30 Nov 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bunch of foolish sinners, a God of surprises, a mighty big man, a Red-Letter day, abide in me and I in you, all alone, arrogant, authority even over the sabbath, be not afraid, be of good cheer, believe we can do it all ourselves, build on life's sinking sand, deep down, demonstrates Jesus' healing power, despite all the evidence, do a lot on my own, do you want to get well, don'r realize how desperately we need Jesus, don't even know my way back home, down on my knees, except it abide in the vine, except ye abide in me, faith, fellowship, Gaither Homecoming Festival, glory to God, gospel truth, hell bound world, holy spirit, I am the vine, I can't even walk, I could be what I wanted to be, I learned how to stand, I'd be less of a man, if I didn't trust Jesus, if I'm in trouble, Jessy Dixon, Jesus Christ, Jesus walking on water, Jesus' heart was filled with compassion, Joyce and Colbert Croft, lost without you, LOVE, make it big in this world, make Jesus my all and all, mercy, no more can ye, number one would surely be me, o thou of little faith, on that powerful name I'll call, our faith is not strong enough, Peter walked on the water, raise our faith, refreshed in heart body and soul, renewed, responded to Jesus' command with faith, sacrifices of praise, salvation, self-centred, take up thy bed and walk, teaching me that through you word, Thank you Father, that Satan desires us to wallow in, the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, the Lord's Day, the mountain is too high, the paralyzed man at the pool in Bethesda, the Sabbath, the same bringeth forth much fruit, the true vine, the valley is too wide, thought of myself, took up his bed and walked, truth, unless you lead me, wallowing in the mire, we still doubt the power of Jesus, why did you doubt, wisdom, without Christ we can do nothing, without me you can do nothing, without you holding my hand, you are the branches
John 15:5b. for without me ye can do nothing.
Come on down to the Lord’s sanctuary my people, for it’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day, and though the snow is an inconvenience, we must celebrate it with fellowship and worship, so that we can be renewed and refreshed in heart, body and soul, and thus be enabled to face another week of work and whatever else comes against us in our crazy, hell bound world.
And as always, to help us celebrate, we have a wonderful song filled with lots of truth, one written by Colbert and Joyce Croft, aptly titled, I can’t even walk without You holding my hand. And we’ll offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a soulful, heartfelt version, as that done by the African American Gospel singer, Jessy Dixon at the Gaither Homecoming Festival some years ago.
So, let’s sing: ‘I thought, that number one, would surely be me. I thought I could be what I wanted to be. I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand. But now I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. – I thought that I, could do a lot on my own, I thought, I could make it in this big world, all alone. I thought, thought of myself as a mighty, mighty, mighty big man, But Lord I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. –
Oh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, It’s down on my knees, that’s where I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Glory to God! And I think I’ll make Jesus my all and all. And if I’m in trouble, on that powerful name, I’ll call. And if I didn’t trust Him, I’d be less of a man ‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand.
Ohh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain is too high, and the valley is too wide, It’s down on my knees, I learned how to stand, I learned how to pray, Because Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Lord, I’m lost without you. I don’t even know my way back home Lord unless you lead me. Yes my Saviour, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me that through your Word…I can’t even walk without, without holding your hand…Yes Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand…’
And it’s all the gospel truth my brethren…we can’t even walk without Jesus holding our hands! And I believe this is a very appropriate song for so many of us who are arrogant and self-centered enough to believe we can do it all ourselves, with no help from anyone, especially from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And we either don’t know or believe what He said when He spoke about the true vine.
So listen up and attain some wisdom when Jesus declares: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5)
Oh my people, what a rather poignant, definitive and oh so true statement! Without Christ we can do nothing! For whatever we do, it’s He who allows us to do it, for He is our Creator, Controller, Potter and Master! And until many more of us realize that awesome truth, we will keep wallowing in the mire that Satan desires us to wallow in. So many of us think of ourselves as mighty, mighty big men, but in reality, we’re nothing but a bunch of foolish sinners who don’t realize how desperately we need Jesus.
That reminds us of the paralyzed man at the pool in Bethesda, who had been lying there for 38 years, because he had no one to help him get into the pool the one time a year an angel came and stirred up the water, and whosoever got into it first was then healed of their illness. When Jesus saw him, knowing how long he had lain there, even before Jesus was born, His heart was filled with compassion, and He asked him: ‘Wilt thou be made whole (do you want to get well)?’ (John 5:6)
Then the man told him about his difficulty in getting into the pool first. Jesus then said to him: ‘Rise, take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole (well), and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.’ (John 5:8-9) Now, that’s the way many of us are, in dire need of help, yet we refuse to turn to Jesus, the One who can, wants to, and will help us if we cry out to Him for succour! And as this commentary explains: ‘This event is a significant miracle in the New Testament that demonstrates Jesus’s healing power and his authority, even over the Sabbath.’
That’s the difference between us and Peter, highlighted by the time Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples in their boat. At first they cried out in fear, believing it was a ghost, but Jesus quickly reassured them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer (take courage); it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he (Jesus) said Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.’ (Matt. 14:27-29)
And why was that possible? Because Peter responded to Jesus’ command with faith. He believed that if Jesus called him to do something, he could do it. However, his faith was not strong enough to withstand the strong winds and he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out to Jesus to save him. ‘And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ (Matt. 14:31)
And that’s the basic problem with so many of us supposed believers today; our faith is not strong enough to withstand the strong winds and waves that occasionally batter us, because deep down, despite all the evidence to the contrary, we still doubt the strength, power and resolve of Jesus. Anyway friends, I implore us to make this last Sunday in November 2025 a red-letter day by promising ourselves and each other to raise our faith to substantial levels, because that’s the only way we will ever achieve godly success in this evil world that’s getting worse every day! Much LOVE!
