09 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living
Tags: a child of God, a prayer for cleansing, Adam, at my worst, Bathsheba, blameless, blot out my transgressions, bone of contention, Christmas, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, come short of the glory of God, confess our sins, confession, create in me a clean heart, David, decorations, disobedient, Dr. Robert H. Schuler, evil, exciting thought, fantastic lesson, for all have sinned, forgive our sins, free spirit, gladness, glory hallelujah, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, God LOVES me, gone astray, good news, graceful truth, happy report, have mercy upon me, heartache, his word is not in us, holy sentence, honour and glorify, Hours of Power Devotions, hyssop, I acknowledged my sin, I will confess my transgressions, incomprehensible, iniquity, joy, justified, lights, lost sheep, LOVE, mine iniquity have I not hid, my faith is dim, no one can take away from us, Psalm 51, purge me, relaxation, renew a right spirit within me, repentance, rest, salvation, the Garden of Eden, the weekend, thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, top o' the morning, transgressions, True LOVE, we make him a liar, whiter than snow
Psalm 32:5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Top o’ the morning to you my Scrip-Bit family on this bountiful Saturday! I know it’s been an exhausting week, but that’s what the weekend is there for – rest. And I do hope that we’ll all get plenty of rest and relaxation as we take down our Christmas decorations and lights from the tree and from around our homes. Now the physical Christmas season might be drawing to a close, but the spiritual season of peace and goodwill to men never closes. Let’s remember that and act accordingly.
And I definitely could not pass up this poem from Gramps Schuler’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuler) Hours of Power Devotions, because I believe it deals with something we desperately need to acknowledge, believe and remember in this most promising year of 2016, that ‘GOD LOVES ME!’ That’s the title.
And it says: ‘Thank you, Lord, for this holy sentence, this good news, this happy report, this exciting thought, this graceful truth, this fantastic lesson. God LOVES me! Even when I’m at my worst – God LOVES me. Even when my faith is dim – God LOVES me anyway! It is incomprehensible and fantastic! Thank you, Father. Amen.’
Ah friends, what incomprehensible and fantastic news indeed that Almighty God LOVES each and every one of us! Glory Hallelujah! God knows us each by name my people, and He takes great interest in all the goings ons in our lives.
And if you don’t believe that He knows and LOVES us like… like an earthly father LOVES His children, then just think about the heartache He endured on our behalf when He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, on the cross so that we could be reconciled to Him. If that wasn’t true LOVE, then I don’t know what true LOVE is nuh.
So, as we go about our daily lives, please, let’s hold that fact first and foremost in our hearts and minds, and let it boost our faith, for it’s something NO ONE can ever take away from us.
And our Bit bears out the Father’s LOVE in spades: ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.’
Oh my fellow believers, why would a holy God forgive us our sins, if He didn’t truly care about us eh? Even when He knows that we’ll keep on being disobedient, He still continues to forgive, once we come to Him in sincere repentance. I don’t know about you all nuh people, but I will LOVE and honour and glorify anyone who treats me with such LOVING-kindness! Ah friends, from the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, sin has been the bone of contention between God and man. For as Bruh Paul says in Romans: ‘For all have sinned, and come (fallen) short of the glory of God.’ (Rom. 3:23)
And that’s no lie mih breddren, all of us have gone astray like lost sheep, doing our own thing, not obeying God’s law. And as John tells us in his first epistle: ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.’ (1 John1:8-10)
Ah friends, it is ever so important that we own up to our sins, otherwise we’d not only be deceiving ourselves, but also making God a liar by denying His Word that says we’re all sinners. On the other hand, confessing our sinfulness, leads to a just and faithful God cleansing us of our unrighteousness, our sin. What more can a sinful man ask eh? Not much more my fellow believers.
And we’ll conclude this series of messages on sin, its confession, repentance and forgiveness with the words of a well-known sinner, but also a man after God’s own heart, Bruh David, from Psalm 51 – a prayer for cleansing, after his disastrous episode with Bathsheba.
‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified (found just) when thou speakest, and be clear (blameless) when thou judgest….
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not away thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free (generous) spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’ (Ps.51:1-4, 7-13)
Ah mih people, yuh see sin can affect any human being regardless of their power and status! God was generous to a fault to Bruh David, but yet the sinful nature we’re born with keeps trying to pull us away from God. ‘Behold, I was shapen (brought forth) in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.’ (Ps.51:5)
But friends, the great part of it all, is that though Bruh David sinned grievously against the Lord, He forgave him when he confessed and repented of his transgressions. The price he paid was steep, with confusion reigning thereafter in his family, but the forgiveness was surely worth it, because it meant that he was still a child of God, sincerely LOVED and cared about by the heavenly Father. There can be no better situation than that my people.
So please, let’s be wise and confess our sins to Almighty God nuh. And even though the consequences of our sin might be pretty tough, believe me, the forgiveness will always outweigh it. Much LOVE!
…the forgiveness of sin…can only be accomplished…on the heels of sincere confession and repentance…
08 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a licence to sin, a penitent heart, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, Bathsheba, be not far from me, believers in Christ, burdens our hearts, celebrations, charles stanley, chasten me, confession, crying out for rest, displeasure, fellowship, forgiveness, forgives sin, forsake sin, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, God's good graces, Holy God, I acknowledged my sin, I am bowed down, I made it through, I will confess my transgressions, in Jesus' name, iniquity, leave all the consequences to Him, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, magnanimous, makes haste to help me, mine iniquity have I not hid, mourning, my wounds stink, negative consequences, O Lord of my salvation, obey God, our talk, our walk, penalties, play, psalm 38, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, repentance, rest, Selah, sin, soul body and mind, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the devil's handiwork, the one and only true living God, the weekend, them's the breaks, thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, work, working enables us to play, your arrows pierce me deeply
Psalm 32:5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Well Friends, I can just imagine how you all must be shouting it from the rooftops this morning eh: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Thank God that the weekend is here at last! Wow! It certainly has been a tiring week! Thank God it’s Friday oui, and no more work for a couple days! The body certainly crying out for some rest!’
