12 Oct 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: angels, another week of work, Beelzebub, boundaries, deny himself, each step I take, eaten by moths, emotional, energy, enjoy it, everlasting life, faithful promise, fall by the wayside, fellowship, fight too hard, for my sake, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's kingdom, gain the whole world, generous help, give in exchange, glory of his father, God the Father sealed, good omen, healthy enjoyment of life, household stuff, if any man serve me, imperishable, in Jesus name, innumerable difficulties, joie de vivre, labour not, let him follow me, lift your spirits, liquid, lose his life, lose his own soul, Lucifer, man hours, mass angry, modicum of circumspection, money wasted, my father will honour him, my servant shall be, natural work, perishable, physical, power, raise a toast, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, rewards, richly blessed, rush hour, safely through, save his life, set up shop, smart money on Jesus, stress and strain, take up his cross, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the inner man, the meat that endures, the meat which perisheth, the outer man, the Son of man, the traffic terrible, the weekend, the work hard, traffic jams, two days off, unproductive time, vengeful, we time to play, what is a man profited, where I am, wisdom, work oriented society, working folks, worldly treasures
John 12:26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
And then it was Friday, the day so many working folks look forward to! Yeh friends, because it means the end of another workweek is drawing nigh, and we’ll have a couple of days off to ourselves. Although, in this busy, work oriented society, weekends often mean more work, household stuff for those with young and growing families.
Ah Lord eh friends, I don’t know how some people do it five days a week, twice a day nuh! I’m talking about driving, or rather crawling in the constant traffic jams that pervade most big cities every day now. And more cars are being put on the already congested roads everyday, especially in our Province of Ontario, which is a car producing economy. So you can imagine the necessity to sell as many cars as possible.
We certainly can’t continue this way, for now there is no longer a set time for rush hour – rush hour is now all day long! Steups! Yesterday evening I got caught up in the supposed evening rush hour, and brother! Was it ever annoying! I didn’t get grumpy and angry, but did my hip and right foot ever hurt from the constant movement to gas and brakes. Chuh! I tried going a couple of different routes, but they all were backed up too.
I don’t know the solution to the problem nuh, but I’m sure this is not a good omen for our society. What are the great thinkers doing about it eh? I wouldn’t venture to number the amount of man hours and money that’s wasted by so many people spending so much unproductive time on the road, not to mention the stress and strain, both physical and emotional, it places on them.
But yuh know what? It’s Friday, and workingman is still blasting out his song regardless of the innumerable difficulties. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! The work hard…the traffic terrible…and the massa angry and vengeful…But this is the weekend…we time to play! And play we will! Nobody going to stop we now! We fight too hard to get the li’l two days off not to enjoy it. So lift yuh spirits mih people…both emotional and liquid (smile) …and raise a toast to the weekend: Thank God for Fridays and the weekends yes!’
Ah mih breddren, as we remark every week, the workingman does have a sense of joie de vivre (healthy enjoyment of life) but he does go a li’l too far for our liking. He has no boundaries whatsoever, but believers differ profoundly in that respect, because going to the edge of the limb only invites the enemy to step in and set up shop in our souls. And that is the last thing we want to happen. That’s why our song of praise for the weekend, our Friday Chant, is somewhat different, more restrained than the workingman’s.
Please chant it with me now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen!’
Yes friends, we too need refreshing and nourishing, but with a modicum of circumspection, not giving the enemy any chance to creep in, while still going about Jesus’ business. And if we stand strong and steadfast with Jesus, He will give us the power and energy and wisdom to do what He wants and expects of us!
Hear what He says in His Word: ‘If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.’ What a great and faithful promise my brethren! If we follow our Lord and Saviour, we will be richly blessed!
And He also says: ‘Labour not for the meat (food) which perisheth, but for that meat (food) which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.’ (John 6:27) Yes my people, the earthly food and flesh of man perishes, but the life of our spiritual being continues eternally, which means that’s the important body we need to worry about and keep in good shape, else we’ll fall helplessly by the wayside.
Meanwhile, Matthew reports it this way: ‘Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for His soul?’ (Matt.16:24-26)
Excellent questions those my fellow believers! What shall we sell our souls for eh? Some of us unwisely sell it to Beelzebub for the perishable treasures of this world. But the smart money is undoubtedly on Jesus as He declares (Chuh! Spelled it wrong again!) ‘For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.’ (Matt.16:27)
Glory be mih people! When Jesus comes again in all His splendour and shining glory, He will indeed reward all those who have been faithful to Him, and thus His heavenly Father! Wow!
