers. Glory to God!
But it all doesn’t come automatically, we have our part to play in the relationship. The enemy, that’s the world and all its evil minions, though toothless and powerless, still keeps coming relentlessly against us, and if we falter, for even just one moment, he will make evil inroads into our lives. Therefore, we have to be ever ready to repel his assaults, and we can only do that successfully by consistently reading and studying God’s Word, then obeying it.
That recalls the serious words the Lord spoke to Joshua when He made him leader of the Israelites after Moses’ death. ‘Only be strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper (have success, act wisely) whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth (shall constantly be in thy mouth); but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou discouraged: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:7-9)
Wow mih bredrin! What marvellous promises! But it’s only our holding to God’s word and the truth of His promises that will make us successful. And after Jesus came, we also got the Holy Spirit to help us. Listening to Him is a real Godsend, for He gives us good and wise guidance for everyday living. It’s like Isaiah said to the Israelites long ago, re turning to the Lord for help: ‘And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.’ (Is. 30:21)
That’s the way the Holy Spirit usually guides us; through a still small voice in our souls and spirits. But as we specified yesterday, it is of the utmost importance to learn to listen to Him, and then follow His wise guidance. And no, living a good and righteous life in this evil and ungodly world is not easy to accomplish, but there again, Jesus doesn’t ever ask us to do something without giving us the wherewithal, the strength and wisdom to do it. That’s why we can confidently say: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!’ (Phil. 4:13) But we must sincerely believe it, and then put it into action in our lives, otherwise it doesn’t work.
Oh friends, there are some promises of God that are unconditional, and some that are conditional, that means we have to do something to reap that promise, and standing strong and courageous in Christ Jesus is one of them. And when we do that, then promises like this one Bruh Paul made to the Philippians and also to us, will be fulfilled. ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) Yes my fellow believers, when we stand strong for Christ, sacrifice for Him, the Lord will gloriously meet our needs in proportion to His unlimited resources, for everything in the world belongs to Him.
As Bruh Paul said to the church at Corinth in his second letter. ‘And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.’ (2 Cor. 9:8) Our spiritual and financial needs will be met if we listen and obey. Furthermore, as Bruh David so confidently stated in our favourite Psalm: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Ps. 23:1)
And we see it in his life. Though he made many mistakes, and paid a hefty price for them, he never forsook the Lord, always kept Him first place in his life, and the Lord greatly rewarded him. And He will do the same for each of us my brethren, if we stand strong and steadfast for Him. And I believe this is a most opportune time for us to uplift our faith by repeating those marvellous words of Bruh David.
‘The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ Amen…and Amen! (Ps. 23:1-6)
Yes friends, if those magnificent words of faith didn’t raise your spirits this wet and cloudy morning, I don’t know what will nuh. But for those of us who take it seriously, let’s go home declaring (steups!!!) our Thursday Blessings, which the Lord has so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work.
Altogether 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 every day! Amen!’
And the only way those blessings will benefit us is if we now go out and share them with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!
…if we believe God…and do what He says…He won’t let us down…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
07 Oct 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, a neat package of ethics, as a burning fire, burns within me, clear direction for my life, crooked places become straight, curse, darkness becomes light, free choice, good friends, gung-ho, hanging in there, He giveth power to the faint, his word was in mine heart, I could not endure it, I was weary with forbearing, indisputable truth, invigorates me, lack of strength, like a martyr, my heart was hot within me, negative word, One Year Book of Bible promises, our guidebook for earthly living, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, poor sleep patterns, prosper, Ruth Harms Calkin, sharper than any twoedged sword, shut up in my bones, succeed, the Book of All Books, the Good Book, the Lord's word is alive and kicking, the One who makes all things new, the Word of God is quick and powerful, Thursday Blessings, to them that no might he increaseth strength, while I was musing the fire burned
Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…
And then it was Thursday…a rather trying and tiring morning, because of my poor sleep patterns. Hn! Hn! What else can one expect when one doesn’t adhere to good sleep patterns eh? I’m like the sun out there, too weak to shine with any brilliance and strength. (smile) But with the ever-present and amazing help of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I am hanging in there like a martyr, as gung-ho as possible to do His marvellous work.
What does the Good Book say about lack of strength? ‘He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’ (Is. 40:29) Glory be mih people! That’s exactly what I am seeking and praying for this morning. And I know that our God will grant me it because He is a faithful God, and I only want that strength so I can do His work with diligence and excellence.
And what I did just say…that our God is a great God and will show the way…? And has He ever. He’s guided me to this oh so appropriate poem from our One Year Book of Bible Verses with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin that’s titled ‘Book of All Books!’ Wow! I guess He’s sending the message that His Word, His Book, has all the answers. When you’re looking for anything, like I was looking for strength, you can open His Word and find an answer.
So please pray with me: ‘Lord, I am overwhelmed As I read Your living Word. What power, what pungency I find within its pages. It stirs me, burns within me It challenges me, invigorates me And often disturbs me. When I obey its commands The results are what you claim. Darkness becomes light Crooked places become straight The more I seek, the more I find. Within its pages, God I see beyond a neat package of ethics. I crash head-on with a living Person The One who makes all things new. No other book can claim as much.’
And that’s the indisputable truth my brethren! No other Book can claim what the Bible, the Word of the Living God does, because all others are written by frail, finite and dispensable man! And I like how our poem declares that the Good Book ‘stirs me, burns within me, challenges me, invigorates and often disturbs me.’ And it’s all true. A very good example of that is me a li’l while ago. I got up tired, miserable, not knowing what to write, but then I put my mind in the Word and…Voilà! It stirred me up, invigorated me, and I found strength to do what I needed to do.
