06 Jun 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, atoning death, aura of love, band our jaw, blessings, Christ-like, christianity, chutzpah, Colossians, complaining, confident, conquerors, cult, deceivers, deceptive teachers, denomination, DNA, dreams, enthusiasm, evil, faith, false teaching, frailties, friends, fun, generous help, glory hallelujah, harmony, heretics, holy spirit, hope, human, humble servants, imagination, invincible, Job, jobs, joy. bless the day, lies, LOVE, Messiah, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, peace, Pharisees, population explosion, proud, rejuvenation of spirit, religion, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., salvation, scribes, spiritual armour, spunk, steadfastness, surrender, take heed that no man deceive you, take the bad with the good, taunts, the Mount of Olives, the sign of thy coming, trust, truth, ungodly world, warning, wiles, wisdom
Matthew 24:4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
And then it was Monday – the first day of the new work week. And all the workers joyfully declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank God for Mondays! We can’t wait to get back out to work. What a joy to be going back out to work today! Bless the day of Monday!’
Awright friends, I know I might never see or rather hear that joyful appreciation of Mondays, but that’s why the Lord built imagination and dreams into our basic DNA. If we couldn’t dream and imagine, then life would be boring and pointless. What I do know is that we should not be as reticent and complaining about going back to work on a Monday as we are.
Oh I know that there is a lot of pressure and unfortunate stuff involved in going out to work, but then if we don’t work, how will we survive eh, how will we provide for our families? Like Job says, we have to learn to take the bad with the good. (Job 2:10) We need to just band our jaw and get to it.
And don’t forget that Jesus is waiting out there at the front line for us to lead us into battle. So if we have the Messiah, the most powerful Field Marshall in the universe as our Leader, then we should be going out confident and proud. But since we are only human with lots of frailties, to aid us in our early week endeavours, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much spunk, plenty chutzpah and heavenly harmony. (smile)
As one 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 was a good rendition my brethren. Not the best, but it brought a smile to Jesus’ face, and that’s sufficient. Now let’s try and keep that adrenaline running as we go out into the ungodly world and influence people and win souls for Christ, through our Christ like talk and godly behaviour.
And that brings us to our Bit, a wise word of warning to the disciples from our Lord and Saviour. ‘And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.’
Oh friends, unfortunately that warning still holds true today, possibly even more so than in Jesus’ time, since there are more deceivers running wild today than in Jesus’ time.
And before we go further, let’s look at when and where Jesus warned them. He had been in the temple talking to His disciples as well as the Scribes and Pharisees re the ill treatment meted out to the prophets at the hands of their forefathers, about His death and resurrection, the destruction of the temple and His Second Coming. (Matt.23:1-39)
Then He left them and went out to the Mount of Olives so He could look down at the temple courtyard. ‘And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?’ (Matt.24:3)
Then Jesus began with the warning in our Bit, and then continued: ‘For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.’(Matt.24:5) And isn’t that the gospel truth my people.
As the scholars explain: ‘Many shall come refers to the parade of false messiahs who have now spanned the centuries of church history and have led many astray into false religious cults.’
And sadly, if only because of the world population explosion in recent times, it’s happening in even greater numbers today. Almost every minute of every day, a new religion, a new cult, a new denomination is born, further fracturing the already fractured movement of Christianity.
Bruh Paul also issued that warning about false teaching to the Colossians. ‘And this I say, lest any man should beguile (deceive) you with enticing (persuasive) words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your (good) order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.’ (Col.2:4-7)
Ah friends, what wise and wonderful advice from Bruh Paul. Advice that we badly need in these last days too. Now let’s check out some scholarly explanations.
‘2:6. The verse may be paraphrased thus: “Therefore just as you accepted the teaching that presents Jesus as both Messiah and Lord, so continue to maintain this relationship with Him.” The recipients had been taught that Jesus is (1) Messiah (the One divinely anointed to secure man’s salvation), and (2) Lord (the divine person to whom man submits in obedience).
The heretics denied Jesus’ atoning death and lordship. So the Colossians are urged to keep Him just as they were initially taught – as Messiah and Lord. They are to continue to look to Him for salvation and continue in submission to His authority.’
Well my people, we have been taught the same things as the Colossian’s, so it’s only logical that we also need to keep our relationship with Jesus as Lord and Messiah as strong as possible and don’t bow to any false and deceptive teachers, if we truly desire to see His salvation. Much LOVE!
…the only way to heaven…through Jesus…
04 Jun 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a ploy, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, Anselm, anxious, aspires to inspire, being right, being wrong, bend over backwards, brain power, bring forth, came to my rescue, confidence, decision making, decisions, delight, dependent, dethrone, empty, every aspect of our lives, evil minions, failure, fall into the trap, fearing to be wrong, foolish society, free gift of mercy, good foundations, gospel truth, higher than the earth, holy, humble, idols, important input, in vain, incomprehensible, integral parts, lack of confidence, leave God for last, lose in the end, Lucifer, maturity, maturity in Christ, mercy, minor things, my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways, never giving up, no where else to turn, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, over thinking, perspective, ponder, put God first, rebel, rebelling, return to Him void, right hand man, righteous, salvation, sinful, small matters, smell the roses, starting over, the Creator of the universe, the heavens, the one and only true living God, the truth of the matter, threat, unrighteous, void
Isaiah 55:8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Oh friends, it’s one of those rare days when the ole fella doesn’t know what to say! Imagine that nuh! (smile) And strangely enough, I think it mostly happens to me on Saturdays. I guess it’s a ploy of our God to keep me humble and dependent on Him. But there’s no real threat of me being otherwise because I can’t do what I do without His tremendously important input.
So since I don’t have anything sensible and concrete to say, then I’ll just use the words of someone else who has, namely our friend Anselm, who consistently aspires to inspire us. And that’s the Lord’s doing too, in case you didn’t notice. (smile) He came to my rescue quite quickly today.