Thus, wisdom encourages us to put our eternal souls and spirits in the hand of the Son and the Father, for their rewards are imperishable, and way way better than those of Lucifer, whose rewards perish and are eaten by moths and only last a mortal lifetime. So please let wisdom have its natural work today nuh my brethren! Much LOVE!
…concentrate on feeding the inner man…more than the outer one…
24 Dec 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a good example, a new and glorious morn, a thrill of hope, according to thy word, assurance, barren, behold your king, bounden duty, chains, Christ's birth, Christ-like, Christmas Carol, christmas eve, confidence, damnation, death, Elisabeth, error pining, exalt His holy name, excited, face adversity, fall on your knees, followers of Jesus, forgiveness, friend, Gabriel, give thanks, gladness, glory to God, gospel is peace, grace, grateful chorus, gratitude, hear the angel voices, heartache, heavenly Father, hell fire, his law is love, hymns of joy, improve our lives, in sin, joy, knowing a man, knows our need, light of a star, long lay the world, LOVE, LOVE one another, Mary, mature, mercy, miracle, Most High, mystery, no stranger, nothing shall be impossible, O Holy Night, o night divine, oppression, our weakness, power, praise, raise our voices, resurrection, sacrifice, save sinful man, singing our hearts out, son of god, strength, stress and strain, tears of joy, the handmaid of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, the slave is our brother, the weary soul rejoices, the wherewithal, the wise men, to high heaven, to stand strong, trials, truths, with God, worship, yonder breaks
Luke 1:37. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And then it was Christmas Eve! Yeh friends, Christmas Eve, the day before Christ’s birth, aren’t you excited? (smile) We should be my people, because it’s around this time two thousand years ago we received the greatest gift ever. The Son of God was born so that He could save sinful man, whom His heavenly Father LOVED with such a great LOVE that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son, so that His human creation could be saved from hell fire and damnation.
Glory to our Most High God my brethren, for there is no other Deity who would have ever dreamed of doing something like that! So my fellow believers, on this Christmas Eve Sunday, as we gather in God’s sanctuary to praise and worship Him, to give Him thanks and exalt His holy name and receive His mercy, grace, forgiveness, strength and confidence to face the upcoming week, let’s show our sincere gratitude and overwhelming LOVE by singing our hearts out with unspeakable joy and supreme gladness.
And the song we’re going to offer up in our sacrifice of praise is the old but ever true and much liked standard, ‘O Holy Night.’ Apparently it was originally written in French, but was later translated to English, and has the distinction of being the first Christmas Carol to ever be played on the radio in 1906. So with sincere feeling now, as we raise our voices to high heaven.
‘O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend! He knows our need; to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to LOVE one another; His law is LOVE and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name! His power and glory evermore proclaim! His power and glory evermore proclaim!’
Oh friends, what beautiful sentiments, filled with eternal truths, while offering loads of assurance for the believer. I sincerely hope that tears of joy were flowing down all our faces as we sang those exquisite words. For how could it be otherwise eh, when we’re celebrating such a joyful occasion? And friends, the whole story of Christ’s birth is so incredible, that only a superior being could have worked it out so efficiently and competently and dramatically.
That takes us to our Bit: ‘For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ Those were the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary, Christ’s mother, after he informed her that she would bare God’s Son through the auspices of the Holy Spirit, and that her hitherto barren cousin Elisabeth, in her old age, was also pregnant. And what I LOVE about Mary is that despite her young age, throughout Gabriel’s information session she never got riled or overly excited. Of course she was somewhat concerned and confused as Gabriel appeared out of the blue and began to lay such weighty matters on her. Her only real question was how was she going to get pregnant without knowing a man?
And once Gabriel explained, she was fine. ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest (Most High) shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing (One) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’ (Luke 1:35) I must say that Mary was pretty mature for her age and background. If an angel suddenly appeared now and told that a teenager, she’d either run away screaming in fright, or hurl vicious and angry words at the messenger. But Mary’s response at the end of the conversation was simply: ‘Behold the handmaid (maidservant) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.’ (Luke 1:38)
Ah friends, I’m not sure that Mary would have been so relaxed if she had known the immense heartache she would have to face by being the mother of the Son of God. But nonetheless she held up under all the stress and strain of her position fairly well. Obviously the Lord gave her the wherewithal to stand strong and face the adversity, as He does with us all, when He gives us a job to do.
