11 Nov 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a child of God, a free world, a man lay down his life for his friends, a sacrifice to God, aroma, as I have loved you, bowels of compassion, break faith, Christ-like behaviour, Christian, commandment, eternal life, fellowship, felt dawn, free-all, freedom, Friday chant, fun, generous help, glorious kingdom, God's love in Christ, godlier perspective, greater love hath no man, heart, hold it high, honour, In Flanders Fields, John McCrae, leggo beast, licentiousness, lives, loss of lives, LOVE one another, loved, melancholy day, modicum of circumspection, motor, offering, passed the torch, peacemaker, precious possession, relaxation, Remembrance Day, rest, salvation, saw sunset glow, sweet-smelling savour, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thank God, the LOVE of God, the poppies blow, the torch, time to fly, touch the sky, true meaning of love, truth, ungodliness, warmonger, week of work, weekends, were loved, World Wars
John 15:13. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Well friends, it’s Friday, and many of us are singing our Friday jig: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! At last it’s our time to do as we please. No more massa looking over we shoulder to see what we doing. It’s our time to fly, as high as we want to; to touch the sky even. Thank God for Fridays and the weekend!’
But as always, that jig is a little too expansive with room for things that ought not to be indulged in. And we have our Friday Chant that offers a much better, healthier and godlier perspective.
So let’s chant it now 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 my Christian brethren, that’s a much better way to use the weekend. Behaving like leggo beast, with all sorts of licentiousness and ungodliness isn’t appropriate behaviour for a child of God, a follower of Jesus Christ. So as Jeeves would say, let’s moderate our behaviour with a modicum of circumspection nuh. (smile)
Now this Friday is a special and somewhat melancholy one in man’s memory, as we celebrate Remembrance Day, in honour of all those brave people who died in the Great Wars, especially the First World War. We remember those who gave their most precious possession, their lives, so that we could have a basic freedom in our lives.
Now unlike what some think, freedom isn’t just granted, more times than not it has to be fought for. And those brave men and women did just that for us. So it’s essential that we remember them and give many thanks for their Christ-like behaviour, as least one day in every year.
And in their honour, I’d like to share the world’s most famous War Memorial Poem, ‘In Flanders Fields,’ written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae on the morning of May 3 1915, at the battlefront during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium.
Please read with me: ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead: Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED: and now we lie In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch: be yours to hold it high If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.’
Oh my people, the many wasted lives created by that war eh! Young people died by the thousands. We claimed there’d never be another war like that, yet some thirty years later we’re fighting another World War, and several smaller ones after that.
Steups! Mankind just seems to like war yes; innately he is a warmonger, rather than a peacemaker.
And on this Remembrance Day of 2016, I believe that our Bit serves as a most appropriate reminder of all those deaths. Listen to Jesus, as He talks to His disciples about LOVE and friendship. ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
And that’s indisputable, irrefutable, gospel truth! Yes my precious people of God, those soldiers laid down their lives for us, so that we could have the opportunities we now have and to continue their efforts to have a free world. They have passed the torch to us.
It’s just like Jesus laid down His life so that we could have salvation and eternal life and show others the way to Him.
However, though we seem to appreciate to some extent the loss of lives back in the war, we don’t seem to particularly like or adopt Jesus’ words before our Bit. ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12)
Now, if friends give up their lives for us, because they LOVED us, in keeping with Jesus’ commandment, we ought to LOVE and cherish those who remain. But unfortunately, in these times of worldwide anger and strife, the true meaning of the word LOVE is still eluding us.
We tend to talk it a lot, but seldom do the acts required of it. How can we call ourselves true Christians then eh my brethren, when we are not following the commandment of Jesus?
Now hear how John puts it in his first epistle. ‘Hereby perceive we the LOVE of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good (goods), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion (heart) from him, how dwelleth the LOVE of God in him?’ (1 John 3:16-17)
That’s a very good question, friends! And the scholars offer this explanation of those verses. ‘3:16-17. The standard for our LOVE is God’s LOVE in Christ, who died for us. LOVE that observes need, and does not act to minister to it, is NO LOVE at all. Bowels of compassion in modern English would be “heart,” proceeding from our inward core of awareness and action.’
Ah mih people, sadly that does not happen in our poverty-stricken and sickly world as much as it ought to. That means we are falling down as Christians. Anyway, let’s close with the words of Bruh Paul while explaining to the Ephesians, the ways of a believer.
‘Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in LOVE, as Christ also hath LOVED us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour (aroma).’ (Eph.5:1-2)
I couldn’t have said it any better, so please friends, let’s see if we can’t ramp up, improve the incidence of true LOVE in our lives and our societies nuh. It’s the ONLY thing that will stop our world from the current free-fall that it’s currently in. Much LOVE!
…true LOVE is the motor that should drive our lives…
07 Nov 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool's voice, a godsend, antidote, aura of love, broken promises, burnt offerings, cause thy flesh to sin, Christ-like, Christians, complain, confidence, conquerors, do evil, energy, enthusiasm, fired up, friends, glorious kingdom, gospel truth, holy spirit, hope, human beings, human frailties, humble servants, idolatry, iniquity, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, joy-filled attitude, keep the pedal to the metal, keep thy foot, let our words be few, lies, LOVE, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, multitude of words, Old Testament, outward show, Pharisees, promises, rash with thy mouth, ready to hear, rebellion, rejected the word of the Lord, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, religious ritual, renewed vitality, rest, sacrifices, salvation, Saul, sin, sovereign Lord, spiritual armour, spiritual reality, steadfast faith, take the bull by the horns, taunts, the fat of rams, the house of God, the sacrifice of fools, thy mouth, to obey is better than sacrifice, total allegiance, true believers, trust, ungodly world, useful purpose, walk prudently, wiles, wisdom
Ecclesiastes 5:1. Keep thy foot (walk prudently) when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear (draw near to hear, rather) than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.’