And what does our friend Anselm has to offer us today eh? First of all he advises us to: ‘Realize that failure or being wrong will not kill you. Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.’
Now there is much truth in those statements friends, though our selfish and foolish society might choose to differ. Failing and being wrong are integral parts of life. All of us endure them at some time or other, and it’s through failure, that we build confidence, by starting over again, by never giving up.
And as Anselm says, confident people know that they will not be always right, but they’re not afraid to be wrong. And that’s something we believers ought to seriously and sincerely work towards, because it brings us maturity in Christ.
And the second quote from Anselm declares: ‘Put things into a wider perspective. It is very easy to fall into the trap of over thinking minor things in life. So when you are thinking and thinking about something ask yourself: Will this matter in 5 years? Or even in 5 weeks?’
Oh friends, that’s gospel truth, for many of us fall into that trap of over thinking the small things in our lives. And a lot of that comes from our lack of confidence; confidence to make reasonably quick decisions with good foundations, especially on small matters. Too many of us ponder and ponder and become anxious about our decision making.
But fellow believers, if we’d start out with the right decision; that of taking it all to God before doing anything else, our anxiety and lack of confidence would not be a problem. But too often friends, we leave God for last.
What’s that popular saying? After exhausting all the man-made solutions we foolishly declare: ‘Well I guess I have no where else to turn but to God now.’ And we expect God to be happy with us and bend over backward to help us.
Steups! Not so at all my brethren. Our God takes delight when we put Him FIRST in EVERY aspect of our lives, not look upon Him as a last resort.
That brings us to our Bit. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.’
And that’s truth we cannot dispute my brethren! The Lord’s thoughts and ways are holy and righteous, while ours, because of our fall from grace, are basically sinful and unrighteous.
And He goes on to further explain. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is.55:9) And so it should be, if He is indeed the Creator of the universe and all therein!
Now why would we want to bow down to and worship a Deity that has less brain power than us eh? But foolishly we do it when we worship dead and inanimate idols. We have higher thoughts and ways than them, so why worship them eh?
Because we listen to Lucifer and his evil minions and refuse to acknowledge the might and power of the ONE and ONLY true and living God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
And yuh know what my people, nobody knows the truth of the matter better than Lucifer, since once upon a time He was Jehovah’s right hand man, until he foolishly chose to rebel, just like so many of us are choosing to do today. But friends, there’s no sense in rebelling against our Creator and Provider, we’ll lose in the end, because He’s the most powerful Being in the universe.
Listen to Him again. ‘For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void (empty), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ (Is.55:10-11)
Yuh hear the confidence in that statement my fellow believers! Our God is not some little flunky trying to act big and tough like some of our earthly rulers. But He is the real McCoy!
Listen to the scholars. ‘55:8-13. God’s sovereignty and omniscience are extolled by the statement that His thoughts (i.e. purposes or intentions) and ways (derakim, or “directions”) are higher than ours. While God may certainly be known by men, He is still incomprehensible in the totality of His person and purposes.
Therefore, He reveals Himself to men by His word, which shall not return to Him void (in vain). The word of God, therefore, accomplishes His purpose in announcing salvation to all mankind.’
Yeh friends, that is the Word of our great God; powerful and mighty in its own right! It will do whatever He sends it do, and in this particular instance, the prophet Isaiah was talking about the coming of God’s salvation, a free offer of mercy to all. Glory Hallelujah!
And as promised, it came through the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So please people, let’s wake up and smell the roses nuh, and embrace the most wonderful gift ever – that of salvation, with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds, because that is the very essence of wisdom! Much LOVE!
…who or what can dethrone a God who is…omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent…no one or nothing…
P.S. It’s a good thing I didn’t have anything to say! (smile)
25 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a decent neighbourhood, a glorious future with Jesus, a simple man, At the cross, Christian, commune with my Maker, crashing of the sea, faithful, feet shod, fellowship, glad to be alive, glory hallelujah, glory to God, gnarled branches, I am halfway home, I'm not looking back, Jehovah, Jermaine Cowan, life isn't good, lifeblood of God, LOVE, mark of wisdom, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, new creations, Paradise, perseverance, places I used to go, praise, praying, problems, promises, put on the whole armour of God, put them at God's feet, Re-Arrange my life, rejoicing, rewards of heaven, rocket science, saints, salvation, schemes., simple tastes, songs of praise, spiritual armour, supplication, sweet Tobago, thanksgiving, that ye may be able to stand, the armour of God, the breastplate of righteousness, the breath of life, the cool wind, the fiery darts, the full moon, the gospel of peace, the great invitation, the helmet of salvation, the lusts of the world, the rocky shoreline, the rustle of the leaves, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the wiles of the devil, the Word of god, things I used to do, this is the day the Lord has made, thrilled, truth, unburden ourselves on Jesus, walk in LOVE, want to sing, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, your loins girt about with truth
Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.
Oh my people, who ever says that life isn’t good eh, tell them I say that deh lie! (smile)
Oh, like everybody else, I have my spate of problems, but I try to put them at God’s feet at the cross, per His Great Invitation to come and unburden ourselves on Him. (Matt.11:28-30) And that leaves me more time to enjoy His beautifully created universe.
Now, I guess you all must be wondering what has me waxing so ecstatically this early, on a somewhat cloudy morning? Well it’s no rocket science friends. It’s simply because for the first time this year, I was able to sit comfortably on my front porch at two a.m and commune with my Maker. Oh glory to God mih people!
And those of you who know me, know that I’m just a simple man with simple tastes, thus simple things enthuse me.
And when I can sit on my porch in the early hours of the morning in the north country, without much clothes on, feeling the cool wind blow over me, and hear it rustle the the leaves of the fully clothed trees with song, as I look out over the quiet boulevard in a fairly decent neighbourhood, admire the lights in the surrounding gardens, and spy at the beautiful full moon through the dry, gnarled branches of the dead ash tree on my front lawn – got to cut it down soon yes – and above all, commune quietly with my God, then I must be thrilled! I couldn’t be anything other than that!
