23 Jan 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bed of roses, a roof over our heads, all over the world, all things work together for good, almighty god, assurance, attitudes toward work, cacophony of sound, communications technology, confident, divine perspective, ease up the pressure, equal rights, evil, faith, faithful work, fellowship, followers of Jesus christ, food on our tables, forgiveness, Friday chant, friends and neighbours, generous help, glorious kingdom, good news, good news of Jesus christ, grace, great commission, harmony, holy spirit, human perspective, in Jesus' name, Jesus Christ, justice, lasting joy, living for Friday, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, omni-present, omnipotent, omniscient, passing happiness, peace, proactive outlook, purpose in life, relationship with Jesus, relaxation, rest, right this fallen world, salvation, sense of purpose, slave labour, spinning out of control, surrender, take up our cross, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the called, the characteristics of Jesus Christ, the elect, the message, the weekend, tired and hurting, to the ends of the earth, to them called according to His purpose, to them that love God, truth, turst, ungodliness, work, work keeps us going, worldly attitude
Romans 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Well my fine Friends and neighbours, please don’t all gladly shout out at the same time, but it’s that magical day called Friday!
And do you think they listened to my plea? Steups! No way! For immediately a cacophony of sound erupted in my ears.
‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes! The week’s been a li’l rough, and we need a break from the slave labour right about now! Thank the Good Lord it’s finally Friday oui, and the weekend soon here to ease up the pressure!’
Ah mih people, I know that some of us are tired and hurting, and just dying for the weekend to come. And nothing’s really wrong with that, because we all deserve a couple days off after several days of labouring.
But we shouldn’t just have this worldly attitude of living for Friday and the weekend to come around. We ought to have a higher and deeper purpose in life.
The message we’ve been enjoined to share as followers of Jesus Christ is one LOVE, peace, harmony, justice, equal rights, truth, trust, surrender to and faith in Almighty God through His most wonderful son, Jesus Christ!
That’s the message we need to share with, reveal to the world, not just a bout of passing happiness on a Friday, because we’ve gotten a break from work. As true believers, we have to rise to a higher level than that.
Work should not be our enemy, but our friend, because it’s what keeps us going, gives us the broad and varied interaction with others that we need to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. And it also keeps food on our tables, as well as a roof over our heads.
So work should play an important part in our lives. We have to look at it not as the same old, same old, mundane way of life, that’s just a revolving circle with no end. Instead, we have to develop a bigger, brighter and better sense of purpose; one that will bring us the lasting joy that we so desperately need and desire, every day, rather than just on the weekends.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant, which helps us to have a better perspective on the use of the weekend. As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes Friends, it’s short, but to the point! Let’s hope that it will cause us to look at our individual attitudes towards work and the weekend, and encourage us to come up a bit higher in the overall scheme of things.
And talking about purpose Friends, there’s no better scripture to call to mind on the topic than our Bit. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’
And there’s no disputing that statement my people, because that’s exactly what our omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present God does! He works out everything for good to those whom He has called, and who have responded with a deep and sincere LOVE for Him.
And I can personally testify to that, because since He’s called me to do His work, some eight years ago, my life has improved in numerous ways. Now it’s not a bed of roses, for I still have my human and earthly ups and downs.
But with His assurance and faithful work in my life, I now go about with a more confident and proactive outlook. And He can do the same for you, if you’ll only look to Him with sincere trust and faith.
Now let’s get some explanations on our Bit from the scholars. ‘8:28. To them that LOVE God is the human perspective. God is working all things together for good, but those who LOVE God are best able to appreciate that fact because they LOVE Him no matter what. (cf. Job 13:15) To them who are the called is the divine perspective. Scripture often refers to believers as “the called” or “the elect.”
Yes my brethren, we are indeed “the called, the elect” who are supposed to bring a brighter and better perspective to the world, one that reflects the characteristics of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
But are we doing that? To some extent, I suppose. But certainly not enough, for the world’s spinning further and further out of control, getting deeper and deeper into evil and ungodliness. And we, the followers of Jesus Christ, are the only people capable of stopping and righting it.
And that’s our basic purpose Friends; to right this fallen world of ours. That’s what Jesus died for. He gave His sinless life as a sacrifice to bring us into His fold, so that we can have fellowship together and a wonderful relationship with Him.
But once we’ve found that grace, mercy and forgiveness that He pours into our hearts, we’re also supposed to tell others about it, so that they too can find the joy, the peace and LOVING-kindness that comes with being a believer. Remember Jesus’ last words to the disciples were to go and spread the good news of His salvation all over the earth. (Matt.28:19-20)
Now my people, that Great Commission has been passed down to us. This is our time to spread the Word. And more than any other generation before us, we have the tools to do so with the recent explosion in communications technology.
So please, let’s get ourselves together nuh, in peace and harmony, as Jesus desires, and live up to our purpose as “the called, the elect” of God. That’s the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…it’s time to take up our cross and follow Jesus…wherever he may lead…even to the ends of the earth…
P. S. It’s late because I had a bit of a struggle this morning, both physically and mentally. And just as I was about ready to send it out, the finicky computer froze on me. Ah Lord eh! But as you can see, the Lord eventually worked all things out for good as He promised. (smile) Much LOVE!
16 Jan 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a robber, a thief, cattle can be driven, consequences, detracts, dwell for evermore, earthly living, enters not by the door, evil, fellow believers, Friday, Friday chant, friends, furthering God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, good shepherd, he calls his sheep by name, he that enters by the door, I am known of mine, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, in Jesus' name, intensity, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the greatest, Jesus' church, leave all the consequences to Him, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, loving kindness, obedient, obey God, Our Saviour and our Guide, Pharisees, relaxation, renewed and refreshed in soul body and mind, rest, sheep must be led, sincere and fruitful followers, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanks for getting me through another week of work, the blind lead the blind, the right perspective, the role of the shpherd, the sheep hear his voice, the sheep know not the voice of strangers, the sheep know the shepherd's voice, the shepherd of the sheep, the weekend, ungodly predators, ungodly world, wander aimlessly, wisdom, with your generous help, work ethic
John 10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Yes Friends, that day for which we’ve all been so eagerly longing and waiting for has finally arrived. It’s Friday…
And the working people all over the world are joyfully shouting out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! No more labouring after today, for two whole big days! Imagine that nuh! Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah mih people, it’s certainly amusing, though possibly unhealthy too, the way we look forward to Friday, even before we begin work on Monday. Hn! I don’t know what it says about this new society, where the work ethic is definitely not as strong as it used to be. But we sure look forward to our Fridays and the start of the weekend!
