28 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 24/7 society, almighty god, be wise, bindage, blessings, derision, destruction unto them, devise evil, disasters, disobedience, do the right thing, Egypt, encourage ourselves, eternal life, faith, favour, favouritism, fellowship, focus on God, foreordained, forsaken the Lord, friends, give thanks and praise, glory hallelujah, God made man in His image, God's people, God's Word, he who has ears to hear, hope, I have redeemed them, Israel, it takes two to tango, Jesus Christ, Judah, justice, laws, LOVE, mercy, ONE body in Christ, Praise the Lord, raised him up from the dead, rebelled, rebellion, redeemed, redemption, relationship, relationships, relax from labour, responsibilities, reverence, rules, sacrifice, salvation, setbacks, strengthen our faith, sufferation, Sunday, the cross at Cakvary, the foundation of the world, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the one who made you for Himself, the precious blood of Christ, the Promised Land, the Sabbath Day, they have fled from me, they have spoken lies against me, they have transgressed against me, Tobago day, true image of God, unconditional LOVE, woe unto them, wonder, worship, your faith and hope might be in god
Hosea 7:13. Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
Well Friends, Sunday, the Sabbath day has rolled around again, and it’s promising to be another Tobago day! (smile) Praise the Lord! Glory Hallelujah! All of that means it’s time for us to relax from our labour, take it easy, and concentrate our focus, even more than normal, on Almighty God, our Creator and Provider, for that is what He did after creating the universe.
Sadly though, with our busy, 24/7 scheduled society, some things just cannot be shut down in midstream, and thus life is not as simple and easy as it used to be. However, it is important that each and every one of us put aside at least one day in each week to stop labouring and totally give ourselves over to God and family.
We should also make time to join together in worship and fellowship with other believers, so that we can give thanks and praise together as one body in the risen Christ, as well as encourage ourselves and strengthen our faith. That is done much easier through a gathering of like believers.
Now here is a very interesting paragraph I just read in the Introduction to a booklet by Jack Kuhatschek, titled: ‘A Message for All Time – Understanding and Applying the Bible.’
It states: ‘When you realize that the Bible isn’t primarily about rules but relationships, your Scripture reading will be transformed. And when you discover that God’s Word isn’t mainly about laws but LOVE, you’ll feel the heartbeat of the One who made you for Himself.’
Oh Friends, I was definitely intrigued by those statements, because if you really look at the Bible in those terms, it does become much easier to understand. We’re not dealing with rules and regulations per se, but with personal relationships between a God who made man in His image, to have a LOVING relationship with Him.
But to have a LOVING relationship with a just and holy God necessitates our behaving in certain ways, ways that reflect the right and true image of our Creator.
That brings us to our Bit: ‘Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.’
It’s oh so simple my brethren: God’s people, Israel, rebelled against Him in spite of His overwhelming, unconditional LOVE for them, and the special acts of wonder, mercy and justice He performed on their behalf.
As the Good Book continues: ‘And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled (wailed) upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn (grain) and (new) wine, and they rebel against me. Though I have bound (trained) and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief (devise evil) against me.
They return, but not (upward) to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.’ (Hos.7:14-16)
Yes my people, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern one of Judah rebelled against God, and both suffered serious setbacks, terrible disasters because of it. And I like the info the scholars provide on the last verse.
‘7:16. A deceitful bow has every appearance of being good, but the arrows that it propels miss the intended target. God has wonderful things for Israel, but they have continuously mistaken His favour for favouritism and have misused His blessings for their own ends.’
And isn’t that ever so true! The Israelites abused God’s favour, foolishly thinking that because they were God’s chosen people, they could get away with rebellion. But unfortunately my dear Friends, our great and wonderful God doesn’t operate that way. Remember a good relationship appoints responsibilities on both sides. As they say, it takes two to tango, and two hands to wash.
Now God did His part by liberating the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and moving them to the Promised Land. Thereafter, He simply expected them to do their part of the covenant; be obedient to His dictates and serve and worship Him with due reverence and appreciation. But they didn’t, and eventually paid a stiff price for their disobedience.
Likewise my brethren, we in this current age have also forsaken the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who after all our forefathers’ disobedience, still had that fervent LOVE for us, and still desired a close relationship with us.
That burned in His heart so much, He made the ultimate sacrifice, paid the ultimate price for our disobedience by crucifying His sinless Son, Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, to redeem us once and for all time from our abominable sins.
Oh Friends, that redemption was the beginning of God’s greatest gift to us, for it led to salvation and eternal life!
