13 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a breakneck intensity, a new flock of believers, a partnership with Almighty God, a time of desperate need, be a church mem, be a church member, believe and receive, biblical cliches, children of the Most High God Jehovah, christianity, Christians, come boldly before the throne of grace, communicate with god through prayer, crying out for God's help, discipleship is a daily ocurrence, discontent and dissatisfaction, divine aid, faith, fellowship, find grace to help in time of need, Friday chant, gain spiritual benefits from hardships, gift of salvation through grace, God expects us to do our part in our partnership with Him, God is faithful, God searches our hearts, God will give you the strength to resist the temptation, God will make a way of escape, God will not suffer you to be tempted more than you can bear, good motives, holy spirit, if any man will come after me, in all these things, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus our Redeemer, Jesus rose majestically from the dead, let him deny himself, listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, LOVE, mercy, no need to worry, not just victorious over hardships, omnipotent help, our sinful world cn wake up, problems are escalating, put our faith to work, relying on Christ's power not personal strength, restoring faith in God, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, signifies a triumpant state, simmering unrest, snow storm, stand strong and steadfast, stand the strain, study God's Word, such as is common to man, super conquerors, take up his cross daily and follow me, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the BIBLE, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the gospel truth, the Lord will help us bear whatever burden He tests us with, the rewards are certainly worth it, the weekend is here at last, the world spinning out of control, them's the breaks, there hath no temptation taken you, through him that loved us, to obtain mercy, trials and enemies are turned into tools for good, trusting faith, truth, wake up and smell the coffee, we are more than conquerors, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, wisdom, wise guidance, with the temptation, with unexpected sacrifices, ye may be able to bear it, you won't escape all temptation
Romans 8:37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.
Well then, it’s the day we’ve all been looking forward to; Friday. And we’ve offered up our Friday Mantra; ‘Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend is here at last!’ Now, fortunately, the morning commute was precipitation free, although we’d been promised snow by eight o’clock. However, I don’t know if the evening commute will be precipitation free because the snow began around 11 o’clock and it looks it means serious business. Some minutes before eleven, I was upstairs in my bedroom getting ready to come downstairs and looked outside and there was nothing. But by the time I came down to the living room a few minutes later, the place was white and the snow was tumbling down with a breakneck intensity. (smile)
Now I understand why we recently had that spring-like period; so the snow could melt and make room for more. But as I keep reminding us, we can handle anything that comes against us, for we are the children of the Most High God Jehovah, with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the One who rose majestically from the dead to take rulership of this evil and ungodly world! So we are not afraid of anything or anyone, for He’s vowed to protect us, and besides that, as this scripture tells: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom. 8:37)
And I like how this commentary explains that verse. “More than conquerors,” from Romans 8:37, refers to believers in Jesus Christ who, through His LOVE, are not just victorious over hardships, but “super-conquerors” who gain spiritual benefits from them. It signifies a, triumphant state where trials and enemies are turned into tools for good, relying on Christ’s power rather than personal strength.’ And is that ever the gospel truth, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (Phil. 4:13)
Therefore, there’s no need to worry, just put our faith to work, believe and receive. Well, in truth, it’s not as easy as all that, but you do have to believe before you can receive. You also have to ask and knock and seek. (Matt. 7:7-8) So being a disciple or a true follower of Jesus is not an easy job, although it’s a very rewarding one. Remember how Jesus characterized discipleship: ‘If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ (Luke 9:23)
Yes friends, we need to remember that following Jesus is a daily occurrence, with sacrifices thrown in where we would prefer them not to be. (smile) But them’s the breaks! If you want in, then you must stand the strain, even when it seems impossible to bear, for the Lord won’t give us more than we can bear…now that’s not completely true. He will give us more than we can bear in our own strength, but by the same token, He will help us to bear whatever burden He tests us with.
That’s why Bruh Paul wrote thus to the Corinthians. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) Now that doesn’t mean you’ll escape all temptation. Certainly not! In other words, God will oftentimes give you the strength to resist the temptation rather than take it away completely.
And that’s one of the problems with today’s church, we mouth all these biblical clichés without fully understanding how they truly work. But beneath each statement that God makes there is usually something for the believer to do to receive it. Even the greatest gift, salvation through grace, although it’s free, one must believe and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour to receive it. So Christianity is not a something for nothing spree, it’s a partnership with Almighty God, and as in all partnerships, both partners have responsibilities, and God expects us to do our part of the partnership.
And the corollary to that is that you cannot know what you are expected to do in this partnership with God until you read and study His Word, listen to the guidance of His Holy Spirit that dwells within you, be a church member, so you can fellowship with other believers, and communicate with the Father Himself through the system of prayer. Don’t worry, the Father has it all well worked out, you just have to get serious, buckle down and do your part. He will do His. In fact, He’s already done most of His work, by giving us Jesus as our Redeemer, and plenty of what’s left to do is now in our hands.
And one of God’s great promises comes from this scripture in Hebrews: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently but humbly) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) And are we ever in a time of desperate need, with our world quickly spinning out of control. So let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid in these lawless times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now friends, praying for help is fine, but remember God searches our hearts first before responding to our prayers, so let’s hope that all of our hearts were, and still are filled with good motives, otherwise divine aid will not be forthcoming. Much LOVE!