I suppose there’s nothing wrong with looking forward to a couple days off, after working for five straight, but it’s just the intensity with which we do it, and which most likely detracts from our work efforts during the remainder of the week.
But be that as it may, let’s spend a minute or two, trying to get the right perspective on how we should use the weekend. As one big voice now, let’s chant our Friday Chant. ‘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.’
Good chanting Friends! And hopefully that will curtail some of our more extreme desires and plans, (smile) and have us remembering the God factor involved, more than we had originally thought or planned.
And oh my brethren, remembering the God factor in our lives is such an important thing… in fact it is the most important aspect of our earthly lives, for without it we’d simply be lost, gone astray, like the proverbial sheep without a shepherd.
That’s why I believe today is a very good day to remember that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour as well as our Good Shepherd. He saved us from death and eternal damnation by sacrificing His innocent and holy life, then He took on the job of guiding us through this confused, troubled, mish-mash earthly journey.
Listen to Him as he boldly proclaims that fact in our Bit. ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’
Oh what a glorious day it was my people, when the Lord God Almighty gave us His only Son to be our Saviour and our Guide!
And all God’s children gratefully declared: ‘Thank You heavenly Father for giving us Jesus to be our be all and end all, our everything! There’s none other like Him! He is indeed the GREATEST! And we promise to be obedient to all His dictates, be sincere and fruitful followers of His church, so that we can dwell for evermore with Him in His kingdom.
Thank You again Father for Your wonderful Son and His bright, shining light that displaced all the hurting darkness in our lives! We LOVE You Father, we give You much thanks and praise for Your LOVING-kindness, as we glorify You and magnify Your Holy Name! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!’
Oh Friends, I have to chuckle here because most of the time I’m writing these prayers, I have to force myself to stop, as words of thanks and praise just seem to flow automatically from my pen. (smile)
Anyway, let’s listen to Jesus expound on the role of the shepherd, and how He sees Himself in that role. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold (pen), but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter (doorkeeper) openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable (illustration) spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.’ (John 10:1-6)
Yes my people, that’s Jesus’ view of the role of the shepherd in the lives of the sheep. Now here are some explanations from the scholars.
’10:1. Door is the one who stood in the opening of the (stone) fold. The thieves and robbers were the Pharisees.’ In olden times a sheep pen was made with one opening, where the shepherd or someone stood to guard sheep going out or intruders coming in.’
’10:3. Sheep know only their own shepherd’s voice. In the Near East several flocks belonging to different shepherds may be in one fold (a fenced area). But only a shepherd’s own sheep will follow him out of the fold. Cattle can be driven, but sheep must be led.’
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, what a most illustrative and very appropriate statement that is! ‘Cattle can be driven, but sheep must be led.’
That’s why we are considered sheep and not some other animal! We have to be led, otherwise like dumb sheep, we’d just wander aimlessly every which way, get lost, get in trouble and be captured by the evil and ungodly predators of this dangerous and disgusting world.
Please remember that my people. We cannot lead ourselves, that would be like Jesus said of the Pharisees. ‘Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.’ (Matt.15:14)
And with those wise words of our Lord, our Saviour, our Guide and our God, we’ll end today. Enjoy the day Friends, because that’s why the Lord gave it to us. But on the other hand, please don’t abuse it, for there will be serious consequences to pay, if you do. Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) is wont to say…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…that’s the power of earthly living…
09 Jan 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heartfelt sigh, a hymn of praise, a thankful look up to heaven, actions, Alexandre Dumas, almighty god, another week of work, awareness, be of good courage, Bruh David, expectant faith, faith, Friday chant, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, Glory Halleujah, he shall strengthen thine heart, he will save us, hope lets me face each day, hope renews me, hoping, human wisdom, hungry hope, I desired thee in the night, I have waited for thy salvation, in Jesus' name, in the land of the living, inspiring verses, Isaiah, Jacob, Jehovah, joyful spirit, judgements, LOVE, maturity, Old Testament, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, party animal, plans, promise of God, relaxation, remembrance, renewed and refreshed in soul body and mind, rest, righteousness., salvation, set priorities, song of the redeemed, take stock of our lives, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the best possible attitude, the eyes of faith, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Good Book, the goodness of the Lord, the Lord is my light and salvation, the Lord will swallow up death in victory, the Lord's salvation, the weekend, this is our god, to fall into place, trust, truth, wait and hope, wait I say on the Lord, wait on the Lord, waiting, waiting for and hoping in God, walking in closer harmony with Jesus, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation, wipe aways tears, wisdom
Genesis 49:18. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.
Oh Friends, we’re awesome! Yes indeed we are! We have successfully made it through the first real week of work in 2015! Glory Hallelujah!
Yes my people, it’s Friday and the weekend looms large and very inviting. And with a heartfelt sigh and a thankful look up to heaven, God’s people declared, with more reverence than usual: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Thank God it’s Friday, and we’ll get some much needed rest!’
Now that’s how I like to see us behave; more attuned to the rest and restoration factor than to the party animal attitude. (smile) I guess some of the partying exuberance for the weekend has worn off because we’re still suffering the after effects of the Christmas celebrations, and a week of work hasn’t helped matters any.
Anyway, to get us into the right frame of mind, let’s chant our Friday Chant with more maturity and awareness than we’ve hitherto done. As one harmonious chanter 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, now that everything has wound down, it’s time to take serious stock of our lives and set the priorities for this new year. Of course the first and foremost one will be to walk in closer harmony with Jesus, and that will bring certain things into line.
But then there are a host of other things that we need to seriously consider doing or not doing. These are the days to make a sincere and serious plan, and then without much hesitation, put it into action, for plans that are not actioned are dead and useless.