Awright friends, it’s Monday, so what’s it going to be eh? Are we going to be grumpy and complain, or are we going to rise and shine with a good, joy-filled attitude, ready and eager to go out and face this new workweek? The choice is up to us, but I do hope that as true believers in Jesus Christ we would adopt the latter option, for it is the more Christ-like one.
However, I know that all of us are human, filled with human frailties, so it’s not every Monday morning we’ll be filled with energy and enthusiasm to take the bull by the horns and wrestle him to the ground. (smile)
That’s why we have an antidote for such days. It’s called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. It gets us all fired up so we can meet the enemy head on and defeat him.
So let’s sing out in full, harmonious and melodic 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!’
Yes mih breddren, except for a few hoarse voices, that was a decent rendition. Our choirmaster, Jesus, had an amused twinkle in His eyes as He guided us with His baton. And once Jesus is happy with us, then all’s right with the world! (smile)
So now that we’ve jump started our engines, let’s keep them running at high speed, keep the pedal to the metal, so to speak, and just go out there in a good frame of mind and do excellent work for Jesus, for that’s what He expects of us.
And I do hope, for our sakes, we kept the wisdom of our Bit yesterday: ‘Keep thy foot (walk prudently) when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear (draw near to hear, rather) than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.’ What awesome words of wisdom my fellow believers!
And here’s how the Preacher ended that passage. ‘Suffer not (do not let) thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel (messenger) that it was an error, wherefore should God be angry at thy voice (excuse) and destroy the work of thy hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities (futility abounds): but fear thou God.’ (Eccl.5:6-7)
Ah mih people, more wonderful words of wisdom! Yuh know, if we’d just follow the first 7 verses of that chapter, we’d be almost perfect! We can start by walking prudently, drawing near to hear, rather than that to expatiate, not give the sacrifice of fools, thinking that we’re not evil. That’s an awesome beginning!
As Samuel admonished Saul when he disobeyed God’s order to fully destroy the Amalekites. ‘And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (divination), and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.’ (1 Sam.15:22-23)
Yes friends, obedience to God’s word is the zenith of wisdom! And the scholars tell us, re those verses: ‘15:22-23. These verses reinforce the Old Testament viewpoint that religious ritual devoid of spiritual reality and of a life of total allegiance to a sovereign Lord is worthless (cf. Ps.40:6-8; Is.1:10-20; Mic.6:8).’
And that’s gospel truth! Why do you think the Lord checks our hearts instead of just simply accepting our outward show eh? Because He knows that the real you is on the inside, and it doesn’t necessarily match with what you are showing on the outside. Many of us today, are just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time; put on a great religious outward show, but are empty and evil inside.
Now let’s continue looking at those 7 verses at the start of chapter 5. The 2nd verse warns us not be rash with our mouths and make hasty statements to God; to let our words be few. Oh friends, what a godsend it would be to this world, if most of us would stop talking as much as we do! And that lines up nicely with the wisdom of verse 3; ‘a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.’
And we’ll end with the best advice; don’t make a promise to God and not keep it, because He doesn’t take pleasure in broken promises. It is better not to promise, than promise and not pay. And as I said yesterday, that also pertains to our dealings with fellow human beings.
So let’s keep that in mind as we go out to labour today nuh, for it will certainly stand us in good stead, both with God and man. Much LOVE!
…it’s time Christians learn to do less talking and more listening…
04 Nov 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: another glorious day, assurance, be not dismayed, blame, blessed, boggles the imagination, condolences, different perspective, diligently, encouragement, end times, evil world, fail thee, faith, faithful God, faithfully, fear not, fellowship, forsake thee, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, God the Good, godlessness, godly upbringing, gospel truth, hold thy right hand, I am thy God, I am with thee, I will help thee, I will uphold thee, in Jesus' name, Isaiah, Israel, judgement, leadership, like there was no tomorrow, live it up, miracles, mortality, of a good courage, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, on God's great earth, our work for christ, plodding on, promises, rampant, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, righteousness, sad news, security, Selvin Goldson, sincerely, smell the roses, stand strong, strong, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the grim reaper, the Holy One of Israel, the Holy Spirit, the onus, the right hand of my righteousness, the weekend, the Word of god, thy Redeemer, time of grief, wake up, week of work, widespread, worm of Jacob
Isaiah 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Ah friends, the working people as usual declaring their loud shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Hurray! The weekend finally here and we going to live it up like there was no tomorrow. Thank God for Fridays and the weekend yes!’
But my heart really isn’t in the celebration nuh, because once again I turned on my computer this morning and received the sad news of the passing of one of my University mates, Selvin Goldson in Jamaica.
Apparently he died of a heart attack while driving. That’s all I know. But…Chuh! This scenario is playing out too often these days yes! One day I might just turn on the computer and see news of my own demise. (smile)
But seriously friends, each passing of our friends and associates makes us think more acutely about our own mortality. We know we all have to go over to the other side at some time or other, but for some reason or other we never seem prepared for it. It always seems to take us unawares.
Anyhow, there’s not much we can do when the Grim Reaper comes a calling, and I’d like to extend sincere condolences to the Goldson family, and let them know that our thoughts and prayers are with them in their time of grief.