…remember…that it’s down our knees praying…that we learn how to stand…how to stand strong…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
07 Jan 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a customary practice, a habit, a part of the body of Christ -the church, adopted, avoid any more serious setbacks, born again, carnally minded, choose to resist sin, chosen, cling to christ tenaciously, conformed to His image, confusion, dead in trespasses and sins, defeat the virus and the unrest, discover the answers, fellowships with God, filled with joy and peace, free from condemnation, Friday chant, havoc, I am come that they might have life, I can do all things, In Christ we are victorious, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, justified, knowing who we are in Christ, live for Christ victoriously, live the abundant life, LOVE, more than conquerors, no longer slaves to sin, obeys God's will, omnipotent help, our sinful world, reconciled, regenerated, renewed, spiritually minded, stand strong and steadfast, the beauty of living for Jesus, the mysteries of life, the true meaning of life, they might have it more abundantly, through Christ who strengthens me, wake up and smell the coffee, walking according to the Spirit not the flesh, wise guidance
John 10:10b. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Boy oh boy! Two days of decent sunshine in a row! That must be a record! But I think it’s going to be a tad on the cold side. That’s okay though, I can handle the cold when the sun’s shining. It’s just the dark, damp, dreary weather that gets to me. But all thanks to Jesus, I can handle both types of weather, if I just put my mind to it.
And that’s the beauty of living for Jesus: He enables you to do anything that coincides with His will or plan for your life. That’s why we say, with full confidence: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!’ Phil. 4:13) Now just saying it doesn’t make it true. You have to sincerely believe it, and make it a customary practice, a habit in your life, so that after a while, it just blends in automatically. (smile)
Ah friends, knowing who we are in Christ, and knowing the benefits that spring forth from such a privileged position, is extremely important if we want to live the abundant life that Jesus promised, and died for us to have. And you ask, what does it mean to be in Christ?
Well, the simple answer is that when we are born again, when we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour, He comes to dwell in us through His Holy Spirit, and we become a part of Him. We are made clean, renewed and acceptable to the Holy Father. But I found this article on the subject on the gotquestions.org website which I believe explains it better than I can. (smile)
So let’s see what it says. ‘In Christ, we are regenerated, renewed, and born again, and this new creation is spiritually minded, whereas the old nature is carnally minded. The new nature fellowships with God, obeys His will, and is devoted to His service. These are actions the old nature is incapable of doing or even desiring to do. The old nature is dead to the things of the Spirit and cannot revive itself. It is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1) and can only be made alive by a supernatural awakening, which happens when we come to Christ and are indwelt by Him.
Christ gives us a completely new and holy nature and an incorruptible life. Our old life, previously dead to God because of sin, is buried, and we are raised “to walk in newness of life” with Him (Rom. 6:4). If we belong to Christ, we are united to Him and no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-6); we are made alive with Him (Eph. 2:5); we are conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29); we are free from condemnation and walking not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:1); and we are part of the body of Christ with other believers (Rom. 12:5).
The believer now possesses a new heart (Ezek. 11:19) and has been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3). We might wonder why we so often do not live in the manner described, even though we have given our lives to Christ and are sure of our salvation. This is because our new natures are residing in our old fleshly bodies, and these two are at war with one another. The old nature is dead, but the new nature still has to battle the old “tent” in which it dwells. Evil and sin are still present, but the believer now sees them in a new perspective and they no longer control him as they once did.
In Christ, we can now choose to resist sin, whereas the old nature could not. Now we have the choice to either feed the new nature through the Word, prayer, and obedience, or to feed the flesh by neglecting those things. When we are in Christ, “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37) and can rejoice in our Savior, who makes all things possible (Phil. 4:13). In Christ we are LOVED, forgiven, and secure. In Christ we are adopted, justified, redeemed, reconciled, and chosen. In Christ we are victorious, filled with joy and peace, and granted true meaning in life. What a wonderful Savior is Christ!’
And isn’t all that the gospel truth my fellow saints! In Christ Jesus we have EVERYTHING we can ever need! In other words, the abundant life. Like he said. ‘The thief cometh not, but (except) for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10)
Yes friends, that was Christ’s stated purpose; to save us from eternal death and damnation, to give us a better quality of life both here and in the hereafter. So please, let’s not make His sacrifice a waste of time by not enjoying the life He died for us to have. Therefore, let’s turn sincerely to Him, cling tenaciously to him, and live victoriously for Him, for that is the wisdom of the ages!
And one of the things that come with such absolute devotion is prayer, both in good and bad times. So, in these rough times we are currently experiencing, let’s turn to our Saviour, our Creator for badly needed divine help, through our Friday Chant. As one strong, confident, but humble voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix it on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Let’s remember though, that we don’t just pray for help, but we also keep the promises we made in our prayer. Much LOVE!
…only in Christ…can one discover many of the answers…to the mysteries of life…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
27 Sep 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a big broad smile, according to Christ Jesus, amongst church brethren, an honest day's work, another glorious day, another week of work, as Christ received us, bear the infirmities, believers in Christ, breaks Jesus' heart, business good, Christ pleased not himself, comfort of the scripture, dinks, disunity, division, edification, eternal life, fellowship, for our learning, for the enemy, Friday chant, fun, furthering your glorious kingdom, generous help, glorify God, grant you, in Jesus name, in mind body and soul, Jesus, keeping a watchful eye, might have hope, of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the weak, on God's great earth, on our p's and q's, one toward another, our best example, our workweek, party, perseverance, petty jealousies, please his neighbour, power struggles, receive one another, refreshed, relationships, relaxation, religions, renewed, rest, salvation, smiling, stop fighting, take full advantage, TGIF!, thank god for weekends, Thank God it's Friday, that's life, the boss man, the death knell, the Father, the few dollars, the God of patience and comfort, the strong, the weekend, through patience, to be like-minded, to the glory of God, unity, with one mind, with one mouth, working we tail off, written aforetime
Romans 15:5. Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Welcome to another glorious day on God’s great earth my people! And it just happens to be Friday, the day that so many of us look forward to, because it heralds the death knell of our workweek and the arrival of the weekend! And this week has indeed been a rough one for the ole fella; being sick, going into the city several times to see medics, as well as losing my cell phone.
Yesterday the bus was full to overflowing, had to stand up all the way into T.O. Never saw it so filled before. And to make matters worse, a problem cropped up with some sensor in the bus, so that the driver had to pull over and stop several times until the sensor quieted down.