…the Christian’s walk is not a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park…but the rewards are certainly worth it…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
06 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a Jew would be degraded by feeding swine, a means of restoring faith in you, a mighty famine arose in the land, a repentant sinner, a woman having ten pieces of silver, be responsible, began to be in want, calls her friends and neighbours together, crying out for God's help, discontent, dissatisfaction, divided unto them his living, easy money, faith, flock around for handouts, for our benefit, Friday chant, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me, God has concern for all of His creations, God's omnipotent help, holy spirit, I have found the piece I lost, ice patches, if the Lord grants life tomorrow, if there's delight in recuing one sheep or finding one coin, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus came to earth to save sinners, Jesus Christ, Jews were not allowed to keep or feed swine, joined himself to a citizen of that country, licentious living, lights a candle and looks for the lost coin, likewise I say unto you, LOVE, mercy, moral obligation, no man gave him anything, our sinful world, over one sinner that repenteth, problems escalating, rejoice with me, rescued from being lost to sin, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, seeks diligently till she finds it, sent him into his field to feed wsine, show them the error of their ways, smell it sweet and strong, stand strong and steadfast, stand up and improve it, stay safe, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the example we faithful believers set, the gospel truth, the Lord will knock on your heart, the Lost Coin, the lost sheep, the Lost Son, the money's gone in two twos, the salvation of a sinner, the simmering unrest in our land, the weekend is here at last, the younger son gathered all together, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, took his journey into a far cointry, trusting faith, truth, unexpected storms, wake up and see the chaos around us, wake up and smell the coffee, wasted his substance with riotous living, wisdom, wise guidance, with the husks that the swine ate, would fain have filled his belly
Luke 15:10. Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And then it was Friday, the day we’ve all been looking forward to! But it’s not such a nice day, wet, cloudy with patches of hidden and dangerous ice in unseeming places. So if you go out, please tread carefully, for you know not what looks like solid ground might be hidden ice. But that has not stopped us from sending up our Friday Mantra: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend is here at long last!’ Now, yesterday we said that the Lord had guided us to look at the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son, however we only managed to look at the one pertaining to the Lost Sheep. So let’s take a look today at the Lost Coin.
After talking about there being more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety nine who don’t need it, (Luke 15:7) Jesus continues by saying: ‘Either what woman having ten pieces of silver (a drachma – a valuable silver coin), if she lose one piece (coin), doth not light a candle (lamp), and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me: for I have found the piece (coin) which I had lost. Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.’ (Luke 15:8-10)
Yes friends, that’s how much a repentant sinner is treasured in the heavenly realms. And the scholars offer this explanation of those verses. ‘If a woman and her neighbours delight in recovering a solitary coin, and if a shepherd takes joy in rescuing a single sheep, how much more praiseworthy is the salvation of a sinner? While some portray God as impersonal or aloof from human affairs, Jesus here teaches of His concern for every individual.’
And that’s the gospel truth! The Lord is interested in the affairs of every one of His creations. And why wouldn’t He be eh? He made us so that He could LOVE us and we could LOVE Him in return, and LOVE means being involved with, and concerned about those we LOVE. And since Jesus came to earth specifically to save sinners, it must mean that a repentant sinner is very important to the heavenly kingdom, and thus rejoicing is called for when even one sinner repents, or is recused from being lost to sin. So, let’s not belittle the act of repentance and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, for it’s the most momentous moment in a person’s life.
Then Jesus began talking about the Lost Son. ‘And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them, said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.’ (Luke 15:11-12) Now, the father given the son his inheritance before He died was something that would hardly happen in that society. And the scholars tell us: ‘According to Deuteronomy 21:17, the older of two sons was entitled to a double portion of a father’s estate. Here the younger son would have received one-third. He was probably under a moral obligation to use the inheritance in a way pleasing to the father, but he ignores this.’
Then Jesus continues: ‘And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance (possessions) with riotous living (wasteful, prodigal or reckless living).’ (Luke 15:13) And the scholars play hardball on that verse, by saying: ‘Gathered all together means that he turned his assets into hard cash. Not many days is Luke’s understatement. The lad wasted no time getting ready to waste money.’ And we see also that very often in our society, where those who come into easy money, blow it on licentious living, and in two twos, the money’s gone.
And that’s exactly what happened to this lost son. Jesus tells us: ‘And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his field to feed swine. And he would fain (gladly) have filled his belly with the husks (carob pods) that the swine did eat: and no man gave him anything.’ (Luke 15:14-16)
That’s another regular occurrence. When you have money or wealth, a lot of people flock around you looking for handouts. But when your money or wealth runs out, everyone stops coming around, none of those who previously flocked around for your largesse, ever remember your goodness to them. But even more importantly in this case, as the scholars explain: ‘A Jew would have been unbearably degraded by feeding swine. Also, the owner would have had to be a Gentile, since both keeping and feeding swine were forbidden to Jews.’
That tells you how low the prodigal son had fallen, even to the thought of eating the pig’s food. Unfortunately though, we need stop there for today because there’s much more to say on the Lost Son. But if the Lord grants us life tomorrow, we’ll continue looking at that parable. Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid in these terrible times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And that’s exactly what we need to do my fellow believers; wake up and see the chaos around us, then stand up and do something to improve it. Remember, it’s not for God’s benefit but for ours and our descendants! Much LOVE!
…don’t worry…if you’re lost…the Lord will find you…by knocking on your heart…until you open it to Him…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
30 Jan 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith in you, anxiety, arise and go down to the potter's house, as the clay is in the potter's hand, be proactive, being confident of this very thing, blasphemous, cannot I do with you as this potter, cause thee to hear my words, changing our spiritual shape, children of Almighty God, Christian witness, confusion, confusion of these ungodly times, crying out for God's help, discontent, dissatisfaction, divine aid, do a better job for Jesus, faith, Friday chant, God is moulding us into the image of Christ, God is our Creator, God's divine sovereignty, God's greatest desire, God's power to reshape and redeem, growing closer to christ, hath not the potter power over clay, he made it again into another vessel, he which hath begun a good work in you, holy spirit, improve our discipleship, insulting, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, like the potter moulds the clay, LOVE, make hay while the sun shines, mercy, O house of Israel, O Lord thou art our father, pleading for mercy, problems are escalating, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, saw the light, shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, show them the error of their ways, simmering unrest, so are ye in mine hand, surrendered to God, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the annals of history, the created to question the right of the creator, the example we faithful believers set, the gospel truth, the need for human submission, the unexpected storms, the vessel that he made was marred, the weekend is here at last, thou repliest against God, to make one vessel into honour and another unto dishonour, truth, wake up and smell the coffee, we all are the work of thy hand, we are the clay and thou our potter, who art thou, why hast thou made me thus, will perform it until the day of Jesus, wisdom, wise guidance
Jeremiah 18:6b. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Oh boy, it’s another bright and sunshiny day, this last Friday in January, as we offer up our Friday Mantra; ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend is here at long last! And it’s certainly been a trying week for many of us who had to go out to work amidst all the madness invoked by last Sunday’s snowstorm. But we’ve survived, like the hardy lot that we are. (smile) It takes much more than a few inches of snow to keep us bowed down, especially when we are children of the most omnipotent God Jehovah!