Those of who remain though, have to keep diligently and faithfully plodding on in our work for Christ, and since today is Friday, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincere appreciation for being blessed to see another glorious day on God’s great earth.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yeh mih people, we need to handle our weekends differently than the majority of the world. We need to put a different perspective in place if we truly want to be followers of Christ. And our God is so wonderful that He gives us oodles of encouragement and security in these difficult times.
Listen to our Bit: ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’
What awesome promises my brethren! The problem though is that God makes them, but we have to receive them, and that’s where we often fall down. Our faith sometimes doesn’t allow us to accept and believe them, since they seem contrary to what we’re facing in this evil world.
But friends, by now we should all know that our wonderful God is also a faithful God! He never promises stuff that He can’t deliver. And since He’s the Creator and Controller of the universe, since He’s omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present, then there’s absolutely NOTHING He can’t do.
That means the onus is on us to build our faith, to stand strong on His word. That’s why He also gave us His Holy Spirit; to help and comfort us in times of need and sorrow. And if we don’t find strength in our Bit, then listen to Isaiah a few verses later.
‘For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.’ (Is.41:13-14)
How much more encouragement and assurance do we need eh my brethren? With all the Lord has done for us, the many miracles He’s wrought in our lives, our faith should be much stronger by now.
And the scholars offer these insights on that section. ’41:10-20. In view of the judgement that is coming upon Israel, God reminds her, I am with thee…I am thy God.
The designation thou worm Jacob is a reminder to Israel of her frailty and need for God who is pictured as her redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. The latter designation is Isaiah’s favourite expression for God and appears equally throughout both halves of the book…’
And friends, do we ever need God’s help in these end times. I believe we’re in even worse shape, even frailer than Israel back in those days, for godlessness is so rampant and widespread now that it’s unbelievable to us of the older generation.
We have seen it go from being pretty good to being pretty bad in such a short time, that it boggles the imagination. But then again, a lot of the blame lies with us; we weren’t as strong and faithful as we ought to have been, therefore this generation doesn’t have the same godly upbringing that we had.
But it’s not too late for us to try and recapture some of what we’ve lost, if we sincerely and diligently get in the groove with Jesus and work steadfastly towards it.
Now let’s end with some help from Moses, as he passes on the mantle of leadership to Joshua. He tells him: ‘Be thou strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go before thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut.31:6)
And that’s gospel truth precious people of God! Therefore, let’s wake up and smell the roses and try to make the world a better place than it currently is nuh. Not so much for us, but for our children, and our children’s children. That is wisdom for all time! Much LOVE!
…there is only one Power…and one Presence here…God the Good Omnipotent…!
31 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, almighty god, alone, antidote, aura of love, beaming from ear to ear, buoys my heart, calamity, Christians, complacency, complaining, confidence, covenant, curse God and die, David, David encouraged himself, desertion, dig deep down inside, dredge up, encouraging one's self in God, enthusiasm, faith, forlorn, friends, futile, glorious kingdom, heavenward, holy spirit, humble servants, in the Lord his God, invincible, Jesus Christ, Job, Jonathan, lack of energy, lethargy, lies, LOVE, misfortunes, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, pain, pick up the pace, punishment, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, salve their wounds, Satan, Saul, seek God's advice, self-pity, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strengthened his hand, succour, sufferation, the army of Christ, the front line, Though he slay me, time to rock and roll, to give up all hope, tooth and nail, trials and tribulations, trust, truth, ungodly world, unquenchable faith, victories, wisdom, yet will I trust in him, Ziklag
1 Samuel 30:6b. …but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Okay friends, it’s Monday, the last day of October 2016, time to get a move on, time to rock and roll! (smile) The battle has already been joined and we need to be there to help our fellow soldiers in the army of Christ. The army of the evil one is already fighting tooth and nail, and without our help our brothers and sisters already on the front line will suffer innumerable loss.
And as always, we have the antidote for our lethargy and complacency, our lack of energy and enthusiasm, our complaining and self-pity; our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s belt it out so that we can be uplifted and enthused to get out and do Christ’s work nuh.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good show mih breddren, good show! Our choirmaster, Jesus, was quite pleased with that rendition. The harmony and full voices were all that He expected. He was beaming from ear to ear. And you know there’s nothing more rewarding than putting a smile on Jesus’ face!
So with our human motors now running smoothly on the fuel of adrenaline, let’s pick up the pace and enthusiastically get into the fray of this new workweek without further ado.
That brings us to our Bit. ‘…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.’
Oh friends, you won’t know how that small bit of scripture touches and buoys my heart. I can just see Bruh David sitting alone and forlorn at the entrance to the burnt out city of Ziklag, while his men mutter and complain around him, seriously talking about stoning him. He’s probably sadly shaking his head and thinking: ‘Why Lord, why eh?’
But then he remembers all the other misfortunes the Lord has successfully brought him through, the many victories the Lord had caused him to have, and his spirit lifts with the strong faith that he’s cultivated in the God of his forefathers over the years. And his next move is obviously to seek God’s advice.
The problem here though my people, is that Bruh David had to raise that faith on his own, by himself, because there was no sympathetic human being to turn to. Likewise, there will be times when we find ourselves in the same situation; alone, with others crying out for our head, like they did for Jesus’.
Friends, at those times, we have to dig deep down inside of us and dredge up the necessary faith that will lead us to Almighty God for help and guidance. For He is the ONLY One who can help us under those trying circumstances.