So friends, you can’t ever go wrong turning to the Word of the Lord when you are lost, indecisive, weak, weary or whatever the situation. It will always give you a wise and sensible way to handle your condition. And that part of the poem that says ‘it burns within me’ recalls the verse in poor Jeremiah’s story, where he is a reluctant prophet of the Lord, suffering all kinds of violence and reproach on the Lord’s behalf. Finally, he gives up. ‘Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing (of holding it back), and I could not stay (endure it).’ (Jer. 20:9)
Oh my people, that’s the way it is with the Lord’s Word! Once it gets into you, it’s like a burning fire that just consumes you and you can’t hold it in, you have to release it, to speak and action it, if you are to find any peace in your soul and spirit. As Bruh David concurs in Psalm 39 – A prayer for self-understanding. ‘My heart was hot within me; while I was musing (meditating) the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue.’ (Ps. 39:3)
Yes, my fellow saints, the fire was so hot within Bruh David that he had to speak and let it out, otherwise it would have consumed him. And I know it’s so with a lot of us, but we insist on holding it in, only to our own detriment. And why does the Word of God have such a magnetic and moving effect on us eh?.
Because as the Bible verse that backs up our poem says: ‘For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in (hidden from) his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (must give account to).’ (Heb. 4:12-13)
That says it all! The Lord’s Word is alive and kicking, just like Him! It’s sharp and dangerous, can cut apart joints and marrow, soul and spirit, so please be careful in dealing with it. And in any case, we can’t hide from our Maker, who sees all, knows all and is all omnipotent in power! Yet we still try to hide from Him and dodge the words of His book. But that’s oh so foolish my brethren, for the simple truth is that we can neither run from nor hide from Almighty God, Creator and Controller of the universe!
And right now, in this time of pandemic and many other problems, it would be ever so wise for us to turn back to Him with repentant hearts and souls because He is the ONLY One who can truly help us solve those problems. But our hearts, being full of foolish pride and arrogance insists on using our free choice to ignore and stay away from Him…only to our own sorrow friends.
But our God is so wonderful, LOVES us so much, that despite our disconnection, He still showers down numerous blessings on those of us who are willing to hear and work on His behalf. We call them our Thursday Blessings, and when we declare them out loud, they give us the strength and wisdom we need to do the Father’s bidding.
So, as one strong and sincere voice, let’s shout them out loud nuh: ‘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 every day! Amen!’
And since we’ve taken those blessings to heart, it is now our bounden duty to go out and share them with others, just as generously as Christ shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…the Word of God…the Bible…it is our guidebook for earthly living…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
30 Sep 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a positive outlook on life, burn the candle at both ends, causeth us to triumph in Christ, Christ has overcome hell death and the grave, Christ's triumphant resurrection on Easter morning, clear direction for my life, compromise our eternal destiny, curse, faith, favour, freedom of choice, he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, his commandments are not grievous, I am the way the truth and the life, late to bed - late to rise, LOVE, my yoke is easy and my burden light, negative word, no man comes to the Father but by me, only one way to God, prosper, reborn of water, refusing to accept Christ s Lord and Saviour, self-control. self-discipline, succeed, thanks be to God who gives us the victory, the bllod of Christ's atoning death, the indwelling of the Holy spirit, the old adages are true, this is the love of God, Thursday Blessings, very troubled and dangerous times, walk the straight and narrow path, we keep His commandments, whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world
1 John 5:3. For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).
Well, the old adages are certainly true, especially this one; late to bed, late to rise. (smile) Yes, friends, the ole fella was up until the early hours of the morning, consequently my time of rising was even later than usual. But when the body needs rest, there is nothing we can do to stop it. That seems to have been my predicament this morning; the ole bod was crying out for rest. I seem to forget that I’m not as young as I used to be, and consequently can’t burn the candle at both ends like I once did, because it takes a quicker and greater toll on me in these later stages of life.
But one thing mankind is famous for is being stubborn and hard-headed, and doing things that He knows will hurt Him, if not right away, but in the near future. Why else are so many of us refusing to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, when we know deep down that’s the wrong decision, one that will seriously compromise our eternal destiny?
Because we have freedom of choice and we believe that the yoke of Jesus is too heavy, when He declares it’s easy. We refuse to walk the straight and narrow road because it doesn’t have enjoyable sins that we seem to desire. The broad and directionless road with all the foolishness of sin, with it’s nice looking outer shell, and no serious or sincere substance catches our eyes and draws us to it like a fly to a spider’s web. And you know what happens to an insect when it’s caught up in the silky, nice looking but deadly web of a spider; death invariably occurs.
And it’s the same thing that happens to those who chose to follow the broad and deadly path of the world and its ruler Satan; eternal death and damnation is their lot. But those who choose to accept the yoke of Jesus and follow Him on the straight and narrow path will one day receive everlasting life and not everlasting death like the evil doers. And Jesus says it so clearly and sincerely: ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:30) Now Jesus has no reason to lie like Satan does, because He knows His power and LOVE will overcome, in fact has already overcome the world, the devil and his evil minions.
And for those of us who think that Christ’s yoke is burdensome, John tells us quite differently in his first epistle. ‘For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).’ (1 John 5:3) And John should know, because he walked with Jesus on this earth, had personal knowledge of Jesus and His ways. That means if he says Christ’s commandments aren’t burdensome, they aren’t, for why would a young man like John lie, if his teacher’s rules were hard to follow? No reason whatsoever!
And John, though young in years, was wise enough to understand what Christ was teaching them, and the great benefits it held for their future, unlike the evil doings of the world. Thus, he continues in his epistle. ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ (1 John 5:4) Yes friends, every believer, everyone born of God; that is born of water and of the Spirit, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, has the opportunity, or rather the ability, to overcome the world through his faith!
Hear how John puts it nuh: ‘Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?’ (1 John 5:5) Matter fix friends! Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is reborn of water (the baptism of Christ), the blood of His atoning death and accept His indwelling Spirit can overcome the world! That’s it in a nutshell.
And the scholars explain it thus: ‘5:5. There is conquering power through this confession because God is sovereign over the world, and only through the Son does man have access to and find favour with God.’ And Jesus proclaimed that fact quite clearly when He told the disciples: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) Clear, simple and self-explanatory words, my brethren!
And Bruh Paul, that other great man of God, also spoke of victory gained through Christ, when he wrote to the church at Corinth in his first letter: ‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 15:57) And in his second missive, he reiterates his earlier contention: ‘Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth (leads) us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (fragrance) of his knowledge by us in every place.’ (2 Cor. 2:14)
Please understand my brethren, that it’s only through faith and belief in Christ Jesus will we ever have victory in our lives, because He has overcome hell, death and the grave through His triumphant resurrection on Easter morning! So, if you want victory, then you have to hook up with Jesus And until we get that through our proud, stubborn and foolish heads, we will not have victory in this world nor the next. Now for those of us who believe that and try to live for Christ, let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Thursday Blessings, generously bestowed on us by our LOVING heavenly Father so we can do His work down here on earth.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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 every day! Amen!’