Then my appointment with the ‘dragon lady’ my ophthalmologist, slated for three o’clock, was never fulfilled until six. But they warn you it’s usually a long wait to see her. (smile) So I never left the hospital until minutes to seven, and the train took another fifty minutes to get to my stop. So you see why, like the ordinary workingman, I’m glad to see Friday too. (smile)
Listen to his spiel today: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! Brother, can’t wait for the day to finish nuh! It’s been so busy around here this week…and the boss man just smiling a big, broad smile because business good and we working we tail off for the few dollars he paying us. But that’s life, I suppose! Once yuh doing an honest day’s labour, though not for an honest day’s pay, I guess yuh on the right track.
And it looks like it going to be another warm, summerish weekend, so yuh better believe I’m going to take full advantage of it! Drinks and party and whatever else have you! Need to relax after all the slave work I put in this week yes! Thank God for Fridays and weekends! Don’t know how I’d manage without them nuh!’
And I’m sure many of us believers feel the same way…though I hope we don’t go down the same troubled and disastrous road that the ordinary workingman has chosen. As believers we can’t afford to get that far out on the limb, because then we’re liable to fall of right into the waiting hands of the ole devil, our certified enemy. So let’s chant our Friday Chant, which echoes most of the same sentiments of the ordinary workingman’s but is somewhat more cautious and sensible.
All together now, like we really mean it: ‘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, we too can have fun and frolic, but not to the extent that the workingman craves, we have to be on our p’s and q’s, always keeping a watchful eye out for the enemy. And the word for today friends is ‘UNITY!’ Unity amongst friends and families, but more so amongst church brethren, amongst believers in Jesus Christ! And it’s sad, very sad, that there is so much disunity and unpleasant division betwixt and between the supposed believers in Christ.
And yuh know mih people, once we’re not united, the enemy has won the first round in the battle, because then it’s very easy to conquer us once we’re as divided as we currently are. Yuh know how many supposed friends and family don’t talk to each other because they belong to competing religions? Competing religions eh! Steups! But Christ didn’t die for us to have religion, but relationships, salvation and eternal life in good fellowship with Him and with each other!
So please listen, and listen good, and let’s put into action, these fateful and oh so important words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome on the subject of unity in Christ. ‘We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (being built up). For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime (beforehand) were written for our learning, that we through patience (perseverance) and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore ye receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.’ (Rom.15:1-7)
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, we all talk about been involved in a battle with the enemy, but yet we are divided amongst ourselves, warring amongst ourselves, and oftimes over petty, foolish stuff. How can we win anything if we’re not unified eh? We’d be so much further ahead in the battle against Satan and his evil minions if we would just put away our supposed differences and focus on our plentiful similarities. And I’m sure it breaks Jesus’ heart to see the nonsense, the trivial, petty jealousies and power struggles going on within His church!
Listen to the scholars as they explain. ‘15:1-3. Strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak: The strong brother is morally obligated to take the initiative and bear with the weak brother in those things that bother him. The stronger brother must forego his liberty for the good of the weaker, so he is not offended or impaired in his spiritual life. The best example is Christ who took our sins upon Himself.’
Ah friends, Jesus is ALWAYS our best example in all we do. We all talk a good talk, calling His name a lot, but we certainly don’t emulate Him as much as we should. Please, let’s change that nuh. Possibly stop calling His name as much, and instead emulate Him more, put His words and actions into action, rather than just talk about them.
And above all, for heaven’s sake, let’s STOP fighting amongst ourselves over trivial, unimportant stuff nuh. We’d certainly be much further ahead in the battle against evil and wickedness than we are right now. Much LOVE!
…divided…as we are right now…we will be conquered…united…as we should be…we will be the conquerors…
16 Aug 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, behind closed doors, beware ye of the leaven, bitter for sweet, comprehends it not, condemnation, darkness, farse, fellowship, Friday chant, fun, further your glorious kingdom, futile, generous help, God is light, gratitude, hidden motives, hypocrisy, in him is no darkness, in Jesus name, laid bare by God, light, light is come into the world, LOVE, men loved darkness, nosy people, nothing covered, piety, practice the truth, proclaimed upon the housetops, put darkness for light, refreshed, rejoice and be glad, relaxation, renewed, rest, shall be revealed, shineth in darkness, spoken in darkness, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the Ex. CNE grounds, the light of Christ, the Lord is my light, the ordinary workingman, the Pharisees, the sake of appearance, the straight and narrow, their deeds are evil, them that call evil good, thy word is, walk in darkness, we lie, week of work, woe
John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.
Welcome to a glorious Friday friends! And it’s all the Lord’s doing on our behalf! All praise and glory to His holy name! So please, let’s make the effort, show the necessary gratitude and rejoice and be glad in it nuh! That’s the only wise and sensible thing to do in light of His wonderful gesture. But yuh know, sometimes it seems that the unbelievers are more grateful for the good days they enjoy than we believers.
Listen to the ordinary workingman, as he sings his Friday song nuh. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! My most favourite day, because it heralds the start of the weekend, where my time is my own, to do with as I like and please. And I can tell anybody to go jump in the lake if I don’t like their suggestions for how I’m spending, or planning to spend my time!
And it sure feels good when you can tell some farse or nosy somebody to mind their own business! Too many people in this world today don’t have no business of their own, or just like to mind other people’s business! Chuh! I don’t mind theirs, so why they have to bother with mine eh? But enough about them yes! Today is Friday, and it bright and sunshiny, so me and mine going to enjoy it to the fullest.
I’m even going to take a half-day off from the slave master work – tough if he doh like it – and go home and spend it with the children. Might even take them down to the Ex; that big country fair down by the CNE grounds on the Lakeshore. They would certainly enjoy that! But let’s see how the day plays out nuh, before we make any firm commitments. We’ll just be thankful that it’s Friday and the start of the weekend! Praise God for that yes!’
Ah mih fellow saints, how many of us get so excited about another supposed ordinary day eh? Not too many of us, who are supposed to be the most joyful people in the world. But we not going to preach on the subject (smile), let’s just chant our Friday Chant, sing our weekend song.
As one, 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!’
Yeh, it’s not as enthusiastic and colourful as the workingman’s offering, but it sure does keep us on the straight and narrow. And today, I want to share the scriptures I had planned to share yesterday when the Lord guided me in a different direction. It’s the same Bit: ‘And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.’ And unfortunately that hasn’t changed much since John wrote that some two thousand years ago. And why is that eh?
