06 Aug 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: and not faint, at noon, aura of love, blessings, Caribana Monday, cast thy burden upon the Lord, Christians, come together, confidence, cry aloud, disobedience, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, evening, faith, fears, foolishness, give up on prayer, glorious kingdom, grace, Granny's warning, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, ill-will, in every thing give thanks, invincible, Jesus Christ, Jesus spake a parabble, joy, keep God close, lies, lose heart, LOVE, marrow to our bones, mature believers, men ought always to pray, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, morning, negative consequences, parable, peace, petty differences, pray without ceasing, put aside, raising our song to heaven, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., salvation, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, take them to heart, the Father's listening ears, the will of God, trust, ungodly world, victories, will I pray, wisdom
Luke 18:1. And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).
And then it was Caribana Monday… Oh I’ve been calling it Caribana all weekend, but that’s no longer the official title nuh since the original committee was stripped of the authority to put on the festival a few years ago, and they ended up in court over the name.
Don’t ask me what the official name is nuh, because I don’t know, and don’t particularly want to know either. (smile) History will always call this weekend, what it’s supposed to be called: Caribana! End of story.
And by the way it’s not a Federally instigated holiday, but a local government proclamation, so it’s mostly the banks and government offices that are closed, meaning that a lot of folks still have to get up and go out to work, while a blessed few are able to stay home or go out to the numerous parties around the place.
That means there will obviously be some ill will between the two groups, but as mature believers I’m sure we can put our petty differences aside and come together to sing out our Monday Morning Battle Hymn which will energize and refresh all of us, because we’re all tired from participating in the weekend’s festivities So whether you’re going to work or have the day off, let’s concentrate on raising our song to heaven and the Father’s listening ears.
Altogether 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!’
And now we’re all ready and rearing to go out and do Jesus’ work! Wow! How invigorating and refreshing is sincere prayer! You just can’t beat it for restoring the doldrums in our souls. That’s why Jesus gave this strong advice in our Bit. ‘And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).
Yes my breddren, we ought never to lose heart, to give up on prayer and our faithful, omnipotent and gracious God! That’s because prayer lends sustenance to our souls and our spirits. No wonder Bruh Paul also told us to ‘pray without ceasing.’ (1 Thess.5:17) That means to lend ourselves continually to prayer.
And it’s not like we’re supposed to walk around praying audibly every minute of every day, but we ought to be in a godly space most of the time. That’s a place where God is more on our minds than He is not. Where we don’t do stuff, or make decisions without consulting Him. Where we share our fears and hopes, and thank Him for even the small victories that we have as we journey through each day.
Bruh Paul said that too: ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess.5:18) So whether the times are good or the times are rough, we need to keep a good prayerful, thankful attitude. The important thing is to keep God close at hand, let Him be an integral part of our everyday lives, the way He desires to be.
Oh, and for those of you who will be in the party scene today, please remember Granny’s wise words: ‘Sonny boy, drunk or sober mind yuh business.’ And I know some of you think it’s foolishness, but if we’re truthful, we can all look back at some particular time(s) and genuinely wish that we had followed it, because of the negative consequences we’ve suffered, or might still be suffering for our disobedience.
And we’ll close this Caribana Monday morning with some appropriate words from Bruh David. ‘As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice…. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit) the righteous to be moved (shaken).’ (Ps.55:16-17,22)
Truer words were never spoken friends. So let’s be wise and take them to heart nuh, they will be marrow to our bones (strength to our souls). Much LOVE!
…as believers…we ought to spend more time in simple prayer…and the giving of thanks for small mercies…
30 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adversity, almighty god, anxiety, aura of love, calamities, Christians, climate change, confidence, Creator of the universe, dictatorial leanings, economic upheaval, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, fellowship, flurry of leaders, friends, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, grace, happy, heat waves, hope, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, lies, LOVE, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, peace, raises up, record-breaking weather, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteousness., salvation, sex abuse, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strife, surrender to Christ, the god of Jacob, the Lord upholds all that fall, those that are bowed down, transgender issues, trust, truth, ungodly world, was, wildfires, wisdom, worry
Psalm 145:14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
Well friends, what’s next eh? Let’s ignore war and strife, as well as economic upheaval, poverty and sickness, for those seem to be staples of our modern supposedly prosperous society. This year we’ve already had record-breaking cold weather and winter storms and we’re now in the midst of record-breaking heat waves all over the world.
There’s also extensive drought. But on the other hand, we have excessive rainfall and breaking dams that cause terrible flooding, with ongoing dangerous volcano activity, not to mention the spate of deadly wildfires wreaking havoc around the globe. What else is on the agenda eh? Oh hurricanes and tornadoes! They haven’t set in seriously as yet. But be sure they will come around eventually.