And can you imagine that in another couple of days we’ll be talking about February, while the month of January 2026, is confined to the annals of History. So let’s remind ourselves again, that the days, months, and years are not waiting for us, they are moving along very quickly, so we have to be proactive and make hay while the sun shines, otherwise we’ll just get left behind. Therefore let’s up the ante, and do a better for job Jesus in the coming month of February. Remember our New Year’s resolution was to simply be a better Christian, a better disciple, daily growing closer to and more like Christ.
As Bruh Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians. ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil. 1:6) Yes friends, each day that the Lord allows us to draw breath on this confused and crazy earth, He is working on us to mould us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ, for His earnest desire is that ALL His children be the living image of His first born. That means some of the pressures we might feel are simply the Lord changing our spiritual shape like a potter moulds the clay he works with. And in several passages of the scriptures God is indeed referred to as a potter.
But before we get into some of those scriptures, listen to how this commentary explains that situation. ‘The metaphor of God as a potter and humans or nations as clay is a prominent biblical illustration used to convey divine sovereignty, the need for human submission, and God’s power to reshape and redeem.’ And as the scripture from Philippians above indicates, God is constantly on His potter’s wheel reshaping and reforming His rebellious children. Now let’s check out some of those scriptures that refer to us as clay and the Lord as the potter, the most obvious one being that from Jeremiah 18, where the Lord explains the analogy to Jeremiah, inviting him to go down to the potter’s house and see how he works.
The Bible tells it thus: ‘The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels (the Potter’s wheel). And the vessel that he made (was making) of clay was marred (ruined) in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.’ (Jer. 18:1-6)
And that’s the gospel truth my fellow believers! We are like clay in God’s hands. So, as the ruined clay is reformed or transformed into something else by the potter, so can the Lord form or transform us into anything He chooses. For remember, He is our Creator, who first formed man from the dust of the ground, and then woman from the rib of man, so He has the power to do anything with us. He’s just being nice and generous by telling us what He has in mind, whether we be good or evil. (smile) So as He tells Jeremiah, He can do what He wants with a nation, or consequently an individual.
Then there’s this scripture from Isaiah, where he says: ‘But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore (don’t be very furious), O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.’ (Is. 18:8-9) Yes friends, Isaiah saw the light and surrendered to God, pleading for mercy, on the basis that they were all His people. He acknowledged that God was both the Creator and heavenly Father.
Finally, we have these verses from Bruh Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he talks about God showing His mercy as He wills. ‘Nay but, O man, who art thou that thou repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?’ (Rom. 9:20-21) And so He has. It’s insulting and blasphemous for the created to question the right of the Creator to make whatever He desires, with whatever He has. Therefore God does have the authority and right to assign purposes for each one of us.
And to summarize it all, the commentary closes thus: ‘The metaphor conveys God’s total sovereignty and authority over our lives. It also implies the clay’s responsibility to remain submissive. The analogy shows God’s power to rework even a “marred” vessel for a new purpose. God shapes us, often through trials.’ And that’s a fact! Many of the trials we go through in this life are basically God shaping us into the image He desires. Now let’s go to the throne of grace through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid to help us withstand those trials and temptations that befall us.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, we’re asking for plenty from the Lord, but don’t seem willing to give what He asks for; that’s better Christian witness. However, until we improve our discipleship, divine aid will not be forthcoming. It’s as simple as that! And we cannot complain, because we already have all the tools to do it! Much LOVE!
…God’s greatest desire…to make us all into the image of His Son Jesus Christ…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 Sep 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a doting grandfather, a light unto my path, a new flock of believers, a tough nut to crack, a true perspective of your majestic power, adopted children of God, all day long, all seeing and knowing, backsliders, claims you as Maker and master, concentrate on your greatness, crying out for help, dominance, enlarge my narrow vision, error of their ways, fight the evil that's controlling our world, forgive me O God, Friday chant, give me even now, God cares for his creation, God is the Creator and Controller of the Universe, heavenly Father, hegemony, holy spirit, I put my hope in you, I shamefully confess, Jesus Christ, joint heirs with Christ, lead be by your truth, limited comprehension, LOVE, meditating on god's word, mercy, my neck of the woods, my snall concept of you, narrow vision, omnipotent, omnipotent help, omnipresent, omniscient, on the palm of your hand, on thee do I wait all the day, on whom you've set your love, One Year Book of Bible promises, open our eyes, our divine heritage, our God is a great God, our sinful world, our strife-filled world, overcome the enemy, perilous times, point out the right road for me to follow, poor witness for Christ, powerful, problems escalating, puny faith, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, sanctified, shew me thy ways O Lord, show me the path where I should walk, simmering unrest in our land, small prayers, somewhere in the wild blue yonder, stimulate my trust, teach me thy paths, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the child, the example we faithful believers set, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, The God of my salvation, the God who saves me, the leading of the Holy spirit, the weekend, thy word is a lamp unto my feet, totally transform, truth, unexpected storms, wake up and small the coffee, whose name is engraved, wisdom, with deep contrition, Your Child God
Psalm 25:4. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
And it’s a cool, windy, cloudy Friday in my neck of the woods, but that doesn’t make a difference when it comes to shouting out ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Yes friends, the way our work system is set up, the couple of days off at the weekend is sanctified, (smile) and we avidly seek it, regardless of the weather or what’s happening around our strife-filled world.
And today, we will look at an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, titled ‘Your Child, God.’ And once we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we all become the adopted children of God, joint heirs with Christ, with a right to our divine heritage, entitled to all our heavenly Father has. (Rom. 8:17) But, sadly, oftentimes we don’t behave like children of God, or even know what He is truly like.
