27 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better life, a lay preacher, a practical brother, a Samaritan village, Alma Mater, bachelor uncle, believeth in him, Bishop's High School, Castara, come to destroy, come to save, condolences, Darrell Spring, dear departed friend, exalted positions, fellowship, Finbar Sebro, fire and brimstone, forgiveness, Friday chant, furthering God's kingdom, gallivanting, generous help, god moves in mysterious ways, God so loved the world, good lives, gospel truth, grace, have everlasting life, herdsman, high school sweetheart, His only begotten Son, in Jesus name, in the sweet bye and bye, intimidate, joyful stuff, laziness, light hearted, medical problems, men's lives, mercy, money in the bank, Much LOVE, pain or sorrow, Praise the Lord, prefects, pride, principal, refreshed, refused to welcome, relaxation, reminisce, renewed, repented, rest, rest in peace, sad news, salvation, save ourselves, should not perish, sinful ingrates, son of Abraham, studious, tears well up, that which was lost, the Good Book, the Son of man, week of work, what manner of spirit, workingman's song, Zaccheus
Matthew 18:11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Oh friends, I had intended to begin with a light hearted opening about going to bed late and getting up late, because that’s what happened to me last night, and put forward some joyful stuff. But our world and our God moves in such mysterious ways that when I opened my e-mail a short while ago, I got some sad news, and now the Bit is now going to be turned into a remembrance for my dear departed friend and brother, Finbar Sebro.
Oh yes, he was the closest thing I had to a practical brother while growing up in Darrell Spring, though we were not related. I remember him coming down from the country, Castara, and living with his bachelor uncle just down the street from me. My mother Molly cooked for him and he spent more time at our place than at his.
I remember arguing with my mother about her treating him better than me sometimes. But she always said that was for me, like money in the bank, someday somebody would treat me well too. And it has certainly happened many times over the years.
One interesting aspect of Finbar and my relationship is when we were prefects in the higher grades in Bishop’s High School, with authority over the lower classes, my mother packed lunch for us in a series of carriers, but neither of us wanted to carry it to school, through both laziness and pride. (smile)
We already had our books to carry, and who wanted to be seen walking around in our exalted position as prefects, with a bag that everybody knew had food in it. But come lunchtime we couldn’t wait to dive into it. (smile) Taking it home after school was just as bad, especially when Finbar began walking home with his high school sweetheart and eventual wife, Joan. Sometimes we’d even intimidate some youngster living in our area to take it home for us.
Finbar was always more studious than me, and when I’d be out and about gallivanting, he’d be at home studying. And that discipline certainly paid off as he eventually became the principal of our Alma Mater, Bishop’s High. What a way to go mih brother!
The last time I saw him was the early part of 2016 when I was in Tobago. Like me, the Lord had called him to do His work and he had become a lay preacher in his Methodist faith. He read the Bit and couldn’t figure out how I could do it day after day. We laughed at the fact at what we were when we were young, compared to how the Lord was using us in our later years.
Recently I heard that he’d been very ill, but I spoke to him on the phone some four or five weeks ago, and it seemed like he was getting better. Chuh! I expected to meet up with him when I went to Tobago next winter. However, the Lord was apparently ready to take him home. And that sometimes is a much better option to suffering here on earth. Rest in peace Finbar, mih brother!
And as the tears well up in my eyes, and I can’t go to Tobago to wish you a last farewell because of my own medical problems, I know that one day we will meet again in the sweet bye and bye and will be able to reminisce, without any pain or sorrow about our good lives here on earth. Much LOVE my friend!
And to you Joan, and his family, my deepest condolences, for you know how dear he was to me. And believe you me friends, I don’t feel like writing the workingman’s song this morning, so let’s just get to our Friday Chant, that hopefully will elevate my spirit some.
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!’
Yeh friends, though it hurts to see our friends and family go, it is indeed reassuring to know that they are going to a better life than this one, because of Jesus ‘ selfless work on our behalf. As He says in our Bit for yet another day: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ And is it ever true, and are we ever thankful!
And Jesus made that clear on more than one occasion. Listen to Him as he rebuked the disciples who wanted to call down fire and brimstone on a Samaritan village that refused to welcome them. (Luke 9:51-54) ‘But He (Jesus) turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.’ (Luke 9:55-56)
He said the same thing when He went to have lunch at the tax collector Zaccheus’ house and everybody derided Him for eating with such a terrible sinner. But Zaccheus repented of his evil ways. ‘And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ (Luke 19:9-10)
And the scholars tell us: ’19:10. The words seek, save, and lost all appear elsewhere in Scripture in a shepherd context. This verse may be taken as a kernel statement of the central theme of Luke: Jesus is the compassionate, searching Herdsman who seeks to save those who can by no means save themselves.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth of truths! We can’t save ourselves so we need somebody else to do it for us; His name is Jesus!
And we’ll close today, most appropriately, with some of the most profound, if not the most important words in the Good Book: ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17)
And all God’s children declared a loud, proud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord!’ And so should we my people for His mercy, grace and forgiveness towards us a most sinful bunch of ingrates! Much LOVE!