So fellow believers, on this Christmas Eve Sunday of 2017, with our world in a complete mess, let’s try and spend some serious time contemplating the mystery and the miracle of Christ’s birth, and how it affects our lives today nuh. And consequently, what we need to do to improve our lives and the lives of those around us, because if we are to be true followers of Jesus, and for His birth, death and resurrection to truly mean something, then we should always be in the process of becoming more Christ-like and setting a good Christian example to others. That’s Christ’s desire and our bounden duty. Much LOVE!
…ALL things are possible with God…you just have to study Christ’s life to see it…
19 Mar 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a badge of honour, a godly way, a witness against you, accumulate riches, assurance, avenging character of God, before the throne, Christ the solid rock, Christ's Second Coming, comeuupance, compassion, condemned, covenant, day of slaughter, faultless, foundation, garments, God's judgement, gold and silver, grace, Hades, hope and stay, in God's time, injustice, Jesus' blood, Jews, killed the just, lay not up earthly riches, loving kindness, Lucifer, magnificent and magnanimous God, mercy, miseries, misguided universe, mistreated the poor, my anchor holds, oath, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, physical body, retirement, returned to dust, rewards, righteousness., rust, sinking sand, spiritual body, stress and strain, the Lord of hosts, thieves break through and steal, truth, weep and howl, where moth and rust doth corrupt
Matthew 6:19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal.
Sunday O Sunday: The day of the Lord, when we gather together to worship and fellowship and praise and give thanks to our magnificent and magnanimous God! One who is omnipotent, all- powerful; omniscient, all-seeing and knowing; and omni-present, everywhere at the same time!
What a thrill it is my people to be gathered in the Lord’s sanctuary, or anywhere at all, to hear His wondrous word and exalt and glorify His holy name! For all that He’s done, is currently doing, and has promised to do for us, let’s now raise our voices in joyful song, extolling not only His might and power, but also His mercy, compassion, grace and LOVING-kindness!
And the song of praise for today is the old hymn of assurance and the joy of salvation, ‘Christ the Solid Rock.’ So as one harmonious choir, let’s raise our voices in the sacrifice of praise in heartfelt sincerity and truth.
‘My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood; When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found, Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.’
And that’s the indisputable, gospel truth my fellow believers! Any other ground beside the foundation of Rock that’s our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is simply sinking sand! On Him and Him ALONE, are we assured of standing strong and walking tall in this misguided universe!
But you know what friends? That last verse of the hymn is also very important: that we should be found clothed in His righteousness on His Second Coming, to stand faultless before Him. If we’re not found in that state then crapaud smoke we pipe! As simple as that.
And the only way we can have some assurance of that situation is by living out His words of warning in our Bit. ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal.’
Yes friends, the treasures of the earth are basically worthless when your physical body is returned to the dust from which it was made. Then what is going to happen to your spiritual body that will be left, that will live on eh? You’ll endure ‘sufferation’ and eternal death with that ole fool Lucifer in Hades, or wherever God decides to discard him.
Now to me, that doesn’t look like such a good idea, although a lot of us are unwisely clinging to it. In my humble opinion, Jesus’ suggestion seems much more profitable and amenable. ‘But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.’ (Matt.6:20)
Ah mih people, I don’t understand why we fight so hard to accumulate the world’s riches nuh, when we know that we can’t carry any of it with us, especially when doing so just produces so much stress and strain and we don’t get to enjoy them. And it’s not like you can’t get rich in earthly wealth following Christ. There are numerous rich Christians around the world; it’s just that they don’t display it as a badge of honour and use it in a more godly way.
Hear how James addresses the wealthy, unsaved Jews of his day. ‘Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted (have rotted), and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered (corroded); and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Behold the hire (wages) of the labourers who have reaped down (mowed) your fields, which is of you kept back (you have kept back) by fraud, crieth (cry out): and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton (indulgence); ye have nourished (fattened) your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you.’ (James 5:1-6)
Now hear some explanations from the scholars. ‘5:1-6. Ye rich men: James’ common address “brethren,” is not found once in this section. By contrast, it occurs four times in verses 7-12. James is now addressing wealthy, unsaved Jews who have poor Jews working for them. They have mistreated the poor, so God’s judgement will fall on them.’