So please read with me: ‘O God With deep contrition I shamefully confess My small concept of You My puny faith My limited comprehension. Forgive me, O God And enlarge my narrow vision. Stimulate my trust As I concentrate on Your greatness. Give me even now A true perspective Of Your majestic power To totally transform the child On whom You have set Your LOVE – The child whose name is engraved On the palm of Your hand The child who claims You As her Maker and Master. Your child, God! Me!’
Oh my fellow believers, that poem is simple but it says a lot, and is very relevant to our uncertain and difficult times, for as the poem says, many of us don’t see or know the true greatness of the wonderful God we claim to serve. Many of us think that He’s either a doting grandfather, or a tough nut to crack, who’s somewhere out there in the wild blue yonder, with little power, not paying much attention to what’s happening down here on Planet Earth. But all of that is totally untrue. Our God is neither a doting grandfather, a hard man to please, or not paying attention to our problems.
In fact He’s the exact opposite of all that! He’s the Creator and Controller of this universe, that means He must have a lot of power to do such an awesome job. And He does care for us, so much so that instead of letting us all go to hellfire and damnation with Satan for our persistent disobedience and rebellion, He sacrificed His only begotten Son to give us another option; that’s salvation and eternal life with Him. So tell me how could anyone who does all those things not be great and majestic, LOVING and compassionate?
Our God is so great that He’s described as Omnipotent, that’s having lots of power; Omniscient, that’s all knowing, all seeing and wise; and Omnipresent, that’s all pervading, being everywhere, universal. And it’s oh so important for believers to know the true scope and greatness of our God, to enlarge our narrow vision, because if we don’t, we’re liable to seek small stuff from Him, offer up small prayers, not understanding the full reach of His awesome might and power.
And in these hate filled and angry times, we desperately need His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence, to help us fight the evil that’s controlling our world. It’s time for us to open our eyes and begin thinking of our God as the de facto, or in reality, the great and awesome God that He is! And we can only accomplish that feat by concentrating on God, on His Word and the leading of His Holy Spirit.
Now the Bible Promise given for this poem comes from Psalm 25 titled ‘Trust in the Lord.’ The New Living Bible Translation puts it thus: ‘Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.’ (Ps. 25:4-5) And to believe that, your God must be big and mighty, fearsome and fearless, LOVING, compassionate, kind and merciful! And that’s exactly what our God, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is! So, thinking small doesn’t’ do our God any favours or give Him any accolades at all.
And for our enlightenment, (smile) here’s how the good ole King James Version puts the verses from our Bible Promise. ‘Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.’ (Ps. 25:4-5)
Yes my brethren, in these perilous times, we do need to turn to the God of our salvation and sincerely ask Him to show us His ways, teach us what He desires us to know, and lead us in His truth. And as we said earlier on, all of that begins with reading and meditating on God’s Word, then with the help of the Holy Spirit, putting it into action in our lives. As Psalm 119 wisely advises: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105)
Now, to help us get our act together, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking grace in desperate time of need. As one voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And divine aid is certainly in the offing, but not until we improve our poor witness for Christ, which has given the evil enemy undue hegemony or dominance over our world. Much LOVE!
…until Christians truly believe and act like our God is a great God…we will never overcome the enemy…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
15 Aug 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith in you, a modest but strong nature, a new flock of believers, a proud look, a word to the wise is sufficient, backsliders, be clothed with humility, be full of kindness and respect for others, be responsible and stay safe, be subject one to another, became obedient unto death, being found in fashion as a man, being in the form of God, better Christin witness, casting all your care upon him, cleanse me of pride, CNE Fair, concrete jungle, emptied himself of his privileges, error of their ways, escalating problems, even the death of the cross, every tongue confess, faith, find rest for your souls, freedom from pride and arrogance, Friday chant, gentle and humble, give me the grace to accept correction, God gives grace to the humble, God is shaping you, God resists the proud, haughty eyes, he humbled himself, he may exalt you in due time, help me to embrace the meekness of Christ, holy spirit, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, humility, I am meek and lowly, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, LOVE, made himself of no reputation, made in the likeness of men, manifest humility every day, may my words and actions, meekness, mercy, omnipotent help, our sinful world, painful circumstances, radiate Christ's presence, rejoice, salvation, seek forgiveness, show mercy, simmering unrest, six things doth the Lord hate, take my yoke upon you, teach me to be truly humble, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thank you Lord for your hand at work, the example we faithful believers set, the Master Potter, the name above every other name, the name to which every knee must bow, those who walk in humility, took upon him the form of a servant, tough times, trusting faith, truth, unexpected storms, wake up and smell the coffee, welcoming the weekend, whose Spirit lives within me, wisdom, wise guidance
1 Peter 5:5b. All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Now don’t be surprised that the Bit is so early friends. You know there must be a good reason for it, (smile) an early medical appointment in the concrete jungle called Toronto. And is it ever disgusting having to go there with all the road closures and the traffic jams and the building construction at every turn. Brother! I don’t see how people could live down there now nuh. Fifty odd years ago, when I first came here, living in Toronto was wonderful. But now it’s gotten so big and ugly and competitive, that it’s lost the glow it once had.
But that’s only my opinion. Other’s might have a much more positive take on the situation. And that doesn’t stop them from sending up loud shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! And the weekend is here.’ Welcoming the weekend is one of the important things we do nowadays. And oh, the CNE, the Canadian National Exhibition is opening its yearly fair today down on the CNE Grounds on the Lakeshore, so there will be even more traffic than normal. But since we cannot do anything about any of the those things that annoy or frustrate us, let’s see what the Lord has for us to talk about today.
Well, it seems to be the very important but rather touchy subject of humility. And what is humility? Basically, it’s a freedom from pride and arrogance. In scripture, it’s sometimes referred to as meekness; a modest but strong nature. And one of the things that God hates is false and overbearing pride. As Cousin Sol says in Proverbs: ‘These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination to him.’ (Prov. 5:16) And the first one is a proud and arrogant look, or haughty eyes. (Prov.5:17) And to help us deal with Humility, one of the recently published Prayer Cards by the In Touch Organization deals with that very problem.