It’s almost like being in Paradise – Sweet Tobago. All I’m missing now is the gentle crashing of the sea on the rocky shoreline. Mama Mia! So how can I not be happy eh mih breddren? Oh friends, it just makes me want to sing, to shout in praise and thanksgiving!
So let’s do that nuh. Everyday we talk about ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps.118:24) Well the best part of rejoicing is singing praise and worship and thanksgiving.
So please sing with me, the chorus of another of my favourite gospel songs that I recently heard; a nice li’l rocking reggae ditty by Jermain Cowan titled ‘Re-Arrange my life.’
Singing: ‘Things I used to do, I do them no more. Since You saved me. Places I used to go, I go there no more. Lord for You I rearranged my life. Jehovah, please stay by my side.’
And Again: ‘Things I used to do, I do them no more. Since you saved me. Places I used to go, I go there no more. Lord for You I rearranged my life. Jehovah please stay by my side.’
Oh friends, that’s how Christians are supposed to be when we get saved and become new creations in Jesus! And what more can we ask than for Jehovah God to stand always by our side eh? Not much. And we know He’ll do it, because He’s faithful to His promises.
And we’re not done singing and rejoicing this morning my breddren. It’s Wednesday, that means we have to wail out our Wednesday Wail.
So wailing, with sincerity and strong faith: ‘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 my fellow believers, how good it is to feel the breath of life coursing through our mortal bodies this morning, especially when we’re walking steadfastly with Jesus, looking forward to the glorious future He has promised. Glory Hallelujah!
Now I’m chuckling here because I don’t know if we have much time and space left for our Bit. But since we’ve been rejoicing and singing praise and worship and giving thanks, it surely means that we’re in full agreement with it.
‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.’
Yeh friends, we can’t give our great and wonderful God thanks and praise without having on at least some of His protective spiritual armour. Now finally, let’s see what that armour of God consists of.
Listen to Bruh Paul enlighten the Ephesians and us. ‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about (girded your waist) with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one).
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph.6:14-18)
Yes my breddren, that’s basically what the armour of God consists of. And we’ll end there so we can ponder it all. Tomorrow, God in favour, we’ll get into a deeper discourse of all the ramifications. (smile)
Till then though, please, let’s walk in LOVE and true fellowship, wisely eschewing, abstaining from the lusts of the world for the rewards of heaven. For that’s the true mark of wisdom. Much LOVE!
…once the lifeblood of God is flowing through a Christian…songs of praise and thanksgiving must emanate from his mouth…
24 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a child of God, a friend of Jesus, a summer's day, adversary, apologies, armour, be able to stand, beauty of the day, belief, caring, celebrations, Christians, compassionate, deep down inside, eternal life, faith, fallen angel, flesh and blood, focused on God, foe, forgiveness, glad to be alive, glory to God, god, God's armour, God's protection, God's provision, grace, having done all, he that is in the world, He that is in us, how good god is to me, humanity, I've got a joy, Iam, inspiration, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, just one of those days, LOVE, loving, Lucifer, makes me want to shout, mercy, ministry, miserable, my friend Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, overwhelmed with joy, planet earth, powers of darkness, practice what we preach, put on the whole armour of God, rebelled, reggae riddim, resisting Satan, sacrificial death, salvation, schmes, share His love, shout, sincerity, spirit, spiritual warfare, the beloved of God, the happiest people, the Holy Spirit, the whole armour of God, the wiles of the devil, tiredness, to stand, trust, truth, Tuesday Mantra, unconditional LOVE, unhappy people, witness, wrestle
Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.
Oh friends, oh friends, my sincerest apologies for the lateness of the Bit, but it’s just been one of those days. Hn! One of those days when my body rebelled, refused to get up before it was good and ready.
Believe me, I had no idea that the ole bod was so tired nuh, since I didn’t do anything tiring yesterday, and the celebrations didn’t cause me to get to bed any later than usual. I guess though that it was just a residual tiredness from my earlier activities.
Anyway, though I’m still physically groggy, when I went outside just now and experienced the wondrous beauty of the day – like a perfect summer’s day – my spirit was overwhelmed with joy. It made me feel truly glad to be alive.
And consequently, it brought to mind one of my favourite songs that I heard yesterday. It’s an easy lover’s rock reggae riddim that I’ve shared before, but as they say, these gems are never too tiring or old to be heard again and again, because they lend great inspiration to our souls.
It’s a song titled ‘I’ve got a joy,’ sung by a lady named Mounia Sahara. Please sing this very inspirational chorus with me. ‘I’ve got a joy deep down inside, that makes me want to shout, how good God is to me! Yes, I’ve got this joy deep down inside that makes we want to shout how good God is to me!’
And isn’t that the awesome truth my brethren! All Christians ought to feel that way because our wonderful God has indeed been exceedingly good to us all!
Yuh know, Christians ought to be the happiest people in the world because of all that we have; God’s unconditional LOVE, mercy, grace and forgiveness, plus salvation and eternal life paid for by the sacrificial death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
But unfortunately we are some of the most miserable and unhappy people on planet earth. Steups! Ah Lord eh, when are we going to learn to practice what we preach eh?
Anyhow, it’s a beautiful Tuesday, God is still on His heavenly throne, and still in control of His world! So let’s sing our Tuesday Mantra with true sincerity, strong faith and total belief.
All together now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen.’
Oh isn’t that just wonderful my fellow believers? It surely is! What can be better than being a beloved child of God and a friend of Jesus eh? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
And we certainly don’t have to worry about what the world says about us or how it defines us, because greater is He that’s in us – the Holy Spirit of Jesus – than he that’s in the world – the foolish, fallen angel Lucifer. (1 John 4:4)
And to help us prove that, let’s turn to our Bit, that remarkable verse of scripture, which so rightfully declares: ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.’