And today I have an interesting quote to share from the famed French playwright and author, Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), the writer of such acclaimed novels as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Alexandre is reputed to have said that ‘All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.’
And there is a lot of truth in that statement my brethren, because that’s what we spend a large portion of our earthly existence doing; waiting and hoping. Most things or plans of action don’t happen right away, so after putting them into motion, generally speaking we then have to wait for all the necessary pieces to fall into place.
And while we’re waiting, we’re hoping that they will fall into place as we hope, expect and desire. In fact, life is one long journey of hoping and waiting; especially in regard to our great and wonderful God Jehovah! The Good Book tells us innumerable times about waiting for and hoping in God.
And Jacob, in our Bit, made one of the earliest statements of hoping and waiting, when he prophesied about the fate of his sons and their offspring. ‘I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.’
Simple, but true words my people, words which we all ought to be able to say in sincere truth. The only difference is that we have seen the Lord’s salvation in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
But the Old Testament people weren’t that lucky, all they had was the promise of God’s salvation. They had to wait and hope through the eyes of faith.
As Isaiah says in the song of praise by the redeemed: ‘He will swallow up death in victory (forever); and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’ (Is.25:8-9)
Then again, in chapter 26, a hymn of praise, Isaiah declares: ‘Yea, in the way of thy judgements, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.’ (Is.26:8-9)
Yes my brethren, hoping and waiting and trusting in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is indeed a large part of our lives! And it’s something we ought to do with a joyful spirit, otherwise we’ll just be miserable most of the time.
And as I read somewhere, this wise and sensible person declared: ‘I reached out to God in expectant faith and hungry hope.’ Now that, my people, is exactly how we ought to reach out to Almighty God.
And we’ll close with one of the best known Bible verses on hoping and waiting for God; fateful words of Bruh David from Psalm 27 – the Lord is my light and my salvation. Bruh David ends that psalm with these awesome and mightily inspiring verses.
‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith) I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:13-14)
Oh Friends, that’s the best advice we can take in these tense and troubled times, for they are words of veritable truth and wisdom! Much LOVE!
‘…hope renews me…and let’s me face each day…with the best possible attitude…’
19 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abhor that which is evil, actions, ascended into heaven, baptizing, cheerfulness, Christian love, Christians, Christmas, cling to that which is good, common sense, communication revolution, Easter Sunday, educate the world, eternal life, even to the end of the world, evil, exhorting, faith, free gifts of salvation, Friday chant, gifts, glorious kingdom, Good Friday, gospel truth, grace, gratitude, Great Command, heart-warming, heavenly wisdom, humility, I am with you always, if you don't use it you'll lose it, in the name of the Father, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy giving, knowing and following Jesus, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, mercy, ministering, precious stone, prophecy, proportion of faith, prosperous, reconciled to the Father, redeeming us of our abominable sins, rise up, sincerity, sins, soul-satisfying, spiritual lives, spread the gosple, talk, teach all nations, teaching, tear-jerking, TGFJ! Thank God for Jesus, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the cross at Calvary, the good news, the Great Command, the Holy Ghost, the second coming of Christ, the SON, triumphant victory, truth, ungodliness, use our God-given gifts, Virgin Mary, we don't practice what we preach
Romans 12:6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy, according to the proportion of faith.
The day is Friday, the season is Christmas… And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! TGFJ! Thank God for Jesus!’
Yes Friends, we do have cause to be thankful for both situations! We’re thankful for Friday because it means we have a brief respite from our labours. And we’re thankful for Jesus because He saved our spiritual lives and reconciled us to the Father.
Now what we need to do is to truly show that gratitude in our actions too, not only in our talk. We Christians are well known for our talk, but not as much for our actions. And that’s where we fall down; we don’t practice what we preach, as much as we ought to.
So this Christmas season, let’s promise ourselves to do better in the sharing and spreading of true Christian LOVE in action, as Jesus would have us do.
It’s the best way to tell others about our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary on Christmas Day, died on the cross at Calvary on Good Friday, redeeming us of our abominable sins.
He then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, ascended into heaven some fifty days later, and has since been sitting at the Father’s right hand, waiting patiently and eagerly until the Father decides the time is right for the next installment of His great world drama; the Second Coming of His wonderful Son, in all might and power, splendour, glory and triumphant victory!
Wow! What a story! Nothing man can conceive can ever come up to its tear-jerking, heart-warming, soul-satisfying, spirit-filled, joy giving, LOVE endowing nature!
Therefore Friends, it is imperative that we go out and make it known to all the world, as Jesus requested in His last instructions, the Great Command to the disciples: ‘Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always(s), even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:19-20)
Unfortunately my people, it is a world full of evil, hatred and ungodliness. Consequently, we desperately, and as quickly as possible, need to spread the gospel, the good news of His story and of His teachings around the world, so that every living human being can have a chance to come to Him in humility, sincerity and truth, to receive His wonderful free gifts of salvation and eternal life.
And with the worldwide communication revolution now in progress, this is the best opportunity we have ever had to obey that Great Command. That means we have to get busy and help spread the Word in whatever fashion is convenient and expedient to us.
But spread it we must! Otherwise, on that fateful day of Judgement, when the Lord asks us why we didn’t do better with the talents and resources He’d given us, what answer will we give eh? Sadly my brethren, there will be no plausible answer available, and we’ll just have to pay whatever price is decreed.
Now we obviously don’t want to find ourselves in that untenable situation, and the best and only way to prevent it is by going into action RIGHT NOW, sincerely and diligently doing our part to educate the world, or even our small corner of it, on the wonderful benefits of knowing and following Jesus.
And let’s not say that we can’t, because our Creator, in His everlasting wisdom, has given each of us certain talents and resources to enable us to do His work. We just have to figure out, with His help of course, in what area(s) those talents lie, and then go to work in those areas.
For example, I seem to have been given the gift of using words, of writing, therefore I’m using those writing skills to spread the Word as best I can through this Scrip-Bit.