Possibly because as Jesus explains: ‘And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men LOVED darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth (practices) evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deed should be reproved (exposed).’ (John 3:19-20) And isn’t that the awesome truth my fellow believers? We hide what we don’t want others to see in the darkness, behind closed doors.
But please remember Jesus’ warning: ‘Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets (secretly in inner rooms) shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.’ (Luke 12:1b-3)
Oh my people, all the things we hide and do in the darkness will one day be revealed publicly! And besides the Lord sees them when we do them now, so what’s the purpose of hiding eh? As they say, our true self is reflected in what we do in darkness, behind closed doors, when no one else is around. So anything else we do differently in the light is pure hypocrisy.
As the scholars explain: ‘12:1-2. Hypocrisy, piety just for the sake of appearance is futile; for even hidden motives will one day be laid bare by God.’ Please believe that my people, and let’s try our best to only deal with true and godly motives, it will pay big dividends for us in the long run. Now let’s see how many of those original scriptures on light we can get in now, because the Bit’s again gone in a slightly different direction than I had planned. (smile)
And I guess the best one to begin with is Bruh David’s proclamation in Psalm 27: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’ (Ps.27:1) Not a single soul my people! Then in Psalm 119, the psalmist declares: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps.119:105) So true friends, the Lord’s Word is our guidebook for earthly living!
And Isaiah declares: ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.’ (Is.5:20) Yuh better believe it! And what better way to end than with John’s poignant declaration:
‘This the is the message which we have heard of him (Jesus), and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not (practice) the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:5-7)
Please friends, let’s ponder on those oh significant and important words today nuh, and see if we’re truly walking in the light or just fooling ourselves, and actually walking in darkness. But whatever answer we get, please let’s also ask the Lord for His awesome help to truly walk in His Light. That’s wisdom of undeterminable proportions! Much LOVE!
…you can’t truly walk in the Light of Christ…and in the darkness of Satan…at the same time…
02 Aug 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: an abomination to the Lord, because of evildoers, bring forth thy righteousness, Caribana weekend, cease from anger, choose none of his ways, Christians, comes a calling, commit thy way unto the Lord, complacent, deceitful enemy, delight thyself in the Lord, do good, drunk or sober, dwell in the land, ech step I take, enticements, entrapments, envy not the oppressor, feed on his faithfulness, flavour, fret not thyself, Friday chant, generous help, Granny's warning, his secret council, in Jesus name, Jesus, justice, lazy, like the grass, lost the West Indian vibe, LOVE, mind yuh business, modicum of circumspection, on yuh p's and q's, perverse person, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, sonny boy, soon be cut down, step up his game, the forward, the noonday sun, the workers of iniquity, times of celebration, trust alos in him, trust in the Lord, truth, wicked schemes, wisdom, with the righteous, wither like the green herb
Proverbs 3:31-32. Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the forward (perverse person) is abomination to the Lord: but his secret (secret council) is with the righteous.
Well hello there all you partygoers, it’s the big Caribana weekend in T.O.! Yeh it’s the long Civic (local) weekend holiday at the beginning of August that just gets the city moving and a grooving for many people…but not for me. I’ve got to say that Caribana no longer interests me. And if I do anything at all, is just to check out the Pan Competition on a Friday night.
I think it’s just lost the real West Indian vibe and flavour and it’s no longer a participatory festival but has become a watching show. Plus there’s been so much wrangling and confusion and resentment and legal proceedings over the last few years as to who owns the name and who’s going to run it, etc. etc. that it has soured me on the whole thing. Most important of all though, I can’t handle the long bouts of walking any longer! (smile)
But people still enjoy it and think it’s a blast. So far be it from me to take a way from their joy. And the ordinary workingman is one of those particularly enthused as he joyfully declares: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! And it’s Caribana weekend too! Yeahhhh! Another long summer weekend! We going to party and celebrate and have a good time! Celebrate the goodness of summer, cause it’s been a decent one so far.
Wow! The town going to be a mess this weekend with visitors from all over the world, and partying everlasting. I don’t have much need for the big crowds and them, so most likely I won’t go to the parade, unless the children badly want to. But I’m certainly going to participate in the many other sideshows, because this is my town’s biggest weekend of the year! We going to show them how to really party in a big town! Thank God for the long weekends in the summer yes, and particularly this Caribana weekend!’
Ah mih friends, I’m sure most of us will agree with those sentiments. It has indeed been a decent summer, and we are very thankful for it, but just remember to be careful in all your celebrations, have an eye out for the tempter, walk with a modicum of circumspection and remember Granny’s advice: ‘Sonny boy, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business!’
And I don’t care if yuh tired hearing me say it, you could set up yuh mouth and steups as much as yuh want, because it’s my bounden duty to remind you of it, so you don’t get into too much trouble when the deceitful enemy comes a calling with all his nice enticements and entrapments. (smile)
And believe me he does step up his game in these times of celebration, where we are most liable to let down our hair and get lazy and complacent. So please be on yuh p’s and q’s this weekend. Now all of the above has just been my rambling, it’s time to see what word the Lord has for us today. Soon come!
And thankfully, the Lord was right on cue…(smile) Isn’t He a wonderful God? He most certainly is! And His word for us today comes from Cousin Sol’s wisdom: ‘Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the forward (perverse person) is abomination to the Lord: but his secret (secret council) is with the righteous.’
Oh, what marvellous words of wisdom and truth my fellow believers! And very appropriate for these evil and ungodly times! The Lord placed it in Cousin Sol’s mind to write it, so it must be true. And if you don’t believe Cousin Sol, then try Bruh David’s immortal words nuh. (smile)
‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (thou shall feed on His faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (as it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps.37:1-9)
Oh my people, I hadn’t intended to write all of that nuh, but when I read it, I realized that all of it had to be said, because that’s the entire Word of the Lord in short form. It tells us exactly what and whatnot to do: trust, delight, fret not, cease, commit, wait, rest in…! If we only followed that wonderful advice, we’d be such wonderful Christians! (smile) So shall we listen attentively to Bruh David and follow his wonderful, God inspired directions? Of course, as true believers, WE WILL! (smile)
Now let’s go home chanting our Friday Chant that’s not as outgoing and rambunctious as the workingman’s song, but it meets our needs in Christ beautifully. 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!’