Oh yes, it is a very serious problem in today’s world, as our society is much more interested in being proud and arrogant then being meek and humble. So please pray this prayer from that card with me. ‘Father, those who walk in humility radiate Christ’s presence. Teach me to be truly humble. Cleanse me of pride and help me embrace the meekness of my Saviour, whose Spirit lives within me. May my words and actions be full of kindness and respect for others. Give me the grace to accept correction, seek forgiveness, and show mercy. I welcome whatever You send into my life to humble me. You are the Master Potter. Thank You for Your hand at work. Amen.’
Now that’s a tough prayer to pray, because when you ask God for things like humility, be sure you’re going to encounter circumstances in which you’ll need it. And things like humility only come through tough and ofttimes painful circumstances. And the Prayer Card ends with this interesting note. ‘Is a current challenge teaching you humility? Rejoice – God is shaping you.’ Yes friends, we can only be shaped in the master Potter’s hands through tough times. But we must rejoice, for it’s bringing us closer to the perfect image of Christ.
And the scriptures the Prayer Card uses, comes, most appropriately from 1 Peter. ‘Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet. 5:5-7) And we all know that to be the gospel truth, although we don’t always manifest it in our lives. But to be truly like Jesus, we need to be always, or as much as possible, meek and humble.
Jesus said it Himself in the Great Invitation. ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me, for I am meek and lowly (gentle and humble) in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ (Matt. 11:29) Oh my people, there’s no one as humble as Jesus! Although He controls the universe, He never finds it necessary to boast, be haughty or arrogant, and for humans that comes only when you have an innate strength found in the person of Christ. It’s like Bruh Paul writes to the Philippians about Jesus’ earthly journey.
‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant , and was made in the likeness of men (emptied himself of his privileges): And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ (Phil. 2:5-8) And we know the reward the Father granted Him for such humility and obedience: The exaltation of His name being above every other name, and that every knee should bow to His name, and every togue confess that He is Lord, all to the glory of the Father. (Phil, 2:9-11)
Likewise my fellow believers, if we humble ourselves, our heavenly Father will indeed exalt us in due time like Peter says. Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help for our chaotic and disastrous world. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you.
Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And though our prayers might be heard, I believe the Lord expects, and most certainly deserves better Christian witness from us, before He floods us with divine aid. And they say a word to the wise is sufficient, so please let’s show ourselves to be wise nuh. Much LOVE!
…to be truly Christlike…Christians must manifest humility in their everyday lives…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
04 Jul 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 4th of July, a delicate whispering voice, a few tears fell, A Friendship Observed, a future and a hope, a gentle internal prompting, a means of restoring faith in you, a modicum of circumspection, a still small voice, a strong wind rent the mountains, a very personal task, a way god commuinicates with individuals, a willingness to listen, affirmations, after being zealous for the Lord, after the earthquake a fire, after the fire, after the wind an earthquake, anguish, anxiety and confusion, be responsible, brake in pieces the rocks, calamity, call upon me, confessions, crying out for help, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, discipline, discontent, dissatisfaction, divine aid, dramatic displays of power, ecstasy, faith, father's death, Friday chant, God speaks to all His people, God whispers secrets to all of us, God's whispered secrets, godly information, groping, holy spirit, hundreds of memories encircled the room, I know the thoughts that I have toward you, I will hearken unto you, if you'll listen, insights, intense struggles, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, Jezebel, journals, joy, LOVE, make a positive difference, mercy, omnipotent help, One Year Book of Bible promises, our sinful world, pray unto me, problems are escalating, pull up our socks, purging, questions, record of life, recounting of his inner life, return backsliders to your fold, reuires attentiveness, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, seek me and find me, semons, spiritual encounters, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the example we faithful believers set, the Lord passed by, the Lord was not in the fire, the story of Elijah, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end, to handle the unexpected storms properly, to live the godly life, trusting faith, truth, U.S.A Independence Day, ungodly times, wake up and smell the coffee, when ye search for me with all your heart, wisdom, wise guidance, zealous for the Lord
1 Kings 19:12. And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (a delicate whispering voice).
And today is another birthday celebration; the U.S.A’s Independence Day, when on the 4th of July 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the 13 North American colonies officially separated from Great Britain. And can you imagine the celebrations down there, especially since it falls on a Friday! There’d be more ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ shouts than normal for the long weekend. But again, we must issue the caution to have a modicum of circumspection during the celebrations for our world is already flooded with enough disasters to last us more than one lifetime, and accidents happen rather easily and quickly when we don’t pay particular attention while celebrating. End of sermon!
Today I want to share an interesting but not exclusive story from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. This one’s titled ‘A Friendship Observed.’ And I truly don’t know if I’ve ever shared this one before, (smile) but it does make very interesting and appropriate reading.
So please read with me. ‘After my father’s death, I sat in his quiet office sorting through years of sermons and journals. A few tears fell on the pages. My task was very personal. Hundreds of memories encircled the room. I was amazed, yet pleased, when I began to compare my journals with my father’s. Our groping and intense struggles, our affirmations and confessions were so often interlaced. It would never have occurred to us to share our journals while Dad was still living. Diaries, letters, journals, and even phone calls were private.
Today I reflect upon my own record of life – page after page of spiritual encounters. Anguish, questions, purging, joy, discipline, insights, ecstasy, faith – God’s whispered secrets. Suddenly the early beginning became very much alive: A little girl, seven or eight, hearing her father say, “If you’ll listen – really listen – God will whisper secrets to you!” My father had said something very beautiful and strange. How did he know that God would whisper secrets to me? But as I sorted through my father’s careful recounting of his inner life and journey, it suddenly became very clear: He too, had heard God’s secrets!’
And yuh know what friends, that’s a truth we all ought to know, for God speaks to all of His people, He whispers secrets to all of us…but like the story says, the qualifying statement is that we really, really have to listen to hear those secrets that God’s whispering to us. And if we don’t truly listen, then we won’t hear them, and then we’ll be lost or miss something(s) very useful and or necessary for us to live the godly life.