And that my people, is indisputable truth! When we are wearing the whole armour of God, we are invincible! Glory to God! And please note that it requires the whole armour, all of it, not bits and pieces.
And before we get to what that armour consists of, I’m going to repeat a couple verses from yesterday because there are some interesting and important explanations from the scholars that I did not get to share.
After our Bit, Bruh Paul declares: ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world (age), against (hosts of) spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you (take up, put on) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:12-13)
Now here are the scholars’ explanations of those verses. ‘6:12. Wrestle, used of hand-to-hand combat, emphasizes the personal and individual nature of spiritual warfare waged against each local church and Christian.
Flesh and blood refers to humanity. Such is not the church’s adversary. Instead she opposes principalities (rulers), powers (authorities), rulers (world-rulers), spiritual wickedness (wicked spiritual beings), that is, fallen angels, demons, and Lucifer himself.’
Yes friends, a lot of powerful spiritual enemies are lined up against us. And per ‘6:13. Wherefore means “because of this,” that is, because we face such a formidable foe, we must avail ourselves of God’s provision lest the enemy destroy our Christian witness and ministry.
The evil day refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and Satanic assaults. Having done all includes both dressing oneself in God’s armour and resisting Satan. Having done all these, be ready, for the Devil will attack again.’
And that’s no lie friends! The evil powers of darkness will continue to come at us, time after time, wave upon wave, trying to gain serious entry to our souls.
However, once we are clothed in God’s protective spiritual armour, and our minds are focused on God, rather than the world, those evil spirits won’t be able to harm us. And on that upbeat note, we’ll close today. (smile)
Now let’s put on that spiritual armour of God and walk strong, tall and proud, caring, compassionate and LOVING, about God’s great earth, because that’s what He expects of us. Much LOVE!
…as Christians in an evil world…God’s protection is ALWAYS necessary…
21 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better tomorrow, a very present help in trouble, an opportunity, Anselm, anxious, be still, blow a task out of proportion, breath of life, challenges, Christ-like, coasting, composure, confession of sin, courage, Creator of the universe, cutting out, equanimity, ever-Loving, face your mountains, faith, fear, fearful, glory hallelujah, glory to God, God doesn't give us more than we can bear, God is our refuge and strength, god's greatest gift, haphazardly, hindsight, I am helped, I can do all things through Christ, I will be exalted, Jeremiah, Jesus Christ, joy, know that I am God, Long may He reign, LOVE, loving kindness, lying by the wayside, maturity, mental calmness, merciful, mercy, miraculous ways, modus operandi, mountain, my heart trusted in him, my shield, mysterious, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, our earthly journey, potholes, praise his holy name, problems, procrastination, putting off doing it, reward, salvation, self-esteem, start doing, stop thinking, strength, the god of Jacob, the Lord of hosts, the obits, the thief of time, trust, truth, undoing, ungodly things, want for nothing, when one door closes another opens
Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.
Oh friends, it’s such a wonderful feeling when you look through the obits and don’t see your name or your picture, especially on a beautiful and restful Saturday morning like this one!
Hn! It just makes you want to jump and shout for joy: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Glory to God! Praise His Holy Name! Long may He reign! Yes my people, it is a delight to be alive, despite all the negative and ungodly things happening in our world.
But remember though, that if the Lord saw fit to give us His breath of life for another day, that means He has work for us to attend to in His name.
And talking about that, here are two interesting and appropriate quotes from our friend Anselm, who always tries to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And the first quote wisely advises: ‘Stop thinking. Start doing. To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.’ And that’s no lie friends! Ofttimes we think about something for so long that we end up not doing it, or doing it haphazardly.
And the second bit of wisdom from Anselm is: ‘Don’t blow a task out of proportion. If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.’ Now that too is no lie! And I can testify to it, because every day I have stuff to do that seems somewhat difficult, and I keep opting to do the easier stuff first, till eventually the harder stuff just keeps lying by the wayside.
And believe me too, when I do get around to the supposed difficult stuff, it’s never really as difficult as I thought. So please let’s get a move on with the stuff that the Lord has planned for us to do. What’s that old saying; I believe its procrastination is the thief of time, and none of us knows how much time we do have down here on God’s great earth, so we can’t afford to waste any of it.
And we have more wise words of advice to share on the subject, this time from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional, something he titles ‘Not a Problem – an Opportunity.’
It says: ‘God is going to give you a problem that will be your opportunity. He will give you challenges. That will be your mountain. That is God’s greatest gift to you. Face your mountains instead of cutting out or coasting. You’ll experience the greatest joy of life: the joy of self-esteem that comes when you know you did what you had to do. Every time one door closes, another door opens.’
Ah my people, that is indeed God’s modus operandi; He gives us challenges, which if we accept them fairly promptly, without fear, and having the bountiful faith that He won’t give us more than we can bear, and will also help us, then we will face those mountains with equanimity, mental calmness and true composure.
Yes fellow believers, that’s how the Lord builds courage, faith, strength and maturity in our lives. We cannot become Christ-like if we don’t have potholes and problems strewn along our earthly journey. And you will indeed notice that along life’s journey, when one door closes, another one eventually opens.
That’s our God moving in His mysterious and miraculous way in our lives. At the moment our world is being turned upside down, we don’t always see or appreciate His movements, but with hindsight, we definitely see His awesome hand moving in our affairs.
And why not eh, since our Bit so strenuously proclaims: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.’ And that’s the awesome truth my fellow believers! So if we worship the omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present Creator of the universe and all therein, then there’s nothing to fear, and everything to look forward to!
As Bruh Paul told the Philippians: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil.4:13) And that’s an indisputable fact friends! Whatever we need to do in the Lord’s name, He WILL enable us to do it.