…the lost cannot be saved…until they realize that they are lost…
23 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anger, anxiety, aura of love, blessings, confidence, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, fear, fellowship, forgiveness, friends, frustration, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God saw everything, grace, helplessness, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, it was very good, Jesus Christ, Jesus' awesome help, joy, lies, LOVE, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, only true answer, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, righteousness., salvation, sense of peace, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the evening, the morning, the sixth dayrat race, truth, ungodly world, wisdom
Genesis 1:31. And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Get with it nuh friends, please get with it! I’m talking about the Monday rat race that we call work and which we can only win with Jesus’ awesome help! Nothing the world has to offer will allow you to run that race with a strong sense of joy, peace and LOVE! Jesus is the ONLY TRUE ANSWER to all the fear, frustration, anxiety, anger and sense of helplessness that our crazy and bizarre world tends to create in us.
And to prove the truth of our words, if this morning you are plagued by any of those negative sentiments and/or emotions listed above, just join with us as we sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, and you’ll see the incredible difference it makes in no time at all. So let’s sing as enthusiastically and emphatically as we can.
‘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!’
Wow mih breddren wow! Yuh see how yuh spirit has been lifted and the adrenaline is coursing through your veins, waking the sleeping giant in you? And it’s all because of the incredible power of prayer, on the basis of what Jesus has done; the selfless sacrifice He made on the cross at Calvary, and with Him now sitting at the Father’s right hand interceding for you any time you call out for help!
Glory be, mih people! What a wonderful situation we believers have! No other faith can make the claims that we can, or enjoy the privileges and blessings, the mercy, grace and forgiveness bestowed on us by our magnificent and magnanimous Creator!
So it’s only right to celebrate His omnipotence and wisdom in the creation of nature, in the dazzling, mind blowing brilliance of His universe with the same Bit from yesterday. ‘And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.’
And as we said yesterday, what else could we expect from such an awesome God eh? Nothing but awe inspiring work! And we’ll continue looking at scriptures today that highlight the wonders of nature and the universe. Listen to Cousin Sol as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes.
‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…A time to LOVE, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace… I have seen the travail (task or endeavour), which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it (with which to be occupied).
He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world (eternity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh (does) from the beginning to the end.’ (Eccl.3:1, 8, 10-11)
Yeh friends God didn’t just make the world for something to do, their was a purpose and a plan behind it; He had a ‘sovereign design behind all events.’ He made beautiful things for us to enjoy, but He also placed the longing for eternity in every heart, so that we cannot be satisfied with the things of the earth, but need those of heaven. We need heavenly things to fill that empty space He left for just such a time and purpose. (smile)
And Psalm 148 – All creation to praise the Lord – is just a masterpiece in recalling God’s work and the obligation that ALL of His creations have to praise, worship and adore Him. Here are just a few excerpts as to whom should be praising the Lord.
‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah): Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights… all his angels…all his hosts…sun and moon…stars of light…heavens of heavens…waters that be above the heavens…Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons (sea creatures), and all deeps: Fire, and hail: snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent (exalted); his glory is above the earth and heaven.’ (Ps.148:1-4, 7-13)
Yes friends that’s just how it ought to be! So let’s get with the programme nuh, so that we can fill up that empty space in our hearts meant for God. That’s wisdom to the nth degree! Much LOVE!
…ALL of God’s creation…are obliged to give Him praise…to exalt His Holy Name…
16 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to thy word, adrenaline, asaph, aura of love, be merciful unto me, confidence, draw near to God, enjoy the time, enthusiasm, everlasting proportions, faith, favour, friends, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, God is the strength of my heart, grace, gracious, holy spirit, hope, Horatio Spafford, hot and humid, humble servants, I entreated thy favour, inheritance, invincible, it is good, it is well with my soul, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, level of faith, lies, logic dictate, LOVE, magnanimous god, merciful God, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my flesh and my heart faileth, my portion for ever, my whole heart, our very existence, poignant words, put my trust in the Lord God, raison d'etre, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, saith my soul, salvation, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, sufferation, summertime blues, taunts, the cold descends, the Lord is my portion, the Lord of hosts, the maker of all things, the portion of jacob, this is the day the Lord has made, tribe, trust, truth, ungodly world, vengeance, we will rejoice and be glad in it, wiles, will I hope in him, wisdom
Lamentations 3:24. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him.
Oh yes mih people, it’s a hot and humid Monday…but that’s no excuse to have the Monday summertime blues! Definitely not! Just think ahead for a moment; just think how we’ll be dying for, just begging the Lord for this same kind of weather in the next few months nuh, when the cold descends upon us with a determined vengeance. (smile)
So please, let’s get with the programme nuh, let’s enjoy the time, enjoy each and every minute we’ve been granted down here on earth in this crazy summertime of 2018. Instead, let’s emphatically and joyfully declare like the psalmist did so long ago: ‘This is the day the Lord has made we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’
Wow mih breddren! That’s the kind of attitude and approach our gracious and merciful God wants to hear us adopt. But just in case you can’t chase away those Monday summertime blues all on your own, then let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, the true antidote for just such an ailment.