‘5:3. Ironically, they have stored up treasure for their last days (retirement), which God will use against them in the last days.’ ‘5:4. The Lord of Sabaoth, meaning the Lord of Hosts (i.e. of Armies), describes the omnipotent, avenging character of God who sees and hears this injustice.’
Ah mih breddren, the same injustice is being meted out to the poor and needy today by the wealthy, unsaved heathen. But just as those earlier Jews were promised God’s judgement, likewise the current crop of robber barons will receive their comeuppance in God’s time. Please, let’s not be found counted amongst them. Much LOVE!
…heavenly rewards…must be accumulated from earth…
08 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: art become my salvation, busyness, common sense, contentment, demanding our time and attention, doing chores, foundations, getting up early, give thanks unto the Lord, go go society, gospel truth, heartfelt prayers, his mercy endureth for ever, I Love the Lord, I will call upon the Lord as long as I live, I will praise thee, in tune with God, it is marvellous in our eyes, Jesus Christ, logic, LOVE, loving kindness, multitasking, optimum levels, pace of life, physical and spiritual foundations, praise Your Holy Name, prayers, propitiation for our sins, psalm 118, quiet time with Almighty God, rat-race society, reconciliation, rest, Rock, running errands, sacrifice, salvation, sand, Saturday, sleeping in, social media, storms, stress and strain, strong foundation, strong foundation of Jesus, Thank you Father, the head cornerstone, the stone which the builders refused, this is the day the Lord has made, this is the Lord's doing, thou hast heard me, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, wisdom, worthy of praise
Psalm 118:21. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard (and answered) me, and art become my salvation.
Well it’s Saturday Friends… the day for sleeping in late and/or getting up early to do the household chores and run the errands that we couldn’t do during the workweek. Oh, in this go, go, go society of ours, there is always something else to do, something else that’s demanding, that’s screaming out for our time and attention.
But you know what my people? In this rat-race society we have to make definite time for two things; rest, and quiet time with Almighty God!
Without those two things running at optimum levels, regardless of how good, how accomplished we are in the ways and busyness of the world, our brilliant construction will collapse and fall as soon as anything strong comes against it, because our physical and spiritual foundations are insufficient to support the worldly structure we’re trying to build.
That reminds me of Jesus talking about the two men, one who built his house on a poor foundation of sand (the world and its values) and the other who constructed his on the strong foundation of rock (Jesus Christ).
And when the storms came, as they invariably do, the wind and rain washed away the foundation of the house built on the sand and the house itself collapsed. But the one built on the foundation of rock staunchly withstood the elements. (Luke 6:46-48)
That my Friends, is what happens when we rush about madly, trying to achieve and acquire the things the world considers important, of top priority, and we’re not kind and considerate to our physical and spiritual needs.
And the sad part is that we now see such foundations crumbling much more often than we did a generation or two ago, when the pace of life was much slower and more in tune with God. Unfortunately it is also happening to younger and younger persons all the time.
The unrelenting thrust of today’s pace of life, and the resultant stress and strain are taking a serious toll on the society’s young, because that’s all a lot of them know – always in a rush, multitasking, constantly on the social media networks – and neither the body nor the mind were built to withstand such abnormal pressures.
Anyway my brethren, for those of us who have learned the lesson of life – many the hard way – to build our structures on the strong foundation of Jesus, our Bit today helps us to acknowledge where our wisdom and contentment come from. ‘I will praise thee: for thou hast heard (and answered) me, and art become my salvation.’
And that’s no lie, my fellow believers, for our God is ever so worthy of praise, because he has heard and answered our heartfelt prayers, even to the sending of His only son Jesus to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins, and thus ultimately our Saviour, the reason for our reconciliation to the Father, and therefore our salvation.
And the sound of God’s people suddenly and solemnly ring out to high heaven: ‘Thank You Father! Thank You for sending Jesus to bring us back to You. We LOVE and adore You, and praise Your Holy Name!’