Now, our duty is to go out and share those blessings with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!
there’s only ONE way…to God the Father…through Christ…the Son…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
02 Sep 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: be not wise in thine own eyes, bring ye all your tithes into the storehouse, compassionate heart, curse, divine protection, eternal life, faith, favour, fear the Lord and depart from evil, find favour and good understanding, he shall direct thy paths, health to thy navel, hearing the same old lies, honour the Lord with thy substance, if I will not open the windows of heaven, if ye love me keep my commandments, in all thy ways acknowledge him, in the sight of God and man, it takes time to mature in the grace and mercy of God, lean not unto thine own understanding, let thine heart keep my commandments, living for Jesus is not a walk in the park, LOVE, marrow to thy bones, my son forget not my law, negative word, obedience, pitfalls, pour you out a blessing, prince of peace, promotion, prosper, prove me now, salvation, saved from eteranl damantion and separation, succeed, the enemy of our soul, the first fruits of all thine increase, the Lord giveth the the power to get wealth, the Lord's ever-faithful promise, the new mercies and compassions of God, there shall not be room enough to receive it, Thursday Blessings, thy presses' shall burst out with new wine, tribulations, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, walking the same old roads
Proverbs 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.
Oh friends, this cool Thursday morning in early September is another day for us to live gratefully and enjoy the new mercies and compassions of God. And if you have been walking the same old roads that are leading you to sure destruction, and hearing the same old lies from the enemy of your soul, then it’s time to turn to the One who can change all of that, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Yes, He’s the One that LOVED us so much that He sacrificed His life that we could be saved from eternal damnation and separation from Almighty God! And yes, that’s a mighty fine thing He did there, the only One who could have accomplished it, for being eternally separated from the Creator of this universe is the worst thing that can ever happen to a human being. So please, it’s not wise to allow that selfless action of Jesus to go unused, to go to waste, by not accepting Him as Lord and Saviour, Redeemer, Prince of Peace and the many other things that He is and stands for.
But unfortunately, living for Jesus is not a nice easy walk in the park kind of life, for there are pitfalls and tribulations and all sorts of unhappy things can happen along the way. However, we are assured that despite the many problems we may face, there will also be lots of enjoyment and refreshment along the way, and eventually everything will work out for our good. That’s the Lord’s ever-faithful promise! And if you want to hook up with Jesus, you have to believe His many promises; that’s what we call faith! And with faith comes sincere obedience too.
And these wise words from the wisest man ever, Cousin Sol, as he exhorts us to obedience, should take first place in our hearts if we are to enjoy all the beautiful things that Christ has promised us, ending with salvation, eternal life in heaven with Him and our Triune God. So, let’s check out these most important words from the Good Book that ought to be our guide for daily living. Cousin Sol begins thus: ‘My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.’ (Prov. 3:1)
Yes my brethren, it’s ever so important that we obey the rules and regulations involved in worshipping and living for Christ! All organizations have rules and regulations for its members to follow, otherwise there will be anarchy, with everyone doing as they please. And Jesus said it loud and clear to the disciples: ‘If you LOVE me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15) So if you don’t intend to keep God’s commands, then you are just wasting His time and yours. And please remember that God doesn’t really need us nuh, but we definitely need Him. So all of this is for our benefit, not His.
And one of the major benefits that come from keeping His commandments is this: ‘For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.’ (Prov. 3:2) Oh mih people, who doesn’t want all of that eh? We all do! But we won’t get it unless we obey our heavenly Father’s commands. And Cousin Sol continues with his wise words. ‘Let not mercy (LOVING-kindness) and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart (mind). (Prov. 3:3) And why should we do that? The answer is quite simple: ‘So shalt thou find favour and good understanding (high esteem) in the sight of God and man.’ (Prov. 3:4)
Oh people, people, there is always a good reason for accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour and obeying His commandments! It’s not just a disorganized, quickly thrown together thing. It’s taken thousands of years for this plan to come to fruition, and it’s not quite done yet. But for us to be a successful part of it we must do wise, though sometimes hard stuff like ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’ (Prov. 3:5-6)
Oh, how can we ever go wrong when we allow the Creator of the universe to guide our lives eh? No way! But it has to be a constant, continual way of life. Like Cousin Sol says: ‘Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength, refreshment) to thy bones.’ (Prov. 3:7-8) Wow mih bredrin! Who again doesn’t want those benefits eh? We all do. But they don’t come by just wishing and hoping, but by being continually faithful, obedient and trusting!
Now hear this next directive from Cousin Sol nuh. ‘Honour the Lord with thy substance (possessions), and with the first fruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses (vats) shall burst out with new wine.’ (Prov. 3:9-10) Ah mih people, that’s oh so important in the Lord’s economy, yet so many of us refuse to do it. We stubbornly refuse to give back to the Lord the first portion of what we earn or harvest through His bounty. Yes, it’s through the Lord’s bounty that we gain anything, as Moses reminded the Israelites long ago: ‘Remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…’ (Deut. 8:18)
And it’s not like the Lord needs it nuh, but He just wants to see if we really and truly believe Him when it comes to giving. In the Old Testament times they called it a tithe, or a tenth of what you earned. And it was also a means for the priests and people who worked in the church and could not work the land or raise animals, to get food, and to have food to share with the poor and the stranger.
And it was so important to the Lord that in Malachi, He claimed that the Israelites robbed Him, then challenged them thus: ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat (food) in mine house, and prove (test) me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ (Mal. 3:10)
Yes friends, that’s how generous and faithful our great God is! But we also have to be faithful and trusting by giving back a fair portion of our goods for His work. And believe me, no one that has ever tithed will tell you it doesn’t work! Now it’s not just a matter of giving to get, but it must come from a sincere place in our hearts; a place of true belief and trust. And it does take time to mature in the grace and mercy of God, so all that stuff we’ve spoken about won’t happen overnight, but we do need to make a serious effort to live it.