As loud and as enthusiastically as we can now: ‘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 do words of sincere prayer ever raise the adrenaline levels in our souls my people! There is nothing else like, or as effective as it, in this whole wide world. No wonder Cousin Jerry, despite all his ‘sufferation’ could confidently declare in our Bit: ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him.’
And the psalmist Asaph concurs with Jerry, as he confidently proclaims: ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ (Ps.73:25-26)
Oh my fellow believers, are we able to declare those kinds of statements as emphatically as Asaph? I certainly hope so. But if we can’t just yet, then it’s something we should be working very diligently towards. As I read those words it reminded me of Horatio Spafford, the fellow who wrote our yesterday hymn, ‘It is well with my soul.’
He had to have had that kind of and level of faith to be able to pen those immortal and poignant words after experiencing so much tragedy in his life. And the writer of Psalm 119 puts it this way. ‘Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.’ (Ps.119:57-58)
Of course our great, wonderful and magnanimous God will be merciful to us if we sincerely offer our whole heart to Him, for that’s what He’s all about: magnanimity and mercy! But we have to give Him our all, not just a part that we figure we can’t handle.
And Cousin Jerry puts it thus earlier on. ‘The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former (maker) of all things; and Israel is the rod (tribe) of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.’ (Jer.10:16)
Glory be my fellow believers! And through the auspices and sacrifices of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we have been made a member of God’s tribe, we also are a part of His inheritance! What a blessed inheritance! Please, let’s make the most of it nuh, don’t throw it away and waste Jesus’ awesome sacrifice on our behalf.
And we’ll close with these immortal and oh so encouraging words of the psalmist Asaph. ‘But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps.73:28) That’s wisdom of everlasting proportions my brethren! Please, I implore us to seriously embrace it. Much LOVE!
…wisdom and logic both dictate…that drawing close to our Maker…is our raison d’etre…the reason for our very existence…
13 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a black cat, a high priest, a leper, anger, another week of work, believe what they want, beseeching, cleansed, come boldly, compassion, confidently, crosses your path, did not sin, do it all over again, do whatever He asks, don't understand, earthly problems, eating and drinking, economic deprivation, empathize, evil, exudes compassion, faith, fellowship, find grace, finite minds, forgive not, Friday chant, Friday the 13th, frustration, fun, furthering your glorious kingdom, generous help, God's mind and ways, God's universal plan, great is thy faithfulness, hatred, having a good time, heal, higher than ours, his compassions fail not, holy church, in Jesus name, in time of need, individuals, Jesus, leprosy, make me clean, massa slave-work, moved with compassion, new every morning, nonsense, not consumed, obtain mercy, of no use, outrageous limits, pay for our sins, poppycock notions, poverty, puny, refreshed, relaxation, relaxed, remedy, renewed, respectful posture, responsible, rest, safely through, showing compassion, strife, superstition, sympathize, temptation, tempted, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, that's their business, the body of Christ, the Lord's mercies, the throne of grace, the workingman's song, the world unfurls, to Jesus in prayer, touched, trespasses, walk under a ladder, weekends, willingness, without sin
Lamentations 3:22-23. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
And the world continues to unfurl as it should; that’s according to Almighty God’s universal plan! Oh, for sure we don’t understand it; why all the strife, anger, hatred, poverty, sickness and economic deprivation eh?
But we need to understand that God’s mind and ways are so much higher, bigger and greater than ours, so that if He even explained it to us, we would not be able to understand it with our comparatively puny and finite minds. And all we really need to be concerned about is simply doing whatever He asks us to do, both as individuals and as the body of Christ, His Holy Church. Amen!
That’s why the workingman doesn’t pay too much attention to the strife-filled world we currently live in, even on Friday the 13. (smile) Hear him sing his weekend song. “TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! And I don’t care whether it’s Friday the 13th, or whatever other day they have with a set of poppycock notions about evil befalling you if you do some foolishness like walking under a ladder, or a black cat crossing your path! That’s pure nonsense!
But let them believe whatever they want yes! That’s their business! All I know is that we going to be eating and drinking and having a good time once it’s a Friday and the weekend and we have some time off from the massa slave-work. Thank God for Fridays and the weekends oui!’
Yes friends, it’s indeed Friday the 13th, and a lot of superstition is going to be running rampant today. It’s a good thing, that like the ordinary workingman, we are not troubled by such stuff. We too are going to celebrate the weekend, but not just to the outrageous limits that he does. So let’s chant our Friday Chant nuh, which tells exactly how we will spend our weekend.
In unison 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 brethren, ours is a much more relaxed and responsible kind of weekend, preparing ourselves to go back out and do Jesus’ work the next week. If we overdo the weekend, then we’ll be of no use whatsoever to ourselves or to Him. And you must have noticed that we’re still on the compassion Bit. (smile)
Well that’s because there are so many scriptures on compassion and it’s oh so important in our Christian faith and we are definitely not as good at it as we ought to be. Just look at our topsy-turvy world nuh! Don’t you think that if we had just a bit more compassion circulating in it that it would be a much more wonderful place to live? It surely would be!
Here’s what Jesus wants, what He came to earth and practiced and died for; so that we could have compassion on each other, forgive others the way that God forgives us. And remember His words: ‘But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt.6:15) That puts it so plain and straightforward; if you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven. And showing compassion is just one part of the plan.