Hear how Peter puts it: ‘Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible (perishable) things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (aimless conduct) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (sinless):
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.’ (1 Pet.1:18-21)
Now, our more immediate fathers to some extent did that, had faith and hope in God. But recently my people, in the last couple generations, we have totally strayed from their walk with God, and instead are desperately trying to rid our society of Him, by removing Him from all the special places where he was originally placed and revered; like schools, work, public places, and even homes.
Now put yourselves in God’s place Friends. How would you react to such treacherous behaviour eh? Yuh see how He reacted to Israel’s disobedience? Do you think He’ll react any differently to ours? Off course not! And then we naively wonder why our world has suddenly become such a hellish place.
Oh my fellow believers, I don’t know to what extent, but I do know that the current tragedy that’s our world, has some correlation to our removing Jehovah God from our society, and if we don’t turn our woeful and wicked ways around soon, even more destruction will come upon us.
So if we want to see our children and grandchildren endure real ‘sufferation’ then we can continue the way we’re going. If not, then we have to change course, and change quickly too, get Jesus’ LOVE Revolution into top gear and beat the iniquity workers at their own game.
My fellow believers, it’s all up to us now, because the evil doers like the status quo. So please, let’s be wise and do the right thing nuh. Much LOVE!
…he who has ears to ear…let him hear…else he’s going to feel…
16 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all praise and thanks to God, allergies, awesome, better late than never, blessings, boggles my imagination, born again, born of water and the Spirit, brought men to christ, Bruh Paul's conversion, by faith in christ Jesus, Calvary, children of God, christ jesus, church at Corinth, comforting, compliance with God's word, condemn the sinner, conversion, covenant, curse of the law, Damascus, declared righteous, divinely intended purpose, endowed us with physical life, enter into the kingdom of god, eternal life, ever so faithful and kind, ever-Loving, evil, externalism, faith, Galatians, generous, glorious, Glory Halleujah, God's Spirit, good, good measure, gung ho, healing, helping, holy, holy spirit, internalism, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, just, justified, keeping our focus on God, Law of Moses, learning, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, magnanimous, manifestations, medication, mercies, minister of the New Testament, miracles, Mosaic covenant, Nicodemus, our sufficency is of God, precious blood of Jesus christ, reconciled, redeemed, righteousness., runny nose, schoolmaster, sleep inducing, spiritual blessings, Stephen, sufficient of ourselves, teaching, that which is born of the flesh, that which is born of the spirit, the flesh profits nothing, the Holy Spirit, the letter kills, the spirit gives life, Triune God, true believer, truth, ultimate wisdom, understanding of the scripture, wisdom, words of jesus, worker bee
John 6:63. It is the spirit that quickneth (gives life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Aye Friends, the ole fella’s in a bit of a rough shape this Tuesday morning. Last night my allergies, or the cold, or some similar malady had me sneezing and sniffling with a runny nose thrown in for good measure. (smile)
So I took some relief medication, which though it eased up the nasal situation, it was also sleep inducing, which therefore made it somewhat difficult to get up at an early hour. But as they say, better late than never! (smile)
And the ole fella’s up now, gung ho and ready to go; not a hundred percent fit, but feeling much better than when I went to bed last night, or rather early this morning. (smile) All praise and thanks to our ever-Loving, healing and comforting God!
Ah my people, when I consider all the blessings and mercies that our magnanimous and generous God daily bestows on us, it just boggles my imagination and fills my heart, body, soul and mind with the urge to greatly praise Him! He is ever so faithful and kind…
But I don’t really need to tell you all that eh, because if you’re a true believer, you will already have discovered that by the way He operates in your own life.
And all God’s children gave out a loud and grateful: ‘Glory Hallelujah! All thanks and praise be to Jehovah God, who has redeemed us from sin, and reconciled us to Himself, through the precious blood of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that was shed on Calvary’s hill for our benefit!’
And isn’t that a most glorious and awesome truth my brethren? It surely is!
Now let’s have a look at some more wise and truthful words, words of Jesus, in our Bit. ‘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.’
And we saw yesterday where it was God’s Spirit that actually endowed us with physical life. (Gen.2:7) And that Bruh Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, as well as Stephen’s wisdom and miracles were figurative manifestations of the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives.
I guess we can compare the Holy Spirit to the worker bee in a hive; He is the one who carries out the actual work or deeds in our Triune God.