Ah mih people, I know that this first Friday of work in the new year has indeed been somewhat trying and tiring after all the season’s celebrations. But unfortunately, them’s the breaks. (smile) We can’t just play alone, sometime or other we need to work too.
And remember that it’s working which enables us to play. And I have to laugh how we crying out for rest, rather than the usual party scene. Hn, hn! Anyway, let’s all hang in there and chant our Friday Chant that will give us a better perspective on the weekend.
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.’
Yes friends, rest and worship are essential parts of our weekend, so that we can come back out strong on Monday and continue the cycle of building Christ’s LOVE Revolution. Remember that this is the year that the LOVE Revolution must sweep the world if we want to have any chance of turning things around.
It’s our job, as believers in Christ, to go out there and make believers of the unbelievers through both our talk and our walk. Nothing else is going to change them!
Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.’
Ah mih people, what a wonderful God we serve and worship! There’s no other supposed deity who forgives sin! Just the ONE and ONLY TRUE and LIVING God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Yes my brethren, our God is indeed a truly magnanimous and forgiving Deity! But that doesn’t mean it gives us the right to keep on participating in sin, because on the other side of the coin, sin bears serious penalties from a holy God.
We saw yesterday, how God’s friend and man after His own heart, Bruh David paid an enormous price for his sin with Bathsheba, although he repented and was forgiven. But his sin had caused great occasion for God’s enemies to blaspheme His name, and that was definitely not acceptable.
So though we may sincerely repent and be forgiven, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be no negative consequences. So the best remedy is to sin as little as possible. (smile) Oh we all know that that is easier said than done, but we must always give it our best effort, with God’s help of course.
Now hear this gem on sin from Cousin Sol. ‘He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’ (Prov.28:13)
Oh glory to God my people for His mercy and LOVING-kindness! But please note that Cousin Sol didn’t just say to confess our sins, but also to forsake them, stop committing them; especially the same ones over and over. That is also a necessary part of the whole scenario my brethren.
Remember, though confessions and repentance and forgiveness are ours, it doesn’t give us a licence to sin. But when we do sin, it is essential that we come to God in repentance and confession as soon as possible, because any sin that burdens our hearts, also keeps us out of God’s good graces, and we definitely don’t want to be excluded from that.
Now let’s look at some scripture on sin and its effects on the human body and psyche. Listen to Bruh David from Psalm 38 – The prayer of a penitent heart.
‘O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me (pierce me deeply), and thy hand presseth me sore (down). There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest (health, peace) in my bones because of my sin.
For mine iniquities have gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt (are foul and festering) because of my foolishness. I am troubled (bowed down) greatly; I go mourning all the day long.’ (Ps.38:1-6)
Yes friends, that’s how sin ought to make us feel, so that we can come running to God and sincerely declare: ‘For I am ready to halt (to fall), and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin…. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.’ (Ps.38:17-18, 21-22)
Ah my fellow believers, sin is no joke, so please let’s not encourage it in our lives, because we’re liable to pay a hefty price of negative consequences if we do. As Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) so wisely declares: obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. Now that is indeed the wisest way to live! Much LOVE!
…sin is the devil’s handiwork…and it can only be erased through…confession, repentance and God’s mercy…
06 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 2016, a negative outlook, a positive attitude, abundant life, blessed, blessedness, by their fruits you shall know them, come together in Christ, come up over our problems, confession, deceit, drought of summer, effects of unconfessed sin, faith without works, forgiven, forgiveness, God is good, godly, good graces of God, gospel truth, guile, I acknowledge my sin, I am halfway home, I will confess my transgressions, I'm not looking back, I'm not turning back, I'm so glad to be alive, jump for joy, life is not fair, LOVE, mine iniquity have I not hid, moan and groan, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, personal witness, platitudes, ponder our sins, pray, repentance, Scrip-Bit family, Selah, separate the sheep from the goats, step up to the plate, take them to god in prayer, the breath of life, the happiness of the forgiven man, thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, thou mayest be found, to a glorious future with Jesus, transgression, troubles, true believers, unconfessed sin, unhappy lives, vitality, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, works
Psalm 32:5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
And then it was Wednesday! How yuh going mih Scrip-Bit family? Hope the new year is progressing smoothly and that you are managing everything nicely through the good graces of our wonderful God.
It’s going to be an awesome year, this 2016! So with that in mind, let’s all perk up and seriously come together in Christ and do His works nuh, works that are necessary to show ourselves as true believers.
Remember Jesus said, by their fruit ye shall know them, (Matt.7:20) and the past few days we’ve been reading James, who declares that faith without good works is meaningless. That means we have got to come up over our problems and inject more of our faith into the things we do and say.
And we can begin today by declaring our Wednesday Wail. Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah Friends, doesn’t that just lift your spirits? It surely does mine! I am glad to be alive, and looking forward, not backward….and oh…the promise of that glorious future with Jesus just makes me want to jump for joy and shout His wonderful name! (smile)
Oh my people, we all know that life is not fair or easy, but God is good, and our attitude towards life is what separates the goats from the sheep. Some of us bring a positive attitude to it and therefore have more enjoyment, despite the many problems we all face.
Meanwhile, others portray a negative outlook, and thus live shallow, meaningless, miserable and unhappy lives. That is not the kind of life Jesus died for us to have. He sacrificed His holy and sinless life so that we could have life and even have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
The problem though is that we have to step up to the plate with good attitudes to embrace that abundant life. It doesn’t just come up on its own. And good attitudes don’t just spring up on their own either. We need to come to God for help in achieving them.
That brings us to our Bit, taken from Psalm 32 – The blessedness of forgiveness. ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.’