And in Romans 12, Bruh Paul spells it our for us, starting with our Bit: ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberality); he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:6-9)
Yes my brethren, those are the kinds of things I’m talking about! We each have gifts given to us by Almighty God, so let’s use them nuh. What’s the purpose of having them, if we don’t use them eh? None whatsoever!
And as Cousin Sol so wisely tells us in Proverbs 17: ‘A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: withersoever it (he) turneth, it (he) prospereth.’ (Prov.17:8)
So my people, let’s rise up and use our God-given gifts nuh, so that we can prosper wherever we go. That’s not only simple common sense, but also heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…a cardinal rule in life and living is…if you don’t use it…you will lose it…and that’s gospel truth…
P.S. Oh Friends, I didn’t forget our Friday Chant, I just couldn’t find anywhere to seamlessly put it in, so that it wouldn’t disrupt the flow of the narrative. However, we can chant it now. So let’s chant with all sincerity and truth.
‘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.’
Till we meet again tomorrow, God willing! Much LOVE!
12 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new covenant, battle the heathen, bring them out of Egypt, cherish every moment with those you love, Christ's atonement for the sins of mankind, Christmas, circumspection, cold, end of the workweek, enjoy each other's company, every stage of your journey, fell on deaf ears, fellowship, forgive and forget, Friday chant, Friends and family, further God's glorious kingdom, generous help, Gentiles, give us His peace which passes all understanding, giving thanks, glory hallelujah, God will extend His grace to the gentiles, God willing, grace, greater toronto area, heavenly wisdom, here today gone tomorrow, holy spirit, house of Israel, house of Judah, I was a husband unto them, I will be their God, I will forgive their iniquity, I will put my law in their inward parts, I will remember their sin no more, Israel, Jack Layton, Jeremiah, Jesus Christ, joy, know the Lord, live in the now, LOVE, material gifts, may the Lord bless and keep us, New Covenant, peace, promise, prophecy, psitive human emotions, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, restorative function, saith the Lord, shopping putting up lights, slave driver supervisors, snow-filled, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the big house in the sky, the bride of Christ, the coming of Jesus, the Good Book, the hous of Israel, the House of Judah, the indwelling of the Holy spirit, the miraculous birth of Jesus christ, the weekend, they shall all know me, they shall be my people, till we meet again tomorrow, warning, who knows what the future holds, wrapping presents, write it in their hearts
Jeremiah 31:31. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.
Well Friends, we’ve finally reached that day for which we’ve all been waiting and longing for – Friday!
But it’s a cold and snow filled one for those in and around the Greater Toronto Area. That means it will be a longer, slower and more miserable drive this morning.
So please leave home a little earlier and be very careful in your driving, if you want to get to work on time and in one piece, that’s bodily piece, because your mind might be very frustrated after this morning’s commute. (smile)
But that warning fell on deaf ears, it didn’t stop some of us from still declaring, ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! And snow or no snow won’t stop me from giving thanks that the last day of the workweek is here. Glory Hallelujah!
My time will soon be my own, to do what I please with it during this upcoming weekend. No more listening and kowtowing to slave driver supervisors! Let’s give God some more praise nuh. Thank God is Friday yes! Wow!’
Ah mih people, Friday has such an appealing and restorative function in our lives that we care less about the inclement weather conditions than the end of the workweek.
But remember though, the weekend is not ours to do completely as we please; we have to have a bit of circumspection about our time and our doings. So let’s chant our Friday Chant, which helps to give us a better perspective of our insufficient two days off.
As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my brethren, that’s the way we ought to spend our weekend. I know though, that this close to Christmas, the weekend will be filled with a flurry of activities, like shopping, wrapping presents, putting up lights, and all the other necessities we feel the season ought to have.
But just be sure to get enough rest, relaxation and fellowship, so that you can go back out on Monday bright and fresh to battle the heathen to a standstill. (smile)
And today we have a beautiful, heartwarming and ever so wise quote from the recently passed away Leader of the Opposition New Democratic Political Party in Canada, Jack Layton (1950-2011). Jack is reputed to have said: ‘Cherish every moment with those you LOVE at every stage of your journey.’
And that’s heavenly wisdom Friends! For life is so finicky and uncertain that our LOVED ones could be here today and gone tomorrow, either to another earthly place or to the big house in the sky. So we do need to cherish any time we get to spend with them. And this Christmas season is one of those times.
Around the world, a lot of us don’t see our friends and families except at holiday time like this upcoming one. I therefore encourage us to just enjoy each other’s company, forgive and forget old hurts and disappointments, live in the now, not the past, because that’s already gone, neither in the future, for who knows what the future holds for each of us.
So please enjoy the present, not the material gifts now (smile) but the time spent with those we cherish, for this might just be the last opportunity to do so.
That brings us to our Bit: ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.’
And my brethren, this Christmas season, or rather, the first one, two thousand years ago, is when our most wonderful God decided to implement that new and forever covenant, beginning with the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ.
And the Good Book details it thus: ‘Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord.
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts (mind), and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer.31:32-34)
Oh Friends, what a mighty promise! One that we all know has been fulfilled by the coming of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit amongst believers.
And the scholars explain this New Covenant thus: ’31:31. In this prophecy Jeremiah foresees the new covenant (testament) that God will make with mankind by extending His grace to the Gentiles. Under this new covenant, God will call out a people for Himself from all the nations of the earth to form the bride of Christ (Rev.21:1-9).
This new and unconditional covenant is better than the old covenant because it rests on the efficacy of Christ’s atonement for the sins of mankind (Heb.8:10-12). (First Reference, Jer.31:31; Primary Reference, Luke 22:17-20; cf. Eph.1:10.)’
Oh Friends, please take a few moments and check out those references, because they will help us in better understanding the scriptures.
And now may the Lord bless and keep us, guide us safely and give us His peace that passes all understanding, till we meet again tomorrow, Him willing. Much LOVE!