And when we do that, Almighty God blesses us even more, bestowing what we call our Thursday Blessings, so that we can do a good job for Him down here on earth. So let’s declare them together now nuh, because they don’t come into effect until they are declared. As one strong voice: ‘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 every day! Amen!’
That’s for sure my fellow saints! But now we must go out and share those blessings just as generously with others as the Lord shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…for an organization to be successful…all members must obey its rules…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
19 Aug 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, Advocate, believe on Jesus, curse, Day of Pentecost, deviation from the Spirit's guidance, divine protection, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words, God is a Spirit, God is immutable, God is light, God is LOVE, God is self-existent, God's supernatural wisdom, he may abide with you for ever, He shall give you another Comforter, help in time of trouble, I will come to you, I will not leave you comfortless, if ye love me keep my commandments, it is the spirit that quickeneth life, negative word, nothing is impossible for God, produce unwanted problems, promotion, prosper, succeed, the flesh profiteth nothing, the Holy Spirit is a person, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Triune Godhead, Thursday Blessings, words taught by human wsidom, words taught by the Spirit, worship Him in spirit and in truth
John 14:18. I will not leave you comfortless (orphans): I will come to you.
Well come on down Thursday, the day before Friday! Are we ever so glad to see you, because it means that Friday is one day closer and the end of the work week is winding down nicely. The only problem is that we still have to deal with you Thursday, before we get to Friday. But with Christ Jesus leading and guiding us through His Holy Spirit, it’s a cinch that we will get it right! (smile)
However, that totally depends on our obedience to the prompting of the Spirit. Any deviation from His guidance will definitely produce unwanted problems, that will only make our lives more difficult than they already are. Consequently, we must understand the great importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
So let’s check out a few scriptures on that subject nuh. And we going to start right at the beginning where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob: ‘God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him spirit and in truth.’ (John 4:24) That’s the first thing we must realize when we come to God; that He is a Spirit Being and worshipping Him entails doing it spiritually, not in flesh and blood.
And the scholars offer this explanation re, the Definition of God. ‘4:24. John gives three descriptions of God. He is Spirit (John 4:24), LOVE (1 John 4:8), and Light (1 John 1:5). God is a spiritual being who is invisible and without a body. He is a divine person who reveals Himself in perfect intellect, emotion, and will. He is the source and personification of all material and spiritual life.
He is self-existent; He is eternal in relationship to time. He is unlimited in relationship to the immensity of space; He is immutable (unchanging) in His nature. He is the unity of all existence; and He is consistent in His being – that is, He corresponds in actual fact to His nature and attributes as they are revealed to us. (First Ref. Gen. 1:1; Primary ref. John 4:24).’
Yes friends, our God is a Spirit Being, but nonetheless, He is the source of all that exists, both spiritual and material. And sometimes our problems derive from the fact that our mortal minds cannot conceive of, or comprehend the real immensity of the God we claim to worship, thus we tend to underate His size and power, and though we say it, we don’t truly believe that nothing is impossible to Him.
And that first verse of His Word says it all: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’ (Gen. 1:1) It’s speaking of ‘the absolute beginning of the temporal and material world, when God created the original heaven and earth from nothing.’ Now you can’t truly believe in God unless you believe the Creation Story and all it entails, otherwise you will end up minimising the great God you claim to serve, and that means also minimising the benefits and blessings you can receive from Him.
And I’m chuckling here because I never intended to veer off like I did, but it just seemed so relevant that I could not pass it up. (smile) So, getting back to the doings of the Holy Spirit, the third aspect of our Triune God… Oh that’s another important thing to realize, that the Holy Spirit is a person, a part of our Godhead. I guess you can say it’s the workhorse of the Godhead. He carries out the actual decisions made by them.
Now hear Jesus again on the subject of spiritual matters. ‘It is the spirit that quickeneth (gives life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ (John 6:63) Yes my people, spiritual things are more important than fleshly or material stuff, for the body dies, but the spirit lives on. That’s where our real life is found, in our spirit-person. The body is just a temporary cover for it. And that’s why our God communicates through our spirit, why the Holy Spirit is so important in our lives.
As Bruh Paul says to the Corinthians re Spiritual Wisdom: ‘We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.’ (1 Cor. 2:12-15)
What we are seeing here is that the natural or unspiritual man is unreceptive to the truth of God because it is delivered through His Holy Spirit. However, the spiritual man, who ‘has founded his faith on God’s revelation is able to receive the truth of God’s Spirit. He can judge now both earthly and heavenly things. He can discern what is and what is not of the gospel and salvation, and whether a man truly preaches the truth of God.’
And then we come to Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14: 15-18)
Oh friends, what a glorious promise! One which Jesus kept by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers after that fateful Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). And yes, the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter, our advocate, our help in time of trouble. But whereas, Jesus, as a man on earth, could only be at one place at one time, the Holy Spirit can be all about in each believer, all the time! Glory be my people!
And one of the mighty jobs that the Holy Spirit does is bestowing God’s blessings upon us, what we call our Thursday Blessings, so that we can do His earthly work. Let’s declare (chuh!!!) them now nuh, to give them light and life in our souls and spirits. As one strong voice: ‘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 every day! Amen!’
And now, to indeed be true followers of Christ, we need to go out and use and share all of those wonderful blessings with others, just as unselfishly and generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!