And when you add to all that the flurry of leaders coming to power with definite dictatorial leanings, who insist that climate change is not a factor in our ongoing adversity, it doesn’t augur well for our world. Oh, and don’t forget sex abuse and transgender issues; the new kids on the block. Hn! I don’t know if Mother Earth has ever been in such a sad state.
But yuh know what mih breddren? Be all of that as it may, the most important thing to remember is that Almighty God, the Creator and Controller of the universe is still on His throne and NOTHING will happen unless it fits into His overall plan. And that plan is a wonderful one, especially for those who trust and surrender their lives to Him, through the auspices of His Son, Jesus Christ!
So if you are one of those wise and blessed people, you won’t allow the calamities our world is currently experiencing to drive you crazy with worry and anxiety. However though, some of us are definitely disturbed by the fact that it’s Monday and we have to get up to go to work. Our minds and bodies just don’t seem up to the task.
But don’t worry, as followers of Jesus, we have the right antidote for that disturbing Monday morning feeling. We call it our Monday Morning Battle Hymn! So let’s raise it up to heaven and allow the Father to uplift our souls and spirits in return.
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!’
Yes friends, I know your spirits have been uplifted! I can see the new gleam in your eyes and the aura of confidence that’s now being exhibited in your body language. (smile) So let’s go out and do whatever we have to do for Jesus nuh, with diligence and excellence, as is our bounden duty.
And as we go, let’s write these immortal words of Bruh David deep and indelibly in our hearts, so that they can help to keep our faith strong. ‘The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.’
Oh my people, that’s no lie! And we have a good example of that in Bruh David himself. Whenever adversity came against him and his spirit plummeted, the Lord always lifted him up. But that’s because he cultivated a good, constant relationship with God, and thus could cry out to Him for help. And the Lord will do the same for us if we stay close to Him and cry out for help in our time of trouble and confusion.
Remember what Jesus said, that He came to save those who were lost, to help the sick and suffering, the poor and needy. So anytime you fall into one of those categories, be assured that Jesus will be there to help you. And as He said again in His Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Friends, there will NEVER be a better or more sincere invitation than that! And there’s absolutely no need to worry about if Jesus will keep His word. Just look at what He has already done for us nuh; sacrificed His sinless life so that we could be saved from our sins. Why would He then turn us away after that eh? It would just be negating all His sacrifices.
And the psalmist puts it this way: ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God…Which executeth judgement (justice) for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth (gives freedom to) the prisoners. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord LOVETH the righteous.’ (Ps.146:5,7-8)
Of all of that stuff there is no doubt my fellow believers! Consequently, it is of the utmost importance for us to get thoroughly acquainted with God, so that we won’t wallow in the mire of life for too long. Much LOVE!
…whether you’re on your knees in prayer…or have fallen from grace…the Lord will always lift you up…you just have to sincerely call on Him…
23 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anger, anxiety, aura of love, blessings, confidence, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, fear, fellowship, forgiveness, friends, frustration, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God saw everything, grace, helplessness, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, it was very good, Jesus Christ, Jesus' awesome help, joy, lies, LOVE, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, only true answer, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, righteousness., salvation, sense of peace, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the evening, the morning, the sixth dayrat race, truth, ungodly world, wisdom
Genesis 1:31. And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Get with it nuh friends, please get with it! I’m talking about the Monday rat race that we call work and which we can only win with Jesus’ awesome help! Nothing the world has to offer will allow you to run that race with a strong sense of joy, peace and LOVE! Jesus is the ONLY TRUE ANSWER to all the fear, frustration, anxiety, anger and sense of helplessness that our crazy and bizarre world tends to create in us.
And to prove the truth of our words, if this morning you are plagued by any of those negative sentiments and/or emotions listed above, just join with us as we sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, and you’ll see the incredible difference it makes in no time at all. So let’s sing as enthusiastically and emphatically as we can.
‘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!’
Wow mih breddren wow! Yuh see how yuh spirit has been lifted and the adrenaline is coursing through your veins, waking the sleeping giant in you? And it’s all because of the incredible power of prayer, on the basis of what Jesus has done; the selfless sacrifice He made on the cross at Calvary, and with Him now sitting at the Father’s right hand interceding for you any time you call out for help!
Glory be, mih people! What a wonderful situation we believers have! No other faith can make the claims that we can, or enjoy the privileges and blessings, the mercy, grace and forgiveness bestowed on us by our magnificent and magnanimous Creator!
So it’s only right to celebrate His omnipotence and wisdom in the creation of nature, in the dazzling, mind blowing brilliance of His universe with the same Bit from yesterday. ‘And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.’
And as we said yesterday, what else could we expect from such an awesome God eh? Nothing but awe inspiring work! And we’ll continue looking at scriptures today that highlight the wonders of nature and the universe. Listen to Cousin Sol as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes.
‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…A time to LOVE, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace… I have seen the travail (task or endeavour), which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it (with which to be occupied).
He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world (eternity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh (does) from the beginning to the end.’ (Eccl.3:1, 8, 10-11)
Yeh friends God didn’t just make the world for something to do, their was a purpose and a plan behind it; He had a ‘sovereign design behind all events.’ He made beautiful things for us to enjoy, but He also placed the longing for eternity in every heart, so that we cannot be satisfied with the things of the earth, but need those of heaven. We need heavenly things to fill that empty space He left for just such a time and purpose. (smile)
And Psalm 148 – All creation to praise the Lord – is just a masterpiece in recalling God’s work and the obligation that ALL of His creations have to praise, worship and adore Him. Here are just a few excerpts as to whom should be praising the Lord.
‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah): Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights… all his angels…all his hosts…sun and moon…stars of light…heavens of heavens…waters that be above the heavens…Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons (sea creatures), and all deeps: Fire, and hail: snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent (exalted); his glory is above the earth and heaven.’ (Ps.148:1-4, 7-13)
Yes friends that’s just how it ought to be! So let’s get with the programme nuh, so that we can fill up that empty space in our hearts meant for God. That’s wisdom to the nth degree! Much LOVE!
…ALL of God’s creation…are obliged to give Him praise…to exalt His Holy Name…
16 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to thy word, adrenaline, asaph, aura of love, be merciful unto me, confidence, draw near to God, enjoy the time, enthusiasm, everlasting proportions, faith, favour, friends, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, God is the strength of my heart, grace, gracious, holy spirit, hope, Horatio Spafford, hot and humid, humble servants, I entreated thy favour, inheritance, invincible, it is good, it is well with my soul, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, level of faith, lies, logic dictate, LOVE, magnanimous god, merciful God, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my flesh and my heart faileth, my portion for ever, my whole heart, our very existence, poignant words, put my trust in the Lord God, raison d'etre, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, saith my soul, salvation, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, sufferation, summertime blues, taunts, the cold descends, the Lord is my portion, the Lord of hosts, the maker of all things, the portion of jacob, this is the day the Lord has made, tribe, trust, truth, ungodly world, vengeance, we will rejoice and be glad in it, wiles, will I hope in him, wisdom
Lamentations 3:24. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him.
Oh yes mih people, it’s a hot and humid Monday…but that’s no excuse to have the Monday summertime blues! Definitely not! Just think ahead for a moment; just think how we’ll be dying for, just begging the Lord for this same kind of weather in the next few months nuh, when the cold descends upon us with a determined vengeance. (smile)
So please, let’s get with the programme nuh, let’s enjoy the time, enjoy each and every minute we’ve been granted down here on earth in this crazy summertime of 2018. Instead, let’s emphatically and joyfully declare like the psalmist did so long ago: ‘This is the day the Lord has made we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’
Wow mih breddren! That’s the kind of attitude and approach our gracious and merciful God wants to hear us adopt. But just in case you can’t chase away those Monday summertime blues all on your own, then let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, the true antidote for just such an ailment.
As loud and as enthusiastically as we can 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!’
And do words of sincere prayer ever raise the adrenaline levels in our souls my people! There is nothing else like, or as effective as it, in this whole wide world. No wonder Cousin Jerry, despite all his ‘sufferation’ could confidently declare in our Bit: ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him.’
And the psalmist Asaph concurs with Jerry, as he confidently proclaims: ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ (Ps.73:25-26)
Oh my fellow believers, are we able to declare those kinds of statements as emphatically as Asaph? I certainly hope so. But if we can’t just yet, then it’s something we should be working very diligently towards. As I read those words it reminded me of Horatio Spafford, the fellow who wrote our yesterday hymn, ‘It is well with my soul.’
He had to have had that kind of and level of faith to be able to pen those immortal and poignant words after experiencing so much tragedy in his life. And the writer of Psalm 119 puts it this way. ‘Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.’ (Ps.119:57-58)
Of course our great, wonderful and magnanimous God will be merciful to us if we sincerely offer our whole heart to Him, for that’s what He’s all about: magnanimity and mercy! But we have to give Him our all, not just a part that we figure we can’t handle.
And Cousin Jerry puts it thus earlier on. ‘The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former (maker) of all things; and Israel is the rod (tribe) of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.’ (Jer.10:16)
Glory be my fellow believers! And through the auspices and sacrifices of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we have been made a member of God’s tribe, we also are a part of His inheritance! What a blessed inheritance! Please, let’s make the most of it nuh, don’t throw it away and waste Jesus’ awesome sacrifice on our behalf.