Ah friends, living and working for Jesus is such a wonderful life! Let’s gladly share His story with others as we enjoy this weekend nuh. Much LOVE!
…if yuh not in LOVE with Jesus…then yuh don’t know nothing about LOVE at all…
26 Jul 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: another can of worms, busy working, Christ-like behaviour, Christ-like purpose, communicating with God, crapaud smoke yuh pipe, do they appreciate it, fairness, fear before the God of Daniel, fellowship, for the children to enjoy, Friday chant, fun, furthering your glorious kingdom, generous help, go around half-naked, greedy, he will deliver thee, held all the marbles, in Jesus name, in Jesus' name, invade our space, invading their space, Jesus intends for us to live, letting our lives speak for Him, live the life, LOVE, make a decent life, men must tremble, no better way, part-time jobs, peace be multiplied unto you, prosperous society, quity, rambunctious, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, selfish, social responsibility, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the bad old day, the king spake unto Daniel, the living God, the mouth of the lions, the slave master, the workingman's song, thy God, time to spend together, to serve Jesus, ungodly, wait by the phone, whom thou servest continually, with each step I take, worketh signs and wonders, worldly
Daniel 6:16b. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Yes friends, we late! That’s because I was up at around 3 a.m, sitting out on my porch, doing my usual communicating thing with God and nature, then I had a li’l fight with my computer again…But that’s all in the past now, especially since it’s Friday and everybody is happy that the weekend is here at last…none more so than the ordinary workingman, as he joyfully exclaims:
‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday, and the weekend finally here! Mama Yo! Two days of rest from the slave master work! In the summertime to boot! That’s the best time ever! Can go around half-naked, enjoy the sunshine and hot weather, get a tan…do almost anything I want to do, with li’l or no restrictions.
There’s no better time than a weekend in the summer…and also in the summer of my days! Yeah! I’m strong, healthy and have a fairly good life! I’m not rich, but I’m not poor either. And it’s not easy all the time, but I do my best. That’s all I can do! So this weekend is going to be a blast! Have a couple parties to go to. The wife and I going to step out for a change.
Yeh, with her busy with the children at home and working part time, and I busy five days a week, as well as the odd overtime shift at the slave master’s job, we don’t have much alone time together. But brother, we certainly going to fix that this weekend. That’s why we have to thank God for Fridays and weekends oui!’
And yuh know friends, that’s the unfortunate state of many a household in our supposedly prosperous society. Too many parents don’t have the necessary time to spend together because they are so busy working and trying to make a decent life for their children to enjoy. And do the children appreciate it? Well that’s an entirely different can of worms!
But what yuh going to do eh? That’s the way our society is currently set up. Many of us are even lucky to have part time jobs. And the wicked and greedy slave masters are taking advantage of the part time situation that their friendly governments are allowing to happen, with no benefits or surety of jobs. Just wait by the phone until we call. And if we call and you don’t answer…then crapaud smoke yuh pipe!
Chuh! It’s sad and disgusting, but we seem to be reverting to the bad, old days, when the slave master held all the marbles and could dish them out how he wanted and to whom he wanted. Equity and fairness and social responsibility seems to have gone bye bye in this new world – read greedy, selfish, ungodly, and only interested in the first person singular.
But thankfully, we Christians are different…Not as much as we ought to be though, for we are allowing the evil and selfishness of the world to invade our space and bring us more like them, instead of us invading their space and bringing them more Christ-like. We just have to keep praying and hoping, and doing the best we can, with God’s help of course! So let’s chant our Friday Chant nuh, which isn’t as worldly and rambunctious as the workingman’s, but does serve our Christ-like purpose.
As one 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!’
Oh, it doesn’t go as far out on the limb, as the workingman’s, but it keeps us in check, keep us on our toes, so that the enemy doesn’t get an easy and convenient toehold in our souls. And that’s our main purpose – to keep God in, and the evil one out! And yuh know my people, the best way to do that is to continually serve our heavenly Father.
When I opened the Good Book this morning it opened at this wonderful verse in Daniel, as he was thrown into the lion’s den. ‘Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.’ What amazing words of encouragement from a pagan king! But the Lord put them there.
The king knew that Daniel had been a faithful servant to him, the kings before him, and of the Lord, ever since He had been brought captive to Babylon, and he had heard of and experienced enough of God’s wonders and mercy through Daniel’s prophecy and general Christ-like behaviour to know that there was a God in heaven, who could do mighty things.
And who hadn’t heard of the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego brought out of the flaming fire with not even the smell of smoke clinging to them. So expecting the Lord to work a miracle on Daniel’s behalf was something he could comprehend. And when the Lord did act on Daniel’s behalf and saved him from the mouth of the lions, hear these astounding words that the king wrote to all his constituents.
‘Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth. ‘Peace be multiplied unto you. (shades of Bruh Paul) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men (must) tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power (paws) of the lions.’ (Dan.16:25-27)
Oh friends, I know that most of us won’t make a splash as big as Daniel did, but I know that we can make a bigger splash than we are currently making. Let’s remember that it’s all for Jesus nuh. Our lives are supposed to bring others closer to Him, not drive them away, as so many of us are currently doing. Please, for all of our sakes, let’s truly live the life that Jesus intends for us to live nuh! We all know what we’re supposed to do, so let’s buckle down and do it…in Jesus’ name. Much LOVE!
…there’s no better way to serve Jesus…than letting our lives speak for Him…
19 Jul 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dearth of basic necessities, a right heart, actions today, another week of work, casual Fridays, Christians, do it again next week, dunk, eat drink be merry, enjoy, fellow saints in Christ, fellowship, flash floods, flashing his whip, followers of Jesus, for tomorrow you may die, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's kingdom, generous, give generously, giving to God's church, he that watereth, help to do God's work, I was a stranger, I was an hungered, I was sick, I was thristy, in Jesus name, in prison, in soul body and mind, in the public swimming pool, inconsistent rain, it hasn't been easy, make that decision then, mind-boggling, more miserly than the unbeliever, most generous givers, naked, of our time, on the left hand, people have less than you, prepared for, proper motives, prosperous, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, shall be made fat, shall be watered himself, slave driver, summer heat, talent and treasure, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the cottage by the lake, the devil and his angels, the fruits of your labour, the level of poverty, the liberal soul, the reality of life, the weekend, the workingman's song, thrown into everlasting fire, what a paradox, with the goats, ye came unto me, ye clothed me, ye gave me drink, ye gave me meat, ye took me in, ye visited me, you reap what you sow, your generous help
Proverbs 11:25. The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat (prosperous): and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
And then it was Friday; the worker’s favourite day, especially in the summer where the dress rules are sometimes relaxed for something called ‘casual Fridays.’ Some people don’t even work on Fridays during the summer months, they take the time off to get to the cottage and enjoy a longer weekend.