And that’s why the psalmist began Psalm 118 – Thanksgiving for the Lord’s salvation- this way. ‘O give thanks unto the Lord: for he is good: because his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever.’ (Ps.118:1) And throughout the psalm he continually repeats that verse, so by the end, that thought, those serious and sacred words have been indelibly written in your soul.
And talking about answered prayer, listen to these verses from Psalm 116 – Praise for deliverance from death. ‘I LOVE the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me (listened to me), therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.’ (Ps.116:1-2)
Oh my people, that’s simple logic and common sense! If you’ve called upon the Lord, and He heard and answered you, then you’d be a fool not to keep on calling on Him. And as I researched our Bit, I was amazed to find some very poignant and prominent verses of scripture in rather close proximity to it. I had some idea of where they were to be found, but never really made the connection until now.
Hear these memorable verses of scripture that follow our Bit. ‘The stone which the builders refused (rejected) is become the head stone of the corner (the chief cornerstone). This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:22-24)
Yes Friends, most of us know those scriptures, but I suspect that only a few know that they come one right after the other in the same psalm.
And we’ll close, most appropriately with the last two verses of Psalm 118, ‘Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.’ (Ps.118:28-29)
Gospel truth Friends, gospel truth! Let’s remember that, and wisely build our lives around them. Much LOVE!
…any structure, edifice, family or organization…is only as strong as its foundation…and the best, the strongest foundation is Jesus Christ…
08 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man of God, abusing our physical bodies, alive, best buddies, blessed, bounden duty, breakdown, bring glory to God, burning the candle at both ends, busy world, Christian, constant jammings, conventional human standards, desires of my heart, diligently, don't shoot the messenger, edifice will collapse, Elijah, enjoy, enough is enough, faith, faithfully, flour, foolish, forgave, foundation, free from the bondage of sin, friendship, from the goodness of our hearts, generosity, giving, glory hallelujah, god's great scheme of things, God's work, help, her whole livelihood, hope, Hour of Power, hugs and kisses, I'll try not to do it again, I'm sorry, inequity of resources, Jesus, Jesus smiles down on us, just flesh and bones, LOVE, mea culpa, meaningless, misfortune, misusing, mites, of their abundance, oil, omnipotent and loving god, out of her poverty, please accept my most humble apologies, please forgive me, poor widow, praise God, prosperity, put into practice, raised her son from the dead, rebelled, rebellion, rocket science, sacrificed, selfish society, selfless act, sensible, simply mortal, smile, standing steadfast and strong for Jesus, stress and strain, superficially, the Good Book, the middle of the week, the poor are getting poorer, the rich are getting richer, the word of the Lord is truth, treasury, trite, truth, Wednesday, winning the battle, wisdom, wise, worldly pursuits, worthless
1 Kings 17:24. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
Aye Friends, it’s just one of those days when the old body completely rebelled. It finally said: ‘Enough is enough! You can’t have me constantly going to bed late and yet expect me to get up early! I’m not superman, just flesh and bones yuh know; a simple mortal…and a fairly old one at that! I’m not as young as I used to be, so I can’t stand the constant jammings like I used to before!’
And what could I say eh? Nothing but, ‘I’m sorry, and please accept my most humble apologies…and please forgive me, and I’ll try not to do it again. Mea culpa…mea culpa…’
And yuh know what, being the good Christian body that he is, he LOVINGLY forgave me. Glory Hallelujah! Now we’re best buddies again, with hugs and kisses all around! Oh what a wonderful friendship, just like the kind we’ve been speaking about the last few days.’ (smile)
Ah mih people, that might all sound a bit trite and foolish, but it’s loaded with truth and wisdom. We can’t keep on misusing and abusing our physical bodies without suffering its eventual rebellion and breakdown.
Unfortunately though, in this superficially busy world, too many of us are trying to light the proverbial candle at both ends simultaneously and keep it lit there for a long time. But that only brings misfortune in the end, because our bodies, as well as our minds were not made to take that kind of stress and strain on a long term basis.
And I’m sure all of us will agree that the amount of physically and mentally broken people in our society nowadays is way too high, especially amongst our young people, especially with the kind of prosperity we’re experiencing.
Although the facts and figures do show that our supposed prosperity is only superficial, like everything else around us, for actual prosperity is only going to the already rich, who are becoming richer with each passing day, while the poor are in fact becoming poorer.