And we’ll close with these immortal and oh so encouraging words of the psalmist Asaph. ‘But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps.73:28) That’s wisdom of everlasting proportions my brethren! Please, I implore us to seriously embrace it. Much LOVE!
…wisdom and logic both dictate…that drawing close to our Maker…is our raison d’etre…the reason for our very existence…
02 Jul 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abide in my love, adrenaline, all men shall know, aura of love, bear good fruit, Canada Day, celebrations, celebratory times, Christians, commandments, complaining, confidence, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, faith, friends, frightened way, Granny's warning, grievous, harmful, holy spirit, hot summer's day, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, keep my commandments, keeping Jesus' word, know them by their fruits, lackadaisical, lies, long weekend, LOVE, LOVE one another, meet the enemy in battle, miserable, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Monday Morning Blues, much needed sleep, obey, poetic liberty, precautions, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, shame-faced, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, taunts, to the max, trust, truth, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, ye are my disciples, your joy might be full
John 15:10. If ye keep my commandments; ye shall abide in my LOVE; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his LOVE.
And then it was Monday; another hot summer’s day in this Canada Day long weekend! Wow friends! We’re celebrating 151 years of Canada’s existence! Granted that’s a short time in comparison to other countries, but we’re certainly doing it with a flair all our very own. No set of copy-cat ideas, be they good, bad or indifferent.
Anyway, the celebrations will be ramped up to the max today, and before we go any further, let’s just be reminded of Granny’s warning; Sonny boy, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business! And is that ever a wise warning, because if you don’t mind your business, somebody else will mind it for you, and you don’t know what they will do to it. So please take serious precautions during these celebratory times.
And since it’s Monday, it means that some people have to go to work…not us in Canada though! Praise the Lord! It also means that some people are miserable and complaining, so let’s trot out our Monday Morning Battle Hymn and sing it with gusto, to quell all those Monday morning blues.
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!’
And as always, the voices of those who aren’t going to work are the loudest and most enthusiastic, but also hoarse and somewhat hard to understand from the effects of too much celebrating. But be that as it may, I believe that all of us can benefit from the burst of adrenaline that our song produced, so let’s get a grip and just go out and serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the best of our ability nuh, because that’s all He asks of us.
As He said to the disciples, and consequently to us: ‘If ye keep my commandments; ye shall abide in my LOVE; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his LOVE.’ Yes friends, it’s simple; to do Jesus work, we need to keep His commandments. And they are neither grievous nor harmful.
Then He continues: ‘These things have I spoken unto you; that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ (John 15:11) Yuh see mih people, when we keep Jesus commands, we are filled with joy! Wow! So why don’t we do it eh? Is it perhaps that we don’t like the joy of the Spirit that keeping Jesus’ word provides? Who knows?
Then He told them: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:12-14)
Glory be mih breddren! We become Jesus’ friend when we obey His commandments…and even better than that He is the ‘BESTEST’ friend that ever existed, because He laid down His life for us! It couldn’t get any better than that!
And please note what Jesus told the disciples earlier on. ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.’ (John 13: 34) That makes twice He declared that our LOVE for each other was ever so important. And why? ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:35)
And Jesus pounded it into their heads even further: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained (appointed) you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye LOVE one another.’ (John 15:16-17)
And they did LOVE one another as best they could, and went forth and brought forth good fruit, that’s why we know Jesus’ words now. Ah mih people, how often does Jesus have to remind us that we are His disciples, He chose us, not the other way around, and we are supposed to go out and bear good fruit for His name’s sake eh? And not the lackadaisical, frightened and shame-faced way that so many of us do it, when we do it.
Remember friends, we all have to answer come the Big Day for what we did down here on earth. So it will be wise to get a move on and improve our planting and fruit bearing seasons. Much LOVE!
…they shall know them by their fruits…Christians that is…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit. I took a li’l poetic liberty (smile) and got some much needed sleep. Much LOVE!
25 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, alive and kicking, antichrist, apostolic witness, aura of love, beset, born of God, Calvary, Christians, chugging along, confidence, do battle for Christ, enthusiasm, error, evil, evil cohorts, friends, glorious kingdom, Glory be, glory hallelujah, greater is he that's in you, hard working, he that is in the world, heartwarming, holy spirit, humble servants, inaccurate teaching, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lazing around at home, learn the truth, lies, little children, LOVE, Lucifer, meditate, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, more positive side, negative circumstances, on the right track, our Lord and Saviour, peace, prince of darkness, read, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, rewarding, salvation, spirit of truth, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, study, talk to about Christ, taunts, thanks and praise, the li'l engine that could, the New testament, the Spirit of Christ, the truth of God, the Word of god, trust, truth, uneventful, ungodly world, victory, wiles, wisdom, ye are of God, ye have overcome them
1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and ye have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Well a good Monday morning to all you hard working Christian folks out there! I do hope that your trip to work was uneventful; uneventful in the sense that you encountered no negative circumstances. However, on the brighter and more positive side of things, you did encounter someone to talk to about Christ.