…nothing on earth compares to the joy and other positive human emotions…that resonate between true and LOVING friends and family…
05 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a hard row to hoe, an even keel, be thankful for small mercies, bless them that curse you, Christian, christianity, disgrace, do good to them that hate you, do unto others as you want them to do to you, evil, fellowship, focus on the good things of God, Friday chant, friends, fun, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, have regard for good things, honest, honourable, in the sight of all men, Jesus Christ, jesus name, joyful, live peacably with all men, Love your enemies, pray for those who use you, relaxation, repay to no man evil for evil, shame, sound advice, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thankful, the right perspective, the weekend, tit for tat, turn the other cheek, vengeance is mine saith the Lord
Romans 12:17. Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.
Well Friends, we’ve made it through another week all in one piece. Glory Hallelujah!
Yes my people, it is indeed Friday, and the labouring will soon cease for a couple of days, so let’s shout it out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and soon my time will be my own!
No more supervisors looking over my shoulder with their beady eyes and sour dispositions, telling me what to do, as though I’m dotish (stupid) and can’t read or follow instructions. Chuh! They are the ones who make most of the week hard yes! But thank God is Friday oui, and I can get them off mih back for a li’l bit!’
Oh my brethren, we do have to be thankful for small mercies! The big ones are indeed wonderful, but they only occur once in a while. It’s the small ones that are always happening, and for which we must remember to be thankful, because they often are so small and seemingly insignificant that we don’t even notice them.
However, they are the ones that God uses to demystify us, to build our faith, and keep our lives on an even keel. And over time they do add up and eventually become the testimony of our lives.
So please, let’s pay attention to the small happenings, to the small showers of mercy in our lives and allow them to make us joyful and thankful, as our God intends for them to do.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant which enables us to keep the right perspective on the weekend. As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, we have to be very careful that we don’t abuse the freedom and privilege of the weekend. And our Bit talks to the problem in its own way. ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’
Now that’s solid advice and heavenly wisdom we should all heed my Friends!
And please note Jesus’ words on the subject. ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil (an evil person): but whosoever shall smite (slaps) thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ (Matt.5:38-39)
Oh my people, it is indeed a hard row to hoe, but as followers of Jesus we have to hoe it. And Luke’s version goes like this: ‘But I say unto you which hear, LOVE your enemies, do good unto them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat (tunic) also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.’ (Luke 6:27-30)
That’s sound Christian advice my brethren, straight from the Master’s mouth! He doesn’t mean we should just roll over and play dead, but we shouldn’t be playing tit for tat and treat others the way we want to be treated.
Unfortunately neither of those directives holds much in this current world. We all want revenge for wrongs done to us, and we tend to treat others terribly, but expect great treatment ourselves, in spite of our evil doing.
That obviously doesn’t wash with our Saviour, so let’s try and get rid of those unchristian habits nuh my brethren, for all they do is bring shame and disgrace on us, as well as the Lord’s church.
And the second part of our Bit reminds us to ‘Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’ We must be honest in all our doings Friends.
As Bruh Paul reminds the Corinthians: ‘Providing for honest (honourable) things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.’ (2 Cor.8:21)
And he continues after our Bit, to the church at Rome: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:18-21)
And here are some explanations from the scholars. ’12:19-21. Give place unto wrath: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and He certainly will avenge.
Heap coals of fire on his head (cf. Prov.25:22): This may refer to a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’
And therein my people, lies one of the basic tenets of our Christian faith; don’t return evil for evil. So let’s try and do as it says nuh, put it into serious practice in all our lives, for it is truly the wisdom of heaven. Much LOVE!
…evil only begets evil…therefore the true Christian will not condone evil…but rather focus on the good things that pertain to God…
28 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anguish, ask God's divine guidance, bargains, bargainse, Black Friday, business people, cannot be bought with money, common sense, crown of life, Cyber Monday, desire, discomfort, drawn away by his own lust, drive, encouragement, enthusiasm, enticed, enticing, eternal life, every gift comes from above, every man is tempted, evil, fellowship, firstfruits, fleshly lust, forgiveness, fraudulent, Friday chant, fun, gift, glorious kingdom, God is good, God is immutable, God tries the saints, God's promise, god's redemption of man, gospel truth, grace, greed, greedy, hold our heads and bawl, James, Jesus Christ, joy, LOVE, loving kindness, lust brings forth sin, mark of a true believer, material things, mercy, mistakes, patience, peace, price we have to pay, promise, psychological ploys, Red Thursday, redemption, relaxation, resentment, sales, salvation, shopping blitz, shopping day, sin, sin brings forth death, spooked deer, take it to God in prayer, temptation, tempted of god, tempted with evil, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the Father of lights, U.S Thanksgiving, ungodly attitudes and actions, variation, waith for hours, warning, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, wisdom, wise decisions, worldwide trend
James 1:14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desire), and enticed.
And at last it was Friday…! And all the people joyfully shouted: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday; Black Friday!’
‘But wait nuh mih breddren, what Friday is this eh, Black Friday?’ you ask with a confused frown. ‘But it’s not the 13th…’
‘Oh no, not the old mythical Friday the 13th, but the new Black Friday; the excessive shopping day after the U.S Thanksgiving celebrations.’
‘Ah Lord eh!’ you shake your head in disbelief.
Yes my people, it’s another day of supposed sales and bargains that only breeds greed, anguish, resentment and all sorts of ungodly attitudes and actions, where we line up in the cold and dark, hours before stores open, then rush like spooked deer through the doors to buy stuff that we don’t really need, and very often cannot afford.
But the evil and greedy business people have found, or rather created, another day to lure us into their businesses to spend money we don’t have. And now, unfortunately, it’s a trend that’s going worldwide. In Canada businesses are doing their own thing too to try and stop the enormous amount of cross border shopping.
One business even had something it called ‘Red Thursday.’ Steups! And next Monday is now being called cyber Monday, where on-line shopping is the name of the game. And then they will put on the Christmas blitz. We are being constantly bombarded with advertising for all sorts of bargains, which are usually fraudulent.
Oh Friends, why don’t we rush down to God’s house like that eh, where everything is free? And instead of giving away, wasting our hard earned or non-existent money on physical stuff that rots and is easily destroyed, we receive LOVE, joy, peace, mercy, grace, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life; things that cannot be bought with money!
And sadly, even if they advertised church services like they do these supposed sales, very few of us would show up, and even fewer would have the enthusiasm, drive and patience to wait for hours in discomfort until the doors opened.