The problem though is that sometimes the challenge or the problem looks so big and our faith isn’t as big, so we get somewhat anxious and fearful. But please remember that our merciful and ever-LOVING God will never allow us to carry burdens or do stuff that He knows we cannot do. So please believe that anything He throws our way, with His help, we can and will be able to accomplish it.
Now let’s turn to some scripture that verifies or supports our Bit. Listen to the prophet Jeremiah as he talks about confession of sin. ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.’ (Jer.3:22-23)
Yes friends, salvation is ONLY possible through our Lord Jesus Christ! So all who are looking for it elsewhere are looking in vain. Now hear Bruh David from Psalm 28 – A prayer for God’s help.
‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:7) Oh friends, that’s the awesome truth; if you trust in the Lord, He will help you and you will rejoice.
And we’ll end with these most appropriate words from Psalm 46 from which our Bit is taken. ‘Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.’ (Ps.46:10-12)
And if we believe that friends, then the Lord will bless and keep us and pour our His mercy and LOVING-kindness upon us, we shall want for nothing. Much LOVE!
…be strong and faithful all who hope in the Lord…for He will eventually reward you…
20 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a very present help in trouble, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, action, an artesian well, blessed, blissful, breathed with God, Christian friends, commuting, contentment, drudgery, expectation, faith, fears, fellowship, Friday chant, friends, fun, generous help, glorious kingdom, glory, God is my rock, God is our refuge and strength, gospel truth, heart attacks, heart's desires, hope, I shall not be moved, incredible happenings, insurmountable, joy, long-suffering, look to Jesus, melted like wax, no need to worry, obedient to god, omnipotent god, One Year Book of Bible promises, opened windows, opens doors, patience, peace, poured into my heart, problems, provides opportunities, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, Revelation, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, saturated my mind, Selah, sheer joy, slave labour, stress, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, the mountains shake, the valley of despair, the waters roar, the weekend, though the earth be removed, threatening clouds, traffic jams, trust, wait for Jesus, walked with God, wax, You did all the rest
Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.
One more day friends, just one more day, and then we’ll all have the short rest we so badly crave…
But unbeknownst to me, the word had already been spread that it was Friday, and the joyful shouts all around the place were deafening.
‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes mih breddren! Hurrah for the weekend, when we do our own thing! No more massa and his slave labour to worry about for two, whole big days! Thank God for Fridays yes mih people!’
And so it went on. The working people were surely glad to have a couple days off from what has become pure drudgery in this supposed enlightened and advanced world.
Just the commuting alone; twice a day, five days a week, in the ever-increasing traffic jams is enough to cause untold stress. It’s a wonder we don’t find more people just dead from heart attacks while sitting in the stifling and irritating traffic jams.
Anyway my Christian friends, that’s where the patience and long-suffering of our Christian belief comes in. (smile) Now let’s chant our Friday Chant which gives us a fine perspective on how to spend our weekends. 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.’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s the route we ought to follow if we expect to be bright and fresh and reinvigorated on Monday morning.
Now here’s an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. This one is titled: ‘You Did All The Rest.’
And it says: ‘O Lord God! I did what You asked me to do: I just opened windows Wide… Wide… And You did all the rest! You poured into my heart A blessed, blissful contentment. You saturated my mind With gigantic thoughts of You.
You struck an artesian well within me Until sheer joy sprang forth. You led me out of the valley of despair Into a succession of incredible happenings. Problems which seemed insurmountable Melted like wax before my eyes. Fears faded away like threatening clouds.
You startled me You amazed me With the glory of Your revelation. It is true Gloriously true – I have literally walked and breathed with God. I just opened windows Wide… Wide… God, You did all the rest!’
Oh my fellow believers isn’t that truly beautiful? It surely is! And the awesome thing about it is that it’s also gospel truth! For that’s how we feel when we sincerely look to and patiently wait on Jesus.
In His time He opens doors and provides opportunities and gives us our heart’s desires and just fills our souls with His joy and peace, like we never thought possible.
And the Bible Promise for that writing is our Bit. ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly available) help in trouble.’
And if that is true, then this corollary from the sons of Korah, the psalmists, obviously applies: ‘Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst (the heart) of the sea: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.’ (Ps.46:2-3)
Yes friends, let’s just sit and ponder that for a moment nuh. If our God is all that we claim Him to be, then we shouldn’t be afraid of anything that happens in our world. Unfortunately though, it’s not the way it happens in real life. Too many Christians live afraid and anxious lives, despite the assurance of God.
What does that say about us eh? That although we talk the good talk, deep down we’re still not as strong and faithful as we ought to be. That we have not truly or fully surrendered our hearts, minds, bodies and souls to our Creator, and we don’t trust and obey Him like we ought to.
But yuh know what friends, our wonderful God knows our weaknesses and our frailties because He made us, and despite it all, He still LOVES us with that unimaginable, unconditional, never-ending LOVE of His.
And all God’s people shouted a loud, proud and grateful: ‘Glory to God! Praise His Holy Name! May He reign for ever and ever!’
Oh my fellow believers, once we’re doing our sincere best to follow and be obedient to Almighty God, there’s no need to worry. He will undoubtedly stand beside us and help us along our pilgrim’s way.
Now let’s end with some of Bruh David’s thoughts on the subject from Psalm 62 – God only is my rock and my salvation. ‘My soul, (silently) wait thou only upon God; for my expectation (hope) is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved (shaken).
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.’ (Ps.62:5-8)
Oh my brethren, that says it all! It’s up to us now to put all of that into action, if we desire to see better days both down here on earth and in heaven. Much LOVE!