That reminds me of another instance in Bruh David’s life, where he was encouraged in God, but this time by his covenant brother Jonathan, Saul’s son and heir to the throne. At that time Bruh David was on the run from Saul.
The Good Book tells us. ‘And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God (encouraged him).
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.’ (1 Sam.23:15-18)
Oh my brethren, how blessed we are when we have even one friend to offer us that sort of encouragement! Job was another man of faith who had to encourage himself in God when God allowed Satan to cause him untold calamity. His wife told him to ‘curse God, and die,’ (Job 2:9b)
That was exactly what Satan desired. But Job was not ready to give up all hope, and he reasoned that both good and evil came from God, so one had to learn to accept them both. (Job 2:10)
But better yet, when his supposed friends were tongue lashing him, Job stalwartly proclaimed: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain (defend) mine own ways before him.’ (Job 13:15)
That’s what we call unquenchable faith my fellow believers! Do we have that kind of faith? We should, but the problem is that kind of faith can only be acquired by undergoing true calamity.
And the best example of encouraging one’s self in God is obviously our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Just look at how Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him thrice and all His other followers deserted Him when His time came. How do you think He stood up under the total desertion and the enormous physical and emotional punishment that followed eh?
By encouraging Himself in His heavenly Father! Otherwise He would not have been able to bear the intense pain and terrible ‘sufferation’ without complaining.
So friends, I just hope that we can appreciate the importance of strong faith in our Christian walk, and that it can only be built on the foundation of trials and tribulations. Much LOVE!
…when life seems oh so futile…Christians turn their eyes, hearts and voices heavenward…where they find succour to salve their wounds…
28 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fountain, a well, be ashamed, blessed, blessed lifestyle, burning desire, dialled in, directions, empty, enthusiasm, eternal life, exalted, fear, fellowship, filled, filled the hungry, Friday chant, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, godly living, good things, grief, howl, hunger, hunger and thirst after righteousness, hungry, in fine shape, in Jesus' name, joy of heart, living water, LOVE each other, Love God, Mary, mercy, negative approach, onerous, party, passion, punishment, put down, rebellious, refreshed, regulations, rejoice, relaxation, renewed, rest, righteous life, righteousness, sadly lacking, salvation, scattered the proud, sent away, servants, sing, song of Joy, sorrow of heart, soul body and mind, spiritual food, stringent rules, Thank God is Friday, the BIBLE, the church, the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, the imagination of their hearts, the lowly, the Magnificat, the rich, the righteousness of God, the Samaritan woman, the weekend, they shall be filled, thirst, thirstym, vexation, wail, wasting away, week of work, zeal
Matthew 5:6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Well ah hear them coming down the road singing: ‘This is Friday, yes is Friday…And we going to party some of the weekend away. We going to fellowship some too. And get in a li’l rest too, so we can be fit and ready for the new workweek on Monday. Thank God is Friday oui! Thank God for Fridays and the weekends!’
Well what could I say to that eh friends? Nothing much, for they had me beat, including all the necessary things for a successful weekend in their li’l ditty. Now, if that only was the modus operandi of the majority of us, then we’d be in fine shape come Monday.
But unfortunately many of us still cling to the negative approach of simply wasting away the weekend in debauchery and riotous living. Thus still making it necessary for us to chant our Friday Chant seeking a different and much better perspective.
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.’
Ah mih people, how we waste our earthly lives by not following God’s word found in His Holy Book, the Bible, where He sets out the rules for godly living. And the sad part is that it’s not onerous at all. There are two basic rules; LOVE God, and LOVE each other.
But sadly, too many of us have trouble following those simple directions. I guess they’re just too simple. We seem to need stringent rules and regulations spelled out to the letter; like don’t do this, and don’t do that. We can’t seem to break down the big, general directions for ourselves.
Oh, if only we could be dialled in sincerely to our Bit: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’
Yeh my people, if only we could be hungry and thirsty for the righteousness of God, rather than the unrighteousness of this sinful and evil world! What a wonderful world it would truly be!
But the truth is that we can’t give up, those of us who feel that way, must continue fighting, continue hoping that by living the righteous life, others will see what a blessed lifestyle it is, and desire to join us. That’s why we’re still down here on earth yuh know; to show others the right way and help them come to Jesus for salvation and eternal life.
Now let’s check out some scripture on the subject. Yesterday we saw the Lord offering free spiritual food through Isaiah, to all and sundry. Listen to Jesus now, as He talks to the Samaritan woman at the well.
When He asked her for a drink of water, she was most surprised because the Samaritans and the Jews did not have good relations. But Jesus kindly told her. ‘If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have giving thee living water.’ (John 4:10)
The living water there refers to the Holy Spirit. Yes friends, when we turn to Jesus for drink for our soul, He generously offers us the Holy Spirit. And later on, when the woman was perplexed by Jesus’ argument, He told her.
‘Whosoever drinketh of this water (from the well) shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well (a fountain) of water springing up into eternal life.’ (John 4:13-14)
Ah mih people, what a wonderful promise! And though she did not fully comprehend Jesus’ words, the woman was smart enough to realize that Jesus was offering something very valuable and very desirable.
Unfortunately though, today way too many of us refuse to have anything to do with Jesus, and even those of us who do claim to be involved with Him, our passion and enthusiasm for His way of life is sadly lacking.
We don’t have the true zeal, the burning desire to emulate Him, otherwise His body here on earth, the church, would not be as lacklustre and waning in importance as it is. Now listen to Isaiah as he talks about the punishment of the rebellious.
‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl (wail) for vexation (grief) of spirit.’ (Is.65:12-13)
Yes my brethren, that’s what we have to look forward to when we seek for and honour the righteousness of God!
And we’ll end with a couple of verses from ‘The Magnificat,’ Mary’s song of joy to the Lord when He anointed her to bear His Son, Jesus Christ. She solemnly declares: ‘And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats (thrones), and exalted them of low degree (the lowly). He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty.’ (Luke 1:50-53)
Oh my precious people, please understand that only by hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of God in this calamitous world, can we ever be filled with the true living water of Christ. Much LOVE!
…the living water of Christ…is free to all those who sincerely receive Him…as their Lord and Saviour…
24 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: atonement, aura of love, blessed, born again, born of God, care, compassion, complaining, confidence, death, energy, enthusiasm, everlasting life, faith, faithful, frailties, friends, fun, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God's LOVE, grateful, Hades, hell, His only begotten Son, holy spirit, humble servants, in all things, invincible, Jesus Christ, Jesus' business, jobs, joy, lies, LOVE, Love makes the world go round, Lucifer, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, muttering, nay, negative actions, our Lord and Saviour, perish, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, sacrificing, salvation, sense of purpose, serve a useful purpose, shield, son of god, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, surrender, the cross at Calvary, the fray, the grave, the propitiation for our sins, the shed blood of Jesus, the trumpet is calling, through him that loved us, time to be up and about, trust, truth, ungodly world, we are more than conquerors, wisdom
Romans 8:37. Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.
Awright friends, it’s Monday, so let’s get up and get a move on nuh. There’s no time for pushing the snooze button and rolling over. The trumpet is calling out yonder: It’s time to go to work! Time to be up and about Jesus’ business!
Yes my people, there’s no time for muttering and complaining. You weren’t muttering or complaining last night when you were up till all hours of the night having fun. So let’s cut out the negative actions now and get with the programme.
And to help us do that, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty enthusiasm, energy and sense of purpose. As they say, fake it until you make it.
So let’s sing: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh friends, that rendition of our Battle Hymn was barely passable! How can such a lacklustre vocalization ever inspire anybody to go out and fight bravely eh? It’s obvious that our choirmaster, Jesus, wasn’t pleased. But as always, knowing our frailties, and having that great LOVE for us, He forgives us.
Nonetheless, now that our motors are running, let’s pick up the tempo and get ourselves into the fray of this new workweek, with Jesus, beside, behind and before us; in other words, all around us as a protective shield. That’s why we can so audaciously declare in our Bit: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’
Yes precious people of God, once you are spiritually born again through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary, then you have indeed become a conqueror through His having conquered hell, death and the grave. The same options are open to all who sincerely believe in Him and truly surrender their souls to His leading and guidance.
Now the last couple of days we have been talking about the conquering aspect of our Bit, today however, I want to talk about the LOVE portion. And isn’t that word LOVE, the greatest word in any language on planet earth? It certainly is! Why eh?
Listen to the most important verse in the God’s word. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)
That’s the major purpose behind it all my faithful brethren. God’s LOVE was so great for us, His sinful creation, that He just could not live with Himself to see us all go down to Hades with Lucifer without some option for deliverance. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17)
And all those words were spoken by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the SON of God! So they just had to be true, since God cannot lie. That’s how blessed we are my people! Our Creator’s care and compassion for us was so strong, that He broke His own heart, by sacrificing His only Son, that we could be set free from the ravages of sin and death.
Now doesn’t that touch a soft spot in your heart, make you everlastingly grateful? It ought to. And it also ought to raise up your own LOVE for God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in thankful appreciation for all that they’ve done for you. But such is the ungratefulness and foolish pride of man that many of us just couldn’t care less about what the Holy Trinity has done, is doing, and will do for us.
Now let’s further develop this theory of LOVE. We have a saying that ‘LOVE makes the world go round,’ and if we follow and believe what John says in his later writings, then it might just be true.
Hear John theorize. ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God. He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE. In this was manifested (shown) the LOVE of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.’ (1 John 4:7-11)
And that’s the crux of the disastrous situation right now in our world; we don’t LOVE one another!
And we not talking about no big setta LOVE nuh, with plenty hugging and kissing etc; (smile) but just simple brotherly kindness, goodwill, care and compassion for each other. Now that’s what will make our world go round!
Ah friends, if we want to see our world become a better place, both for ourselves and our descendants, then I implore us to start showing that goodwill, that brotherly LOVE to each other. It’s not too late, and with God’s help we can certainly do it. So let’s begin today nuh; there’s no better time than right now! Much LOVE!
…without more basic LOVE…our world WILL NOT survive for much longer…
21 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a present help in trouble, a shield around me, a sincere heart, all or nothing at all, all them that love him, an integral part, balance, bet yuh bottom dollar, Bless His Holy Name, burn out, Creator, despair, direction, disgrace, fellowship, Friday chant, from one extreme, fulfill the desire, fun, furthering God's kingdom, generous help, give God the glory, glory hallelujah, God is our refuge and strength, help, illness, in black and white, in Jesus' name, in truth, Israel, judgements, live it up, LOVE, Moses, never to leave nor forsake us, no help in God, obedience, praise God, problems, provider, refreshed, refuge, relaxation, renewed, rest, righteous, Selah, shame, statutes, strength, stress, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the affairs of men, the Lord sustained me, the right mix, the weekend, the workweek, trouble
Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.