Oh mih people, mih people, how heartwarming and rewarding it is when we can talk to someone about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, especially so early on a Monday morning! Glory be! It just lifts our spirits and has us confidently chugging along like the li’l engine that could, beaming from ear to ear, because we’ve successfully brought Jesus to the forefront on this the first day of the work week. (smile)
It certainly makes us feel like we’re on the right track. But however, if we weren’t that blessed, and we’re still in a sour and miserable state of mind, then let’s sing together our sure antidote for our Monday morning ills. We call it, most appropriately, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, because we are indeed going out to do battle for Christ!
Altogether now, with good enthusiasm nuh, seeing that we’re thankful for still being alive and kicking, even though we’d rather be lazing around at home.
‘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!’
Ah friends, I can hear you all breathe a huge sigh of relief and feel your spirits lift considerably having sung our Battle Hymn. Now let’s keep the adrenaline flowing nuh, as we face a day beset roundabout by the enemy and all his evil cohorts.
For remember the words of John, when he reminded believers about the spirit of the antichrist, which was around even then, spreading false teachings, and which is even more rampant in our world today. ‘Ye are of God, little children, and ye have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’
Yes friends, Jesus Christ is greater than the prince of darkness, the prince of this world. The scholars explain it thus: ‘4:4. Christ indwells believers; Satan is likewise the lord of his own followers. But Christ is greater than he who wreaks havoc in the world. Have overcome is in the perfect tense, stressing the abiding nature of their victory. Their strength lies in the fact that they are (born) of God.’
And my faithful breddren the very same thing applies to us today; we are born of God, and thus the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, making us able to overcome Lucifer and his evil cohorts, and having the continuing victory that Christ won at Calvary! Glory to God my people! Give Him some thanks and praise nuh!
And John continues to enlighten us: ‘They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.’ (1 John 4:5-6)
And the scholars explain: ‘4:5. They refers to all who are ruled by the spirit of the antichrist. The world finds their teaching more appealing than the truth of God.’
‘4:6. Those who acknowledge the truth of the apostolic (New Testament) witness to Christ will recognize and conform to the teaching John is presenting. Those who do not are animated by a common and unifying spirit of error. John warns his readers against this spirit by contrasting their false views of Christ with the views that he, a personal follower and witness of Christ, proclaims.’
Well friends, it does seem logical that if John was a personal witness and follower of Christ that his story would most likely be the truer one. So please, let’s be careful of all the crazy, false and inaccurate teaching that is floating around today. And the only way we can do that successfully is by knowing what the Word of God says. That means we need to consistently read, study and meditate on it. So let’s get to it nuh! (smile) Much LOVE!
…you cannot know truth from error…until you learn truth…
18 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a joyful mother of children, aura of love, barbecue, cause the barren woman, come back to his fold, compassion, confidence, cycle of work, deliverer, enthusiasm, fakes, Father's Day, foolish men, form the rising of the sun, friends, glory hallelujah, go round the mulberry bush, high in the heavens, holy spirit, humble servants, humbles himself, idols, imaginations, in times of need, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, keep house, lies, lifts the needy, living truth, LOVE, mere mortals, nobody, one and only God, our fortress, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, out of the dunghill, out of the dust, praise the name of the Lord, Praise ye the Lord, prodigal children, raises the poor, refuge, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, salvation, servants of the lord, set him with princes, shout Hallelujah, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, stronghold, taunts, to the going down of the same, trust, truth, ungodly world, who is like the Lord, wiles, wisdom, work week
Psalm 113:1. Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise (shout Hallelujah!), O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
Sing it with me friends: ‘Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush. Here we go round the mulberry bush, once more on a Monday morning!’
Yeh mih people, it’s a new work week and that beautiful day Monday, which takes so much heat and dislike because it just happens to begin another cycle of work. And I can imagine how many of us are tired and worn out after yesterday’s hectic Father’s Day celebrations.
Thankfully mine was quiet, just a simple family gathering. And the amusing part is that yesterday was a scorcher, so we turned on the A/C then sat outside and barbecued and ate out there too. The barbecue must have been extremely happy to know that it could still work, having sat on the deck unused for all of last winter and most of last summer too.
Anyway, let’s get a move on by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, our antidote for whatever is bothering us this Monday morning. As one strong voice now: Hn, hn!
‘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!’
Ah mih breddren, that just lifts a weight off of our shoulders and replaces it with the peace and joy of Jesus! Glory be to His most Holy Name! The name that all knees will eventually bow to, and all voices declare that He is Lord, to the awesome glory of God the Father!