This is Bruh David at his best. As the scholars declare: ‘Psalm 32. The psalm describes the blessedness of forgiveness as no other does. This is the theme of especially the first five verses, which include the happiness of the forgiven man (vv.1-2), the physical and psychological effects of unconfessed sin (vv.3-4), and the simple remedy of confession to obtain God’s forgiveness (v.5).
On this basis David can experience prayer (vv.6-7), divine instruction (vv.8-9), and personal witness (vv.10-11).’
Now that’s all true my people, but I want to point out one thing here, though the remedy of confession might be simple, it certainly needs to be sincere, if we expect our sins to be forgiven. We just can’t go to God and ask for forgiveness, if we don’t feel it in our hearts, because that’s the first place He’s going to look, not just listen to the platitudes that we mouth.
Anyway, let’s get into the Psalm. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not (does not charge his account with) iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit).
When I kept silence, my bones waxed (grew) old through my roaring (groaning) all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture (my vitality) is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.’ (Ps.32:1-4)
Yeh friends, yuh see what happens to us when we live with unconfessed sin? We moan and groan all day long, the Lord’s hand is heavy upon us, and our vitality is sapped like the summer’s drought. So living with unconfessed sin is not a very wise thing to do.
And today would be a very good day for those of us who feel old and dried up and miserable and can’t get ourselves together, to consider what sin(s) we might be withholding and go to God and confess them.
Oh my brethren, I can tell you from personal experience that when you get any sin at all off your chest, you feel like a million dollars compared to how you felt before. Bruh David learned that the hard way, as no doubt some of us are doing.
But there’s absolute truth in our Bit my people, so much so that it’s worth repeating again.‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.’
And there’s no better time than right now, the start of this pivotal year, for us to go to God and spill out our hearts to Him in all sincerity and truth. Friends, our Creator and Provider is waiting for us to come to Him in sincere repentance.
As Bruh David says after our Bit. ‘For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. (Ps.32:6)
Gospel truth that, my brethren! So please, today, let’s take a few minutes to ponder our sins, our troubles, whatever is wrong in our lives and then sincerely take them to God in prayer nuh. For that is wisdom at its absolute best. Much LOVE!
…a life filled with unconfessed sin…is no life at all…
04 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 2016, a bone of contention, a creed, a man has faith but no works, aplomb, aura of love, can faith save him, Christmas, confidence, daily grind and common task, depart from me, enthusiasm, evil, faith, faith without works is dead, fellowship, get a move on, glorious kingdom, groaning, he that doeth the will of my Father, holy spirit, humble servants, I never knew you, invincible, James, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, knowledge of God, lies, LOVE, moaning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, New Year, obedience to God's will, Paul, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, repentance, rest, salvation, saving faith, snooze button, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, surrender, taunts, the devils also believe, The Lord our God is one Lord, there is one God, tremble, ungodly world, walk closer with Christ, what doth it profit, wiles, wisdom, with the Lord's help, workers of iniquity
James 2:14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Oh friends, oh friends, the Christmas party done now! It’s time to get back to the daily grind and common task; that thing called work, which most of us don’t like, but which is ever so important. So let’s get a move on nuh, let’s be up and at ‘em this first Monday in this highly expectant year of 2016.
Please don’t touch the snooze button! Hn! And I hear the moaning and groaning, the chuhing and steupsing, as the weight that we’ve put on over the Christmas season has us moving somewhat sluggishly. But don’t worry my precious people, with the Lord’s help we’ll handle it all with great aplomb! Nice word that- aplomb; simply meaning self-confidence and assurance. (smile)
And please remember that though it’s a new year we still have some old tools that will serve us in very good stead. So without further ado, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with the new found joy and enthusiasm gained from our resolution to walk ever closer with Christ this new year.
As one mighty and harmonious choir 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!’
Now that wasn’t bad at all my brethren, considering our unhealthy lifestyles in the past week or so. And Jesus, our choirmaster understood, and didn’t balk too much when He heard the occasional croak in the voices. (smile) That brings us to our Bit: ‘What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?’
Oh friends, that can certainly be a bone of contention as we saw in the scholars’ explanation yesterday. But I don’t think it is, or should be, because Bruh Paul and James are speaking about different things under different circumstances, and each is right when you consider those circumstances.
Now let’s continue with James’ treatise from where we left off yesterday. ‘Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know (do you want to know), O vain (foolish) man, that faith without works is dead?’ (James 2:19-20)
And the scholars have some interesting explanations re those verses. ‘2:19-20. The reference to faith in one God probably alludes to Israel’s great creedal statement of Deuteronomy 6:4. ‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” Adherence to a creed is not true faith. Even the demons know and accept the truth of the creed, but they do not possess saving faith. If one does nothing to enact his knowledge of God, he is worse than the demons, for they at least tremble.’
Yes Friends, Lucifer and his evil minions know that there is a God, but that doesn’t make them believers. And we see the truth in that by Jesus’ statements: ‘Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils (demons)? and in thy name done many wonderful works (miracles)? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ (Matt.7:21-23)
And the scholars explain: ‘7:21-23. Not everyone professing Christ is genuinely saved. Even the outward verbal acknowledgement of His lordship is in itself not enough to save the unbeliever apart from true repentance and faith. A genuinely saved person is one that doeth the will of my Father, the Greek present tense suggesting that he is continually living in obedience to the will of God as the normal course of his life.’
So my Scrip-Bit family, it is therefore essential that we all thoroughly examine ourselves, under that very critical light. Are we truly doing the will of the Father? Or are we just fooling, pretending that we have faith, professing Jesus, but in reality doing stuff contrary to His will? If that is so, then we definitely need to clean up our act, for we certainly don’t want Jesus to disown us and drive us away when the fateful day arrives.
I can’t drive home enough, the seriousness of abiding by God’s will, if we profess faith in Him. And on that note, we’ll end for today. I have more stuff to discuss on the subject, but it will be way too long, and you already have enough information to ponder on. Plus I don’t want to hear any crying and whining about the Bit being too long.
