The Overwhelming Importance of Having a Personal Relationship with Jesus!

12 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 119:176.        I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

And it’s another lazy-day Saturday, one that’s dry, with a mixture of cloud and sun. But once we don’t have to go out, the weather’s not important, we can just sit around and do nothing, take a break from the running around that we do during the work week, or take our time and do a few chores that we think need doing. The important thing here is that we don’t need to rush around like chickens with our heads cut off. 

I would also suggest spending some time with the Lord, since there’s no hurry to get out and go to work. (smile) And there’s no better time to turn to our wonderful heavenly Father than right now! So let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer with heartfelt sincerity and truth. 

As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And, as always, if our prayer was sincere, we will soon feel the calming, soothing peace of our God flowing through us, quieting our anxieties and fears, so that we can handle whatever is coming against us with a positive attitude. And I believe that the last section of Psalm 119 is a fitting continuation to our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

So please pray with me: ‘Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my (prayer of) supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgements help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.’ (Ps. 119:169-176) 

And do we ever need God’s powerful help in these ungodly and evil times, for as the psalmist so rightly declares, we have gone astray like lost sheep. And if you take a moment to ponder the existing situation in our world, you’d see that’s’ the gospel truth! It’s mind boggling the evil and ungodliness that’s happening in our world today, especially when we’re at the height of our civilization! We definitely need the Lord to fervently seek us and bring us to His fold, for it doesn’t seem as if we’re going to do it on our own. 

And  the prophet Isaiah said it long ago of his people Israel: ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Is. 53:6) Yes friends, that’s why it was ever so necessary for Jesus to come to earth and die for our sins. Too many of us had strayed so far and become so rebellious, just like we are right now, that it wasn’t possible to save us one by one, (smile) we needed a complete covering for our multitude of sins, and Jesus; the sinless Lamb of God, was the only answer to our desperate situation. 

The prophet Jeremiah also had the same message for the children of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon. He said: ‘My people hath been like lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray (led them astray), they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.’ (Jer. 50:6) Now that’s no different to us today. Our leaders have led us astray from our resting place, the One True God, Jehovah! 

Our leaders have become so evil and ungodly that more people are turning away from God than are coming to Him, which doesn’t hold out a good hope for our faith. That’s why it’s ever so necessary for us to return to the Lord as individuals, to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him, because every lost sheep is important. Remember what Jesus said: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ (Matt. 18:11) 

Then He emphasized it with the parable of the lost sheep. ‘How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which was gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth much more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones shall perish.’ (Matt. 18:12-14) 

Yes friends, the Lord doesn’t want any of His creation, especially the new believers going astray because of poor leadership. And Peter wraps it up so beautifully in His first epistle, when he writes: ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: 

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet. 2:21-25) 

It could not be said any better than that my fellow saints. For we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard, (Rom. 3:23) but now we have the opportunity to renew our relationship with Almighty God, through Jesus Christ our Shepherd and Caretaker of our souls. Please, I implore us to not let this opportunity pass us by, for it will be to our detriment in the long run! Much LOVE!

…passing up the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus…is nothing less than committing spiritual suicide…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   1 March 2024 Psalm 39:7.

01 Mar 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 39:7.       And now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Late to bed, late to rise! And I’ve proven it once again, this sunny Friday, the first day of March 2024, for I was abed late last night, and still abed late this morning! (smile) And I’m shaking my head here, because I had to run around in the cold, windy weather yesterday, doing chores that should have been done before in the good weather. But that’s the evil of procrastination, you are forced to go out when you don’t want to. And even though it’s a bright sunny Friday with temps on the plus side, I think I deserve a day at home, to just relax and do my own thing. (smile) 

But here’s something else to consider; that even with 29 days, February has gone off the map in to the dustbin of history, like a flash of lightning. Two months of the year are already in the annals. And what is that trying to tell us eh? That time is not waiting for us, or for anything. It’s just going its merry way like the Lord planned. That means we have to get up and get ourselves together, unless we want time to pass us by, and we reach the end of our journey and have not done half of the things we either planned to do, or that God desired that we do. 

Now that would just be a crying shame! And I can vouch for that, because I still have a lot of writing to do and music to make, as well as God’s work, which I have not yet embarked upon, and I’m already in my later years. Hn! I’ve already passed my three score and ten, so who knows how much is left. One of my friends, some thirteen years older, keeps chirping that he’s living on overtime. But who knows if I will be granted the same amount of overtime? (smile) That means I need to get up off of my fat, lazy fanny and get rolling soon, and very soon too, if I want to leave some kind of positive legacy, something to at least say that I passed this way. 