Our society is suffering from a terrible inequity of resources, and until that is straightened out, things will only get worse, not better. So please, my people, let’s try to be wise and sensible where our minds and bodies are concerned nuh, since they are our basic foundation, and like all foundations, once they get too weak, the whole edifice which they support will eventually collapse.
And I have to laugh here, because that is definitely not the beginning I envisaged for today’s Bit. But I guess the Lord had a different plan in mind.
Here is what I had written while listening to some music from an Hour of Power religious programme: Oh Friends, it’s Wednesday morning, the middle of the workweek, and we’re alive… All praise to God! And even better yet, we’re winning the battle, standing steadfast and strong for Jesus! What else can one ask eh? Nothing really.
However, while listening to the music I was blessed with this great idea… And it’s not rocket science either. The way I see it, the things I want, the desires of my heart that God has put there, are basically to write words and music and to run horses…and TO HELP!
Yes Friends, HELP! That’s the most important of those four things. Why? Because regardless of how successful we are at our worldly pursuits, if we don’t HELP, then they are all worthless and meaningless in God’s great scheme of things.
Remember what Jesus came to earth to do? To HELP us, to save us from our sinful selves. And we term that most wonderful selfless act of Jesus as LOVE!
So therefore, if Jesus LOVED us so much that He wanted to HELP us and willingly sacrificed His life that we could be free from the bondage of sin, then that logically means that HELP is certainly akin to LOVE! And when you add Faith, and Hope, the most important become HELP and LOVE!
The problem though is that in our basically selfish, I, me, and mine society, the words LOVE and HELP don’t resonate with us the way they used to a generation or so ago. And to make matters even worse, there are more people desperately seeking LOVE and HELP than ever before, especially in a time of general peace.
That unfortunately makes it even more difficult since there’s less LOVE and HELP to spread round now to more people. Ah Lord eh! What a mess we’ve made of our world my fellow believers! And I know a lot of us who are expected to help, also need help in a bad way.
But yuh know what: when we give of the little we have, like Jesus noted of the poor widow who threw her last two mites into the collection plate, then our lives become even more blessed.
Here is how the Good Book recounts it: ‘And Jesus sat over against (opposite) the treasury, and beheld how people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites (small copper coins worth something like one-eight of a cent), which makes a farthing (a Roman coin).
And he (Jesus) called unto his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance (surplus); but she of her want (out of her poverty) did cast in all that she had, even all her living (her whole livelihood).’ (Mark 12:41-44)
Oh my people, as the scholars explain: ‘12:43-44. God does not measure giving by conventional human standards.’
Yes my brethren, when we give of the little we have, our wonderful God sees the generosity of our hearts and expands our source so that we can give even more.
It’s like how He sent Elijah to the poor widow of Zarephath for food, who herself only had a little flour and little oil to make the last cake for her son and herself, then she was expecting to die after that. But she listened to Elijah’s plea instead and fixed her last bit of food for him.
And yuh see what happened? She and her household miraculously had food for many days after that. Elijah even raised her son from a death-like state. (1 Kin.17:8-23)
That finally brings us to our Bit: ‘And the woman said unto Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.’
Yes my people, that is what is expected of us, every time we open our mouths – truth! And even more so if we are expounding on the Word of our omnipotent and LOVING God!
So please, as we diligently and faithfully go about doing God’s work today, let’s make sure that we try to HELP and LOVE others, and that every word we speak is truth, so that we can bring glory to Him, like Elijah did with the poor widow. That’s our bounden duty! Much LOVE!
…oh when we…HELP and GIVE and LOVE…from the goodness of our hearts…Jesus smiles down on us with even more blessings… Glory Hallelujah!
P.S. Sorry about the lateness and length of the Bit Friends, but all I can say is that the Lord had His special purpose for it, allowing me to write the things I’ve done. So don’t shoot the messenger, (smile) just enjoy it and put it into practice in your lives. Much LOVE!
24 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a price to pay, acknowledge God in all thy ways, all praise and thanks be to god, Bruh David, Cousin Sol, David, faithfulness, gentle rain, God is good, goodness, harm, he shall make smooth and straight your paths, heinous sins, life isn't fair, LOVE, lullaby, sacrificed his only son Jesus, selfish indulgences, Solomon, soothing sounds, stress and strain, the goodness and faithfulness of God, the living is difficult, the throne of Israel, unfairness of life, wet summer's morn, wisdom, wise sentiments, wise words, wonderful god
Proverbs 3:6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.