That brings me to this point which relates to what we were just talking about. I can send all sorts of foolish jokes and otherwise and nobody will complain that they are too long or insipid. But let it be about Jesus or God, if it’s not short, there will be much complaining. (smile) How can we expect God to take us seriously and bless us, if we don’t take him seriously eh? Much LOVE!
…as Calvin said…faith alone saves…but a faith that saves…is never alone…
23 Dec 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, absolute power corrupts absolutely, Asa, Baasha, Bathsheba, Benhadad, Bruh David, Christ the Lord, Christmas, cleanse me, cry out to God, diseased in his feet, glory to God, God made him to prosper, Hanani, he sought God, I am halfway home, I'm not looking back, I'm so glad to be alive, iniquity, Jesus is the reason for the season, joyful and triumphant, leprosy, loving kindness, mark indelibly in our hearts, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, my sin is ever before me, Nathan, O come all ye faithful, O come let us adore Him, oppressing the people, power corrupts, relied not on the Lord thy God, relied on the king of Syria, repentance, sacrficially, sacrificial praise, selflessly, taking all his problems to God, the breath of life, the Christ child, the Lord gives power to get wealth, the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh, the priest's job, transgressions, truth, understanding in the visions of God, Uriah, Uzziah, Wednesday Wail, wisdom
2 Chronicles 26:5. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions (fear) of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
Well mih precious people, we down to two days now! Yes, only two more days to that wonderful and marvellous day called Christmas, when the Christ-child, our Saviour, Lord and Redeemer was born! So in honour of that most auspicious occasion let’s give some sacrificial praise and thanksgiving nuh, by singing this beautiful carol.
All together, in full voice now: ‘O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant Oh come ye O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold him born the King of angels; Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
God of God light of light Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb; Very God begotten not created: Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ The Lord.
Sing choirs of angels sing in exultation Sing all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God in the highest: Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ The Lord.
See how the shepherds summoned to his cradle, leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear we too will thither hend our joyful footsteps; Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.’
Oh Friends, I do hope that brought some Christmas cheer and joy into our spirits as we sang about the imminent birth of Jesus. We need to be continually reminded that Jesus IS the reason for the season! Glory to God!
And since it’s Wednesday, we also need to proclaim our Wednesday Wail. Again, as ONE, in full voice. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home.
My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And isn’t that the glorious truth my brethren! We’re all glad to be alive, with our hands fixed securely on the plough, looking towards the wonderful future with Jesus that’s ahead of us. Give Him some well-deserved praise my people for what He’s done so selflessly and sacrificially for us!
Now let’s turn to our Bit. I believe today is the final day for it, but it’s something we should mark indelibly in our hearts minds and souls so that we can wisely do what it says.
‘And he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions (fear) of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.’
Now that’s truth in spades friends! Whenever we seek the Lord in sincerity and truth, He will allow us to prosper in all facets of life. But if we don’t, then we’ll pay the price.
Yesterday we saw how Uzziah got ahead of himself when he tried to burn incense in the temple, when he full well knew that that was the priest’s job, and he was immediately felled with a lifetime of leprosy.
Today, we’ll look at another king Asa, who also thought he was above God’s power and presence, and after starting out good, ended up poorly by not taking all his problems to God, but tried fixing then himself. And the Good Book tells us that after Asa straightened out Judah, with the Lord’s help obviously, there was no more war for thirty-five years. (2 Chr.15:19).
However, thereafter, Baasha, the king of Israel, the other Jewish kingdom, made war against Judah, but unwisely, instead of turning to the God of his fathers for help, Asa made a treaty with Benhadad, king of Syria. And although with the help of the Syrians, Judah won the war, the Lord’s displeasure fell on him.
The Good Book reports it thus: ‘And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host (army) of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen?
Yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward (at peace with, or loyal to) him.
Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.’ (2 Chr.16:7-10)
Oh friends, how come we so quickly forget what the Lord has done for us eh? So much so that when we get strong, we become too big for out britches and turn away from the Lord.
And the sad part of the story is that even after Asa was shown his fault, he never remembered that God had caused him to be all that he was, and was so angry with Hanani that he threw him into prison and began oppressing his people.
Now contrast that attitude with Bruh David’s when the prophet Nathan draped him up over his behaviour with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. His response was to cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness instead of getting on his high horse like Asa:
‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.’ (Ps.51:1-3)
Yes my fellow believers, that’s how we are to react when the Lord convicts us of our transgressions, not like Asa. And the Lord forgave Bruh David in his humble repentance. But listen to Asa’s fate for his foolish pride.
‘And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but to the physicians.’ (2 Chr.16:12)
Oh how sad my people! Even in the time of his tribulation, he refused to turn back to God! What happens to our minds when we get strong and powerful eh? How can we ever forget that it’s God who brought us to the dance and who will also take us home?
There must be something about strength and power that curdles our minds like milk gone sour and bad. I guess like the man says, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’
Please my people, let’s never forget where all our blessings and mercies and grace and forgiveness come from, so that we won’t have to be cut down to size by our heavenly Father. Now that’s wisdom at its zenith! Much LOVE!
…it is the Lord who gives us power to get wealth…the Lord also removes that power…therefore…the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh…please remember that…
P.S. Sorry about the lateness of the Bit Friends, but it was one of those late nights and thus late mornings. (smile) Much LOVE!
20 Dec 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, blasphemed, burned incense, celebrate our faith, Christ's Church, Christian faith, correct the in measure, fools are afflicted, gather for worship, give thanks, god moves in mysterious ways, God's narrow path, hearing of God's Word, I have sinned against him, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, increases our faith, iniquities, Israel's rebellion, LOVE, mature in Christ, negative consequences, ONE body in Christ, recompense, rejoices our souls, renews our strength, repentance, soul-stirring event, the foolishness of man, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Lord's children, the One True God, the punishment of sins, the universal law, the wound of an enemy, thy sins were increased, transgressions, whatever you sow you'll reap
Psalm 107: 17. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Oh my people, the church bells are ringing, loudly and sweetly, calling the Lord’s children to gather for worship in His sanctuary this Sunday morning! Will you be amongst the faithful gathered there today? I do hope so, because it’s such a vital part of our Christian faith and heritage.