…only believe on Jesus…and the Holy Spirit automatically indwells you…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
22 Jul 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Abba Father, blaming others for our poor choices, compassionate heart, contrary to one another, curse, divine protection, faith, favour, for that which I do I allow not, for what I would that I do not, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son, going to hell in a hand-basket, good friends, into every believer's heart, laziness, live a God-pleasing life, live by the Spirit, LOVE, moral life governed by the Spirit, negative word, playing the blame game, procrastination, prosper, sin that dwelleth in me, sinful nature, sons of God, spoon feeed, succeed, success, take responsibility for our own actions, the consummation of their salvation, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, Thursday Blessings, wait for the hope of righteousness, walk in the Spirit, what I hate I do, ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Galatians 5:16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
And now it’s Thursday…getting close to the end of July, and the end of summer too…what li’l true summer weather we’ve had so far. Some people claim that the days of this pandemic are moving too slowly, but I feel they are moving too fast! Look, we just celebrated Canada Day and the Fourth of July, and yet the month is almost finished. And everybody else seems so busy with stuff to do…except me. (smile)
Oh, I have lots of things I would like to do, but, for whatever reason, I’m just not doing as much as I would like to do. I don’t know if I simply want to do too much, or that laziness and procrastination are holding sway over my life. Most likely though, it’s a combination of all three. That brings to mind Bruh Paul’s predicament that he wrote about to the Roman church. ‘For that which I do I allow not (don’t understand): for what I would (want to do), that I do not; but what I hate, that I do.’ (Rom. 7:15)
Ah friends, I’m sure that many of us have that same problem, especially in these pandemic times, these unforeseen or unexpected times, when the world seems to be falling apart, going to hell in a hand basket. And I know that Bruh Paul blames it mostly on sin. ‘If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law (I agree) that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.’ (Rom. 7:16-17) And yes my brethren, sin does play a large part in our lives, but we can’t blame everything on it, or Satan, as so many of us like to do.
Listen as Bruh Paul talks to the Galatians, re walking in the Spirit. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ (Gal. 5:16) The Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the way we should walk. Therefore, it is our responsibility to follow it. We can’t be making excuses and blaming other things and people for our poor choices, as we like to do.
Hear the scholars’ explanation of that verse. ‘5:16. Walk in the Spirit (i.e., “live by the Spirit”): Christians are to live with the Spirit’s help. How does one “live by the Spirit”? (1) The Christian must believe that the Spirit is with him, having been sent by God into his heart (4:6). (2) In every spiritual confrontation the believer must yield to the Spirit, that is, submit his own desires to those of the Spirit. (3) One must depend on the Spirit for help, enabling him to live a God-pleasing life (vs. 5). (4) The believer should anticipate the effects of the Spirit’s help in his daily life. The believer who “lives by the Spirit” will not fulfill (accomplish, carry out) the lust (strong desires) of the flesh (sinful nature).’
I could not explain it any better my people. But for good measure, I am going to spoon feed us with those couple of verses mentioned in the explanation above, because I know most of us won’t bother to look them up, although we don’t know them. (smile) And the first one that deals with God sending His Spirit into the believer’s heart says: ‘And because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.’ (Gal. 4:6)
That’s because ‘Every child of God was divinely given the Holy Spirit the moment he was adopted by God. Abba is an Aramaic domestic term by which the father was called in the affectionate intimacy of the family. It corresponds to our “daddy” or “papa.” The Spirit gives us an awareness that God is our Father.’
And the next verse to which they refer is Gal. 5:5, which says: ‘For we through the Spirit (eagerly) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.’ And ‘Through the Spirit means that by the Holy Spirit’s help, which is obtained by faith, believers wait for the hope of righteousness, that is live the Christian life awaiting the consummation of their salvation.’
And now that we understand it all, (smile) let’s move back to Bruh Paul’s writing on walking in the Spirit. ‘For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.’ (Gal, 5:17)
And the scholars explain. ‘5:17. One’s sinful human nature (flesh) and the Holy Spirit lusteth against one another, that is, they have desires and yearnings that are contrary to one another. The Christian, then, is a battlefield, having desires to do good and evil. The outcome is that ye cannot do the things that ye would: the flesh seeks to thwart the Spirit, who, in turn, attempts to frustrate the flesh’s evil desires.’
Therefore, Bruh Paul continues: ‘But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.’ (Gal. 5:18) And the scholars have this to say about that. (smile) ‘5:18. Verse 17 may leave the impression of a believer being caught in a hopeless tug-of-war between the flesh and the Spirit. This is not the case. The Christian is led of (by) the Spirit, when yielding to Him, to turn away from the flesh’s evil yearnings, thus putting sin out of his daily life. The verb “led” indicates voluntary submission; the believer decides by whom he will be led – either by his flesh or by the Spirit. The Spirit-led person is not under the law. The Christian does not need the restraints of the law because his moral life is governed by the Spirit.’
Mamacita! That tells us like it is my fellow saints in Christ! It’s time to stop blaming everything and everybody else for our problems and begin looking at the real heart of the problem – ourselves. For we have all the tools necessary to live a decent Christian life, we just have to put our hands to the plough and stick to the Lord’s plan for our lives. And we can’t doubt our God’s goodness, either, for not only has He given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, but also all these wonderful tools that we call our Thursday Blessings to do His earthly work. So let’s go home reminding ourselves of them now nuh.
As one strong voice. ‘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 every day! Amen!’
Now there’s no more we can ask for. It’s our bounden duty to now go out and share those blessings just as generously with others, as the Lord shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…time for Christians to stop playing the blame game…and take responsibility for their own actions…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
08 Jul 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A Lover's Concerto, a supernatural peace, birds serenade the flowers, Christians never give up, comapssionate heart, curse, divine assurance, faith, favour, good health, how gentle is the rain, I will fear no evil, in the name of Jesus, keep on fighting the good fight, let not your heart be troubled, LOVE, made this day for us to fall in love, my glory and the lifter up of my head, my peace I give unto you, negative word, neither let it be afraid, not as the world giveth, Peace i leave with you, peace of mind, pilgrim's journey, prosper, see there beyond the hills, some magic from above, spiritual maturity, succeed, that falls softly on the meadow, that have set themselves against me, The Botanical Gardens in Scarborough, the bright colours of the rainbow, the Lord sustained me, the peace of Mother Nature, the Prince of Peace, The Toys, the valley of the shadow of death, there is no help for him in God, thou O Lord art a shield for me, though I walk through, Thursday Blessings, with their melodies, working for Jesus is so wonderful
Psalm 3:3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) my head.
It’s a wet and cloudy Thursday morning, but for some reason, when I looked outside earlier on, the opening words of the old song, ‘A Lover’s Concerto’ by the Black Female group ‘The Toys’ came to mind. Please sing along with me, if you remember it. (smile) ‘How gentle is the rain, that falls softly on the meadow. Birds, high up in the trees, serenade the flowers with their melodies. See, there beyond the hills, the bright colours of the rainbow. Some magic from above made this day just for us to fall in LOVE!’