But we can only try to avoid people falling prisoner to the lure of sales and cheap bargains. And one of the tools we use is our Friday Chant. So let’s chant it nuh, with the same enthusiasm and energy we have for the sales we’ll head out to later in the day. (smile)
As one voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Ah mih people, I can only hope and pray that we use a little common sense and wisdom and don’t get in foolishly over our heads in whatever we do today. No doubt many of us will hold our heads and bawl when we realize the mistakes we’ve made. But that’s the price we have to pay when we don’t think before we act, neither do we take everything to God in prayer and wisely ask for His divine guidance and help.
That brings us to these most appropriate words of James. ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried (have been proved), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.’ (James 1:12-13)
And all of that is gospel truth Friends, as are the words of our Bit which follows them. ‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desire), and enticed.’
And that is exactly what’s happening to us with these sales! The business people are pandering to our natural fleshly lust for material things, and through psychological ploys are enticing us to come and buy what we don’t need or can afford.
And as James continues: ‘Then when lust (desire) hath conceived, it bringeth forth (gives birth to) sin: and sin, when it is finished (full grown), bringeth forth death.’ (James 1:15) Indisputable truth my brethren!
And James ends with a solemn warning, as well as words of consolation and encouragement. ‘Do not err (be deceived) my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation), neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firtsfruits of his creatures.’ (James 1:16-18)
And the scholars offer these words of explanation: ‘1:17. Three great principles are presented: (1) God is the Father, or Creator, of the heavenly bodies. (2) As their Creator, He is certainly more stable than they. With God there is not even the slightest change; He is immutable. (3) God is only good – and always good.
This third principle relates verse 17 to the preceding context. It answers the implication of verse 13 that God may sometimes tempt man to evil. Though God tries the saints (John 6:6; Heb.11:17), He never tries with evil intent so as to tempt them.’
‘1:18. All the redeemed are God’s firstfruits in that they are the first step in God’s redemption of all creation (Rom.8:18-23).’
So Friends. Let’s go out this Black Friday morning filled with the Spirit of God that will lead us to make wise decisions, even in the midst of plenty psychological bombardment and enticement. That’s the mark of a true believer! Much LOVE!
…though God doesn’t tempt us…He does allow us to undergo trials to test our mettle…but in His LOVING-kindness, He also helps us to handle them…O what a wonderful God we serve and worship…
07 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 9 to 5, a brand new day, a golden age, a shower of grace, ambassadors for Christ, an everlasting light, Beauty for Ashes, believe god's Word, bridegroom, call thy gates Praise, call thy walls Salvation, Cousin Sol, deep down in our souls, destruction, devastation, discipleship, faithful, fellowship, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, God took away my sorrow, heartwarming, hold their peace, I pray in Jesus' name, Isaiah, Jermaine Cowan, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, joy, keep silent, let all creation give god thanks and praise, let's rejoice and be glad, look down from heaven, LOVE, mercy, mercy and truth are met together, peace, persevere, praise, Praise the Lord, promises, prosperity, put a smile on my face, reassuring, rejoice, rejoicing in God's goodness, relaxation, renewed in body soul and mind, rest, righteousness., see it through eyes of faith, serve and worship, slave labour, sons of Korah, tell the whole wide world, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the earth brings forth her bud, the garden causes things to grow, the glory of Zion, the Lord is worthy to be praised, the Lord removes His anger, the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth, thy God shall rejoice over thee, thy god thy glory, truth, ungodly bondage, violence, vision, watchmen, what an amazing God
Isaiah 61:11. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Aye Friends, what’s up this damp and chilly Friday morning eh?
And the answer immediately comes back: ‘How yuh mean what’s up? It’s Friday…therefore we’re joyful, because the slave labour soon finish for another week! We get to do our own thing for two big, whole days.
Wow! That’s why we cry out in grateful praise: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! And our wonderful God will soon give us some relief from the ungodly bondage of 9 to 5! So let’s rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord has so graciously made and given to us!’
And that’s exactly as it ought to be my people. Rejoicing in God’s goodness and mercy should be the norm everyday that we awake with His awesome breath of life pulsating through our mortal bodies!
We should be declaring that we have such a joy deep down in our souls that it just makes us want to shout it out; to tell the whole wide world about it! To tell them what an amazing God we serve and worship!
To testify about all the wonderful and amazing things He’s done in our lives, is currently doing, and has promised to do in the future! That’s true discipleship and ambassadorial duty for Jesus Christ!
And as our Bit – taken from Isaiah’s prophetic declaration of good tidings of salvation to Zion – so wisely and truthfully tells us: ‘For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.’
And all God’s children gave a mighty and joyful shout of ‘Praise the Lord! Let all creation give Him thanks and praise! For He is indeed worthy to be praised!’
Yes my people, we have to believe God’s Word; see it through our eyes of faith; see a time when our God will cause righteousness and praise to cover the earth. He promises it… and He WILL deliver, because He is ever faithful to keep His promises! He hasn’t broken one yet, since the beginning of time.
As the Jermaine Cowan reggae song declares, the Lord will give us: ‘Beauty for ashes… In a shower of grace. Hope for tomorrow – It’s a brand new day. He took away my sorrow. Put a smile on my face. Beauty for ashes… In a shower of grace…’ Yes Friends, that’s the way of our wonderful God!
And in Psalm 72 – the reign of the righteous king – one of two authored by Cousin Sol (Psalm 127 is the other), he mirrors our Bit by proclaiming: ‘The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.’ (Ps.72:3)
Of a truth my brethren, our great King Jesus Christ will bring about a golden age, one of peace, LOVE and prosperity when the time is right!
This at a time when the Lord has removed His anger from Israel, as the sons of Korah proclaim in Psalm 85. ‘Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps (make His footsteps into a way).’ (Ps.85:10-13)
Oh my people, how beautiful, heartwarming and reassuring are those words!