Hear how Bruh Paul puts it to the church at Corinth: ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able (sufficient as) ministers of the new testament (covenant)’ not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.’ (2 Cor.3:5-6)
Words of absolute truth my brethren!
And the scholars explain that last verse thus: ‘3:6. The new testament (lit. New Covenant) is both new in time (not being inaugurated until Christ – Matt.26:28; Luke 22:7-23; 1 Cor.11:25; Heb.8:8) and new in quality (providing better spiritual blessings than did the old Mosaic covenant).
Letter, but of the spirit: This expression corresponds to the thought of verse 3 contrasting “ink” with the “Spirit.” The contrast is between the externalism inherent in the Old Covenant and the internalism inherent in the New Covenant.
The letter killeth: Since certain Jews in the assembly at Corinth were concerned with Paul’s defection from Moses’ law, Paul here explains his position. The best the law could do was condemn the sinner.
It is not here implied that the law of Moses was evil. On the contrary, it is holy, just, and good (Rom.7:12). This can be asserted because it brought men to the end of themselves to Christ (Gal.3:24).’
Oh my people, I sincerely hope that gives us a better understanding of the scripture, because that’s what we’re all about with the Bit; learning, teaching, helping to understand God’s Word and keeping our focus on Him.
And please check out the scriptures mentioned in the scholars’ explanation, because they offer a wealth of information. I just did, and consequently was inspired to quote the last scripture reference, that from Galatians.
‘Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified (declared righteous) by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school-master (tutor), For ye are all the children (sons) of God by faith in Christ Jesus.’ (Gal.3:24-26)
Yes Friends, as the scholars say: ‘3:25. After one’s conversion to Christ, he is no longer under the curse of the law, as it has fulfilled its divinely intended purpose.’ That is, bringing us to the point where we become children of God, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Oh, I know I digressed there for a moment, but I just thought it necessary to interject those verses so that we could come to a better understanding of Bruh Paul’s words. And we’ll close with some more awesome words from Jesus, re the second part of our Bit: ‘the flesh profiteth nothing.’
Listen to Him expound to Nicodemus: ‘Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth (wishes); and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.’ (John 3:5-8)
More truth of the awesome, indisputable variety my people!
Now let’s take a few moments to ponder all that we have spoken about today, then try, with the help of God obviously, to make our lives better and brighter by bringing them into compliance with God’s Word and the wonderful plan He has for each human life He has created. That is the ultimate wisdom of the universe! Much LOVE!
…oh what a magnificent blessing it is…to have the Holy Spirit of God dwell within us…to have Him continually lead and guide us in righteousness…to have Him strengthen us with true faith and trust in Almighty God…then finally bring us to eternal life with our wonderful Lord and Saviour…Jesus Christ…
06 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all God's works are done in truth, be filled with the Spirit, Bruh David, dissipation, drunk with wine, enthusiasm, everlasting joy, fellowship, Friday chant, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, giving thanks always, glorify God, glory hallelujah, God gives songs in the night, God my maker, goodness, harbinger of the weekend, heartfelt, heavenly wisdom, holy holy Lord God Almighty, holy spirit, hymns, it's all good, Jesus Christ, joy, joy and gladness, LOVE, magnify God with thanksgiving, making melody in your heart to god, mercy, praise and worship, praise is comely, Praise the Lord, praise the name of god, psalms, redeemed, Rejoice in the Lord, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, sacrifice in songs, saviour jesus christ, sing a new song, sing unto God, singing, Song of songs, songs, songs are an integral part of worship, spiritual songs, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, thanksgiving, the Book of Life, the Lamb of God, The Lord is my strength, the ransomed of the Lord, the seven seals, the weekend soon come, the word of the Lord is right, wisdom, with my song will I praise Him
Psalm 69:30. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
And then it was Friday, the harbinger of the weekend! And the working people were joyful and sang with great enthusiasm: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and slaving for massa done! Thank God is Friday yes! That means the weekend soon come, time to party!’
And who can really give them wrong, for after a hard week’s work, one needs to have some fun. But Friends, fun is not the most important part of the weekend, merely one of them.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant, which will give us a better perspective on how to handle these important two days off. As one, in strong voice now.‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, the weekend is also a time for rest, relaxation and contemplation of God’s goodness and mercy with fellowship amongst other believers.
And then we have today’s Bit: ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.’
Oh my brethren from the moment my eyes fell on it this morning I knew it was our Bit. That verse touches my heart and brings a tear to my eyes, (smile) because it’s so heartfelt, and besides that, songs are such an integral part of worshipping our magnificent and majestic God!