Yes Friends, gathering together on a Sunday – well in fact any day really – to praise and worship and give thanks to Almighty God is a wonderful, not to be missed or forgotten experience! Just raising our voices as one body – Christ’s church – to heaven in prayer and song and thanksgiving rejoices our souls, renews our strength and raises the level of our faith!
Now how could anyone who considers him or herself a child of God, not want to take part in such a soul-stirring, enlightening and uplifting event eh? It’s unthinkable! (smile)
All I can do though is encourage us to participate in worship services at least once a week, so that our spirits will be renewed through the hearing of God’s Word and all the other rituals and sacraments that take place within the services. It’s obviously each individual’s choice or decision to participate or not.
However, I do strongly advise us to get involved with worship services if you truly want to mature and grow in Christ. You cannot do it isolation, by yourself; you need the strength and encouragement of other faithful believers to assist you in that regard.
That’s why Bruh Paul likened the Church to the human body. Though the body is made up of many different parts, all with their individual functions, yet they all work together in harmony to form ONE body. The same goes for the Christian community my brethren. Though we all have different gifts and functions, we are expected to work harmoniously as ONE body in Christ. (Rom.12:4-5; 1 Cor.12:12-26)
And we simply can’t do that if we don’t congregate every so often and celebrate our faith. So with all that godly wisdom percolating through our souls, let’s get up and get out to church now nuh. I can assure us, we won’t regret it…if we go with the right attitude; a prayerful and humble one.
Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.’ And doesn’t that seem somewhat appropriate in regards to what we were just talking about? Oh how our God does move in mysterious ways! (smile) It was never my intention to weave them together. I didn’t even know what I was going to write about when I got started. But our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God obviously has a message He wants to convey.
Anyhow, getting back to our Bit, it’s just the basic premise and promise on which the Lord has set up His universe: whatever you sow, that shall you reap. That’s the universal law friends!
And that’s why, when we sow transgressions and iniquities, we are afflicted. We can’t sow sin and evil and expect to reap goodness and LOVE. It just doesn’t work like that. Therefore, if we don’t want to be afflicted, then we have to stop being foolish and stop sowing the things that will make us suffer serious negative consequences. It’s as simple as that my people.
And there are several scriptures that point out the lack of wisdom thereof. Cousin Sol says it thus: ‘The foolishness of man perverteth (twists) his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.’ (Prov.19:3) Yes precious people, man’s proud and sinful nature causes him to step out of God’s narrow path, and subsequently causes him grief.
Meanwhile, Isaiah, detailing how the rebellious will be punished, alluding to Israel’s rebellion against God, declares His word. ‘Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense even recompense into their bosom. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.’ (Is.65:6-7)
Yea friends, though the Lord will not completely obliterate His chosen people, Israel, they will pay a hefty price for their unfaithfulness, as Jeremiah tells us. ‘For I am with thee saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure (justice), and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
Why criest thou for thine affliction? Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.’ (Jer. 30:11-15)
The same thing holds true for us today my people. Our sinfulness has reached extraordinary proportions, so at some stage, if it has not already begun, we will be required to pay a substantial price for ignoring God and going our own way, wallowing in the foolishness of the prince of darkness.
And we’ll end with these interesting words from the Lamentations of Jeremiah. ‘Wherefore doth (how can) a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try (examine) our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.’ (Lam.3:39-42)
Ah mih brethren, the only thing that can save us now from our foolish rebellion is sincere repentance and a complete turnaround, back to sincerely and faithfully worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the ONE TRUE GOD. That is truly the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…I will bear the indignation of the Lord…because I have sinned against him… (Mic.7:8a)
18 Oct 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a sense of gratitude, abundance, appreciation for God, as for me and mine, asaph, blessings, call upon me in the day of trouble, Christ-like, Christian faith, cleansed from our sins, confidence, disbelieving, doubting, encouragement, eternal life, fellowship with other believers, free for all society, gather in the Lord's sanctuary, Give god praise and thanks, glorify God's holy name, glory hallelujah, God's Son, grace, grateful, gratitude, Hades, he that hath my commandents, he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, I discover God in my life, I know thy works, I love them that love me, I will deliver you, I will spew thee out of my mouth, Jesus Christ, jumping for joy, justice, LOVE, loving kindness, Lucifer, lukewarm, mercy, offer unto God thanksgiving, order of the Carmelites, our heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, pushing god out of our society, receive strength, repentance, reprieve from hell, ridiculing, sacrificed His sinles life, salvation, sinful nature, Society of the Little Flower, standards, Suday, thankful, thanksgiving, the church at Laodicea, the good old days, the greatest gift ever given to man, the Holy Spirit, the wages of sin is death, those that seek me early will find me, thou art neither cold not hot, time of harvest, understanding, we will follow the Lord, when I am grateful to God, wisdom
Proverbs 8:17. I LOVE them that LOVE me; and those that seek me early (diligently) will find me.
Aye mih people, it’s Sunday; the day we usually gather in the Lord’s sanctuary to fellowship with other believers, and give Him praise and thanks, to glorify His holy name, and in return, receive strength, encouragement and confidence to face another week in this wicked and ungodly world!
And all God’s people loudly declared: ‘All thanks and praise be to our heavenly Father and His wonderful Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who sacrificed His sinless life, so that we could be cleansed from our sins! Glory Hallelujah!’
Yes Friends, that’s the greatest gift ever given to mankind! And it was definitely not a gift that we deserved, given our abominable sinful nature, but one that came out of the LOVING-kindness of God’s heart. He knew that justice decreed the wages of sin be death, but LOVED us so much that He could not bear to see us lost forever in the depths of Hades with the master crook, his satanic majesty, Lucifer.