Ah friends, most of you are too young to remember that song when it first came out in 1965. However, you can check out several versions on YouTube, including some by later reincarnations of the ‘The Toys.’ Didn’t even know that there were others…and some good ones too. (smile) But I always remember the first time I heard it, sitting in the old bandshell at the top of the Botanical Gardens in my hometown of Scarborough, Tobago, looking down on the harbour in the distance, surrounded by all the lush, beautiful, tropical scenery that was the gardens.
It’s changed up now, but back then ‘the gardens’ as it was popularly known, was a haven for both the eyes and the soul – and lovers too (smile) – a place where one could simply relax and enjoy the simplicity and peace of Mother Nature. Oh, how I miss those slow, carefree days of youth! Now, everything is just hustle and bustle, and it’s difficult to even find a quiet green space that can offer peace of mind. But friends, I know a place, or rather a man, or better yet, a God-man, who can help you to find that peace which you are so desperately seeking. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, the Prince of Peace!
If you turn to Him, and live the way He desires, you will find the utmost peace in whatever situation you might encounter! That His promise. And He doesn’t make or take promises lightly. So you can be assured that whatever He tells you, will come to pass. And if it’s peace of mind you are looking for, then you’ve certainly come to the right place. Listen to Jesus as He offers this assurance. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27).
Yes my brethren, the peace of Jesus is a completely different kind of peace to that found in the world! It’s a divine, a supernatural peace! A peace that flows from God, not from man, or any of his doings. A peace that one can find in any kind of situation, be it fraught with fear or danger. Yes, the peace of Jesus gives one the confidence to handle whatever comes against you, although it may be bigger and tougher than you.
And Bruh David puts it so eloquently in Psalm 23. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4) What greater peace, confidence and assurance can one have than not being afraid, even in the face of death eh? None whatsoever! And that’s why it’s ever so important to come to Jesus, because He is the ONLY One who can offer that kind of assurance! And it’s that divine assurance that kept Bruh David going, despite all the problems he faced.
Listen to how he puts it in Psalm 3, when he fled from his son Absalom, who was trying to usurp his kingdom. ‘Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept. I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps. 3:2-6)
Oh my people, do we have that kind of confidence in Jesus Christ, that though thousands come against us, we will not be swayed, that we can sleep peacefully in the night? We need to, if we are to stand strong against the enemy and his evil minions. Yuh see, even at one of Bruh David’s lowest points, the rebellion of his son, he still sought and found solace in the Lord his God. That’s the kind of spiritual maturity we need to get us through our pilgrim’s journey here on earth.
And just one more goody here from Bruh David before we close. (smile). In total confidence, he declares: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up (devour) my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.’ (Ps. 27:1-3)
Oh my fellow saints in Christ, are we that confident in the Lord our God? Can we stand up and confidently make those statements? I do hope so. Otherwise our faith is not as strong as it ought to be. For it’s only with a strong and mature faith that we can stand steadfast in the knowledge that Christ will enable us to do whatever it takes to defeat the enemy. But unfortunately, that level of faith only comes through experience; through spending much time with Christ – studying His word and talking to Him – then seeing, both in our own lives and those of others, the wonders He can perform, and the strength that He is able to give.
And if you are not yet at that level of faith, many of us are not, please don’t give up hope, just keep on fighting the good fight of faith. Every day you fight, your faith will grow. And believe me, I’m talking from personal experience, the day will come when you will be pleasantly surprised at certain decisions you make, which show your awesome increase in faith. So please keep plugging on, for Christians NEVER GIVE UP!
Now, let’s go home declaring (yeah!!!) our Thursday Blessings, those divine blessings so generously granted to strengthen us for God’s earthly work. Altogether 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 every day! Amen!’
So enough with the talk, (smile) let’s go out and put all those blessings into action nuh… and remember to share them, just as generously as they were granted to us. Much LOVE!
…working for Jesus is so wonderful…but you will never know it…until you do it…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
27 May 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a scripture of amazing promise, a tree planted by the rivers of waters, bless others, blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, blessings shall overtake thee, bringeth forth his fruit in season, curse, divine protection, faith, favour, his delight is in the law of the Lord, his leaf shall not wither, in his law doth he meditate, Isaac reaped a hundredfold, Isaac sowed in the land, like the chaff which the wind driveth away, LOVE, negative word, obey the voice of the Lord, our hearts are in the right place, prosper, rejoice and be glad in it, sitteth in the seat of the scornful, standeth in the way of sinners, succeed, the breath of life, Thursday Blessings, until thy cup overflows, walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, whatsoever he does shall prosper, whose hope the Lord is
Jeremiah 17:7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
One more day friends, we have been divinely gifted one more day, this one called Thursday! Wow! What a wonderful God we serve and worship! So let’s rejoice and be glad in it nuh, like our Lord God intended when He allowed the breath of life to continue flowing through our mortal bodies this bright and sunshiny day!
Ah, what blessed lives we live my faithful brethren! The psalmist said it thus: ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly (wicked), nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate (ponder on) day and night.’ (Ps. 1:1-2)
What a beautiful scripture my people, one filled with such amazing promise! If we don’t let the enemy, or the ways of the world tie up our lives in knots like they want to do, but instead focus on the Lord and His word and will for our lives, we will be eternally blessed, down here on earth and also later on in heaven!
Now hear how the psalmist says that blessing will flow out. ‘And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers (channels) of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.’ (Ps. 1:3)
Mama oh Mama! We are so blessed my people! But are we grateful for those blessings, and do we show it in our lives? Do we give thanks and praise to the Lord for His goodness and mercy to us? Do we bless others with the blessings that the Lord so generously bestows on us? I do hope so, otherwise we’re simply living a lie!
And unfortunately, that can truthfully be said about too many of us supposed believers. That’s why the heathen don’t pay as much attention to us as they ought to. Why they don’t rush to embrace Christ as their Lord and Saviour. And you can’t give them wrong when they see the ungodly lives too many so-called believers are living.
However, hear this explanation from the scholars. ‘Psalm 1. The key word in the psalm is the word blessed. It serves here as a pronouncement upon a man – but a certain kind of man. In essence, the psalm is teaching that the blessed or happy man is the righteous man. The happy man avoids evil influences, deeds, and attitudes (v.1); he delights in God’s Word (v.2); therefore, God causes him to prosper (v.3).’ Yes friends, when we serve the Lord God Jehovah with a willing and faithful heart, He blesses us so much that our cup overflows, and others see it and want to come to him to receive blessings like us.