And as the psalmist, Bruh David, as I just discovered, tells us in the next verse: ‘This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.’ (Ps.69:31)
So Friends, we see that our God even prefers sacrifice in songs of praise and worship to that of animals. As Hebrews informs us: ‘By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.’ (Heb.13:15)
And what better way to do that than in song? Throughout the Good Book songs are mentioned numerous times as worthy praise to God. When we check out the Psalms, most of them were written as songs, many by Bruh David, who was an especially good ‘songmeister’ and used them all the time.
Cousin Sol was also a good tunesmith. He even wrote a whole book of them – Song of Solomon or Song of Songs – bursting with LOVE for his adored.
And what I want to do today is show how very important songs were, and still are, in praising and worshipping our wonderful Most High God. Let’s delve into some of those beautiful scripture passages now.
And where else we would start eh, but with God’s own ‘songmeister’, Bruh David. (smile) Listen as he profoundly declares: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:7)
Even to Job’s buddy, Elihu, songs were important, as he bewails: ‘But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.’ (Job 35:10) So we see here that even God puts songs in our hearts.
Now hear the psalmist as he heartily advises us to praise the Lord for His creation. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery (small lute) and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise (joyous shout). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.’ (Ps.33:1-4)
Oh my people, how can we ignore such expressive feelings eh? No way!
Meanwhile, in his foretelling of Israel’s return to Zion, Isaiah positively declares: ‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ (Is.35:10)
And Bruh Paul will not be left out, (smile) as he provides us with these wise words. ‘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.’ (Eph. 5:18-20)
Now here’s the clincher; even in heaven, or should I say especially in heaven, songs are of great importance. Around God’s throne, John saw four ugly beasts, and what were they doing?
‘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.4:8)
Yes Friends, even the ugly beasts were continually chanting God’s praises!
And that’s not all. When the Lamb of God took the Book of Life, what happened eh?
‘And he came and took the book (scroll) out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials (bowls) full of odours (incense) which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sung a new sung saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred (tribe), and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.’ (Rev. 5:7-10)
Yeh mih people, songs of praise and worship are oh so important in worshipping our magnificent God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Not only do they glorify Him, but they also put joy and LOVE in our hearts too.
So please, let’s keep right on singing those glorious psalms and songs of praise to Almighty God, so that we may continually glorify Him, and also keep our hearts and minds full of joy and LOVE! Oh Friends, that’s indeed heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…praise Him, praise Him…Glory Hallelujah…He is LOVE…He is LOVE…
P.S. Oh Friends, please excuse the lateness of the Bit, but I was somewhat tardy in rising this morning, (smile) and then there was so much info to cull together and try to make sense of, that it took me longer than expected. But remember, it’s all good. Much LOVE!
23 Mar 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: acquaintance, anger, angry, arrogant, be ashamed, believe, blessed be the Lord, blessings, bounden duty, bow down, Bruh David, Christian community, church brethren, contemptuous, crying out to Almighty God, deliver me, depressed souls, dilgently seek god, enemies, faith, faithlessness, fear, foolish pride, fortress, God of truth, good courage, grief, help, hope, hope in the Lord, house of defence, human frailities, I'm sorry Lord, immortal words, infinite wisdom, iniquity, insolence, Jesus' flock, kindness, lead and guide, Lord God Jehovah, lose contact with God, Love the Lord, lying lips, mercy, negative emotions, neighbours, O Lord, passion, persecution, please God, positive results, pride, put my trust, redeemed, reproach, resentful, rewards, righteous, righteousness., rock of refuge, rules his spirit, saints, save me, schemed, self-control, serious problems, shame, sighing, silent in the grave, slander, slow to anger, stand strong, stew for a while, strength, strength fails, strengthen your heart, stress, strong rock, supplications, take away my life, take refuge, teach me a lesson, the Good Book, the Lord's own time, thy name's sake, trouble, truth, unbelievers, wicked, wickedness
Psalm 31:1. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust (take refuge); let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, the ole fella’s stressed out this Sunday morning! Chuh! It’s been one of those days. I got upset over something that I possibly should not have gotten upset over, and thus foolishly allowed it to steal my peace and joy. Ah Lord eh! I’m tired with these human frailties yes! (smile)
Consequently, I couldn’t get my head around anything in the Good Book to write about. And although I beseeched the Lord to relieve my stress and show me what He wanted me to write about, in His infinite wisdom, He allowed me to stew for a while.