Listen to how Jeremiah puts it. ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’
Oh friends, I do hope that seeing that scripture every day for the last few days has caused our compassion meter to rise up some, else these messages would be all for nought. But let’s get to the compassion scriptures before time and space run out on us. Listen to the Good Book, re our Lord and Saviour, the Master of compassion.
‘And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt (are willing), thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.’ (Mark 1:40-42) Glory be mih breddren! How wonderful is our Saviour eh? Most wonderful!
And the scholars offer these explanations. ‘1:40. The leper assumes a respectful, if plaintive, posture. His beseeching is not based on Jesus’ ability but on His willingness.’ Yuh see friends, even the leper knew and recognized Jesus as the Great Healer. He didn’t doubt that He could heal, just whether He was willing to.
Unfortunately though, many of us believers today don’t have the kind of faith that leper had, and are not completely convinced that Jesus could heal us even in these times of calamity and untold frustration. How sad!
‘1:41. Jesus is moved with compassion to help. Mark’s picture of Jesus is not of an unmoved problem-solver sweeping serenely and unemotionally from incident to incident. See Hebrews 4:15.’
No friends, our Jesus was, and is as emotional as one can get! And we’ll end today with that most appropriate scripture the scholars just quoted, because I know most of us won’t look it up, and it’s very important to our understanding of Jesus and our faith.
‘Seeing then that we have a high priest, that is passed into (through) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (faith). For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb.4:14-16)
Oh mih people, there’s no better remedy for our problems than taking them to Jesus in prayer, because He experienced temptation and frustration just like we do, but in His status as God too, He did not sin. That’s why He could pay for our sins and now sits as an intercessor for us at the right hand of God, being able to empathize with our earthly problems. Won’t you come to Him today, and experience His compassion. It’s the antidote for all that ails you. Much LOVE!
…in earthly or heavenly form…Jesus just exudes compassion…
09 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a pick me up, a wind that passeth away, a word of warning, adrenaline, asaph, aura of love, better late than never, blues, boundless, but flesh, cometh not again, compassion, confidence, consumed, disobedience, doctor's appointment, done like dinner, engaged the enemy, enthusiasm, enviable circumstances, flatter, friends, futility, get rid of God, glorious kingdom, glory to God, great is thy faithfulness, grin and bear them, Hades, his compassions fail not, hope, hot off the press, humble servants, in the middle of the day, indefatigable, iniquities, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, lies, LOVE, loving kindness, Lucifer, manna, mercy, Micah, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my benefit, new every morning, peace, play him for a fool, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., salvation, sin, spiritual armour, spiritual warfare, stale stuff, still enemies, still sinned, taking advantage, taunts, terror, the Lord's mercies, the words of our mouths, trouble, trust, tuned his anger away, ungodly world, vanity, wiles, wisdom, wondrous works
Lamentations 3:22-23. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Ah friends, sorry the Bit is this late, but I had an early morning doctor’s appointment in the city which means everything had to be rearranged. Chuh! If I say I’m not tired with doctor’s appointments now, I’d be lying. But they are for my benefit, so I just have to grin and bear them. And yesterday I planned to add a P.S. note about it, but I forgot. The old mind’s going. (smile) But as they say, better late than never.
So here it is now, hot off the press. And by now most of you are at work, so your day is well advanced and you have already engaged the enemy in spiritual warfare. You might even be still suffering from the Monday blues, so it’s definitely not too late to sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, our blues antidote. It’s also nice to have a li’l pick me up in the middle of the day. (smile)
So as one great voice now, let’s sing: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Ah mih breddren, what a relief to feel the adrenaline course through our veins, to feel the Spirit of Christ just rise up to the forefront once more, and we become indefatigable (not tired) and invincible once again. Glory to our great God!
Now yesterday we were talking about one of God’s many attributes, His compassion, and there is so much in the scriptures about it, that we’ll continue on that most worthwhile and awesome topic. As our Bit so magnanimously states: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’
Yeh friends, without God’s compassion we’d be done like dinner long time, roasting in Hades with that fool Lucifer! (smile) But thanks to our God’s magnanimous compassion, we’re not. And what I especially like about His compassion, His mercy, is that they are brand new every day!
Wow! Our God doesn’t give us any stale stuff. It’s like the fresh manna He gave the Israelites every day in the wilderness. Now how can we not appreciate and be grateful for that kind of treatment eh? Under those rather enviable circumstances, I don’t understand our strong desire to get rid of God from our society.
But some of us are just wiser than others, so let’s turn to the scriptures now and check out some more of it that deals with God’s compassion. Yesterday we saw the most important aspect of it, where while we yet His enemies, the Father sent Christ to die for us. (Rom.5:6-9) Yuh can’t beat that friends!
Now listen to Micah proclaim to the world, our God’s compassionate attribute. ‘Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by (over) the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy (LOVING-kindness). He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their (our) sins into the depths of the sea.’ (Mic.7:18-19)
Oh my people, my people, what will it take for us to take the scriptures, the Word of God seriously eh? We’re behaving just like the Israelites did after the Lord brought them out of bondage in Egypt. The psalmist Asaph puts it nicely. Even after the Lord smote their stoutest men for their disobedience: ‘For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity (futility), and their years in trouble (sudden terror). When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early (sought diligently) after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right (steadfast) with him, neither were they steadfast (faithful) in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all their wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.’ (Ps.78:32-39).