And hear how the prophet Jeremiah puts it, when he talks about the blessedness of trusting the Lord. ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer. 17:7-8) Wow! Imagine that nuh people! When we stay righteous, even in the times of drought and famine, hardship and trouble, we will still prosper because of the Lord’s blessings upon our lives!
And we have a good example of that in Genesis 26, where during a time of famine, the Lord instructed Isaac not to go down to Egypt but to stay in the land of the Philistines and He would provide for Him. And even though Isaac got himself in trouble with the Philistines, the Good Book tells us: ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received (reaped) in the same year a hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed (grew) great, and went forward (continued), and grew until he became very great.’ (Gen. 26:12-13)
Yes friends, that’s what the Lord can, and will do in our lives, although we are not the best we can be, but He sees that our hearts are in the right place. Who else could cause Isaac to reap a hundredfold in a time of drought and famine eh? Only the Lord God Almighty, the God of his forefathers. And that’s why it is ever so important for us to read and meditate on God’s word and live the kind of life He expects of us, because hear what happens to those who don’t.
‘The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ (Ps. 1:4-6) Now that’s putting it mildly, because perishing will not be an easy matter for the ungodly, but more like going through hell fire and damnation!
Anyway, listen to this continuing explanation of the scholars. ‘On the other hand, the ungodly is worth no more than chaff (the dry, protective, worthless outer casing of cereal grains) (v.4), and his destiny is judgement (v.5). Finally, the evaluation by the Lord Himself is described (v.6). There is an ellipsis (omission) which is understood with both clauses in verse 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous [and it will be blessed], but [He also knows] the way of the ungodly [and it] shall perish. The psalm forms an appropriate introduction to the Psalter since it sets before the readers the three characters who will figure mostly in the psalms: the righteous, the ungodly, and God.’
And I’m chuckling here friends, because I can see the mysterious moving of the Lord in Today’s Bit. I did not have any particular topic in mind, and He led me to Psalm 1, which teaches about the blessings of the Lord on the righteous, and what better day to do it than on a Thursday when we declare the bountiful blessings of our great God! So let’s do that right now nuh! As one strong and sincere voice, let’s shout out our Thursday Blessings to the world!
‘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 every day! Amen!’
And the divine purpose for bestowing those blessings on us, is for us to share them just as generously with others as the Lord shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…obey the voice of the Lord…and blessings shall come upon thee…and overtake thee…until thy cup overflows…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
20 May 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundance, another day of life, at they right hand are pleasures evermore, Christ paved the way, comapssionate heart, curse, divine protection, faing eternal damnation, God's joyful presence, he is at my right hand, I have set the Lord always before me, I shall not be moved, in the fires of hell, in thy presence is fullness of joy, LOVE, my flesh shall dwell securely in hope, my glory rejoiceth, my heart is glad, negative word, no need to fear when waling with Christ, our attitude towards death, prosper, share blessings generously, succeed, suffer the Holy One to see corruption, summertime blues, talent, the attitude of the righteous man, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the Lord is our strength, the nature of the beast, the righteous man rejoices and is hopeful, thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, thou wilt show me the path of life, Thursday Blessings, trust and spiritual devotion to God
Psalm 16:8. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Summertime! Summertime! Summertime! I’ve got the summertime blues! Yes friends, all of us in the north country are just dying for the summertime to take strong effect, for it will at least get us of the house into our yards and patios and have fresh air circulating through our houses. Although, when the heat and humidity start hitting us, we going to complain: ‘Boy! It so hot eh! I wish I had air conditioning yes!’ (smile) But that’s just the nature of the beast, we LOVE to complain even when our basic needs are met and we living better than most of the world.
And today, since the Lord has seen fit to gift us with another day of life on His great earth, I am going to keep my promise of a few days ago and return to Psalm 16, finish talking about that most excellent Michtam or Contemplation of Bruh David, as he seeks preservation and blessing. Earlier on we dealt with ‘the attitude of the righteous man in life, which was to be one of trust (vs. 1), gratefulness for God’s goodness (vs. 2), delight in God’s people (vs. 3), separation from idolatrous worship (vs. 4), satisfaction in God’s gracious provisions (vs. 5-6), praise for the Lord’s counsel (vs. 7), and steadfastness in spiritual devotion (vs. 8).’
Oh my people, those are just a few of the things we need to concentrate on as we live this earthly life for Christ! Yeh, I know they seem plentiful and difficult, but in actual reality they are neither, because once you seriously and sincerely decide to live for Christ, He gives you all that you need to do it successfully, through the awesome guidance of His Holy Spirit and His amazing word filled with numerous promises. And if we stay steadfast, He will too. So the life situation is all taken care of there.
Today though, we’ll take a gander at what our attitude ought to be towards death. But first let’s hear some of those marvellous words of Bruh David as he broaches the subject. Now, having set his mind on spiritual steadfastness to God in his living days, he is able to proclaim. ‘I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’ (Ps. 16:8) Yes my fellow saints, if we want to be able to handle death properly, that is the first thing we need to acknowledge, overwhelming trust and spiritual devotion to Almighty God.
And why is that? Because, as Bruh David continues: ‘Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.’ (Ps. 16:9) Mama, O Mama! Isn’t that a wonderful position to be in precious people; possession of a glad heart with awesome rejoicing and secure hope in Christ? It most certainly is! And then Bruh David lays it right on the line: ‘For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the abode of the dead); neither wilt thou suffer (allow) thine Holy One to see corruption.’ (Ps. 16:10)
Yes mih bredrin, when our hearts and souls are right with God, He will not allow our spirits to dwell in the place of death; but instead, they will be made full of life and dwell with Him in heaven eternally. And that’s why we should not be afraid of death if we are sincerely in tune with our Creator, for though our mortal bodies will return to the dust from whence they came, our spirits won’t ever see death. That’s because after we have taken our last breath here on earth, our spirit will take its next in heaven with Christ. That’s the promise to the faithful Christian!