Oh Friends, it’s Tuesday, and the living is a tad difficult! (smile) Yes, on this wet summer’s morn, the ole back’s a aching, because I lay in bed too long. I refused to get up when the Lord first called.
But how can a body be expected to get up so early in the morning with the very mellow, soothing sounds of a gentle rain, a veritable lullaby (smile) falling outside one’s open window eh?
Chuh! It’s just not fair! No, it truly is not. But whoever said that life was fair eh? There is a price to pay for all our selfish indulgences. However, please remember that despite the unfairness of life, our great God is GOOD!
All praise and thanks be to Him, who willingly sacrificed His ONLY Son, Jesus Christ to pay for our heinous sins! That’s how much He LOVED us back then, and still does to this very day!
Sadly though, we don’t return that LOVE near as much as we should. And that, my brethren, is something we ought to work hard on correcting. Why? Because not LOVING our wonderful God, as we should, is only causing us unnecessary stress and strain, and even great harm.
That’s why I want to continue with our Bit from yesterday; the everlasting wise words of Cousin Sol: ‘In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make straight or smooth) thy paths.’ What awesome wisdom Friends!
And there was no one who understood those words better than Cousin Sol, because those wise sentiments were first instilled in him by his father Bruh David, when he passed on the throne of Israel. Bruh David was able to do that because he himself had experienced the goodness and faithfulness of God throughout his own life.
Now hear Bruh David’s words to Cousin Sol, as he encourages him to build the temple of God. And please note that this was in front of all the people of Israel.
‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect (loyal) heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now, for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.’ (1 Chr.28:9-10)
Oh Friends, are we instructing our children and grand children in like manner? I certainly hope so. Although it doesn’t seem so, since this young generation appears to have no reverence or time for the things of God, but are truly fascinated and deeply involved in the harmful things of the world.
And if that’s so, then we the parents are the ones to blame. I heard somebody say recently that our generation is trying so hard to provide the things we didn’t have for our children, that we have no time to teach or provide them with the things that we did and still do have.
And that’s gospel truth my people! We put so much effort into getting them the unimportant things of this world, that we have no time left, and apparently inclination too, to instruct then in the things of God. How sad my brethren…
Now here is an interesting note from the scholars re Bruh David’s encouragement to Cousin Sol. ’28:9-10. Although David’s charge to Solomon that he serve…the Lord with a perfect heart (cf. Matt.5:48) and a willing mind (cf. Ex.35:21,29) was directed primarily at his son, his point was doubtless not lost on the assembled congregation (cf.29:9).’
And that’s very true, for 29:9 says: ‘Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect (loyal) heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.’ (1 Chr.29:9)
Yes my fellow believers, the people gave willingly towards building God’s sanctuary. I wish we could day that about today’s believers, because getting anything from too many of us to do the Lord’s work is like pulling teeth without anesthetic.
But those are the same ones who expect to see the Lord’s work done with the necessary pomp and ceremony and honour and glory. Ah Lord eh! But that’s another sermon for another day. (smile)
And now we’ll close with the wisdom and reverence that Cousin Sol showed after Bruh David so wisely instructed him in the ways of God. ‘In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead (be king in his place).
Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like dust of the earth in multitude (as numerous as the dust of the earth). Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.’ (2 Chr. 1:7-12)
Oh Friends, neighbours, fellow believers, unbelievers, of whatever faith or non-faith you are, yuh see how our great God deals with those who come to him with humility and reverence, knowing that they can do nothing of any great magnitude without Him, but in and through His great mercy, LOVE and power, ALL things are possible!
And all God’s people gave a joyous shout of: ‘Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise His awesome and glorious Name!’
Now my brethren, since we’re still alive, it means we still have hope. So please, for our children’s sake, let’s all try to undo the wrong we’ve so foolishly done them nuh, and instead imbue them with the wisdom of reverence and faithfulness due to Almighty God. It’s still possible with the Lord’s help. Much LOVE!
…for without me…ye can do nothing… (John 15:5)…with men this is impossible…but with God…ALL things are possible… (Matt.19:26)
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