All power to them yes! Less wealthy or privileged folks like me can’t afford to do that, so we have to stay here in the city and bear the brunt of, endure the heat of the raging sun. (smile) But I’m okay with that, because going to the cottage also has its own drawbacks. I’m comfortable right where I am, and with age creeping up on me, the desire for change is not that strong. (smile)
And the ordinary workingman seems to agree with my sentiments as he belts out his weekend song. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! Thank Him for granting us this release in the weekend, specially in the summer, else we’d all die from heat exhaustion and overwork. And though the weekend sorta too short, we still going to enjoy it as much as possible.
And where yuh see we in the full swing of summer now, with all the summer heat and flash floods and inconsistent rain, the weekend is we only saviour, where we could get to do what we want, when we want, with no slave driver flashing his figurative whip at you any time yuh try to take a rest.
But nobody ever said life was going to be easy, but you have to enjoy the fruits of your labour, and this weekend we surely going to do that; eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you might die! We going to party, go out and play in the park… and since I can’t afford to go to the cottage by the lake, we just going to go and dunk we self in the public swimming pool, like all mih other working class friends and them.
We not greedy, but we do like to be able to enjoy we time some. So as you enjoy the weekend, please remember to give thanks to God for whatever li’l you have eh, because it have plenty people who have plenty less than you!’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends! Whatever little you have, there is always someone, somewhere who has even less than you. What a paradox! Even in the supposedly first world countries there’s a level of poverty in some areas that’s just mind-boggling. You can’t believe that amongst all the prosperity there is such a dearth of basic necessities. But that’s the reality of life, and for some reason or other we just can’t seem to, or want to fix it.
However my fellow saints in Christ, please remember what Jesus said, about the unfortunates and those who helped them. ‘For I was an hungered (hungry), and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.’ (Matt.25:35-36)
Yes precious people of God, that’s the kind of thing we’re supposed to be doing as servants and followers of Jesus, because if we don’t, when Jesus comes to judge, He’ll put us on the left hand with the goats, who’ll be thrown ‘into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Matt.25:41) Yes friends, ‘even as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ (Matt.25:40)
So please, let’s stop concentrating on ourselves and concentrate on what Jesus wants us to do nuh; that’s helping the poor and needy. Remember too that we reap what we sow. And as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) likes to say, we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow. So be it bad or good, our sowing produces a big harvest of the same things we sow.
And though it’s nice to have earthly wealth and be comfortable, that’s not the prescription for greatness in Christ’s kingdom. Hear how Cousin Sol, in his God-given wisdom, puts it nuh. ‘The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat (prosperous): and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.’ That’s how it is in God’s kingdom my people. The more you give, from a right heart, with proper motives, the more the Lord will increase you. And that’s exactly how it ought to be.
Consequently, Christians ought to be the biggest and most generous givers in this whole wide world! But unfortunately we’re not. We’re even more miserly than plenty of the unbelievers. And strangely, but unfortunately, where we’re most miserly is in giving to God’s church.
We’ll go out and buy all the nonsense the world has to offer without a qualm, but giving an extra penny to help do God’s work, brother, for so many of us believers, it’s like pulling teeth without any anesthetic. But everybody wants to see a nice, clean, spruced up church. How yuh thing it’s going to get so eh, if we don’t give generously of our time, talent and treasure eh?
Anyhow, enough sermonizing for today! And who knows if it will make any difference anyway. (smile) So let’s go home chanting our Friday Chant, in all sincerity and true sense of purpose. ‘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!’
Enjoy the weekend friends, but please keep in the back of your minds, which hand you want Jesus to put you on; on the left as goats, or on the right as sheep, for your actions today, will help make that monumental decision then. Much LOVE!
…Jesus came to help…the poor, the sick, the lost and the needy…and that’s also what He expects of His followers…
12 Jul 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a friend of the world, abides forever, acceptable and perfect will of god, as I am not of the world, barbecue, be not conformed to this world, be ye transformed, by the renewing of your mind, compromise, disturb our comfortable lives, do his bidding, enemy of God, enmity with God, fall through the cracks, freedom at last, Friday chant, friendship of the world, generous help, get out there on the limb, good to be alive, he that does the will of God, I pray not, in Jesus name, Jesus is calling us, keep them from the evil one, keeps the bailiff at bay, late mornings, late nights, love not the world, love of comfort, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, my family's enjoyment, my Maker, party, pride of life, prove the good, radiation treatment, refreshed, renewed, seek God first, serve God or mammon, silence., solitude, take them out of the world, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the love of the Father, the slave camp, the things of the world, the weekend, the workingman's song, the world passeth away, they are not of the world, thinking, ungodly ways, value systems of the world, week of work, with nature, worldly pleasures
John 17:16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Ah mih people, late nights usually lead to late mornings, and I was out on my porch this morning at 3.a.m enjoying some silence and solitude with nature and my Maker, so no wonder the Bit’s somewhat late. (smile) But please look at it from my point of view nuh.
Being up at those late hours means that I’m getting back somewhat to my old self, not needing to sleep through most of the night like I’ve been recently doing. Hopefully too, I will be more productive in my endeavours, because I certainly haven’t been thus in the last li’l while.
And the best news though friends is that 32 are down, with only one more to go! Yeah! Today is the last day of the radiation treatment! Wow! My time will be my own now! No more having to go to the hospital five times a week at varying times – with empty bowels and a full bladder too!
Oh boy, I’m going to feel like I’ve been set free from jail, don’t know what I’m going to do with myself! Just hope the radiation stuff does what it’s supposed to do though, because I definitely don’t want to have to do it again. But who knows eh? All that’s in the Lord’s hands, the Creator and Controller of the universe and all therein!