Remember the Lord and the Holy Spirit speak mostly in a still, quiet voice. And we have a magnificent example of that from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, hiding in a cave up on a mountain, running from Queen Jezebel’s promise to kill him, after he had killed a great number of her evil prophets. And the Lord came and asked him what he was doing there, and he claimed that after being zealous for the Lord, he was the only one left, and they were trying to kill him.
Then the Lord told him: ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. and behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent (tore into) the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (a delicate whispering voice).’ (1 Kin. 19:11-12)
Yes friends, so it is, that oftentimes the Lord is not in the earthquake, the storm, the fire or whatever disaster might happen, but in a quiet voice thereafter. And I like how this commentary explains it. ‘The phrase “God speaks in a still small voice” originates from the biblical story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. It describes a way God communicates with individuals, not through dramatic displays of power like wind, earthquake, or fire, but through a gentle, internal prompting. This still, small voice is often interpreted as a quiet, internal whisper or intuition that requires attentiveness and a willingness to listen.’
Please note again, that to hear that still small voice we must be very attentive and ever so willing to listen, or else we’ll miss the godly information being shared. And interestingly enough, the Bible verse for our story today is one that we all know and like to quote, although we might not action it as much as we ought to. (smile)
It comes from Jeremiah: ‘For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope). Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto (listen to) you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer. 29:11-13) Yes my people, that’s what it takes to find the Lord and make Him listen; seeking Him with all your heart. Now let’s do that by going to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant.
Altogether: ‘‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly.
And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Oh my people, our world is very sinful, and our Christian witness needs to be much improved if we hope to make a dent in it. So let’s pull up our socks nuh so that we can make a positive difference, and also receive divine aid! Much LOVE!
…to listen…to listen…and to listen…that’s how you hear…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
23 May 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living
Tags: a close relationship with God, a new flock of believers, a phenomenon, a sin nature, animosity in Christ's church, be responsible, behave like the rest of the world, can wake up and smell the coffee, Christ's church is divided, cleanseth us from all sin, confusion of these ungodly times, crying out for God's help, disciples of Jesus, discipleship demands sacrifice, discontent, dissatisfaction, divide and conquer, eternal life, faith, Friday chant, get united, get wise, God has no sin nature, God is light, have the light of life, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, His sacrifices demand it, holy spirit, I am the light of the world, in him there is no darkness at all, Jesus Christ, keep Satan at bay, lives characterized by sin, LOVE, lying to ourselves, mercy, not putting out the necessary effort, problems are escalating, refuse the charm of Satan's offers, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, Satan's sinful route to hell fire and damnation, set free from the bondage of sin, simmering unrest, stand up and fight for Christ, stay safe, talk is cheap, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the blood of Jesus Christ, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the Great Commission, the Lord helps those who help themselves, the nature of the human animal, the slide down into the quicksand of hell, the throne of grace, the weekend, the world's in disaster mode, this is the message we have heard of him, time for Christians to unite, truth, unexpected storms, walk in darkness, walk in the light as he is in the light, walking in sin, we have fellowship one with the other, wind storms, wisdom, wise guidance
1 John 1:5b. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And then it was Friday, the end of our work week, with many of us shouting the traditional ‘Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend’s here at long last!’ We’re behaving as though we’ve worked a full, hard week, when it’s been only four, easy days. But that’s the nature of the human animal. (smile) Thankfully too, the rain’s finally stopped in my area, but it’s still very cloudy with a feeble sun trying to make some headway against the dark, threatening clouds. However, it’s also windy as ever!
I don’t know where these sudden wind storms have come from, but over the last few years they have become a more noticeable phenomenon…even in the summer. But as is our won’t, we’ll blame it all on climate change, the new blame outlet for many of our current problems. Anyway, today, I want us to look at a particular aspect of scripture that John deals with very nicely in his first epistle; that’s walking in the light. He writes: ‘This then is the message which we have heard of him (Jesus), and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.’ (1 John 1:5)
John is here giving us first hand witness of the teaching he heard from Jesus Himself, when He claimed: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) He’s saying that darkness and light are metaphors for evil and goodness. And since there’s no sin or evil in God, then He’s perfect and good. Now, do we believe that my brethren? We ought to, otherwise our faith is of no use. For, as John continues: ‘If we say that we have fellowship with him (Jesus), and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not (practice) the truth.’ (1 John 1:6)
And according to the scholars, ‘walk in darkness means walking in sin. John may have had in mind people who claimed to have a close relationship with God, but whose lives were clearly characterized by sin. Such a state of affairs, John says boldly is impossible; such persons are lying.’ And, sadly, that’s seems to be the state of affairs with many supposed believers; we might believe or say that we’re walking with Christ, but we’re actually lying to ourselves. Otherwise our world would not be in its current disaster mode, we would have made much more headway against the devil and his evil cronies than we have.
But talk is cheap, while true discipleship and sacrifice are rather expensive, and many of us don’t have the wherewithal to stand up and fight Beelzebub, or refuse the charm of his worldly offers. However, as John further proclaims: ‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7) And that is such a necessary truth my people! Our God is light; has no sin nature, therefore if we walk in His light, then we too would have no sin nature, be set free from the bondage of sin for which purpose Christ died on the cross of Calvary.
His shed blood cleanses us from all sin, and is supposed to draw believers closer together. But that isn’t happening as it ought to, for today, the church of Christ is split into so many denominations, cliques, groups, etc. etc., and there’s so much animosity amongst us over such petty stuff, that it’s unbelievable. The devil doesn’t even have to try to divide and conquers us, no, for we’ve already divided ourselves. No wonder he’s having such an easy time, for the church cannot produce any worthy offence unless it’s united.