However, in this busy life there are so many distractions and so many things calling out to be done, and as I heard one preacher say recently, to do what you need to do, that includes spending time with God, some things must be left undone. And that’s the gospel truth! We therefore have to prioritize our thoughts and actions, especially when the enemy takes vast pleasure in distracting us from the important things, like doing God’s work, or spending time with Him. That reminds me of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90, when he pleads: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom).’ (Ps. 90:12) 

Yes my people, it would definitely help some of we knew the length of our lives, but that’s not God’s way. He desires us to seek wisdom and apply it as early as possible in our lives, and to continue seeking and applying it until the very day He calls us home. It’s interesting though that in Psalm 39, Bruh David also pleaded like Moses. ‘Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth (hand span); and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity (vapour). Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew (as a shadow): surely they are disquieted in vain (make an uproar over nothing): he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.’ (Ps. 39:4-7) 

And that last phrase ‘my hope is in thee,’ is the most important one of our Christian journey my fellow believers! If we don’t know or think of anything else, we must always remember that our hope is indeed in the great God Jehovah; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! That’s where all our trust and faith must lie, regardless of what happens to us ,where we go, or what we do! Christ, the Son of the Living God must always be first place in our lives, and knowing that, we can carry any and every problem we have to Him for a just resolution. That’s His promise, and he never reneges on any of His promises. 

Now that’s another useful thing for us to know and believe. So what’s it all about to day eh? To tell the truth, I really don’t know; (smile) I’ve just been going where I believe I was led. But it all seems to revolve around the fact that our time on God’s good earth is relatively short, and consequently we cannot afford to waste it in pursuing inconsequential matters. Therefore, whatever we desire to do, or that God desires us to do, we need to get up RIGHT NOW and begin doing it!  Let’s not waste another moment of our invaluable time on Mother Earth!  And having said that, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant seeking divine help to initiate it. 

Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough…   because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. 

And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

And interestingly enough, the answer to our prayer is found right in our prayer; ‘the example that we your faithful believers set.’ Yes friends, until we begin setting a good example to those around us, divine help will not be forthcoming. Much LOVE!

…time is not meant to be wasted…but to be used productively…in God’s work…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ  

Today’s Scrip-Bit   28 October 2022   1 Timothy 4:7.

28 Oct 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1 Timothy 4:7.        But refuse (reject) profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Finally, at long last, it’s Friday, the day we all look forward to, because it means the end of our work week and all the frustrations and problems making a living in this crazy, strife-filled world tend to cause. That’s why this shout is heard all around the world on a Friday. ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend is finally at hand. No more labour for two whole big days. Wow!’ 

And we all note the sarcasm in the last sentence. What an entitled and ungrateful society we’ve become, lacking work ethic and responsibility. We want to live a good life, with all the amenities available but don’t want work or do what’s necessary to provide them. It’s like the saying goes; we want what others have but don’t want to do what they did to get it. And the sad part is that Jesus told us so clearly that running down the things of the world is counter-productive, because the same basic things are available through belief in Him and His heavenly Father, plus with them, you’ll also gain life eternal, while with Satan it’s eternal death. 

What don’t we understand about: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) If you trust and rely on God, He will provide you with all the basic necessities of life, just like He does for the birds, the bees, the flowers and all His other creations. You are His most wonderful and adored creation, so if He provides all the lesser creations need to survive and thrive, why will He refuse to do the same for his most prized creation eh? No reason whatsoever! 

But we foolishly allow the devil to tempt us into running down the things of the world, because they seem glamorous and glitter like gold, allowing him to sow doubt in our minds about the goodness and grace of God. But as a true believer, that is one thing you should never doubt because if you’ve spent any time at all under His umbrella, you’ll have certainly seen several instances of His grace and mercy. However, unfortunately, it’s only with experience, length of time you spend with someone, that you truly get to know them. 

And that’s how it is also with our great and generous God; the more time you spend with Him, the better you get to know Him, and thus come to appreciate all his many marvellous attributes. Then you will see the lack of wisdom involved in following the deceitful, and treacherous devil, who only comes to steal and destroy, while Jesus came to save us, to give us life in abundance, so much so that it will overflow. (John 10:10) 

That’s why Bruh Paul in his first letter to Timothy, his young preacher associate, so seriously warned him against the things of the world. ‘But refuse (reject) profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come.’ (1 Tim. 4:7-8) 

And that certainly is good advice! For as the scholars tell us: ‘We may read the verse (7), “But avoid profane and fabricated myths, and exercise yourself to be godly.” These false doctrines called “myths” are described as “profane” because they promote ungodliness, and “fabricated” because they – like modern day soap operas – are silly and flighty in character. Not only must Timothy avoid false teaching, he must spare himself no pain and effort to be pious. Godliness does not come automatically. To attain holiness he must be diligent in prayer, Bible study, obedience, fellowshipping with other believers, and Christian service.’ 

And my fellow believers nothing has changed in that department. We still need to be diligent in our obedience, duty, fellowshipping, prayer, and Bible study time, for that’s the only way we can ever truly know the heart, desires and will of our majestic and LOVING God. And I’m sure the scholars’ belittling of soap operas won’t sit well with some of you soap opera diehards, but it’s the truth. They don’t promote anything but resentment, deceit and a flighty, worldly lifestyle. 