Oh, I had no doubts that in His own good time, He would lead and guide me for His name’s sake, but I guess He was trying to teach me a lesson in self-control, reminding me that: ‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.’ (Prov.16:32)
And all I can say is that I’m sorry Lord, and I do hope that I learned the lesson, but you know that the ole fella’s blood is very close to his skin, his passion is such that he can’t put up with much nonsense. In any case, thank you Lord for reminding me that those negative emotions make me lose contact with you.
Anyway my people, as you can see, in the Lord’s good time, He brought me around and led me to these immortal words of Bruh David lamenting his plight. ‘In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust (take refuge); let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.’
Apparently it was one of those times when Bruh David was at an all time low, when both his body and spirit were in real bad shape. For he continues plaintively: ‘Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock (rock of refuge), for a house of defence (fortress) to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily (secretly) for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.’ (Ps.31:2-5)
Now Friends and fellow believers, that’s a move we ought to imitate rather than shy away from, or simply dismiss out of hand, through stupid shame and foolish pride, based on what others might think. You don’t know what other people do when they are faced with serious problems.
So please don’t allow them to stop you from crying out to Almighty God in your time of need, because that’s what He is there for, and also what He greatly desires. Yes my brethren, our God desires nothing more than that we come to Him for help with ALL of our problems!
If a mighty king like Bruh David could cry out to God with these words: ‘Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed (wastes away) with grief, yea, my soul and my belly (body). For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed (waste away).
I was a reproach (a despised thing) among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without (outside) fled from me. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised (schemed) to take away my life.’ (Ps.31:9-13)
Now why can’t we do the same eh my people, especially if we claim to believe and trust in the Lord God Jehovah?
Bruh David not only declared his trust, but put it into action by calling on the Lord in faith. ‘But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous (insolent) things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.’ (Ps.31:14-18)
Oh my people, there is absolutely no fear or shame in calling on the Lord! The fact is, if many more of us would do just that, instead of being too proud and arrogant to bow down and plead for mercy from our Creator, and try to fix our problems ourselves, there’s be a whole lot less miserable, gloomy, depressed, resentful and angry people in the world.
And I’m just talking about those of us in the Christian community, because there are so many downtrodden, lost and depressed souls in Jesus’ flock today, that it grieves my heart.
And we’ll close with the overwhelmingly positive results of Bruh David’s crying out to his heavenly Father. ‘Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shown me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
O LOVE the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth (fully repays) the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.’ (Ps.31:21-24)
And that my people is absolute, incorruptible, unadulterated truth!
In this modern day and age of so much wickedness and faithlessness, it is up to us, true believers in Christ, to rekindle the hope, faith and trust in our great God – first among the church brethren, then amongst the unbelievers at large.
Please, let us stand strong and do our bounden duty, as Jesus desires of us. Much LOVE!
…without faith…the substance of things hoped for…one cannot please God…for he that cometh to God…must believe that he is…and that he is a rewarder of them…that diligently seek him… (Heb. 11:6)
20 Sep 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: apostle's authority, balanced lives, Beelzebub, body, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, celebrity status, christianity, Corinthians, deaf ears, deception, evil intent, Father of lights, fellowship, first fruits, fresh as a daisy, Friday chant, fruitful, fun, generous help, gifts, glorifying God, glorious kingdom, God is good, God is immutable, God's grace, godly principle, good news, good stewards, grumpy, hardworking friends, hunger, in cahoots with, jesus name, leap of faith, live by the Bible, LOVE, material things, mind, miserable, oracles of god, party time, power, powerful, praise and dominion, proverbial expression, redeemed, redemption, refreshed, relaxation, religion, rest, righteousness., scripture, semblance of balance, shed blood of Jesus, soul, stop following men, temptation, TGIF!, Thank God it's Friday, theology, things of the world, time to party, tired, true perspective, variation, vim and vigour, word of truth, workweek, yearn for
John 3:27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Well hello there all my hardworking Friends! I have some good news to share – it’s Friday! And all my hardworking Friends shouted as one: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Slavery finish for another week! It’s time to party now!’
No, no, no! Not so fast mih people! The weekend is not just a party time, it’s also, and even more importantly, a time of rest and renewal, so that we can begin the workweek fresh as a daisy, and go about glorifying God with plenty vim and vigour. So let’s chant our Friday Chant, which brings the purpose of the weekend into its true perspective.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Sweet chanting mih breddren! But that’s how we’re supposed to use the weekend. Remember we’re in the process of changing our weekend perspective, from being grumpy, tired and miserable on Mondays, to becoming eager, bright-eyed and bushy tailed instead, so that we can be more powerful and fruitful during the week.