And the workingman is also excited this Friday morning, as he belts out his weekend song: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday and the weekend is here at last! Brother! It was a busy week in the slave camp, as it always is in the summertime, but now freedom at last for a couple of days. Glory be!
And isn’t this summer going smashingly? No setta rain or extreme heat. Plenty time to barbecue and party. Have fun with the children…and with the wife…Ooh la la! Who says it’s not good to be alive eh?
Is true the slave master liable to drive me crazy during the week, but come the weekend, I forget all about that, and just concentrate on me and my family’s enjoyment. The work hard, and the pay not commensurate with it, but it keeps the bailiff at bay, and I’m no longer a young man, so I don’t have that many opportunities to get a better job.
And then there’s the old saying, better the devil you know, than the one you don’t! I can handle my slave master, and when things are going good, like they usually are in the summer, he’s not too bad. So why should I get all upset and spoil mih comfortable life eh? That’s why I’m always thankful for Fridays and weekends!’
Yes my fellow believers, right there many of us have a similar problem; not wanting to disturb our comfortable lives, even though Jesus is calling us to get out there on the limb and do His bidding. Too much LOVE of comfort and worldly pleasure, too much compromise with the world and it’s ungodly ways are causing too many of us to fall through the cracks and become more worldly than we ought to be.
Remember Jesus desires us to be in the world, but not a part of it. And basically there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable, but at what expense? If it prohibits or inhibits your work for Christ, then you have to carefully consider that comfortable condition.
Remember His prayer to the Father for us: ‘I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.’ (John 17:15-16) What more can I say eh friends, except to quote a few scriptures that also encourage us to be not of this evil and ungodly world.
Hear Bruh Paul to the church at Rome. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom.12:2) Yes my fellow believers in Christ, as the scholars say: ‘We need to resist being poured into the mould of the present thinking, value systems, and conduct of this world.’
Meanwhile James says it a li’l more forcefully: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God.’ (James 4:4) Yeh friends, one cannot be a LOVER of God and a LOVER of the world. You either have to serve God or mammon!
As John so nicely puts it: ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:15-17)
Ah my people, yuh see that last line, it’s possibly the most important, letting us know that whatever the world holds dearly will eventually pass away, but the things of God, and those who do His will, will surely abide till eternity! What wonderful news that is! So let’s stop trying to be like the world, and be like Christ instead nuh.
And no, I did not forget our Friday Chant, it’s just that it fell more conveniently at the end than in the middle today. (smile) So as true believers in Christ, let’s chant it now in strong voice with all sincerity nuh! ‘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, let’s all have a happy weekend glorifying God and renewing our spiritual and physical selves so that we can join the battle with new energy and confidence next week. Much LOVE!
…God says…if we seek Him first…He will give us all that we ever need…so why worry about the perishable things in the world eh…
05 Jul 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: about sharing, baptize, bless the Lord, blooming greedy, bounden duty, Christ's gospel, crowns thee with loving-kindness, each step I take, enjoy the fruits of mih labour, eternal life, forget not all his benefits, forgives thine iniquities, Friday chant, from destruction, furthering God's kingdom, generous help, go ye into the world, God-given right, good news, heals thy diseases, I am the vine, I am with you always, in Jesus name, in the name of the Father, live it up, LOVE, make disciples of all nations, preach a good preach, preach the gospel, redeems thy life, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, salvation, satisfies thy mouth, show good fruit, sufficient fun, teach, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, the Great Commission, the halls of heaven, the Holy Ghost, the slave master, the SON, the summer time, the weekend, the workingman's song, thy youth is restored as the eagle's, to every creature, two short days off, with good things, ye are nothing
Mark 16:15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
And so we come once more to Friday, the day that we all long and wish for, especially in the summer time, when we get to go out and do all those fun things outside. (smile) And believe me the hot days are upon us right now, with temps of 30 and 30 something degrees predominating. And if we don’t get some rain soon, we’ll be complaining about how it too hot! That’s just the nature of the human animal, we just LOVE our comfort and are never satisfied even when we get what we ask for.
And the 4th of July party is still in full swing down in the U.S. of A. And the workingman feels as though he’s died and gone to heaven. Hear him nuh: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday…and the weekend is finally here! What would we do without the weekend eh? The slave master and them would gladly work out we soul case if we give them the chance, and for next to nothing too, because they so blooming greedy! They preach a good preach about sharing, but is only talk oui.
But enough about them evil people yes. Is the summer time now and the weekend, we time to get out there and party, party like there was no tomorrow! And who knows whether there will be any tomorrow eh? What they say? You live today and tomorrow you die? Well then lemme live it up today eh? For who knows if I’ll wake up tomorrow? And the weather is fine, the beer’s cold, the grill’s waiting …and the winter soon come back! So lemme enjoy the fruits of mih labour eh, as Solomon says, that’s mih God-given right! So thank God for Fridays and weekends yes!’
Oh friends, we do have to thank the Lord, but not only for Fridays and weekends, but for all that we have, because it all comes from Him! Remember how Bruh David put it: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps.103:2-5)
Oh my people, what words of marvellous truth! Our wonderful God does it all for us! Without Him, we’d be absolutely nothing! Jesus said it plainly: ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) So please let’s remember that as we chant our Friday Chant this beautiful summer’s day with a strong sense of purpose and reverence.
As one 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!’
And that’s what it’s all about yes my faithful brethren, furthering Christ’s kingdom here on earth, bringing forth fruit in His name! That was His last command to the disciples; what we call the Great Commission. ‘Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:19-20)
So that’s our bounden duty: to teach and preach and baptize and spread the good news of Christ’s gospel, bringing unbelievers to the realization that they badly need His free healing and saving grace, so that they can enjoy salvation and eternal life in the beautiful halls of heaven!
Now here is something that I’ve never noticed before, Mark’s version of the Great Commission, because everyone seems to be fixated on Matthew’s take on the subject. But though Mark’s is somewhat different, it’s just as interesting. ‘And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (condemned).