That brings us to the scholars comment on verse 8 above. They say: ‘The verse may be paraphrased, “For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness the result of spiritual exercise, has unlimited values, since it brings blessings for both now and eternity.’ Oh my people, what a way our world would be wonderfully improved if some of us would spend just a li’l less time on bodily exercise and use that saved time instead in spiritual improvement. 

The thiefing gyms and exercise palaces are full to overflowing every day, meanwhile the churches sit empty. What does that say about us eh? Simply that we regard and appreciate our frail, fragile earthly bodies more than we do our omnipotent Creator. And that obviously doesn’t bode well for our society in the long term, because without godly vision and practices, a society flounders and eventually fails. And unfortunately, we’re currently seeing and experiencing that tell-tale floundering in our mish-mash, ungodly world. 

However, it’s not too late to make a change, a change for the better, but it all begins with sincere prayer. So, if you’re sincere about trying to improve the world for our descendants, then please join me in offering up our Friday Chant to a waiting heaven. As one voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the several viruses and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix it on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help. 

Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the viruses and the simmering unrest in our land. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks. 

And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic, the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land that’s threatening to boil over, as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

Now, my fellow believers, let’s get busy with all the things we need to do if we’re going to improve our world, as soon as possible. Much LOVE!

…worldly pleasures last but for a moment…but godliness gives grace for eternity… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ      

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 January 2016 John 3:16‏‏‏

22 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 3:16.  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.

And as the world turns my people, it has finally turned to Friday… 

And that simple remark brings forth all kinds of joyful shouting: ‘Oh TGIF! Thank the Lord it’s Friday! The weekend’s here! Mama Yo! The good times are here at last! Party fuh so mih breddren! Thank You yes Lord that Friday has rolled around at last! No more of the evil massa and his backbreaking work for a couple days. Thank You again Lord!’ 

Yes Friends, it’s certainly interesting what comments a Friday can elicit from the work force. And some of them are truly genuine, though many still use it as an excuse to just party. 

But we know that’s not the main reason for the brief respite from labour, so let’s chant our Friday Chant which gives us a better perspective on the situation. 

In unison and harmony 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, the weekend is also a time for rest and relaxation and fellowship with other believers, so that we can go back out revitalized and do God’s work with energy and enthusiasm. In this sinful and godless world though, we sadly use it for all sorts of other nefarious purposes. 

But a word of warning friends; please remember that the Lord is watching, and in due course, He will do whatever He thinks is necessary to correct the situation. 

Now let’s turn to our Bit, that most awesome, auspicious and momentous piece of scripture which shows how much our magnificent God truly cared, and still cares for us, despite our lacklustre approach to Him. 

‘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.’ 

Oh my brethren, after hearing such caring and compassionate words, how can we not have a soft spot in our heart for our wonderful Creator eh? I really don’t know nuh. I guess it depends on whether you believe them or not. 

But as for me and mine, we will believe them and follow the Lord to the ends of the earth! Such a magnanimous and generous God deserves to be followed any and everywhere! 

Now listen to this scripture that enhances that picture. It comes from Bruh Paul’s missive to the Ephesians and it deals with two huge motivating factors in the Christian’s life; grace and faith. 

‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great LOVE wherewith he LOVED us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are (have been) saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:’ (Eph.2:4-6) 

Oh Friends, what a wonderful Deity we serve and worship! Which other supposed deity has ever sacrificed their only Son on behalf of their followers eh? NONE, my people, NONE whatsoever! 

And not only that, in our sinfulness He has also raised us up to sit in heavenly places with Him and His resurrected Son. Oh glory to God for His undeserved goodness to the undeserving children of men! 

And here are some useful explanations from the scholars. ‘2:4-6. But begins to disclose God’s response to man’s sin of verses 1-3. This divine response is expressed in three main verbs: 

(1) God…hath quickened us. Because they were morally dead in sins, the Lord gave them spiritual life; 

(2) and hath raised us up together, that is God has not allowed those Christians to remain in the grave of their old life with its sinful ways and habits, but He brought them into a new life and demonstration of it; and 

(3) God made us sit together in heavenly places, that is, He has brought us into His presence and into an intimate relationship with Himself.’ 

And if that isn’t stuff to sing and shout about, to be everlastingly thankful and grateful for, then I don’t know what is nuh mih breddren! 

And why you ask, did God do all of that for a bunch of ungrateful sinners? The Good Book answers that question. ‘That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through (in) Christ Jesus.’ (Eph.2:7) Wow! What a truly magnanimous Deity! 

The scholars explain that verse thus: ‘2:7. That …he might show (or, demonstrate): This denotes the ultimate purpose for all that God did for the Ephesians in verses 4-6. It is that throughout eternity He might make us understand more and more His goodness to us.’ 

And friends, if he did it for the Ephesians, He also wants to do it for us. However, we have to surrender ourselves to Him, so that He can work in our lives. We can’t fight against Him, otherwise His efforts will all be in vain. 

So please, let’s be wise and spend some time today pondering our relationship with our Maker nuh. There can be no wiser use of our time than that. Much LOVE!

…spending time with God…is the BEST use of our time…