And being persuaded and assured of all those things, Bruh David could therefore declare with a proud and certain heart. ‘Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ (Ps. 16:11) Now that’s good reason to shout for joy my people! When we walk sincerely with our heavenly Father, He guides and directs us down the path of life that leads directly to Him. And along the way, He also gives us His joy – for remember the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10).
You also know that there’s no other Being as generous as Him, so in His presence, we will be rewarded most generously for our steadfastness and endurance. Therefore, I don’t know why so many of us refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour nuh, because the only other option available, that of being with Satan in the fires of hell, facing eternal damnation, holds no fascination whatsoever!
Now here’s what the scholars say our attitude to death ought to resemble. ‘In facing death, the righteous man rejoices and is hopeful (vs. 9). He is confident that God will preserve him from the decay of death, and that death will not result in his corruption (vs. 10). Rather, he will travel down the path of life, that is the path leading to life, which will terminate in God’s joyful presence (vs. 11). David’s confidence in his ultimate destiny is valid for him (and for ALL believers) only because Christ has travelled down that path and paved the way for all who believe in Him (Acts 2:25-28).’ That’s where Peter includes Bruh David’s words in his powerful Pentecost Sermon.
Oh, how wonderful is all that eh friends! Very much so! That’s why it boggles my imagination when so many people, so stubbornly refuse to come to Jesus and accept His light yoke and awesome salvation, that leads to eternal life with Him in heaven! For as I said earlier, the only other option available, being with Satan in hell, is downright unacceptable.
So, now that we know how to face life and death, let’s go out and face it mano-a-mano, like Jesus did nuh. And, as Christ always does, He gave us some awesome tools with which to do His wonderful work. We call them our Thursday Blessings. Now, as one, in strong voice, let’s positively declare them nuh.
‘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 every day! Amen!’
And what are we supposed to do with all them amazing blessings eh mih people? Go out and share them just as generously with others as Christ shared them with us! Much LOVE!
…there is no need to fear either life or death…when walking sincerely with Christ…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
06 May 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: contemned the counsel of the Most High, courage, creativity, curse, divine protection, faith, favour, generously share our blessings, give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, glorify His holy name, God is the judge, he delivered them, his mercy endureth for ever, in the name of Jesus, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, LOVE, magnificent and magnanimous God, man's first responsibility, negative word, new mercies and compassions, offer up unto God thanksgiving, promotion, prosper, renewed breath of life, self-disicpline, sick and strife filled world, succeed, their soul fainted in them, they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, they rebelled against the words of God, Thursday Blessings, to praise God
Psalm 107:6. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Give it up for Thursday friends! Give thanks for the renewed breath of life flowing through us, with the Lord’s new mercies and compassions, fresh off the line, made especially for today! It is certainly an immense pleasure and privilege to do life with Jesus on another new day! Oh, glory be my people! Therefore, like the psalmist of old, we can most definitely declare (steups!) in grateful appreciation: ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever.’ (Ps. 107:1)
Yes, my faithful brethren, we ought to be continually pouring out our thanks to the Lord God for His unending goodness to the children of men! I hate to think what would become of us if His mercies and compassions were not always available to us, despite the inherent sinfulness in our souls. And Psalm 107 is such a magnificent acknowledgement of God’s goodness to mankind that we going to look through it and cull some wonderful scriptures from it.
Here is the first one: ‘Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.’ (Ps. 107:2) And yuh better believe that is what we ought to be crying out in loud voice and sincere appreciation my brethren, because the Lord went out of His way to redeem us from eternal separation and destruction by sending His sinless Son to die on the cross to atone for our abominable sins! Now isn’t that something to be proud of and everlastingly grateful? It surely is! So why aren’t we proud of Him, and shouting out to all and sundry His wonderful mercies eh?
Because we are a bunch of proud and arrogant ingrates! And why do I say so? Just listen as the psalmist continues. ‘And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness is a solitary (desolate) way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.’ (Ps. 107:3-7)
Yuh see that mih people, when Israel found themselves in difficulty from their gross disobedience, they cried out to the Lord and He saved them from their problems. And I like how Asaph puts it in Psalm 50 – God is the judge. Talking about sacrificial offerings of animals, he speaks on God’s behalf. ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer up unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ (Ps. 50:12-15)
Yeh friends, that’s how the redeemed of the Lord ought to behave! No wonder the author of Psalm 107, takes issue with us and sadly declares (spelled it wrong there too): ‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men.’ (Ps. 107:8) We should have no problem in doing that nuh mih bredrin. But unfortunately, we seem to have just such a problem.
And here’s why the psalmist tell us to give thanks and praises to our great and wonderful God. ‘For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron (prisoners). Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned (despised) the counsel of the Most High:’ (Ps. 107:9-11)
Oh precious people, those words speak directly to our situation right now. We stubbornly and arrogantly rebelled against God, trying to kick Him out of our society! And what happened? ‘Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.’ (Ps. 107:12) Any fool can see the obvious resemblance there to our current society, where we are suffering all kinds of problems and the more we try to solve them in our own strength, the greater the mess and confusion we’re making.
So what’s the answer eh? It’s obvious friends: ‘Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder (broke their chains in pieces).’ (Ps. 107:13-14) Yuh know, it still boggles my puny mind, that in all the troubles that we currently facing in this sick and strife filled world, very few of us, and none of the powers that be, are even considering calling unto the Most High God Jehovah for help. We’re only concerned about doing it in our own strength.
But what about the God of our fathers eh? Have we forgotten so quickly how good He was to them when they called out to Him in troubled times? It certainly seems so. But friends, please believe, that our problems will not be solved until we turn back to the God of our fathers, and do like the psalmist says: ‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men!’ (Ps. 107:15)
And now that we have set us straight on that matter, (smile) let’s go home declaring (oh yeah!!!) our Thursday Blessings, which our magnificent and magnanimous God has seen fit to bless us most generously with to do His earthly work. In one loud and sincere voice: ‘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 has 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 every day! Amen!’
Oh my faithful believers, we are ever so blessed, that we can’t truly appreciate it! However, let’s go out now and generously share all those wonderful blessings with others who so desperately need them nuh, for that’s what Jesus desires of us! Much LOVE!
…man’s first responsibility…is to praise God… to give Him thanks…to glorify His holy name…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
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