That brings us back to Isaiah’s words, re the future glory of Zion. ‘Violence shall no more (no longer) be heard in thy land, wasting (devastation) nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.’ (Is.60:16-19)
Oh my fellow believers, how we all wish those times were taking place right now, instead of the exact opposite conditions –devastation and destruction – of our current world order. But we cannot give up on the beauty of that vision; we have to persevere until it comes to pass.
As Isaiah reminds us, re the restoration of Zion: ‘For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace (keep silent) day nor night: ye that make mention of (remember) the Lord, keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’ (Is.62:5-7)
So Friends, in accordance with God’s request, let’s not keep silent nuh. Let’s continually make mention of, and give praise to our amazing and merciful God – starting right now, with our Friday Chant.
As one voice 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.’
Now let’s go out sincerely believing the Word of the Lord, holding it up always in our mind’s eye, as the eternal vision, and doing whatever we can to help it be fulfilled. That’s all that Jesus asks of us. Much LOVE!
…in a world where Jesus reigns supreme…only praise and righteousness are worthy to be present…
31 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adamant, advertisments, Advocate, all alone, all because we do not carry, all our sins and griefs to bear, all people, altar, another week of work, answers, appreciate our blessings, atonement for sin, be gracious to me, be wise, believing, benefits, blessings, burnt offerings, confess, covenant with god, depriving ourselves, distress, ease our sorrows, entreaties, everything to God in prayer, fallible, fellowship, fickle, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, Genesis, give thanks and praise, God incarnate, God should always be our first source of help, God's divine Word, gratefully accept Jesus' invitation, have mercy upon me, hear me when I call, heartfelt plea, high priest, holy mountain, House of prayer, hurting, importance of prayer, in Jesus' name, Isaiah, Jesus, Jesus' invitation, joyful, languishing in abject poverty, live that abundant life, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, O God of my righteousness, oh what peace we often forfeit, our Creator, our Provider, pilgrim's role, poverty, power of prayer, praise God's holy name, pray for one another, prayed fervently, prayer, prayer of a righteous man, prayer of trust, Psalm 4, Redeemer, relaxation, relieve our pains, renewed and refeshed, Revelation, sacrifices, sincere heart, sinful mortals, son of god, stubborn, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the act of prayer, the BIBLE, the Good Book, the million-dollar question, the need for prayer, thou relieved me when I was in distress, week of life, what a friend we have in Jesus, what a privilege to carry, what needless pain we bear, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, wisdom, wonderful oppostunities, ye shall receive
Psalm 4:1. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.
Ah Friends, once again it’s Friday…! And as usual there are loud and joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Thank God for bringing us safely through another week of work! Praise His Holy Name!’
Yes my people, we do indeed need to thank our heavenly Father for allowing us to successfully complete another week of life, both in the general world and in our particular place of work.
Many people can’t say that at all, so please let’s learn to appreciate the wonderful blessings we have, by giving some thanks and praise to our Creator and Provider, for without Him, we’d be all alone out on some lonely back street, languishing in abject poverty, as numerous others are unfortunately doing today.
And I don’t know why, but I got up a while ago humming the chorus to our old and dear hymn, ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus.’ And just in case it was a sign (smile) I decided to include it in our discourse today.
Please sing the first verse with me. ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’
Yeh mih breddren, we have such a wonderful Lord and Saviour, such a wonderful High Priest and Advocate, to whom we can carry all our cares and problems for sure help, yet we foolishly decline to do so. Thus we suffer, endure so many unnecessary burdens and cares. That’s not very wise my people.
Jesus is inviting us to bring ALL our troubles to Him (Matt.11:28-30), so that He can ease our sorrows and relieve our pains. So please, let’s be wise and gratefully accept His most generous invitation nuh. We’re only hurting and depriving ourselves of wonderful opportunities to live that abundant life which Jesus died to provide for us.
We quickly turn to fickle and fallible man for help, when our omnipotent God should ALWAYS be our FIRST source of help. Let’s try and rectify that unfortunate situation today nuh. Let’s focus on taking our prayers to God, like Bruh David does in this evening prayer of trust in God – Psalm 4.
He opens it with the sincere and endearing request of our Bit: ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’
Friends, it’s simple and to the point. There’s no denying what he desires. And that’s all it takes to go to God; a sincere heart with a heartfelt plea. The Lord knows all our problems, but He requires us to come to Him to help us solve them. It’s true that He could solve them all with a simple snap of His fingers or a word from His lips, but that would make Him our lackey, rather than our Lord and God.
Please remember that we are in covenant with Him, and we need to perform our part in the covenant relationship, else the covenant becomes null and void. And today, since that’s the direction it seems our Lord wants us to go, we’ll look at a few instances where the importance and power of prayer are highlighted in the Bible, God’s divine Word to us.
And the greatest and best example of participating in prayer is obviously Jesus! The Good Book declares it thus: ‘And it came to pass in those days, that he (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.’ (Luke 6:12)
Ah Friends, if Jesus, the Son of God, God incarnate Himself, still felt the need for prayer, who are we then, mere sinful mortals to think that we don’t eh?
And again, we turn to Jesus, this time as He positively promotes the act of prayer. ‘And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ (Matt.21:22)
Oh my people, our Lord and Saviour, Redeemer and Atonement for our abominable sins said it, so it must be true!
And way back when, Isaiah declared this word from our God on the subject. ‘Even them (those who take hold of my covenant) will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL people.’ (Is.56:7)
Oh my fellow believers, our God couldn’t be any clearer and simpler than that! His invitation is open to all those who are willing to accept it. So why don’t we do so today eh? Now that’s the million-dollar question! It’s not an idle or false and deceitful invitation like so many of man’s entreaties and advertisements.
We have oodles of examples, from Genesis to Revelation, where all the true servants of God prayed fervently to Him and received answers and benefits. So why are we so stubborn, so adamant in refraining from something that can only benefit us eh? I really don’t know nuh.
But in accordance with all we’ve written, we’ll go home with our own prayer today, our Friday Chant. No I didn’t forget, (smile) just thought it would be more appropriate today at the end rather than at the beginning.