And the ONLY way to do that is to make it a habit to get sufficient rest, relaxation and fellowship with other believers, during those two days. So let’s forget this total partying weekend nonsense! If we truly want to do God’s work, then we need to have some semblance of balance in our lives.
And I surely hope that every week the message will fall on fewer and fewer deaf ears, until all God’s people joyfully accept that godly principle. Wow! What a leap of faith! But that’s what it is all about my brethren. Anyway, enough of my preaching, for I’m not a preacher, but more of a teacher. (smile)
Time to get to our Bit, which again comes from John’s conversation with his disciples, re Christ’s ministry increasing and his decreasing. ‘John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.’
Yeh Friends, that’s a truth we cannot dispute, for the Creator of the universe and all therein, also controls all that happens in His dominion. Anything we receive, He either specifically gives it to us, or allows someone else to do so. For NOTHING happens in this great wide world without His knowledge and approval, or disapproval.
Now let’s take a look at some more scriptures which support these facts. And we’ll start with the words of Bruh Paul to the church at Corinth, re the authority of the apostles.
‘And in these things brethren, I have in a figure (figuratively) transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up (proud) for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another (who distinguishes you)? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor.4:6-7)
And here’s a note from the scholars, re verse 6. ‘Not to think…above that which is written is a proverbial expression. Paul is telling the Corinthians not go beyond Scripture. In other words, learn to live by the Book, and stop following men.’
Oh my people, those words are so appropriate today it’s not funny. For the majority of us are unfortunately still too caught up in the things of the world, and following what rebellious, ungodly man, in cahoots with Beelzebub, tells us we ought to do and follow. But it’s all a lie, a gross deception, my brethren!
Our guidelines and principles ought to conform to the Good Book, not Lucifer’s evil deceptions. I’ll leave that topic alone for now though, because I wisely realize that I can talk till I’m exhausted, blue in the face, yet too many of us will still hunger, yearn for, and run after the glitzy, glossy, but useless material things of the world, plus power and celebrity status.
So getting back to our scriptures, let’s check in on James, where on the topics of faith and humility, he writes: ‘Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation), neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.’ (James 1:16-18)
And some notes from the scholars will help us to better understand those verses. ‘1:17. Three great principles are presented: (1) God is the Father, or Creator, of the heavenly bodies. (2) As their Creator, He is certainly more stable than they. With God there is not even the slightest change; He is immutable. (3) God is only good – and always good.
This third principle relates verse 17 to the preceding context. It answers the implication of verse 13 that God may sometimes tempt man to evil. Though God tries the saints (John 6:6; Heb.11:17), He never tries with evil intent so as to tempt them.
1:18. All the redeemed are God’s firstfruits in that they are the first step in God’s redemption of all creation. (Rom.8:18-23).’
Now Friends, please check out those references, for they are very beneficial in our understanding the Word. And we’ll end with this important and encouraging message on being good stewards of God’s grace, from the Rock – Petros, Peter. (smile)
‘As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet.4:10-11)
And all God’s people, loudly and gratefully declared: ‘Thank You Lord for all the gifts You’ve so graciously bestowed on us. We LOVE You, and pray that You’ll help us use them to the best of our ability, to enlarge Your righteous kingdom and glorify Your Holy Name. On the shed blood of Jesus we pray. Amen.’
Now my fellow believers, please, let’s go out and sincerely try to do all that we’ve spoken of today, for it will only further endear us to Jesus and the Father. Much LOVE!
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…
05 Aug 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abominable sins, Achilles heel, actions, adoration of God, aura of love, battle hymn, bombarded, buffeted, Calvary, Caribana, condolences, conquerors, Creator of the universe, enemy's ranks, enemy's wicked taunts, enthusiasm, eternal death, eternal life, evil, further God's glorious kingdom, god, God's righteousness endures forever, godless times, grace, grief, Hallelujah, holy blood, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, jump up, lies, loving kindness, lustily singing along, Monday, Monday Morning, praise and thanks, Praise the Lord, raised to heaven, reconciliation, redeemed, rejuvenation of spirit, religion, renewed vitality, righteousness., sally forth with confidence, salvation, sanctification, spiritual armour, spiritual emotion, steadfast faith, the Holy Spirit, the stripes of jesus, theology, truth, unconditional LOVE, undeserving children, ungodly world, useful purpose, wiles, wisdom, words, work, worthwhile inroads
Psalm 109:30. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude.