Yeh friends, that’s the same way we are taking advantage of God’s compassion and mercy, making believe that we have right hearts and pure motives. But please remember He does not judge by outward appearances, so no matter how much we flatter Him with the words of our mouths, He will look at out hearts to see if they are sincere or not, and at some stage give us our just desserts.
A word of warning to the wise is supposedly sufficient. Let’s hope that we all accept that warning today. Much LOVE!
…although God’s compassion is boundless…it’s not wise…to try to play Him for a fool…
06 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: ., after the Spirit, all is not lost, another week of work, boundaries, Canada Day, celebrations, Christ's kingdom, convicted, death, dying on our behalf, eternal life, everything will be made right, exciting things, fellowship, flooding, Friday chant, friends, fun, given another chance, glorious kingdom, glory to God, god is still on his throne, God's own time and way, havoc in Quebec, heat-wave, justified, know about Jesus, lack of sleep, likeness of sinful flesh, limits, live by the flesh, made me free, made righteous in god, no condemnation, ole body tired, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, partying, punished, pure Spirit of Christ, rain, relaxation, reminded, rest, salve job, sanctified, selfless sacrifices, sentenced to die, summer weekend, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the gift of God, the law of sin and death, the Spirit of life, the wages of sin, the workingman's song, to be sin for us, undeserving children, ungodly ways of the world, walk not after the flesh, weak law of the flesh, weekends, which are in Christ Jesus, wildfire in Northern California
Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Well friends, it seems like the heat wave is finally over! Thank the Lord! Some rain fell yesterday evening and in the night and cooled down the place some, but the heat wave certainly wreaked havoc in the Province of Quebec, where it seems thirty something people died during that excessively hot time.
Steups! When it’s not one thing, it’s certainly another. Meanwhile down in the U.S. some places had an exceeding amount of rain that caused extensive flooding. And out in Northern California that wildfire we spoke of yesterday is expanding its reach with a vengeance.
But yuh know what friends, all is not lost because of these negative circumstances, since we know that our omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present God is still on His heavenly throne overseeing things, and in His own time and way, everything will be made right. Glory to God!
And anyway, today is Friday, and nothing is going to stop the workingman from declaring his heartfelt song. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! Brother! Don’t know if I could have made it one more day nuh. What with all the partying and lack of sleep from last weekend’s Canada Day celebrations, and the hard work on massa slave job, the ole body was really tired.
Glad that this was just a short week yes! Anyhow, is still the weekend, and the summer weekend calls for getting out there and making exciting things happen. And that’s what we’ll do, tired or not. Thank God for Fridays and weekends yes!’
Ah mih people, I’m sure many of us feel the same way; tired after a long weekend of celebrations, then straight into a week of work under hot and exhaustive temperatures. But hopefully, we will not do like the workingman and continue in excessive celebrations over the weekend, because it doesn’t fit who we are.
We are followers of Jesus Christ and we have boundaries, limits to how far we can go along the continuum of celebrations…certainly not as far as the workingman goes. So let’s declare our weekend song, our Friday Chant, which is entirely different to that of the workingman.
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.’
Yeh friends, ours is a much more responsible situation. Oh we can party and such, but not to extremes, and we’re always on the lookout for ways to increase Christ’s kingdom and not denigrate it. That’s why we do not live by the flesh, by the wicked, ungodly ways of the world, but by the pure Spirit of Christ.
As Bruh Paul tells us in our Bit: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’
Oh my people, my people, what a delicious situation! Wow! If we live in Christ’s Spirit, under His law, we are no longer condemned, just convicted; not sentenced to die, but merely reminded and possibly punished, but given another chance, a much better situation. ‘For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.’ (Rom.8:2)
Glory be mih breddren! Christ’s sacrificial death paid for our sins, and when we place our sincere trust and belief in Him, we no longer live under the negative law of sin, which says: ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom.6:23) Praise Christ’s Holy Name for all that He’s done for us undeserving children of men!
As Bruh Paul continues to the church at Rome: ‘For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for (on account of) sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness (righteous requirement) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom.8:3-4)
And all God’s people gave out a loud and sincere ‘Thank You Jesus!’ And so we should, because it’s only through Jesus becoming human and coming to earth, but not committing sin, and dying on our behalf, in our place, that we’ve been set free from the weak law of the flesh.
As the scholars explain: ‘8:3. Law…was weak: There is nothing inherently wrong with the law. The presence of sin renders the believer powerless to do what the law demands. The likeness of sinful flesh: Christ was truly human but not a sinner (2 Cor.5:21).’
And instead of asking you to check out that scripture, which most of you will not do, we’ll just end with it instead. Oh, the spoon-feeding! (smile) ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us (to bear our sins), who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in (through) him.’ (2 Cor.5:21)
Oh friends, please remember and be very appreciative of the fact, that whatever we are today; righteous in the eyes of God, justified, sanctified, etc. etc. it’s all because of Jesus and His enormous selfless sacrifices! Much LOVE!