Oh my people, everyday our world is slipping and sliding ever deeper into disaster and chaos, sadly following Satan’s ungodly and sinful route to hell fire and damnation! But as disciples of Jesus, we cannot allow that to happen, for He’s put His utmost trust in us to help bring the world to salvation and eternal life. Remember His Great Commission, (Matt. 28:19-20) where we’re supposed to go out to all nations and make disciples of them, teaching them all that He’s taught us? So why aren’t we being more successful eh? Because we’re not united, and therefore we’re not putting out the necessary effort to keep Satan at bay. It’s as simple as that.
Just look around at how many of us go to church on Sundays and behave so holy and righteous, then look at our conduct from Monday to Saturday…just like the rest of the world. That’s obviously not conducive to kingdom building. But friends, we have to do something, and do something right now, if we want to stop the serious slide down into the quicksand of hell. So please, let’s get wise, get united and start fighting seriously for Jesus nuh. He deserves that much from us. And to help us on our way, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help in these disastrous times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, my faithful brethren, we cannot just simply pray and wait for God to move on our behalf. No! We also have to help ourselves, for as the old saying goes: ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves!’ Much LOVE!
…it’s time for Christians to unite…and sincerely stand up and fight for Christ…His sacrifices on our behalf demand it…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
25 Apr 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith in you, a new flock of believers, anointed with fresh oil, behaving too much like the world, blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, bring forth fruit in old age, crying out for your help, discontent, disobey God's will, dissatisfaction, divine aid, embrace your love and compassion, established it upon the floods, faith, fellow saints, flourish in the courts of God, Friday chant, grow like a cedar in Lebanon, he hath founded it upon the seas, he is my rock, high is thy right hand, holy spirit, in thy name shall they rejoice all the day, in thy righteousness, Jesus Christ, justice and judgement are the habitation of thy throne, like the horn of a unicorn, LOVE, loving-kindness and truth shall go be fore thy face, make a joyful noise to the Lord, mercy, mouthing the platitude, my horn shalt thou exalt, no unrighteousness in God, not doing our best to represent God, not pulling our weight, our sinful world, planted in the house of the Lord, problems are escalating, return backsliders to your fold, righteousness and justice, salvation, shall they be exalted., simmering unrest, smell it sweet and strong, stand strong, strong is thy hand, suffer the consequences, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thankful for another day in God's universe, the Creator and Controller of the universe, the earth also is thine, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the foundation of thy throne, the heavens are thine, the Lord is my defence, the Lord is upright, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, the throne of God, the unexpected storms, the workers of iniquity, the world and they that dwell therein, truth, wake up and smell the coffee, walk in the light of God's countenance, wisdom, wise guidance, work for Christ
1 Corinthians 10:26. For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.
So it’s Friday, and we’re all overjoyed at the prospect of the weekend hovering right around the corner; time to rest and /or party. And many of sent up the cry of ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’ whether sincerely thanking God, or just mouthing the platitude, only you alone know. But hopefully, many will be truly thankful to see another day in God’s great universe, because that’s the right and wise way to be.
Remember the Lord created the universe and everything within it as Bruh David says in Psalm 24: ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (rivers).’ (Ps. 24:1-2) Meanwhile Bruh Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians reminds them thus: ‘For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’ (1 Cor. 10:26) And Ethan the Ezrahite puts it this way in Psalm 89. ‘The heavens are thine, the earth is also thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them.’ (Ps. 89:11)
Yes friends, not only did God establish the universe and all therein, but He still controls it and rules sovereignly over it! For as Ethan the Ezrahite continues in Psalm 89: ‘Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgement (righteousness and justice) are the habitation (foundation) of thy throne: LOVING-KINDNESS and truth shall go before thy face.’ (Ps. 89:13-14) So the Lord our God is also strong and mighty, and only deals in truth, justice and righteousness.
And because of that, Ethan could further say: ‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound (make a joyful noise to the Lord): they shall walk, O Lord in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn (strength) shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.’ (Ps. 89:15-18) And that’s the living truth my brethren! The Lord God Jehovah is our shield, our defence our strong arm in the time of battle.
Listen as the psalmist tells it. ‘When the wicked spring (sprout) as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn (my strength) shalt thou exalt like the horn (strength) of a unicorn (wild ox): I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.’ (Ps. 92:7-11)
That tells it like it is my people! The Lord will destroy the wicked, the workers of iniquity in His own time and strengthen those who sincerely trust in Him. And on top of all that, the psalmist furthermore proclaims: ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (tall and strong). Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing (plump and green); To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps. 92:12-15)
Now friends, who wouldn’t want to be a part of all that eh? Strong, exalted, flourishing, bringing forth good fruit even in your old age, with the Lord being your rock and strength and defence! It doesn’t get any better than that my people! And yes it’s hard to withstand all the temptations of the wicked enemy, but fortunately the Lord has given us all the tools to do it, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to lead and guide us. And if all that fails, then we even have the option of going to the throne of grace directly to ask for divine aid. So, let’s do that right now nuh, through our Friday Chant.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Ah my fellow saints, unfortunately it’s not only the sinful world that needs to wake up and smell the coffee, no, many of us supposed believers also need to do that too, because we’re not pulling our weight, we are not doing our best to represent God in this ungodly world, we’re behaving too much like the world, and that will never do. It will never help us to turn things around. So please, let’s wake up and do what we know we’re supposed to do nuh; that’s stand strong and work for Christ! Much LOVE!