…if the omnipotent God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God…then there’s absolutely no need for believers to be afraid…
14 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a millstone, a millstone were hanged about his neck, an ass-stone, Anselm, anxieties, become as little children, biblical picture, bonkers, cares, change happens, child-like faith, child-like nature, Christian fellowship, control freaks, conversion, craivng control, drowned in the depth of the sea, except ye be converted, fighting tooth and nail, forbid them not to come unto me, forgive the most, God is in control, guardian angels, humble himself, innocent, innocent children, intellectual assent, LOVE, make the necessary amends, negative emotions, negativity, of such is the kingdom of heaven, offend one of these little ones, power over, salvation, stress, Suffer little children, take control, take stock of ourselves, tension, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, the pressures of the world, the worries of the world, time out to play, to be born again, trusting, woe unto the world, worries, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Oh friends, it’s a glorious Saturday morning on God’s wonderful earth! So like children, let’s take some time out to play nuh. Playing is a wholesome, healthy and hearty retreat from the pressures of this world.
Remember what Jesus said when the disciples refused to let the children come to Him? ‘Suffer (allow the) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt.19:14)
Yeh friends, heaven is made up of simple, trusting, innocent people with child-like faith. So to keep our minds and bodies in a healthy state, sometimes, especially on beautiful days like these, we just need to let all our cares, worries and anxieties go and just play like innocent children.
You’d be surprised how refreshed and renewed our souls, minds and bodies would be with a little mindless, free spirited playing. Believe me people, we all need to have some regular playtime in our lives. This evil, stressful, dangerous and angry world calls for it.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be long before we go stark raving bonkers, holding all the stress and tension that this world generates inside of us. Our bodies were not made to bear a whole lot of negative emotions, but positive ones. You see how quickly they deteriorate when they are consumed by too much negativity.
So please, let’s lighten up some, and don’t try to take on all the worries of the world on our frail and mortal shoulders. Our Creator doesn’t seem overly worried, so why should we be, especially if we sincerely believe that He is in control of the universe He created?
Now here is a little tidbit from our friend Anselm, who always tries to inspire us to reach for a better tomorrow. He says that ‘Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.’
And that’s no lie my brethren! It’s simple, straightforward logic. You will accomplish more if you control what you can, instead of selfishly trying to control what you can’t. But that’s a regular pattern of life with many of us, as the crazy, selfish world we live in sets us that example.
Just look at how our world is populated with control freaks; those who want to control everything and everyone, and fighting tooth and nail to do so. Meanwhile, if they would just concentrate on those things they do have power over, their lives would be so much happier and longer.
That brings us to our Bit, where Jesus explains greatness to the disciples by calling a child to Him and setting him in the middle of the crowd: ‘And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’
There we have Jesus again referring to the importance of a child-like nature. And He continues: ‘Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones (cause them to sin) which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offenses (enticements to sin)! For it needs be that offenses come; but woe to the man by whom the offense cometh.’ (Matt.18:4-7)
And the scholars offer this explanation of those verses. ‘18:1-7. The dispute over who is the greatest was settled by Jesus’ emphasis that it was the one who was willing to forgive the most!
Be converted means a “turning” of one’s whole life and person toward God. This is the true biblical picture of conversion. It is far more than mental acknowledgement of the truth or intellectual assent to certain ideas.
To become as little children means to be born again (converted) as a newborn spiritual child, characterized by faith and humility. The little child represents a new convert or young believer. To receive such a fellow believer is to welcome Christ Himself. Therefore the basis of true Christian fellowship is established in Christ Himself.
Offenses are viewed as a reality that must be accepted in the present world, but woe (the prophetic condemnation to death) to the one who is the source of the offense. A millstone is literally an “ass-stone,” or a large grindstone turned by an ass.’
So you see my people, to enter heaven we must humble ourselves and have faith like a young child. And beware, if we cause one of these young children, the new spiritual converts to sin, then we’re surely in for a rough time; ‘woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.’ It would be like dissing and demeaning Jesus Himself.
And Jesus ends that section with this warning. ‘Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.18:10)
And the scholars tell us: ‘Just as temptation arises from within, so does offending others and being offended. The reference to their angels (v.10) supports the idea of individual guardian angels for believers (see Heb.1:14). Salvation is not just a privilege to be enjoyed by a select few, but it is also to be shared with the lost, so that they too can be saved.’
Now friends, today as we play and pray, let us ponder how all that we’ve said pertains to us nuh. Are we causing others of less faith to sin, are we hogging salvation and not sharing it with others, are we being humble and faithful? Those are multi-million dollar questions my brethren, but questions only the individual can answer, before a just but kind and merciful God.
It’s therefore imperative that we take stock of ourselves now and make whatever amends are necessary, so that that “ass-stone’ is not hung around our necks and we be deposited in the deep. Wisdom is desperately calling for that my people! Much LOVE!
…the open door to heaven calls for…innocent, child-like surrender, trust, faith and humility…
12 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a great family, a jealous God, a last resort, a positive outllok, a prison house, a strong will, abundance, action, Asa, awesome God, belief, believer, blessed is the nation, blessings, broken right now, chutzpah, courage, creativity, curse, diseased in his feet, disobedience, divine protection, done foolishly, drawn to Jesus, earthly pilgrimage, eternal life, faith, favour, favourites, followers of Jesus, freely, friends, fulfillment, generously, godly example, good works, habitation, havoc, he considereth all their works, He fashioneth their hearts alike, he sought not the Lord, health, heartache, heathen, I am blessed, improvements, in a rage, in the name of Jesus, inhabitants of the earth, inheritance, insignificant, interest, LOVE, lowly doings, lowly selves, make a difference, mercies, negative word, omnipotent, on behalf of them whose heart is perfect, oppressed the people, passion, praise to the Lord, promotion, prosper, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, serious notice, strength, succeed, success, suffering world, supernatural wisdom, talent, The eyes of the Lord, the physicians, the sons of men, thirsting, Thursday Blessings, to show himself strong, topsy-turvey world, true believers, understands, ungodliness, uproot evil, whose God is the Lord, wisdom, worthwhile changes, worthy of His interest, zenith
Psalm 33:15. He fashioneth their hearts alike (individually); he considereth (understands) all their works.