…if you know about Jesus…and don’t LOVE and worship Him…then something’s sadly wrong with you and your mind…
02 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abide in my love, adrenaline, all men shall know, aura of love, bear good fruit, Canada Day, celebrations, celebratory times, Christians, commandments, complaining, confidence, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, faith, friends, frightened way, Granny's warning, grievous, harmful, holy spirit, hot summer's day, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, keep my commandments, keeping Jesus' word, know them by their fruits, lackadaisical, lies, long weekend, LOVE, LOVE one another, meet the enemy in battle, miserable, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Monday Morning Blues, much needed sleep, obey, poetic liberty, precautions, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, shame-faced, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, to the max, trust, truth, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, ye are my disciples, your joy might be full
John 15:10. If ye keep my commandments; ye shall abide in my LOVE; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his LOVE.
And then it was Monday; another hot summer’s day in this Canada Day long weekend! Wow friends! We’re celebrating 151 years of Canada’s existence! Granted that’s a short time in comparison to other countries, but we’re certainly doing it with a flair all our very own. No set of copy-cat ideas, be they good, bad or indifferent.
Anyway, the celebrations will be ramped up to the max today, and before we go any further, let’s just be reminded of Granny’s warning; Sonny boy, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business! And is that ever a wise warning, because if you don’t mind your business, somebody else will mind it for you, and you don’t know what they will do to it. So please take serious precautions during these celebratory times.
And since it’s Monday, it means that some people have to go to work…not us in Canada though! Praise the Lord! It also means that some people are miserable and complaining, so let’s trot out our Monday Morning Battle Hymn and sing it with gusto, to quell all those Monday morning blues.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And as always, the voices of those who aren’t going to work are the loudest and most enthusiastic, but also hoarse and somewhat hard to understand from the effects of too much celebrating. But be that as it may, I believe that all of us can benefit from the burst of adrenaline that our song produced, so let’s get a grip and just go out and serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the best of our ability nuh, because that’s all He asks of us.
As He said to the disciples, and consequently to us: ‘If ye keep my commandments; ye shall abide in my LOVE; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his LOVE.’ Yes friends, it’s simple; to do Jesus work, we need to keep His commandments. And they are neither grievous nor harmful.
Then He continues: ‘These things have I spoken unto you; that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ (John 15:11) Yuh see mih people, when we keep Jesus commands, we are filled with joy! Wow! So why don’t we do it eh? Is it perhaps that we don’t like the joy of the Spirit that keeping Jesus’ word provides? Who knows?
Then He told them: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:12-14)
Glory be mih breddren! We become Jesus’ friend when we obey His commandments…and even better than that He is the ‘BESTEST’ friend that ever existed, because He laid down His life for us! It couldn’t get any better than that!
And please note what Jesus told the disciples earlier on. ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.’ (John 13: 34) That makes twice He declared that our LOVE for each other was ever so important. And why? ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:35)
And Jesus pounded it into their heads even further: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained (appointed) you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye LOVE one another.’ (John 15:16-17)
And they did LOVE one another as best they could, and went forth and brought forth good fruit, that’s why we know Jesus’ words now. Ah mih people, how often does Jesus have to remind us that we are His disciples, He chose us, not the other way around, and we are supposed to go out and bear good fruit for His name’s sake eh? And not the lackadaisical, frightened and shame-faced way that so many of us do it, when we do it.
Remember friends, we all have to answer come the Big Day for what we did down here on earth. So it will be wise to get a move on and improve our planting and fruit bearing seasons. Much LOVE!
…they shall know them by their fruits…Christians that is…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit. I took a li’l poetic liberty (smile) and got some much needed sleep. Much LOVE!
25 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, alive and kicking, antichrist, apostolic witness, aura of love, beset, born of God, Calvary, Christians, chugging along, confidence, do battle for Christ, enthusiasm, error, evil, evil cohorts, friends, glorious kingdom, Glory be, glory hallelujah, greater is he that's in you, hard working, he that is in the world, heartwarming, holy spirit, humble servants, inaccurate teaching, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lazing around at home, learn the truth, lies, little children, LOVE, Lucifer, meditate, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, more positive side, negative circumstances, on the right track, our Lord and Saviour, peace, prince of darkness, read, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, rewarding, salvation, spirit of truth, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, study, talk to about Christ, taunts, thanks and praise, the li'l engine that could, the New testament, the Spirit of Christ, the truth of God, the Word of god, trust, truth, uneventful, ungodly world, victory, wiles, wisdom, ye are of God, ye have overcome them
1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and ye have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Well a good Monday morning to all you hard working Christian folks out there! I do hope that your trip to work was uneventful; uneventful in the sense that you encountered no negative circumstances. However, on the brighter and more positive side of things, you did encounter someone to talk to about Christ.