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not (never) hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’ (Mark 16:15-18)
What magnificent promises my people! But we have to believe and get out there and do the work Jesus commanded us to do before we see them coming to pass. And the last verse of Mark’s gospel tells us what happened after Jesus left them and ascended into heaven. ‘And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (accompanying signs). Amen.’ (Mark 16:20)
Yuh see that mih people, when they did as Jesus asked, He did as He promised; being with them as they did His work! And it’s the very same way He will be with us in these evil and ungodly times when we step out in faith to spread His word, whether it be as preachers, evangelists, teachers, etc. or just by being good, ordinary Christian folks, letting our Christ-like lives speak for us. It’s all about staying securely attached to the vine! Much LOVE!
…if you truly believe in Jesus…then you need to work His work…and show good fruit…
28 Jun 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a big bash, a crooked, anger, believers in Christ, blameless, Canada Day, celebrations, children of God, Christian, comforting, covenant, disputings, do all tings, don't jealous them, drinking, drunk like a skunk, drunk or sober, each step I take, eating, elbow grease, fall flat on his face, fear, fellowship, free gift of grace, Friday chant, fun, furthering your glorious kingdom, generous help, go overboard, Granny's wise words, guiding, harmless, have life abundantly, having a blast, high life, holding fast to, holy spirit, in Jesus' name, in the day of Christ, in the midst of, Jesus' body, jump right in, laboured in vain, laugh in Jesus' face, leadin, long weekend, LOVE, low life, mess up our souls, mind our p's and q's, mind your business, parties galore, party, perverse generation, refreshed, rejoice, relaxation, renewed, resentment, rest, run in vain, Satan, sense of purpose, slave master, taunting, temptation, TGIF!, thank god for weekends, Thank God is Friday, the bacchanalian situation, the church, the enemy, the word of life, trembling, week of work, without murmurings, without rebuke, witness for Christ, wonderful country of Canada, work out your own salvation, ye shine as lights
Philippians 2:15. That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons (children) of God, without rebuke (fault), in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Summer days are here again…Glory Hallelujah! Yes my people, it surely seems as though the summer time is fully upon us now, what with all these beautiful days all in a row with warm temps and what not! (smile) And it’s a long weekend to boot; Canada Day weekend where we celebrate our Independence from our Colonial masters.
Yes friends, we’re a hundred and fifty two years old now; young compared to many other nations, but we’re growing in strength, faith, godliness and LOVE daily! Give God the thanks my Canadian brethren!
And before we go any further, let me remind us of those wise, immortal words of Granny that are so applicable to this weekend of mucho celebration. ‘Sonny boy; drunk or sober please mind yuh business!’ Please take serious note my people and be very careful this long weekend. And is the workingman ever bursting to sing his weekend song, so let’s hear him nuh.
‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui…and the weekend here at last! And was this ever a rough week because the slave master had plenty work to get out before the long weekend. And wow! Is Canada Day long weekend, which means party, party, party! And the weather supposed to be nice everlasting too, right up there in the high 20’s! Mama Yo! Are we ever going to mash up this weekend.
Yuh can’t rightly celebrate Canada independence without a big bash! Lots ah eating and drinking, imbibing some good brew…and even some of the hard stuff too! I can imagine what cottage country going to look like this weekend. All the big shots and them going to be having a blast and the lakes and them going to be full ah boats riding up and down with parties galore on them.
But is okay. I don’t jealous them their high life. I’m going to enjoy my low life right down here in the city. Me and my pardies, we going to have just as good a time…and possibly even better. So leh we just thank God for weekends and this wonderful country of Canada nuh!’
Ah friends, yuh see why Granny’s words are so important when coming to these big celebrations. In all the excitement and joy, we just liable to go overboard like the workingman’s planning to do. But as believers in Christ Jesus we can’t afford to go that far into the bacchanalian situation because the enemy will jump right into that opening and mess up our souls and spoil our witness for Christ.
That’s why our Friday Chant is somewhat more reserved, thoughtful and even-tempered than the workingman’s weekend song. So let’s chant it now nuh, in loud voice, with a strong sense of purpose. ‘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 mih breddren, ours is a more sedate and responsible life. Now that doesn’t mean that we can’t party and have fun too, but we just have to be a li’l more careful when we let our hair down and don’t give the enemy a chance to invade our souls and cause us to do wrong, because that is his sole purpose in life…get a Christian to fall flat on his face, both literally and figuratively, then laugh in Jesus face and gleefully declare:
‘Look, look at yuh boy down there in the gutter nuh…drunk like a skunk! And he is the one yuh was praising up so much, about how he so good and godly. But yuh see how he really soft. Can’t even stand li’l bit a temptation! Hn, Hn, Hn! And it have plenty more like him out there too yes. Going to show yuh them every time ah conquer them!’
Oh my fellow believers, we definitely can’t have Satan taunting and laughing up in Jesus face like that nuh! That means we have to seriously mind our p’s and q’s, else we liable to fall in the gutter too. And the church, Jesus’ body, already has enough black eyes on it, it doesn’t need anymore. That’s why friends, this Canada Day weekend, we need to consider seriously these words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians.
‘Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of (according to) his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings (grumbling) and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons (children) of God, without rebuke (fault), in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth (fast to) the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.’ (Phil.2:12-16)
And all that basically means friends, is now that we’ve been saved by the free gift of grace from God, not by anything we did, we have to stay attached to Christ and work at keeping our lives going in a godly direction. Being godly and righteous doesn’t just happen automatically once we’re saved, we have to work at it, run our race like Bruh Paul did.
And if we are sincere about running that godly race, then the Lord will help us do so through the leading, guiding and comforting of His Holy Spirit. But that means we can’t grumble and complain when things don’t go our way, neither can we live in anger and resentment with our fellow man. We need to be bright and shining lights for and of Jesus in this most perverse generation ever of mankind.
Remember, God has a plan for each and every one of our lives, and though He’ll gladly show us what it is, and help us accomplish it, He won’t do it all for us, we need to do our part of the covenant and put in some elbow grease too. So this Canada day weekend, let’s keep all of that in mind as we party hearty, and enjoy ourselves, for that is one of the reasons Christ died in our place; that we can rejoice and be happy in living and working for Him. Much LOVE!
…I am come…that they might have life…and have it more abundantly… (John 10:10b)
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