Oh Friends, it’s Monday, and the party continues in good ole Canada, where it’s a holiday in most, if not all of the provinces! The Caribana weekend will wind down with all sorts of events across the G.T.A today, and with all the cottagers returning home from their extended stay in cottage country, the traffic won’t be much different than a normal Monday evening.
There’s one bit of sad news to pass on though. Apparently a young man was fatally run over by one of the trucks along the Parade route late Saturday evening. We offer our sincere condolences to his friends and family, and pray for their comfort in this their time of grief.
Ah Lord eh! And yuh know that is one of things that turned me off of the parade; the young people don’t know how to jump in the streets. They just rush and push and cause havoc. Neither do they respect the space needed for the big trucks and them to operate. They just seem to want to get involved without any thought for their safety or that of the other revellers.
Anyway, some people, both here and around the world do have to go out and labour today, so let’s encourage them by lustily singing along to the delightful strains of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn.
Wow! I spelled Monday right! Mama Mia! Just like I had problems spelling Friends right some time aback, Monday seems to be my new Achilles heel.
And though some of us are not going to work, we all still need the strength and blessings of our Heavenly Father to make it through the day in this hellish and ungodly world. So let’s all sing with hearts, eyes, heads and hands raised up to heaven.
‘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 with that surge of spiritual emotion, let’s turn to our Bit, which appropriately continues the adoration of Almighty God. ‘I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude.’
Yes Friends, that is what ALL believers are expected to do! Why? Because our God is a great and majestic God! He made the universe and all therein, and still controls it! He’s also omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, which means He’s all-powerful, all-knowing and everywhere! So He’s alive and kicking, therefore you can’t run nor hide from Him. Plus He’s merciful, forgiving, blessed, and full of LOVING-kindness to the sinful and undeserving children of men!
What more do we want or need to therefore praise Him eh? There’s plenty more though. We can also add His undying and unconditional LOVE for us, His mortal creation. And His sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to die, to be a human sacrifice to repay our disgusting and abominable sins undoubtedly showcased that!
Now those sins rightfully called for eternal death, but my people, because of Jehovah God’s everlasting LOVING-kindness, instead of reaping death and destruction, instead we’re reaping reconciliation, sanctification, righteousness, salvation and eternal life through the free gift of grace, offered to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ, our wonderful Lord and Saviour!
Now tell me if that isn’t more than sufficient reason to give much praise and thanks to the wonderful Being, the great Deity, known by such Names as Yahweh, I AM THAT I AM, Jehovah Nisi, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord of Hosts, the Most High God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, etc. etc. with each name specifically relating to one of His many attributes?
It sure is my people! And He truly deserves even more thanks and praise then we’re even capable of giving in our paltry mortal state.
Bruh David recognized this obligation, one that turns into a great desire when we sincerely put out trust in the Lord. As he says in Psalm 35, a prayer for rescue from his enemies: ‘I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much (a mighty) people.’ (Ps.35:18)
Yes mih breddren, giving plenty, plenty praise and thanks to the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD is what we believers need to do more than anything else in these evil, godless, turbulent and disastrous times! For it is by His LOVE, the stripes of his Son Jesus, the holy blood that poured from those stripes at Calvary, that we are healed and redeemed!
And we’ll end with some appropriate verses from Psalm 111, aptly superscripted, Praise the Lord for His care. Say with me: ‘Praise ye the Lord (Sing Hallelujah). I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out (studied by) all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.’ Amen. (Ps.111:1-3)
Now Friends, that’s gospel truth and eternal wisdom! So as true believers, let’s go out and put it all into practice nuh. Much LOVE!
…words must be spoken…but actions ALWAYS speak louder than words…
27 Jun 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: affirm constantly, affirmations, anointed, believe in God, calling of Christ, Christian citizenship, Christian ethic, christianity, cleansed, compassion, confidence, contentious, contentiousness, damnation, death, divers lusts, envy, eternal life, faithful saying, fallen angel, glory hallelujah, good works, goodness, gossipmongers, great god, hate, heaven-sent, hope, Jesus Christ, kindness, LOVE, LOVE of God, loving kindness, Lucifer, magnanimous god, maintain good works, malice, meekness, merciful God, mercy, new blessings, new mercies, obey authority, pleasures, praise his holy name, Praise the Lord, prince of darkness, redeemed, reverence, right perspective, righteousness., sacrifice, sanctified, sinful world, strife, thanks and praise, works of righteousness, worthy to be praised
Titus 3:8: This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly; that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
And then it was Thursday! Yes Friends, another heaven-sent day loaded with new mercies and blessings for God’s people is in the offing! Wow! What a most magnanimous and merciful God we serve! There’s none other like Him in the entire universe!