Oh mih people, mih people, how heartwarming and rewarding it is when we can talk to someone about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, especially so early on a Monday morning! Glory be! It just lifts our spirits and has us confidently chugging along like the li’l engine that could, beaming from ear to ear, because we’ve successfully brought Jesus to the forefront on this the first day of the work week. (smile)
It certainly makes us feel like we’re on the right track. But however, if we weren’t that blessed, and we’re still in a sour and miserable state of mind, then let’s sing together our sure antidote for our Monday morning ills. We call it, most appropriately, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, because we are indeed going out to do battle for Christ!
Altogether now, with good enthusiasm nuh, seeing that we’re thankful for still being alive and kicking, even though we’d rather be lazing around at home.
‘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!’
Ah friends, I can hear you all breathe a huge sigh of relief and feel your spirits lift considerably having sung our Battle Hymn. Now let’s keep the adrenaline flowing nuh, as we face a day beset roundabout by the enemy and all his evil cohorts.
For remember the words of John, when he reminded believers about the spirit of the antichrist, which was around even then, spreading false teachings, and which is even more rampant in our world today. ‘Ye are of God, little children, and ye have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’
Yes friends, Jesus Christ is greater than the prince of darkness, the prince of this world. The scholars explain it thus: ‘4:4. Christ indwells believers; Satan is likewise the lord of his own followers. But Christ is greater than he who wreaks havoc in the world. Have overcome is in the perfect tense, stressing the abiding nature of their victory. Their strength lies in the fact that they are (born) of God.’
And my faithful breddren the very same thing applies to us today; we are born of God, and thus the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, making us able to overcome Lucifer and his evil cohorts, and having the continuing victory that Christ won at Calvary! Glory to God my people! Give Him some thanks and praise nuh!
And John continues to enlighten us: ‘They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.’ (1 John 4:5-6)
And the scholars explain: ‘4:5. They refers to all who are ruled by the spirit of the antichrist. The world finds their teaching more appealing than the truth of God.’
‘4:6. Those who acknowledge the truth of the apostolic (New Testament) witness to Christ will recognize and conform to the teaching John is presenting. Those who do not are animated by a common and unifying spirit of error. John warns his readers against this spirit by contrasting their false views of Christ with the views that he, a personal follower and witness of Christ, proclaims.’
Well friends, it does seem logical that if John was a personal witness and follower of Christ that his story would most likely be the truer one. So please, let’s be careful of all the crazy, false and inaccurate teaching that is floating around today. And the only way we can do that successfully is by knowing what the Word of God says. That means we need to consistently read, study and meditate on it. So let’s get to it nuh! (smile) Much LOVE!
…you cannot know truth from error…until you learn truth…
22 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a daily calling, a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, a touch of god's wrath, anger, bacchanalian way, battle to win our souls, be constantly in thy mouth, Beelzebub, Book of the Law, Christians, commitment to Christ, Daily Bread Devotional, death, difficult to do, do according to all therein, do God's will, eternal damnation, fellowship, Friday chant, full force of God's anger, fun, furthering God's kingdom, generous help, go to extremes, gospel truth, grateful, have success, hellfire, in Jesus name, insensitive actions, inspired word of God, Joshua, keeping Jesus uppermost, know peace, leader of the Israelites, make thy way prosperous, meditating, mental, negative stuff, out of darkness, partying, physical, putting the word into action, reading, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, rocket science, separate immigrant children, slavery, strife, suffered, summertime weather, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the blind lead the blind, the enemy, the Good Book, the hand of God, the light inspiring word of jesus, the workingman, thy word, tough tits, tried and true path, turn to God, turned away from God, war, week of work, weekends, what a bam bam, working
Psalm 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Well friends, amongst all the strife, war, hatred, anger and all the other negative stuff that’s taking place in our once beautiful world, I noticed one of the most foolish and insensitive actions take place yesterday. Yuh know the big contention that’s currently going on in the U.S… and some of you are asking which one? (smile) Well I’m talking about the recent major push to separate immigrant children from their parents.
Now apparently, yesterday, the first lady of the U.S went to visit one of the centres where children are being held and she wore a jacket that had written on the back in big white letters: ‘I don’t really care, do u?’ How how insensitive is that eh? Even if you don’t care, half of the country you represent cares, and that’s only a slap in the face to them. But that’s the state of the U.S. these days. Matter done!
It’s Friday, and the workingman is out there singing his happy song: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! The working soon finish… and the partying soon start! What a bam bam! It’s going to be party fuh so in this summertime weather! Nobody going to stop we from carrying on anyway we want!
And who doh like it…Hn! Tough tits yes! Let them try to do something about it nuh. They don’t know how we grateful for the break from all the weekday slavery nuh, both physical and mental. Steups! Thank God for Fridays and the weekends oui!’
Yeh mih people, we Christians are also grateful for Fridays and the weekends, but we just show it in a less bacchanalian way. (smile) We don’t go to the extremes, like the worldly culture around us does. So let’s chant our corresponding Friday Chant and show them how we believers do it nuh.