So how do we begin this morning eh friends? I don’t have a clue as to how to engage your attention on this cloudy Friday morning in the fall of 2016, except to say: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the workweek is almost done! The weekend is here…
Give God the glory for that, because if the slave master had his way, we’d work seven days a week. Steups! The greedy fool! But thanks be to God for the weekend where we can do as we please… And am I going to live it up? You could bet yuh bottom dollar on that! Just watch me!’
Ah mih people, just like us eh? We go from one extreme to the other, from working too hard to partying too hard. But that only causes undue stress, burn out and eventually illness. What we need is some kind of balance in our lives, and our Friday Chant gives us direction on that.
So let’s chant it 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 friends, rest, relaxation, fellowship and play are all necessary for us to live full and godly lives, but we need to mix them in the right proportion, don’t over do any of them. And if we find it difficult to get the right mix, the right balance, there is always our great God to turn to for advice and help.
What does our Bit say: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.’ And that’s the living truth in a nutshell!
Our Creator and Provider is always there for us. In times of trouble we only need to call upon Him with a sincere heart and He will guide us to victory. Remember, He promises never to leave nor forsake us, and He stands by His promises.
And my brethren, we all have problems that we can’t solve, or handle, so there is no shame or disgrace in turning to the Lord for help. In fact, that’s what He wants us to do; come to Him for every purpose in life, be they big or small. The Lord wants to be an integral part of our lives, involved in EVERYTHING that we do.
But foolishly, we only want to allow Him to become involved in certain things, the others we want to deal with ourselves. Unfortunately though precious people, the Lord doesn’t work like that. He wants to be involved in ALL or NOTHING AT ALL!
So please, let’s check our lives and see if there are any areas that we are keeping God out of nuh, and then wisely invite Him to be a part of those areas. Yuh know that might be a part of our problem, why our lives aren’t going right at the moment; God isn’t totally involved in them.
Now let’s check out some scripture which reinforces our Bit. Hear Moses as he exhorts Israel to obedience. ‘For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh (a God so near) unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call him for?
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?’ (Deut.4:7-8)
And the answer to both questions friends is NONE! Truly, there is no other God who is so involved, who takes such great interest in the affairs of men! And that’s the way it ought to be. We don’t need a God who is far off, unconcerned about our trials and tribulations, but one who is around when we need help.
Listen to Bruh David from Psalm 3 – A prayer of confidence in God – as he cries out in despair. ‘Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah. I laid down and slept; I awaked: for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps.3:2-6)
Oh what a glorious God we serve my people! That’s the kind of confidence He instills in us when we walk obedient to His will! So I really can’t understand why we refuse to walk steadfastly with Him. There is so much to be derived from a genuine walk with Christ, that it would take me a whole day to list them. (smile)
Now let’s go home with these wonderful words of Bruh David echoing in our minds, souls, bodies and hearts. From Psalm 145 – the Lord is gracious – he faithfully proclaims. ‘The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy (gracious) in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that LOVE him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.’ (Ps.145:17-21)
Wow! Oh my fellow believers right there we have the gospel truth in black and white! Please, please, I implore us, let’s take it heart nuh, so that our lives can be fulfilled! Let’s continually praise our wonderful God and bless His holy name at all times, for that is wisdom at its highest level! Much LOVE!
…praise Him, praise Him…Glory Hallelujah…He is LOVE…He is LOVE…
17 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abused the weekend, aura of love, bring forth fruit, Christians, confidence, correction, Creator of the universe, deleted expletives, delight in the law, discipline, enthusiasm, every work, faith, friends, gifts, glorious kingdom, godliness, greet the new day, grin and bear it, he did that which was right, he prospered, he who doesn't hear shall feel, Hezekiah, holy spirit, humble servants, idolatry, in due season, in the commandments, in the law, in the sight of the Lord, inroads, invincible, Jesus Christ, Judah, leaf shall not wither, levites, LOVE, meditate, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, pagan, planted by the rivers, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, same old, scornful, seek the Lord, shoot the messenger, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strangers, the counsel of the ungodly, the Good Book, the house of God, the Passover, the right track, the righteous, the seat of the scornful, the straight and narrow path, the ungodly shall perish, the way of sinners, this is the day the Lord has made, time to rise and shine, tithes, trust, truth, ungodly world, we will rejoice and be glad in it, what you sow you shall reap, widows and orphans, wisdom, with all his heart
2 Chronicles 31:21. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
It’s Monday, it’s Monday, friends, it’s Monday, time to rise and shine and greet the new day with enthusiasm and energy, and joyfully declare: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!’ But instead, what I hear is much steupsing and a shower of deleted expletives. (smile)
Oh friends, why shoot the messenger eh? I’m just trying to do my job. I know it’s difficult to get up on a Monday morning, to do the same old, same old, especially if we’ve abused the weekend. But that’s just a part of life, the way our society is set up, so we just have to grin and bear it.
Fortunately though, we do have an antidote for whatever ails you on a Monday, it’s called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. It sets the tempo for your day, brightens you up, and gets you going on the right track, the straight and narrow one that leads to Jesus. So let’s sing it as though we mean it nuh, with strong voice and perfect harmony, so that we don’t anger our choirmaster Jesus.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Now that wasn’t so hard eh mih people? We just got to put some effort into it. Jesus wasn’t overjoyed, but He was satisfied with today’s rendition.
And talking about effort, our Bit today epitomizes the actions possible through giving all we’ve got in God’s undertakings. ‘And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.’
Yeh friends, the Good Book is talking about King Hezekiah of olden times in Judah. He began his reign at 25, and reigned for 29 years; pretty long for kings of those times. But as the Good Book also says of him: ‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his (fore) father hath done.’ (2 Chr.29:2) That’s why he was commended in our Bit.