And all God’s people declared a mighty: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name, for He is indeed worthy to be praised!’ Yes my brethren, our great God Jehovah is most definitely worthy of all the thanks and praise we can give Him!
Unfortunately though, I don’t believe we give Him enough glory. We keep wanting and requiring from Him, but our giving to Him is sadly lacking. Please let’s start turning that around now nuh. If you think we get plenty blessings now, you wouldn’t believe what’s in store, if we truly give Him the reverence and praise He deserves.
And since my hand is feeling fairly good, much better than I expected, I’ll give Him one big, ‘Thank You Lord for looking after me! I knew you wouldn’t do anything to stop me from spreading your Word, because that’s what you’ve anointed me to do. It’s not the greatest, but I can get the job done, that’s the important thing, with Your help of course. Amen.’
And now without further ado, let’s turn to our Bit. ‘This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly; that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.’
As promised my people, it’s the same as yesterday. But instead of putting forth our affirmations, as we did yesterday, today we’ll look at those Bruh Paul was referring to in his missive to Titus.
And in this chapter dealing with Christian citizenship, he strongly advises Titus to: ‘Put them in mind to be subject to principalities (rulers) and powers (authorities), to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers (not contentious), but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.’ (Titus 3:1-2)
Yes my people, those are just some of the things we should do as true believers in Jesus Christ! We ought to obey authority, because it originates from God Himself. In fact we should always be ready to do whatever good work is requested of us. Neither should we be gossipmongers, or given to strife and contentiousness, but be kind and LOVING to all, just as Jesus, our leader was in His earthly sojourn.
It’s not easy to live like that in this fallen, sinful world, but as believers, it’s our duty to attain to that lifestyle. And as we all know, our gracious God won’t ask us to do something without giving us the necessary tools to accomplish it. So we just have to be steadfast and press ahead towards the mark, the calling of Christ.
Then Bruh Paul continues, giving us the basis of our Christian ethic. ‘For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.’ (Titus 3:3)
Wow Friends! Can you imagine living like that? But that’s exactly how we were living until the Lord had compassion on us. ‘But after that the kindness and LOVE of God our Saviour toward man appeared.’ (Titus 3:4)
And all God’s people gave a heartfelt shout of ‘Praise the Lord for His kindness to the undeserving children of men!’
Yes my brethren, the Lord God Jehovah really and truly deserves our eternal thanks and praise, as we said at the beginning. But for some unknown reason(s) we seem to be very reluctant to do so, or do it very grudgingly, as though we were entitled to God’s grace and mercy, or we’re doing something great for God by giving Him the little thanks we offer.
But make no mistake Friends, it’s we, you and I, who are receiving the goodness and LOVING-kindness that we’re not entitled to, and neither are we receiving our just deserts for our sinful behaviour. So please let’s get off our high horse and stop thinking that we’re doing God a favour by worshipping and serving Him. Let’s get the right perspective; it’s Him that’s doing us the favours we don’t deserve!
For as Bruh Paul so rightly continues to inform Titus: ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed (poured out) on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace (declared righteous), we should be made heirs according to the hope (the strong confidence) of eternal life.’ (Titus 3:5-7)
Ah mih breddren, yuh see what the kindness and LOVE of God did for us! Hn! Before Christ’s sacrifice of LOVE, we were hateful and sinful, but through the shedding of His blood and God’s awesome mercy, we were cleansed, made whole, redeemed, sanctified, made right with God, so much so that we became rightful heirs of God with Christ.
And Friends, to end, I want to drive home the point that it was not by any good works of ours, that we were and are saved, as Bruh Paul points out, but by the LOVE, the Mercy, the Kindness, the Compassion and the Forgiving Nature of a most magnanimous, magnificent and omnipotent God, who created us and did not want to see His most wonderful creation end up in death and damnation with the foolish, fallen angel, the prince of darkness, Lucifer.
Please let’s get that straight, for until we do, we’ll never give God the true honour and glory He deserves. Much LOVE!
…before we can truly LOVE Jesus…we must truly understand what He did for us…
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