And to honour our great and amazing, LOVING, gracious, merciful and forgiving God, we have the opening verse of Psalm 113 – God’s mercies are many – as our Bit for today! ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). Praise (shout Hallelujah!), O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.’
And why shouldn’t we eh, for He is indeed a great God; in fact the ONE and ONLY God there is! All other supposed gods are merely fakes, idols and the imaginations of foolish men. Listen to how the psalmist continues: ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.’ (Ps.113:2-3)
And isn’t that the living truth my people! The Lord’s name ought to be praised from sun up to sun down because He’s such an awesome Being, especially where we mortals are concerned! Hear the psalmist again: ‘The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!’ (Ps.113:4-6)
And the simple answer to all of that my faithful breddren is ‘NOBODY whatsoever!’ That’s because no other dead or living being can do the things He does or has the compassion for us mere mortals like He has.
And the psalmist kindly informs us: ‘He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill (the ash heap); That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh (causes) the barren (childless) woman to keep house (dwell in a home), and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.’ (Ps.113:7-9)
Oh my people, my people, what a great and awesome God we serve! And if we were to sing of all the things that He truly does for us poor mortals, we wouldn’t have enough time in a day.
But let it suffice that He is indeed mighty, our fortress, our stronghold, our refuge in times of need, and our deliverer in the person of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Praise ye the Lord my brethren! Blessed be His Holy Name! Much LOVE!
…to whom should we offer praises…to the one who created us…still LOVES us…and wants us to come back to His fold…like prodigal children…
11 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a wise man, adrenaline, antidote, antipathy, aura of love, beauty, Behold, Big Island, blameless, brethren to dwell in unity, brotherly LOVE, changing our thoughts, Christ's Church, Christians, civil court, Colorado, come to Christ, confidence, disputing, disunity, entertain stranger, entertained angels, enthusiasm, feuds, figment of our imagination, friends, goes to the law, Great War, greed, grumbling, Hawaii, holy spirit, hostility, how good and pleasant, humble servants, innocent, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lies, life in london, litigation, living the good life, LOVE, mitigate, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, murmurings, natural disasters, peace, perverse nation, power hungry, prayer, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, running rampant, salvation, selfish desire, shame, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strife, taunts, the life of the idle rich, truth, ungodly world, unity, volcano, West Indian colloquialism, wildfires, wiles, wisdom, wiser heads prevail
Psalm 133:1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Oh my, my, it’s Monday! And though I went to bed pretty late, around 3, I still can’t believe that I’m only now getting up, after nine. Brother, some of us are surely living a life in London yes! (smile) For those of you who don’t know that term, it’s a West Indian colloquialism for living the good life, the life of the idle rich.
But on a more serious note, let’s hope that the beauty of this June Monday caused many of you who were up early to go to work, to mitigate your hostility towards the day. Ahhh friends! Beauty has such a way of changing our thoughts and feelings towards things we otherwise don’t truly appreciate. (smile) In any case, let’s belt out our antidote for our antipathy towards Monday, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn.
Altogether now, in strong voice and sincere enthusiasm: ‘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!’
Yeh friends, hope the adrenaline has taken over and all our antipathy towards Monday has disappeared, evaporated like vapour. Miracles do happen. (smile) But yuh know what, our world still remains the same place it was yesterday, with senseless feuds between countries and leaders, cowardly terrorism killing innocent people for their own selfish motives, disunity between Christ’s church and natural disasters creating havoc in our daily lives.
It seems that the volcano on Big Island, Hawaii had a small explosion and rained ash all over the surrounding area, and the wildfire in Colorado is continuing its unruly, uncontrollable ways. Oh friends, I don’t think there has ever been a time when prayer and unity were ever more important in our world than today.
All the supposed Great Wars will seem rather insignificant to the next Great One, if and when it ever breaks out. Let’s hope and pray for our sakes, as well as those of our children and their children that cooler and wiser heads prevail, and the next Great War remains nothing but a figment of our imagination.
And though we’ve recently used this passage of scripture as our Bit, I believe our situation is so serious that we need to be reminded of it again. ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’
Yes my people, Bruh David hit the nail on the head when he wrote those immortal words. But that doesn’t seem to be the way it is today, in our individual families, our churches, our nations and the world as a whole. Strife, greed, power hunger and selfish desire are instead running rampant all over.
Remember how Bruh Paul admonished the Corinthians. ‘I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? Now brother goeth to the law with brother, and that before unbelievers.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault (an utter failure) among you, because ye go to the law one with another. Why do ye not rather take (accept) wrong? Why do ye not suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that (to) your brethren.’ (1 Cor.6:5-8)
Oh I know the church no longer holds such sway in justice matters, but nonetheless too many of us, Christian family members are ending up in litigation, in civil court over matters that could be worked out if we would only resurrect the true Christian Spirit and take the time to pray sincerely over them.