So from His never-ending store of grace and mercy, He gave us another option; that of salvation and eternal life, if we believed on His Son Jesus Christ and obeyed His will. Now how many of us are truly thankful and grateful for that reprieve from hell eh?
Hn! Certainly not as many as should be! It’s become so bad now, that lots of people are doubting and disbelieving, ridiculing and pushing God further and further out of society. Sadly too, a lot of us who claim to believe, don’t show real gratitude for God’s wonderful gift of grace, and many nowadays just take it for granted.
Ah friends, that’s not how it’s supposed to be. For such undeserving goodness we ought to be constantly jumping for joy and be extremely grateful and thankful; not the lukewarm approach that so many of us display.
Remember Jesus’ message in Revelation to the church at Laodicea. ‘I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would (wish) that thou wert (were) cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.’ (Rev.3:15-16)
Yes my brethren, if we don’t have a real appreciation for God and His things then we’re not being truly Christ-like and adhering to our Christian faith as we should.
Now here’s an interesting comment on gratitude that I read earlier on, from a Between Friends Newsletter published by the Friends of the Society of the Little Flower (St. Therese). It was written by Fr. William J. Harry, of the Order of the Carmelites.
And he ended his thoughts on the abundance in our society around this time of harvest and thanksgiving with this paragraph. ‘Gratitude: It is only when we have a sense of gratitude, a gratitude that flows over into giving, that we truly meet God and experience His Grace in our lives. When I am grateful to God, I discover God in my life!’
Now that’s very true my people! The more gratitude we show, both to God and man, the more the grace of God works in lives. Unfortunately though, in these supposed modern times, gratitude is no longer a major part of our society. We’ve come to just expect things to be given to us, as though we are entitled to them, and words like ‘thank you’ don’t seem to mean much again. The standards of our parents have mostly fallen by the wayside, and we now live in a free for all society, where one is free to do almost anything one desires.
Ah Lord eh! No wonder so many of us long for the good, old days. Granted they were sometimes rough, but they certainly had better structure and more respect and appreciation for God and man.
Finally, turning to our Bit: ‘I LOVE them that LOVE me; and those that seek me early (diligently) will find me.’
What else can we expect eh my people? That’s just pure common sense and simple logic. If we don’t show LOVE for God, and diligently seek Him, how do we expect to receive His wonderful blessings eh?
Yes, so many of us have no appreciation for God and never, or hardly ever seek Him, but as soon as some hardship or problem crops up in our lives, the first words out of our mouths are ‘Oh God! Help me please!’
But that’s not the way our God works. If we come to Him in sincere repentance, He will forgive and help us, but just trying to use Him, or only know Him when adversity hits is not good enough. Remember, He is the Master and we are His servants, not the other way around.
Now listen to what God says through the psalmist Asaph, in Psalm 50 – God is the judge. ‘Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ (Ps.50:15-16) Please note Friends, that thanksgiving and the paying of vows come before calling out for help in time of need.
And we’ll end with these immortal words of Jesus when he promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. ‘At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that LOVETH me: and he that LOVETH me shall be LOVED of my Father, and I will LOVE him, and will manifest (reveal) myself to him.’ (John 14:20-21)
Yes Friends, Jesus spelled it out in clear and concise terms. If we sincerely believe in Him and keep His commandments, then He will be with us in the form of the Holy Spirit and we will enjoy God’s undying LOVE forever. What can be better than that eh mih people? Nothing whatsoever!
So please let wisdom and understanding rule in our hearts this Sunday morning as we praise and worship and give thanks to our wonderful God! Much LOVE!
…as for me and mine…we WILL…follow the Lord…
28 Sep 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heart attack, alive and kicking, all flesh is grass, aura of love, but my words shall not pass away, come as a thief in the night, complaining, confidence, crapaud smoke yuh pipe, Creator of the universe, do the best we can, enthusiasm, evil, friends, friends and neighbours, glorious kingdom, glory to God, gospel truth, greetings friends and neighbours, Hades, heaven, heaven and earth, heaven and earth shall pass away, holy spirit, humble servants, in Jesus' name, invincible, Jesus Christ, Jesus' Second Coming, joy, keeping lives and families together, laze around, lies, lord god almighty, LOVE, meet the enemy in battle, Monday Morning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, our God is long-suffering, pussyfoot, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, repentance, rest, salvation, serve a useful purpose, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, that all should come to repentance, that any should perish, the breath of life, the day of the Lord, the flower fades, the grass withers, the spirit of the Lord, the voice of wisdom, the word of the Lord will stand for ever, thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, trust, truth, ungodly world, wicked taunts, wiles, wisdom
Matthew 24:35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Greetings my wonderful Friends and neighbours on this most auspicious Monday morning! (smile) And I guess you’re wondering why it’s so auspicious eh? Well first of all we’re alive and kicking…sorry, not all of us are kicking, (smile) but God’s breath of life is certainly flowing through our mortal bodies.
And you better believe that’s a rather important and auspicious occasion. And I say that because just last Sunday at the early morning service in church, one fellow who usually comes with his wife, was there alone, and when I inquired of her, he said that she recently had knee surgery and was still recuperating.
Imagine my consternation when at the early morning service yesterday, the pastor announced that the fellow, Don, had unexpectedly and suddenly died of a massive heart attack this week. Ah Lord eh! Now the poor wife not only has to put up with her medical problems, but the sudden and unexpected departure of her spouse too. And we complain because we have to get up and go to work. Steups!
Look Friends, instead of being miserable and complaining, let’s just get up thankfully and get ourselves off to our jobs and do the best we can in Jesus’ name eh! For that’s what He has called us to do, not to laze around, pussyfoot and complain. And to help us get ourselves together this last Monday in September, which looks like it’s going to be another nice day in my area – oh glory to God – let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much joy, enthusiasm and appreciation.