Ah mih breddren, another beautiful day has dawned, and we have been granted the godly opportunity to see it and make our mark in this topsy-turvy world for Jesus!
We have been destined to uproot the evil and the ungodliness that is causing such havoc and heartache in our once beautiful and godly world.
Are you up to the task? Of course you are! As true believers and followers of Jesus, we all have been empowered to make a difference in this life, even though it may just be a small one.
Yes, not all of us can make major contributions to God’s cause, but we all can make minor ones, which still glorify His precious and holy name and have others thirsting for the salvation and eternal life that He so freely and generously offers.
So let’s never believe, much less say that we’re too small and insignificant to make worthwhile changes, because we are not. As children of God we are imbued with all that’s necessary to do good works in the name of Jesus.
So as we continue our earthly pilgrimage on this new day, let’s sincerely decide that we will do our best to bring the awesome blessings and mercies of our great and awesome God to the hungry and thirsty people of our intensely struggling and greatly suffering world.
And to help us do that, let’s declare our Thursday Blessings with much chutzpah, plenty passion and positive emotion, backed by the all-important sincere belief, in what we’re declaring.
As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Ah mih people, what a strong and positive declaration! It only requires us now to go out and put it all into action amongst both the heathen and the believer alike, so that much needed improvements in our world can be made by the godly example that our lives so vividly project.
As I keep saying, it’s only through our worthwhile examples that others will be sincerely drawn to Jesus. That brings us to our rather appropriate Bit, taken from Psalm 33 – Praise to the Lord for his creation.
Let’s set the scene first though. ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The Lord looked down from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike (individually); he considereth (understands) all their works.’ (Ps.33:12-15)
Yes friends, from His home in the high heavens, the Lord looks down on each of us individually, checking out the hearts that He has fashioned in each of us, appropriate to whatever plan He has designed for our lives, paying close attention to, and understanding all that we do, be it great or small.
That’s the faithful and awesome kind of God we serve and worship; One who takes a significant interest in ALL that each and every one of us does. He doesn’t play favourites, or consider anything too small or insignificant to be worthy of His interest.
And that is something a lot of us believers have problems with. We can’t believe that our great God is interested in our lowly selves, as well as our lowly doings. But my people, our God is so wonderful that He is interested in each soul that He has created and in each and everything that goes on in our lives. That’s why He’s so awesome and magnificent!
And we have a great bit of scripture to uphold our assertions. This from 2 Chronicles, where King Asa is rebuked by the prophet Hanani for not trusting in the God of his fathers and instead relying on a pagan king to fight for him.
‘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 (at peace with or loyal) toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Then Asa was wrought 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…. 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.16:9-10,12.)
You see my people, Asa in his egotistical self, sought not his omnipotent God, neither in the major aspects of war, or in the smaller things, namely his diseased feet and thus paid a hefty price for such disobedience.
Please my brethren, let us take serious notice today, and everyday of our omnipotent but very jealous God, and run everything that concerns us by and through Him, before we turn to anything or anyone else. For that is indeed wisdom at its zenith! Much LOVE!
…it’s certainly not wise to turn to humans first…then to God as a last resort…God desires to be first…each and every time…
11 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a marvellous God, abundance, alive and kicking, an easy row to hoe, appreciation, awesome God, blessings, buy, buy wine, call upon him, come ye to the waters, comfort, communicate through prayer, confidence, covenant, deceit, desire to do God's will, disappointments, eat, eternal life, excited, faith, faithfulness, fatness, followers of Jesus, free offer of mercy, Glory be, glory hallelujah, goodness, he that hath no money, hear, heartfelt call, heavenly downpour, help, honour, I am halfway home, I'm not looking back, I'm so glad to be alive, Isaiah, leading and guiding, let your sould delight itself, lies, LOVE, mercies, milk, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, opportunity, prayer, problems, read God's word, salvation, seek ye the Lord, spend money, spiritually hungry, steadfast, thank God, the breath of life, the enemy, the Gentiles, the good shepherd, the obits, to live and work for Christ, trust, undying LOVE, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, without money, without price, worship, your soul shall live
Isaiah 55:6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Yo mih Scrip-Bit breddren! What’s up with us this glorious Wednesday morning on God’s great earth eh? I do hope that we are all excited about the day that’s going to be filled with an awesome downpour of heavenly blessings and mercies from our awesome God!
Isn’t he something else my people? He surely is! Wonderful is His name! Providing such good stuff for us each and every day, walking with us along our way, leading and guiding us safely with comfort and undying LOVE, like the Good Shepherd that He is…
Oh it just makes me want to cry out with joy, and shout ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ every time I think about His unfailing goodness and mercy towards me! And I know you all feel the same way too, otherwise you wouldn’t be the true and ardent followers of Jesus Christ that you are!
Glory be, mih people! We have such a marvellous God, please, let’s do our very best to worship and honour Him with all our hearts, souls, mind and bodies nuh, for that is what He so rightly deserves. And to help us do that, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with great gusto, enthusiasm and sincerity of heart.
As one wailer 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!’
Oh friends, oh friends, I don’t know about you all nuh, but I for one am exceedingly glad to be alive and kicking today! I haven’t seen my name in the obits, so it just means that I’ve been granted another glorious opportunity to live and work for Christ!
And I know you’ll agree that there’s nothing better than that in this earthly life my brethren! He’s been so good to us that the least we can do to show our sincere appreciation is to live our lives on His behalf, spread the good news of His gospel, His great LOVE and faithfulness to all and sundry, His heartfelt call to each and everyone to come to Him and receive salvation and eternal life!
Oh what could be better than that eh folks? Nothing really! But just remember that living for Jesus is not an easy row to hoe; it’s fraught with disappointments and problems, but if we stick with Him, keep our hands steadfast on the plough, always looking forward, He WILL enable us to do what is necessary.