Remember too Bruh Paul’s words to the church at Philippi as he talks about them being shining as lights in the world: ‘For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of (according to ) his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings (grumbling) and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons (children) of God, without rebuke (fault), in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as lights in the world.’ (Phil.2:13-15)
Oh my people, all of that basically means, if God is indeed guiding and leading us, then there should be no need for the strife and confusion amongst His people that exists today. And we have been placed IN the world, but not OF the world so that we can be bright and shining examples to the unbelievers.
We can only help the lost if we have some form of contact with them, letting our godly example override their ungodly one, so that they will eventually understand where their salvation truly lies and come to Christ. Otherwise, we are of no godly use in the world. Much LOVE!
…let brotherly LOVE continue…be nor forgetful to entertain strangers…for thereby some have entertained angels unawares… (Heb.13:1-2)
04 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, adventurous, antidote, attributes of deaity, aura of love, better is the poor, Christians, confidence, dalliances, deceitful, disciples, distrust, doubt, effort, enthusiasm, eternal life, faith, friends, fulfilling, glory to God, holy spirit, I am the way, image of Christ, inescapable, Jesus Christ, joy, led people astray, lies, light, LOVE, LOVE to hate, Monday blues, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, mysterious, no work no eat, peace, perverse, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rich, salt, salvation, same wavelength, seen the Father, show us the Father, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, take my word, talk, taunts, the enemy's ranks, the Life, the message, the New testament, the Trinity, the Truth, time, Triune God, trust, truth, try it, unbelievers, unfaithful, ungodly world, untrustworthy, uprightness, walk, walks in integrity, wiles, wisdom, wishy-washy, working for Jesus
Proverbs 28:6. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness (integrity), than he that is perverse (deceitful, unfaithful) in his ways, though he be rich.
And then it was Monday – the day that we all LOVE so much! Hn, hn! I guess though that the reality is more like LOVE to hate because it breaks up our nice, comfortable weekend dalliances. But look at it this way friends; if there was no Monday and no work, then there would be no weekend dalliances.
So although we don’t like going out to work on Monday, it’s just the way things are, and we might as well get used to it and plan for it in our weekly schedule. ‘Sunday – church – fellowship- renew Spirit: Monday – Work – will not get upset, since if I don’t work I won’t eat.’
But thankfully, we have an antidote for those Monday Blues and non-work feelings. It’s called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn and when we sing it out, it just resonates in every pore of our body and gets the adrenaline flowing like a mighty rushing river. (smile) So let’s belt it out now nuh with as much enthusiasm as we can muster.
‘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!’
Ah mih breddren, can you feel that mighty rushing river of adrenaline flowing through you now? Yes! I know you can! Now let’s get ourselves together and get out there and do God’s work; spread His gospel like He wants us to, and live lives of salt and light so that others might see and want to become like us.
Remember, it’s not so much the message, but even more so the image of Christ that we portray which brings people to Him. We can’t talk one thing then do something completely contrary to our talk. Both our talk and walk have to be on the same wavelength. And that’s one of the major reasons why unbelievers are turned off of Christians. Who can blame them eh?
That’s why Cousin Sol warns us in our Bit: ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness (integrity), than he that is perverse (deceitful, unfaithful) in his ways, though he be rich.’ And if we are true believers, we know that to be the awesome truth!
Integrity is ever so important in the life of a believer, because that’s what Jesus’ entire ministry is based on. He never led people astray, or told them one thing when it was another, and that’s what so badly needed in our Christian society today. One must be able to take whatever is said or done and be able to have faith and trust in it, otherwise all we’ll have is a wishy-washy, untrustworthy ministry like the world system.
And to show how easy it is for doubt and distrust to creep into our belief system, even for the disciples, who spent lots of time with Jesus personally. Hear their response to His telling them about going back to heaven to prepare a place for them
‘And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth (will satisfy) us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself (on my own authority): but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.’ (John 14:4-10)
Yeh friends, it’s not easy for many to accept, but once we’ve experienced Jesus, we have indeed experienced the Father. And the scholars have this interesting explanation of verse 9.
‘14:9. Seen me…seen the Father: There are no attributes of deity that the Son does not possess. This statement is most powerful. Everything that is true of God the Father is also true of the Son. The doctrine of the Trinity in the New Testament may be inscrutable (mysterious, hard to understand), but it is also inescapable.’
That means if you want to be a believer, you must deal with and eventually believe the doctrine of the Triune God, because it is just a basic foundation of the faith.