As one trilling and harmonious choir 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!’
Now that wasn’t bad at all my people. I guess the news of my fellow parishioners’ sudden passing woke some of you up to the reality that one moment we could be here on earth, and the next floating away to heaven or Hades. I don’t know if Don had any prevailing heart problems but it just highlights the predicament we’re all in, of being ready to meet the Lord anytime He chooses to call.
That brings us to our Bit, where Jesus, having explained some of the signs that would indicate His Second Coming in glory to the disciples, He declares: ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth my fellow believers! It certainly is!
And there’s a whole lot of scripture to prove it. Let’s look at some, beginning with the words of the psalmist from Psalm 102 –A cry in distress. ‘I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure (continue): yea, all of them shall wax (grow) old like a garment; as a vesture (cloak) shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.’ (Ps.102:24-27) More truth of an indisputable nature my brethren!
Now listen to Isaiah as he solemnly declares: ‘The voice said, Cry (out), And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness (loveliness) thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit (breath) of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.’ (Is.40:6-8)
Now listen as Peter adds his two cents worth. ‘’The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief (robber) in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.’ (2 Pet.3:9-10)
Yes Friends, our God is long-suffering and desires that all who trust Him will receive salvation. But He’s not going to wait forever, and the day of judgement is already set. So if you’re not amongst those who sincerely believe and trust in Jesus at the time of the Rapture, then crapaud smoke yuh pipe when the day of judgement comes.
That’s it in a nutshell my people. So please listen to the voice of wisdom that’s crying out to us get ourselves together, NOW, while we still have a chance, for that day could come like a thief in the night and take us unawares. Much LOVE!
…wisdom dictates that we should be ever ready…either for when the Lord returns…or if He calls us home first…
01 Aug 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bird's eye view, a bright and shining light, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, a darkened world, absolution, Afro Pan, Beelzebub, blessed light of Jesus, bravery, camouflage of darkness, Caribana festivity, cleanse and heal, condemnation, deeds exposed, disappointment, distressful times, evil, flavour of my salt, for a season, forgiveness, glory to God, God is a good god, God's favour, godly work, goodwill, gospel truth, he that doeth truth comes to the light, hidden deeds, Jesus, John the Baptist, laid bare, LOVE, Lucy, men loved darkness rather than light, men's deeds are evil, Pan Alive Steelband Competition, Pan Fantasy, peace, refreshing, repentance, scintillating riddim, the Lord in His goodness, the moral of the story, the redemptive blood of Jesus, they are wrought in God, to rejoice in his light, true faith, trusty cane, Uncle John, untold mercy, wholesome, wisdom of the ages, Ye are the light of the world
Matthew 5:14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Oh Friends, our God is a good God! Please don’t ever doubt that. Once you deal with Him decently, He will return the favour.
As you know, yesterday I suddenly ended up with this painful knee, which made walking somewhat difficult, to put it mildly. But then I wanted to go to the Pan Alive Steelband competition last night, which entailed some walking and climbing steps.
All day I agonized over the situation, because the Pan competition is the only Caribana festivity that I go to these days. However the Lord in His mysterious workings made the decision for me.
Around four thirty in the afternoon I got a phone call from my Auntie Anne and Uncle John saying that they were in town and would be at the Pan Alive. Well obviously I had to get up and get a move on. I couldn’t let them come to town and not see them.
So the Duchess bandaged up my knee and off I went. And believe me, the Lord in His goodness didn’t allow the knee to bother me too much. With the help of my trusty cane, which I hadn’t used in ages, we made the walk to the stadium and climbed the steps almost to the top to get a birds eye view.
And was the party ever good my brethren. The pan was sweet and the people around me; about 8 women and three men were a riot. We carried on all evening, through the cloudy periods, as well as when the sun shone brightly.
The interesting part is that I sat down to listen to the bands, but got up during the breaks, and that’s when the knee would ache some. But surprisingly, I danced it off without a problem. (smile) Like standing up and moving made it feel better. Sitting down just caused it stiffen up.
Now if you know anything about Steelband competitions, you’ll know that there are always arguments, some very heated ones too. But our group wasn’t bad because they were all Panatics fans. Anyway the evening progressed quite nicely, until around 10.45 when the rain began to fall seriously.
It had drizzled a couple times before, but nothing to worry about. This shower though emptied the stands, except for a few hardy folks like myself. Well I had come prepared with my old jeans hat and my jacket, and I knew that if I ever came down those stairs I wasn’t going back up, I would probably have just left and come home.
But that wouldn’t have been wise because the band that was about to play, the second to last band was the reigning three time champions Pan Fantasy, and they were going to play my favourite kaiso for this year, Lucy by Destra.
The good thing is that while the rain fell, the riddim section of Pan Fantasy began pounding out a scintillating riddim and we all just stood up in the rain rocking to it. I even put down my trusty cane and rocked on my own. Wow! Glory to God!
The rain must have lasted for about half an hour, but the proceedings didn’t begin again until around 11.30. And believe me Friends, the wait and the rain were worth it, for Pan Fantasy put on a brilliant performance, they really mash it up, and the entire audience was in agreement that they should now be crowned champions for the fourth straight year.
Don’t know if that happened though, because I left during the playing of the last band, Afro Pan, which wasn’t as strong and powerful as they usually are. I didn’t get home until after one in the morning.
The only disappointment of the evening was that I didn’t see my Aunty Anne and Uncle John. I guess they didn’t come after all, because they would have surely seen me partying up at the back of the stadium. Got to find out what happened to them.
Anyway friends, the moral of the story, is that though the Lord places obstacles in our way, He WILL still enable us to enjoy ourselves once our hearts are right; such is His great favour and untold mercy to those who do try to do His will.
Now let’s see if we have time and space for our Bit after all my raving. (smile) ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.’