Our faith though, our desire to do His will must be real strong in order to overcome the lies and deceit the enemy will throw at us every living day. And that can only happen when we consistently read his Word, communicate with Him through prayer and be obedient to His will. That’s what strengthens our faith and trust.
And for those of us who are struggling with our faith, possibly filled with some doubt and anxiety, here’s some interesting advice from our friend Anselm, who is always aspiring to inspire us for a better tomorrow. And Anselm tells us that ‘ Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.’
And that’s gospel truth friends! We can never move forward unless we let go of something behind us, of whatever is holding us back. Remember Jesus and all the prophets kept reminding us not to fear, for we are in the BEST of hands.
And though we all know that that is easier said than done, it is possible if we confidently call on our great God for His awesome, never denied help. That’s why our Bit so wisely advises us to: ‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.’ And that is such an awesome piece of wisdom my people!
Now listen to how Isaiah begins that chapter of a free offer of mercy to all. ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (abundance). Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.’ (Is.55:1-3)
Oh friends, where can we ever get a better offer than that eh? NOWHERE!
And we’ll end with this explanation from the scholars. ’55:1-7. God’s free gift of salvation is offered to all who will receive it. Those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty may come to eat and drink without money (or freely). He promises an everlasting covenant to the Gentiles like the one He established with Israel. His invitation to all men is clearly stated by the appeal, Seek ye the Lord and call ye upon him.’
Oh my people, my people, the Lord kept His promise and established a covenant wit us Gentiles through His wonderful Son Jesus Christ! Now it’s our turn to do our part in keeping that covenant.
Please, let’s allow wisdom to abound in our souls nuh, whereby we diligently and sincerely seek our wonderful God and call upon Him in confidence and trust, for that’s what He desires of us. Much LOVE!
…in all circumstances…whom shall we call first…Almighty God…
09 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, as for me and mine, as fruitful as a vine, aura of love, blessed, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, children, common sense, compassion, confidence, countenance, Creator of the universe, darkness, delights in His commandments, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, faithful, faithfulness, friends, fruit of thy labour, glorious kingdom, gospel truth, grace, Hallelujah, happy, holy spirit, humble servants, impregnable fortress, invincible, iron sharpens iron, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lies, light, LOVE, mighty upon the earth, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, New Testament, obedient, Old Testament, olive plants, our Lord and Saviour, pass the test, peace, Praise ye the Lord, priority, proud, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, rest, rest my case, rewards, righteousness., salvation, seek ye first the kingdom of God, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, test our faith, test our mettle, the church of jesus, treasure trove, true believers, trust, ungodly world, useful purpose, we will follow the Lord, wiles, wisdom
Psalm 112:1. Praise ye the Lord (Hallelujah). Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Ah mih people, once again the big day called Monday has come around … It’s come once more to test our mettle, our faith, to see if we have what it takes to successfully make it through this earthly pilgrimage!
But yuh know what friends? As true believers in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we do have the necessary parts, and we WILL pass that test of faith with flying colours! For our mettle is strong an impregnable as a fortress manned by God!
As the Good Book declares, in the wise words of Cousin Sol: ‘Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.’ (Prov.27:17) Yes my brethren, that’s how the body, the church of Jesus Christ operates!
And the scholars offer this explanation. ’27:17. As the proper tool shapes and sharpens iron for its desired use, so a man sharpens his friend morally and intellectually by their personal friendship.’
Now I do hope we are all doing that, today and every day, and you’re not making me a liar when I proclaim it. (smile) But nonetheless, it’s Monday, meaning it’s time to rise and shine and make our way to our places of labour, wherever it may be.
And I know we’re only human, so we’re not always up to scratch on this the first day of the new work week, that’s why we have our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to wake us up, to raise our adrenalin levels and get us going to face the world with faith and courage. So let’s put down a good rendition today, make our choirmaster, Jesus, and all the hosts of heaven proud of us.
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!’
Glory be, mih breddren, that was magnificent! As Jesus enthusiastically twirled His baton, He looked back at the Father with a big smile on His handsome face and winked. As if to say: ‘That’s my people, and I’m oh so proud of them!’
Now friends, let’s go out into the evil and ungodly world that surrounds us and make Jesus really proud of us by being obedient to His will, being living examples of His gospel, salt and light to the world, so that others will see our joy and prosperity and come to Him for salvation and eternal life!
And today we have a wonderful Bit that holds awesome promises from our awesome God. ‘Praise ye the Lord (Hallelujah). Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.’
And those words are ever so true my fellow believers! The righteous person; the one who holds our God in great awe and reverence and delights in His commandments will be truly blessed! Glory to God!
And the psalmist continues: ‘His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth (stands, lasts) for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.’ (Ps.112:2-4)
Oh my precious people, you see what is in store for the righteous person and for his descendants? Wealth and power, as well as the godly attributes of grace and compassion. Brother, what a treasure trove a man can reap by being obedient and faithful to our ever-faithful God!
And if you think that that isn’t true because it comes from the Old Testament, then listen to Jesus declare the very same thing in the New Testament. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33) Yes people, when we make God and His kingdom our first priority in this life, then we’ll want for nothing!
Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that life will be all wine and roses, but it will be certainly better, with true peace and joy in our hearts and souls than if we were to follow the foolish fallen angel Beelzebub!
Now listen to a couple of other scriptures which declare the same thing, starting with the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. ‘Blessed are the undefiled in the way (the blameless), who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.’ (Ps.119:1-3) More gospel truth friends!
And we’ll end with these awesome words from Psalm 128 – The rewards of faithfulness. ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands (fruit of thy labour): happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides (in the heart) of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.’ (Ps.128:1-4)
I rest my case people! Much LOVE!
…but as for me and mine…hn!…we will definitely follow the Lord…for that’s not only common sense…but wisdom from on high…
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