Hezekiah brought about a revival of godliness in Judah. He repaired the temple, threw out all the pagan stuff that was in there from the reign of Ahaz, restored the godly stuff and rededicated it to the Lord. He removed idolatry from all over the land, reinstituted the Passover and appointed priests and Levites to do temple duty, as had been ordered by Moses.
He also made the people bring their gifts and tithes to the Lord’s house, so that the priests and Levites who had no land, as well as widows and orphans and strangers could be fed. And they brought so much that they had to build storerooms for the leftovers. (2 Chr.29, 30, 31)
Ah friends, that’s what happens when we follow the Lord’s commands. How I wish something like that could happen today. But sadly most churches have fallen on hard times and can hardly make ends meet. Some are even being forced to close. We all want to have strong churches, but we don’t want to provide the wherewithal for them to do so.
Uzziah was another Judean king who did as Hezekiah: ‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that His father Amaziah did. 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.’ (2 Chr. 26:4-5)
Please note those last words my fellow believers: ‘as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.’ Those were very important words back then, and they are even more important today in the selfish, greedy, strife-filled, ungodly, evil society in which we dwell. If we don’t seek the Lord our God, we won’t prosper.
And this is clearly stated in Psalm 1 – Blessed are the righteous. ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly (wicked), nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate (ponder) day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Ps.1:1-3)
Oh friends, it couldn’t be stated any clearer than that! And the sad fact is that we all know the principle by which God runs His universe – whatever you sow, that is what you shall reap – but for some unfathomable reason we choose to sow ungodly stuff. No wonder we are reaping so much ungodly stuff in our society these days.
Please remember the last verse of that Psalm my precious people. ‘For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ (Ps.1:6) And that’s gospel truth! Much LOVE!
…he who doesn’t hear… shall surely feel…the rod of God’s discipline and correction…
14 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a blanket promise, a double -minded man, a liar, a rewarder, a wave of the sea, abusing, advice, ask in faith, ask of God, ask permission, balance, burn out, Canada, Christ-like, commandmensts, consequences, cry, cutting off our nose, decisions, dissipate, do as I please, driven with the wind, earthly benefits, echo, fellowship, Friday chant, fun, generous help, gives to all men liberally, glorious kingdom, go to the loo, goal, God used wisdom, God's LOVE, he that comes to God, I love them that love me, I will love him, if ye love me, in Jesus' name, indwelling love of God, keep my commandments, kep his commandments, knowledge of God, life's trials, looking over mih shoulder, LOVE, loved of my father, must believe that he is, not doubting, obedience, obedient, on the right track, party, perspective, relaxation, rest, reveal myself, riotous, schoolboy, seeking wisdom, sitting on the fence, slave driver, steadfast, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanksgiving, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the weekend, those who seek me early will find me, to spite our face, ungodly living, walk as he walked, waste the weekend, wavering, wisdom, without reproach
Proverbs 8:17. I LOVE them that LOVE me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.
Well friends, it’s that day we all clamour for; Friday, because it means the end of the workweek and the start of the weekend. And for those of us living in this beautiful country of Canada it was a short week because of our Thanksgiving celebrations.
But yuh know what, whether we work five, four, or even three days a week, we’ll still cry out on a Friday: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! No more slave driver looking over mih shoulder. I can do as I please. Eat and drink what I want, when I want.
Don’t have to ask permission to go to the loo, or have anybody looking to see how often I go and how long I stay, as though I’m some little short pants schoolboy. Chuh!
The weekend is MINE! Mine to do as I please! And the wicked and greedy slave master and them be damned! Thank God for Fridays and the weekend! Let’s go and party now!’
And believe me friends, in this modern day and age, sadly, there are still work places that will cause that kind of cry to be echoed by the employees. But that still doesn’t give us the right to just dissipate and waste the weekend in riotous, ungodly living.
We need balance in our lives if we are to live them successfully. And that’s what our Friday Chant seeks to help us do. So let’s chant it with sincerity and truth now nuh.
All together: ‘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 mih people, that is a much better perspective, because if we keep on abusing the weekends, then have to go to work tired and grumpy, we’ll soon burn out and get sick and won’t be able to enjoy the weekends again. We’ll end up cutting off our nose to spite our face.
That’s what happens when we overdo anything. Anyway, all I can do is give advice, we all have to make our own decisions as to how we live our lives, and remember we each have to bear the consequences too.
And our Bit gives us some of the best advice possible in this fallen world. ‘I LOVE them that LOVE me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.’
Cousin Sol is here talking about seeking wisdom, and we’ve seen in the past couple days the earthly benefits of seeking her, and also how God used her from the very beginning to create the universe.
And we all know the scripture where James declares: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting).
For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
Yes my fellow believers, it’s important that when we come to God we’re not doubting, or sitting on the fence, ‘for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb.11:6b)
Now here’s an interesting note from the scholars on verse 5 above, James’ declaration about going to God for wisdom. ‘1.5: This verse is not a blanket promise of wisdom for any situation. In the context of life’s trials, it probably speaks of a believer being granted (1) wisdom as to the reason for his trials and (2) wisdom to endure them.’
So I guess we can’t use this verse as the basis for general but rather particular wisdom. However, there’s also another side to wisdom; the wisdom of seeking Almighty God!
When Jesus promised His disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, He told them in no uncertain words. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments… 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, show) myself to him.’ (John 14:15,21)
Yeh friends, it’s all about LOVE! And LOVE means being obedient and steadfast. Hear how John puts it in his first epistle.