So as one loud, grateful and prayerful voice, let’s chant: ‘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, it’s short and simple, but as James so wisely and truthfully tells us: ‘Confess your faults (trespasses, sins) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual (effective) fervent prayer (supplication) of a righteous man availeth much.’ (James 5:16)
And when we follow that heavenly wisdom my people, we certainly won’t go wrong. Much LOVE!
…to pray…to pray…and yet to pray…that is the pilgrim’s role…
24 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a joyful heart, a mllion miles away, a waste of time, all things work for out good, along our pilgrim's path, ambassadors, be assured, better late than never, blessings of obedience, brimming with confidence, confidence, crux of our problem, earthly pilgrim's path, eternal life, fellowship, forgiving, Friday chant, friends, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God is always beside us, God is faithful, God's mysterious workings, gospel truth, gracious, greatest gift ever bestowed on man, I shout for joy, I will never let go of our hand, in Jesus' name, indisputable, inheritance, Israel, Jacob, Jesus, Jesus Love Revolution, Jesus' sacrifice, joy, joyful, joyful proclamations, labour, lifts our hearts, little by little, LOVE, loving, maganimous and magnificent God, majestic God, massa's slave-like toil, merciful, my heart was exceedingly joyful, no man shall be able to stand against thee, omnipotent god, One Year Book of Bible promises, our bounden duty, our view of circumstances, peaceful, promises of God, promises of Jesus, prosperous, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, rest and recuperate, riding high in our hearts, Romans 8:28, salvation, scriptural education, serve and worship God, source of fodder, sprit of evangelism, tat odds with truth, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the joy of the Lord is our strength, the Lord thy God, the Promised Land, the reality of the situation, the weekend, true believers, truth, undeniable, veritable, walking hand in hand, what seems to be is not always is, wine and roses, wisdom, work diligently
Psalm 47:1-2. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome); he is a great King over all the earth.
Well Friends, at last we’ve reached the finish line for this workweek’s race… It’s Friday! Glory Hallelujah! And I do hope that we all did our best in this week’s sprint…
And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Yes, we did our best! Jesus is proud of us! But nonetheless we must proclaim, TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend is upon us! Oh there’s nothing like the weekend to rest and recuperate from massa’s slave-like toil and labour! That’s why we joyfully sing again: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes!’
Oh Friends, it’s so wonderful to see us so joyful, because Jesus died so that we could enjoy our earthly life, enhanced by salvation and eternal life. And if we don’t enjoy it, especially when surrounded by the two greatest gifts ever granted to man – salvation and eternal life – then we’re just making His death a complete waste of time.
And we definitely don’t want to negate Jesus’ great sacrifice. Therefore, to help us continue in our joyful mode, here is a poem from an old Devotional called the ‘One Year Book of Bible Promises, I recently picked up in a Book Sale at church. It contains a Bible verse of promise for every day of the year, along with some interesting readings.
So expect to hear from it over the next little while. And I must tell you that when my eyes saw it, they lit up large and my heart was exceedingly joyful, because it’s one more source of fodder, of learning and truth that we have to engage us in our scriptural education.
Anyway, enough blather, (smile) here is the poem. It’s simply titled: ‘I Shout for Joy!’ And it says: ‘Sometimes Lord, You seem a million miles away. And then I remember Your unfailing words. “I will NEVER, NEVER, let go of your hand.” Once again I shout for joy, That what seems to be, Is not always what is.’
Oh yes my people, that’s ever so true! Lots of times our view of circumstances are totally at odds with the truth, with the reality of the situation, but at ALL times, we can be assured that our great and wonderful, magnificent and magnanimous, merciful, LOVING, most gracious and forgiving God is ALWAYS beside us, walking hand in hand with us along our pilgrim’s path!
Oh what joy and confidence that brings to our hearts and spirits, my fellow believers! It just lifts our hearts over the proverbial bar, like a high jumper, just brimming with confidence that he can scale the next height in his jump! Yes Friends, that’s what the promises of our eternal, ever-LOVING, omnipotent God does for true believers!
Now it won’t always be wine and roses on our earthly pilgrim’s path – it definitely wasn’t for Jesus – but with Him working mightily in us, we can be assured and confident that ALL things will be eventually worked out in our favour, because that’s exactly what He has promised to do in Romans 8:28.
And my brethren, our majestic God is above everything else, most faithful to His promises!
That’s why we can joyfully declare in our Bit, these words of the sons of Korah from Psalm 47 – God is the King of all the earth. ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome), he is a great King over all the earth.’
That my brethren, is indisputable, undeniable, veritable gospel truth!
And to enhance those facts, the psalmist joyfully continues: ‘He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he LOVED. Selah.’ (Ps.47:3-4)
Moreover, to corroborate those joyful proclamations, listen to Moses, as way back in the early days of Israel’s journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, he directs them as to the blessings of obedience to the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
‘Thou shall not be affrighted at (afraid of) them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible (awesome). And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and (by) little: thou mayest not consume (destroy) them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before (against) thee, until thou have destroyed them.’ (Deut.7:21-24)
And as we all know Friends, those promises were all fulfilled, delivered in spades, once the Israelites served and worshipped Jehovah God sincerely. And the same promises apply to us today my people… once we too serve and worship Jehovah God sincerely.
But that’s the unfortunate crux of our problem though in this ungodly and evil day and age; not enough of us are serving and worshipping our great God, despite all the evidence that when we do so, we become peaceful and prosperous.
However, with the promises of Jesus riding high in our hearts, filling us with the spirit of evangelism, we few will continue to work diligently and sincerely to bring about His LOVE Revolution, because that’s wisdom from on high, as well as our bounden duty as His earthly ambassadors!
Now let’s go home chanting our Friday Chant- no I didn’t forget (smile) – fully embracing the wise perspective that it brings. As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Much LOVE, my beautiful and joyful people!
and please remember…that the joy of the Lord is your strength… (Neh.8:10)
P.S. Oh Friends, certain circumstances beyond my control kept me up late last night, and consequently I didn’t arise until late this morning. But through the wonderful and mysterious workings of our great God I arose with a joyful heart, otherwise I couldn’t have written such a joyful Bit. (smile) Please excuse its tardiness. But as they say; better late than never! Much LOVE!
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