And believe me Friends, the ole fella was indeed a bright and shining light in this darkened world yesterday evening, and the flavour of my salt was certainly strong and useful! (smile) I just spread peace, LOVE and goodwill all around. Glory to God!
Oh, and to tell how good the Lord was to me, as I was walking to the ticket window, a guy came up to me sold me a ticket for 20 instead of the official 30 dollars. So how can I complain eh?
That brings us to this statement of Jesus re John the Baptist. ‘He was a burning and a shining light (lamp); and ye were willing for a season (a time) to rejoice in his light.’ (John 5:35) Now why were they only willing for a season, for a short time to bask in the light of John the Baptist eh?
Jesus spells it out earlier. ‘And this is the condemnation, that light (The Light) is come into the world, and men LOVED darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ (John 3:19)
And that’s still gospel truth to this day Friends! Possibly even truer in today’s rather evil and ungodly world. We LOVE the darkness because of all the evil stuff that’s running through us, and if we ever came to the light, our true selves and deeds would be laid bare for all to see and we’d no longer have the camouflage of darkness to hide who and what we truly are.
And Jesus continues: ‘For every one that doeth (practices) evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (exposed). But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.’ (Matt.3:20-21)
Oh my people, these sad and distressful times call for true faith and bravery on our part. None of us is perfect, we all have hidden deeds of which we are ashamed, but we are guaranteed absolution and forgiveness through the redemptive blood of Jesus.
So please let’s be wise and brave nuh, and bring all our evil deeds to Him in repentance, so that He can cleanse and heal us and bring us safely and LOVINGLY through to the light, His blessed light, where we can then flourish in His goodness, having His salt and light about us to do godly work instead of evil. That’s the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
…living in the truth and light of Jesus…is much wiser…more wholesome and refreshing…than living in the evil darkness of Beelzebub…
13 Jul 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundant in goodness, all his works are done in truth, and new wine the maids, anxious, aura of love, being obedient to God's will, Bruh David, Bruh Paul, confidence, corn shall make the young men cheerful, Creator of the universe, encouragement, faithful, fearful, For how great is his goodness, friends, get up and go, God's favour, godless world, gospel truth, gracious, harmonious voice, hectic weekend, holy spirit, how great is his beauty, humble servants, in the land of the living, invincible, Jesus Christ, justice, labouring time, lies, long-suffering, LOVE, loving kindness, merciful, mercy, Monday Morning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Moses, Mt. Sinai, O Lord God Almighty, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, repentance, rest, right motives, righteousness., rightousness, Rome, sincere, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, the BIBLE, the goodness of the Lord, the judgement of God, the Ten Commandments, the word of the Lord is right, trials and tribulations, truth, ungodly world, uptight, wiles, wisdom
Zechariah 9:17. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn (grain) shall make the young men cheerful (thrive), and new wine the maids.
Ah mih people, it’s labouring time once again! That beautiful day of Monday has come around so that some of us can go to work and rest after a hectic weekend. (smile) Yeh, a few of us have life easier at work than at home; no family and/or children to constantly yell at and clean up after. Thus you are happy to get out of the house after a couple of hectic days at home.
But whatever your situation, all of us can always use some encouragement, some get up and go, come Monday morning. So let’s stir up the adrenalin with a loud and lusty rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn nuh.
As one harmonious voice 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!’
That was good Friends, not great, but good enough to bring a smile to our conductor, Jesus’ face. And anytime we can bring a smile to Jesus’ face, then we are surely on the right track. But now we have to venture out into the cruel and godless world and try to keep that smile on His face by being obedient to His will, otherwise our day will be all for naught.
That doesn’t mean we have to be uptight, fearful and anxious about Jesus’ reaction to our daily walk, because He knows our frail and fragile human nature and has experienced firsthand the trials and tribulations of this world. We just need to be faithful and sincere and do our best out of a heart flushed with right motives.
And we don’t need to worry if we don’t accomplish all we set out to do in a manner glorifying Him, because as our Bit says: ‘For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn (grain) shall make the young men cheerful (thrive), and new wine the maids.’
Yes my people, the Lord’s goodness has been legendary right down through the ages. And He doesn’t wait for anybody to say it, He said it Moses, the second time he went up Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. The Bible details it thus: ‘And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…’ (Ex.34:6)
And since our God cannot lie, that means His words were gospel truth! And eventually people began believing after seeing it for themselves. As Bruh David says in Psalm 27 – The Lord is my light and my salvation. ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ (Ps.27:13)
Ah Friends, that is also indisputable truth, for where would be if we couldn’t expect to see God’s favour and goodness down here on earth eh? Things would have been even rougher than they are now. But such is the wisdom, compassion and mercy of our wonderful God! He knows that we need to experience His favour down here on earth so that we can handle all the stuff that comes against us in a wicked world.
Then in Psalm 33 – Praise to the Lord for his creation, the psalmist boldly and confidently declares. ‘For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice): the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord.’ (Ps.33:4-5) And that’s no lie Friends; otherwise our world would be even more cruel, evil and topsy-turvy than it currently is.
Now listen to Bruh Paul in his missive to the church at Rome, where he’s telling them that to judge others is to condemn themselves. And by the way, that still applies to all of us today. ‘And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest thou the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?’ (Rom.23-4)
Oh Friends, oh Friends, never were truer words spoken! As I keep saying, I don’t know what we would have done without the goodness of our magnanimous God!
And we shall end with the words of Bruh David from Psalm 145 – The Lord is gracious. ‘I will speak of the (meditate on) the glorious honour (splendour) of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible (awesome) acts and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly (eagerly) utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.’ (Ps.145:5-7)
My brethren, Bruh David did as he declared, and was amply rewarded for his faithfulness. Now it’s our time to passionately talk of God’s goodness and sing of His righteousness. Please, let’s go out and do that today and every day, for it is undoubtedly wisdom from above. Much LOVE!
…the goodness of God is what keeps us keeping on…
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