‘And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the LOVE of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked.’(1 John 2:3-6) John spells it out loud and clear my people!
And the scholars offer these comments. ‘2:3. John writes so that his readers may not sin (v.1). Now he sets forth a characteristic of genuine knowledge of God: obedience to His commandments. This is a major teaching of Jesus.’
‘2:5. Perfected is in the perfect tense. John refers to the decisive and enduring effect of the indwelling LOVE of God. But the test of knowing God’s LOVE is keeping His Word.’
Therefore friends, it all comes down to one word ‘OBEDIENCE!’ We can talk all we want about LOVING God, etc. etc, but it means absolutely nothing, unless we are walking in obedience to His commandments.
So let’s seriously ponder all we’ve said today nuh, let’s search our hearts and see if we are truly walking in obedience to God’s Word. Obviously we won’t be perfect, but we can know if we’re on the right track. And if we’re not, then we certainly can ask the Lord for the strength and wisdom to get on the right track. Much LOVE!
…to be Christ-like…obedient as He was…should be each believer’s sincere goal…
10 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a believer in Jesus Christ, aura of love, Beres Hammond, bitch, blessings, bounden duty, call upon his name, children of Jacob, Christians, come out to remind me, complain, confidence, conquerors, cut out the nonsense, enthusiasm, face the music, faith, fighting for Jesus, for all I've got, for the life in me, friends, get with the programme, giving thanks, glory in his holy name, grateful for a job, Happy Thanksgiving Canada, harmonious voices, harmony, holy spirit, hope builds faith, humble servants, I'm giving thanks, I'm not in a hurry, I've got my health, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, judgements, lies, LOVE, make his deeds known, make known his deeds, melody, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, morning sun rising behind me, no need to fear, O Give thanks unto the Lord, out of work, perpetual thanksgiving, pleased as punch, pockets broken, rejoice, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, seed of Abraham, seek his face, sing psalms, spiritual armour, stars at nights, steadfast faith, strong and steadfast in Jesus, surrender, talk of his wondrous works, talk the talk, taunts, Thanksgiving Day, the breath of life, to give thanks for all I have, trust, truth, ungodly world, uplift ourselves, waiting for that break, while there is life there is hope, wiles, wisdom
Psalm 105:1. O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA!
Oh friends, oh friends, it’s Thanksgiving morn in beautiful Canada! Wow!
And the words of the old song ‘Giving Thanks’ by Beres Hammond comes to mind: ‘Right here now, I’m taking it easy. Check my steps, I’m not in a hurry.
Soon I’ll have the things that I needed so bad. Morning sun rising behind me, Stars at nights come out to remind me, To give thanks for all of the things that I have.
All is well, I’ve got my health and in such good shape. Pockets broken, I’ve got nothing, Waiting for that break. So I’m giving thanks, for all I’ve got. I’m giving thanks, whether or not. I’m giving thanks for the life in me. I’m giving thanks now…’
Yeh mih people, the ole fella is giving thanks for all I’ve got – and believe me, I’ve got a lot. But whether or not you’ve got a lot, you can still be thankful, even if it’s just for the breath of life that’s still flowing through your body. For remember that while there is life there is always hope in God’s great universe!
Yes my fellow believers, and hope builds faith, and faith keeps us strong and steadfast in Jesus. So I do hope that we all, wherever we are in this great country of Canada, as well as all round the world, are in a state of thanksgiving this Monday morning.
The fact is that we should be in a state of perpetual thanksgiving regardless of our circumstances, because there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.
I know that many of us are shaking it somewhat rough today because we have to get up and go to work, but that is something to be oh so thankful and grateful for.
Yuh know how many millions of people are out of work and would be everlastingly grateful to have a job, any job? But yet we still bitch and complain because we have to get up and go out and face the music on a Monday. Steups!
Look friends, let’s cut out the nonsense eh and get with the programme, if you say you’re a believer in Jesus Christ! Too many supposed Christians today are full of the talk but none of the walk.
Anyway, enough of the talk, (smile) let’s begin the walk by declaring our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with great gusto and excitement. Let’s prove to Jesus, our choirmaster, that we are truly His. So, with loud, proud and harmonious voices, let’s sing!
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days.
It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour.
We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh my people, that wasn’t bad at all nuh! Jesus was pleased as punch! (smile) Even though, as is usually the case, the ones who aren’t going to work today, were the loudest. But overall, the harmony and melody were excellent. And most important of all, it put a smile on Jesus’ face.
Now let’s go out and continue the work He has called us to do, in good spirits and with pure motives, remembering as our Bit declares: ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.’
Yes my brethren, to spread the word of God all over the world and make known His mighty deeds throughout the ages is our bounden duty! So let’s get serious and do what we know we ought to do nuh.
Oh there are always times when things will come against us and cause us to be concerned, but there is never any need for fear, because Jesus told us oodles of times, not to fear, since He has already conquered the world.
And I know it’s not always easy, but listen to the psalmist as he encourages us in the things we can, and ought to do to uplift ourselves in Jesus.
‘Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth; O ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the Lord our God: his judgements are in all the earth.’ (Ps.105:2-7)
Yuh see friends, as children of the Most High God, how many things we have to give thanks for, and the numerous ways we can do so!
So please, please, let’s get truly serious about our walk with Jesus and come out fighting with and for Him this Monday morning nuh, for that is indeed wisdom at it’s highest. Much LOVE!
…giving thanks should be an all day…every day occurrence…
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