Ah friends, living and working for Jesus is not easy on any level, but when we put in the time and effort it takes, it can be such a wonderful, adventurous and fulfilling life. Don’t take my word for it, try it nuh. Much LOVE!
…once we have Jesus…we don’t need anything or anyone else…Glory to God…
28 May 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a long wait, a smile on my face, Alberto, asks for money, aura of love, best part of the story, beyond our understanding, blood tests, brething through my mouth, change our circumstances, declare God's greatness, glorious kingdom, God's awesome acts, great is the Lord, greatly to be praised, hard luck stories, healing progress, high noon, his greatness is unsearchable, humble servants, I can do all things, Jesus Christ, joy, joy in my heart, lies, LOVE, Lucky, Memorial Day, mental problems, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, more than I can bear, parched mouth. Milk of Magnesia taste, prayed the Lord's Prayer, raised both arms and face to heaven, reciting affirmations, regressed, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, salvation, shaking it rough, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, storms of life, the Lord won't give me, through Christ who strengthens me, tottered through the parking lot, tropical storm, truth, ungodly world, unpredictable God, wisdom, you need prayer
Psalm 145:3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable (beyond our understanding).
Sorry friends that the Bit’s this late, but the ole fella’s been shaking it rough. How so you ask? Well to start off, It seems like I’ve regressed some with my healing progress, because my nostrils are all blocked up again and I’m back to breathing through my mouth.
And believe me, that is not a very comfortable or inviting proposition, especially during the night when sleep is calling. That means I’m constantly up trying to unstick my dry and parched mouth so I can get some liquid in there to moisten it. Something preferably sweet, tasty and cold to cover up the chalky, Milk of Magnesia taste that currently envelops my mouth. Plain water moistens it, but it doesn’t mitigate the awful taste. Chuh blast!
Well having gone through that most undesirable task last night, I had to get up early to go and get some blood tests done for a couple of doctors. And one test in particular specified around 8.am. Now the lab is about five minutes from me, but it’s always busy, and if you don’t get there early, you’re in for a long wait.
And today was a good example of that. I got there at 7:10, and was already the thirteenth person waiting in line outside the building, which doesn’t open until 7.30. Now the lab opens at 7.45, so there was another set of waiting, or rather standing in line inside the building. And these days the ole fella doesn’t do standing very well, having already sat down on the curb while waiting outside. (smile)
So see me there, leaning against the wall, taking an occasional sip from my bottle of water to moisten my mouth, moving from foot to foot, from one side of the aisle to the other, reciting affirmations, like ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – The Lord will not give me more than I can bear.’ And faithfully, He did not. But I did not get out of there until ten to nine.
But our God is so wonderful and unpredictable and great, as Bruh David declares so proudly and truthfully in our Bit: ‘Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.’ And if you don’t believe Bruh David or me, when we say that, (smile) here comes the best part of the story to prove it.
As I came out of the building into the bright sunshine, who could I see standing at the side but Lucky – I’ve forgotten his right name – a strong, thirty something black man with mental problems who wanders around the neighbourhood. Whenever I see him, he usually asks for money, and I usually give him.
I hadn’t seen him for some time and when I saw him this morning, my first thought was ‘On no!’ I was in no mood for one of Lucky’s hard luck stories. (smile) But as I said, our God is great and wonderfully unpredictable. So as I tottered through the parking lot to my car, Lucky came up and said ‘You look sick. You need prayer.’
And much to my surprise, right in the middle of the parking lot, he raised both arms and his face to heaven and the rising sun and prayed the Lord’s Prayer over me in his harsh cigarette and weed encrusted voice. Obviously I was speechless, and could only tell him thanks as we went our separate ways, me with a smile on my face and a renewed joy in my heart at our unpredictable God. And he didn’t ask me for any money.
Oh! But the lab did ask for ninety dollars for one of the tests! Steups! After such an eventful period of time, I simply had to rest when I got home. And that’s why I’m here now finally writing at high noon. And though most of you who have to work are already at work, it’s never too late to prayer our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, because it causes our minds to concentrate on God, and the adrenaline to flow whenever we pray it.
So altogether 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!’
And some of the loudest voices were those from the U.S. who are today celebrating Memorial Day, a public holiday, in honour of their veterans. Sadly though, in the South East they are bundling up to receive Alberto, the first tropical storm of the season, who is trundling along at a mere ten miles per hour less than hurricane force. Let’s hope that it doesn’t get worse and doesn’t do too much damage, as well as keep them in our prayers.
Ah friends, as you can see from my experience, though our God might not change our circumstances or ease up our situations, He does provide sustenance in the storms of life, and productive, though sometimes very unpredictable ways to help us handle them. That’s why He is God! Never forget that! Much LOVE!
…and men shall speak of thy terrible (awesome) acts…and I will declare thy greatness… (Ps.145:6)
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