As one sincere 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 friends, we have a more organized way to spend or use our weekends – while celebrating, still keeping our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ uppermost in our minds and behaviour. And I just spied a quote from a Daily Bread Devotional that highlights it quite nicely. I’ve shared it before, but it’s important enough to share again and again. ‘Commitment to Christ is a daily calling.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth my brethren! Everyday we awaken, we need to commit ourselves anew to Christ! That’s the only way we can stay on the tried and true path that leads to the Father. That’s why the psalmist declared in our Bit: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’
Yeh mih breddren, the only way to stay committed to Christ is by constantly reading, meditating and putting His word into action, for the enemy is fighting an ever-constant battle to win our souls. Remember those memorable words of the Lord to Joshua when He appointed him leader of the Israelites after Moses’ death?
‘This book of the law shall not depart out of (be constantly 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 shalt thou have good success.’ (Josh.1:8)
Oh friends, that one verse says it all: to be prosperous and have success, one must know the word and practice it! And yet we wonder why so much of us individually, as well as nationally are not having success. But the answer is right there before our very eyes; turn to God and do His will. That’s not rocket science; it’s plain and straightforward.
And though in some cases it might be somewhat difficult to do, the Lord has faithfully promised us His awesome help all along the way. But like the workingman, many of us seem to prefer Beelzebub’s easy and sinful ways, which only lead to hellfire, death and eternal damnation.
Yuh see how EVERY TIME, Israel turned away from God how they suffered, and how we are suffering now in our ungodliness? It’s no mistake that our world is currently engulfed in all sorts of negative problems; the hand of God and a touch of His wrath are upon us. Notice I said only a touch of His wrath, because we could never withstand the full force of His anger.
Oh friends, the Good Book is the inspired Word of our Creator and it does not lie. So why do we think we can go against what it says and be truly successful eh? That’s why I’m imploring us, like the Lord implored Joshua and all the other leaders of the faith, to sincerely meditate on His Word, talk about it to our children and each other, and then put it into action. That’s the ONLY way our desperately struggling world and us will ever know peace and success. Much LOVE!
…how can the blind lead the blind out of darkness eh…only through the light inspiring word of Jesus…
18 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a joyful mother of children, aura of love, barbecue, cause the barren woman, come back to his fold, compassion, confidence, cycle of work, deliverer, enthusiasm, fakes, Father's Day, foolish men, form the rising of the sun, friends, glory hallelujah, go round the mulberry bush, high in the heavens, holy spirit, humble servants, humbles himself, idols, imaginations, in times of need, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, keep house, lies, lifts the needy, living truth, LOVE, mere mortals, nobody, one and only God, our fortress, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, out of the dunghill, out of the dust, praise the name of the Lord, Praise ye the Lord, prodigal children, raises the poor, refuge, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, salvation, servants of the lord, set him with princes, shout Hallelujah, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, stronghold, taunts, to the going down of the same, trust, truth, ungodly world, who is like the Lord, wiles, wisdom, work week
Psalm 113:1. Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise (shout Hallelujah!), O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
Sing it with me friends: ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush. Here we go round the mulberry bush, once more on a Monday morning!’
Yeh mih people, it’s a new work week and that beautiful day Monday, which takes so much heat and dislike because it just happens to begin another cycle of work. And I can imagine how many of us are tired and worn out after yesterday’s hectic Father’s Day celebrations.
Thankfully mine was quiet, just a simple family gathering. And the amusing part is that yesterday was a scorcher, so we turned on the A/C then sat outside and barbecued and ate out there too. The barbecue must have been extremely happy to know that it could still work, having sat on the deck unused for all of last winter and most of last summer too.
Anyway, let’s get a move on by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, our antidote for whatever is bothering us this Monday morning. As one strong voice now: Hn, hn!
‘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!’
Ah mih breddren, that just lifts a weight off of our shoulders and replaces it with the peace and joy of Jesus! Glory be to His most Holy Name! The name that all knees will eventually bow to, and all voices declare that He is Lord, to the awesome glory of God the Father!
And to honour our great and amazing, LOVING, gracious, merciful and forgiving God, we have the opening verse of Psalm 113 – God’s mercies are many – as our Bit for today! ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise (shout Hallelujah!), O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.’
And why shouldn’t we eh, for He is indeed a great God; in fact the ONE and ONLY God there is! All other supposed gods are merely fakes, idols and the imaginations of foolish men. Listen to how the psalmist continues: ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.’ (Ps.113:2-3)
And isn’t that the living truth my people! The Lord’s name ought to be praised from sun up to sun down because He’s such an awesome Being, especially where we mortals are concerned! Hear the psalmist again: ‘The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!’ (Ps.113:4-6)
And the simple answer to all of that my faithful breddren is ‘NOBODY whatsoever!’ That’s because no other dead or living being can do the things He does or has the compassion for us mere mortals like He has.
And the psalmist kindly informs us: ‘He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill (the ash heap); That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh (causes) the barren (childless) woman to keep house (dwell in a home), and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.’ (Ps.113:7-9)
Oh my people, my people, what a great and awesome God we serve! And if we were to sing of all the things that He truly does for us poor mortals, we wouldn’t have enough time in a day.
But let it suffice that He is indeed mighty, our fortress, our stronghold, our refuge in times of need, and our deliverer in the person of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Praise ye the Lord my brethren! Blessed be His Holy Name! Much LOVE!
…to whom should we offer praises…to the one who created us…still LOVES us…and wants us to come back to His fold…like prodigal children…
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