…regardless of what you believe…God IS the Creator and Controller of the universe…and those who disobey His will…will suffer the consequences…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 Mar 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith in you, all the days of your life, anxiety, as I was with Moses, backsliders, be not dismayed, be of good cheer I have overcome the world, be strong and of good courage, Bible, bring down trouble on me, cast thy burden upon the Lord, cause them to inheit it, christianity, confusion, crying out for help, dire need, discontent, dissatisfaction, divine aid, do not give up, experience builds our faith, faith, fear thou not, for I am with thee, Friday chant, get on the good foot, give ear to my prayer, he shall sustain thee, he will not fail thee, holy spirit, I am thy God, i have overcome the world, I will not fail thee nor forsake thee, I will strengthen you, I will trust in thee, I will uphold you, improve our witness for Christ, in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, Jesus Christ, lawless times, learning God's word, LOVE, meditating on god's word, mercy, moan noisly, neither forsake thee, never permit the righteous to be moved, no man, omnipotent help, problems escalating, prosperity, putting God's word into action, reassuring scripture, salvation, simmering unrest, so will I be with thee, stand strong in the Lord, strong trust in God, success, surrender, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the Lord doth go before thee, the Lord thy God, the Lord thy God with thee whithersoever thou goest, the oppression of the wicked, the plea of the fearful, the right hand of my righteousness, the throne of grace, the troubles of life, the voice of the enemy, the weekend, these things I have spoken unto you, they cast iniquity upon me, times of trouble, trust in God, trusting faith, truth, uncertain times, unexpected storms, ungodly times, wisdom
John 16:33. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’
So, at long last it’s Friday, and we can all shout, ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ And it’s another beautiful, sunshiny one to start the weekend, with reasonable temperatures too. And, as Cousin James, James Brown, would enthusiastically shout: ‘Let’s get on the good foot!’ Yes friends, we need to begin taking our faith and our duties to it more seriously, especially in these lawless and chaotic times, for it’s only our surrender to and strong trust in Jehovah God that will get us through them.
These are very scary and uncertain times that not many of us have ever faced, but because we’ve had some experience with God in previous times of trouble, we do know that He will see us through, if we abide by His will and put our fate in His wonderful, helping and strengthening hands. And the Bible gives us a whole lot of those reassuring scriptures, verses like this one from Isaiah: ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Is. 41:10)
What a beautiful and reassuring verse of scripture my people! And even before that, Moses’ words when he turned over the leadership of Israel to Joshua is an inspiring scripture: “Moses said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:7-8)
And we know how the Lord Himself later on reiterated and pounded Moses’ words into Joshua’s ears after Moses died and he actually took over. First though, He promised Joshua: ‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Josh. 1:5)
Now that’s a wonderful reassurance, but it also came with great responsibility, like we see in verses 7-9. Being strong and courageous and constantly meditating on God’s Word and putting it into practice was essential, because that is what would bring prosperity. And I just LOVE verse 9. ‘Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9)
Oh my people, it couldn’t get any better than that! God Himself is still promising to be with us wherever we go if we put Him first place in our lives. And Bruh David also knew this, that’s why in Psalm 55, The Plea of the Fearful, he cries out: ‘Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn (wander) in my complaint, and make a noise (moan noisily); because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity (bring down trouble) upon me, and in wrath they hate me.’ (Ps. 55:1-3)
And I know that many of us are feeling the same fearful way in these fearful times, and are calling out to God for help, and might not be receiving any. But I beg of you not to give up, for our God is faithful and if He promised it, He will do it. Instead, let’s do like Bruh David; after crying out his complaints to God, he says at the end of the psalm. ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit) the righteous to be moved (shaken). But thou, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody (bloodthirsty) and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: but I will trust in thee.’ (Ps. 55:22-23)
And that last phrase there my brethren ‘but I will trust in thee,’ is probably the most important of all the psalm and of all the scriptures, for without total trust in Almighty God, nothing is going to work for us. Trust is the most important aspect of our walk with Him, because that’s what causes our faith and strength to rise up in times of trouble and uncertainty. We trust Him to look after us. So it’s obvious, that above all else, we need to build our trust in God if we hope to endure the trials and tribulations that will come against us.
However, that trust only comes from learning His Word and putting it in action, standing strong on it when the troubles of life hit, so we can gain the necessary experience that builds our faith. And there are many scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments that encourage us to stand strong in the Lord, but time will only permit us this last one. And it’s this marvellous one from Jesus Himself. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33)
Now, that’s something all of us should be working towards, having peace in Jesus despite the chaos around us. And to help us do it, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid in these times of dire need. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you.
Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And having said all of that, it now behooves us to improve our witness for Christ because it’s definitely not as good as it ought to be, and no divine aid will be forthcoming until we do better. Much LOVE!
…true prosperity and success can only be attained…by knowing God’s Word…and then actioning it in our lives…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
31 Jan 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: as sheep going astray, bare our sins in his own body, be made the righteousness of God in Him, become better witnesses for Christ, being dead to sins, Bible, binds up their wounds, bitter waters, bless the LOrd o my soul, brought upon the Egyptians, by the stripes of Jesus, Christ also suffered for us, christianity, Christians, close communion with God, committed himself, crowns thee with loving-kindness, crying out for your help, diligently hearken to voice of the Lord, disobedience, divine favour, do that which is right in his sight, faith, forget not all his benefits, forgives all thine iniquities, Friday chant, give ear to his commandments, God's sinless Son, he heals the broken in heart, he threatened not, heals all thy diseases, holy spirit, in its death throes, intimacy with god, Jehovah Rapha, Jesus Christ, keep all his statutes, leaving us an example, live unto righteousness, LOVE, made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, Marah, mend our evil ways, neither was guile found in his mouth, now returned unto, obedient to God's will, on the tree, our sinful world, placed on Jesus' shoulders, problems escalating, put none of these diseases on thee, redeems thy life from destruction, relaxation, rest, return backsliders to your fold, reviled not again, salvation, satisfies thy mouth with good things, set free from Satan's evil bondage, tender mercies, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the burden of the world's sin, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the Great healer, the Lord forgives all of our sins, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls, the throne of grace, the workweek, thy youth is renewed like the eagle's, to follow in his steps, to him that judges righteously, truth, unexpected storms, wake up and smell the coffee, when he suffered, when he was reviled, who did no sin, wisdom, wise guidance, without god we are nothing, without me ye can do nothing, worldly frivolity
Psalm 103:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
And then it was that much lauded day called Friday! Yes, the workweek is in its death throes and we’re ever so happy that we can even declare: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend is here at last!’ But let’s not forget that the weekend is not to be simply wasted away in partying and other worldly frivolity, but must also include rest, relaxation and a fair amount of intimacy with God. On the weekend, we need to make up the time we could not spend with God during our busy work week.
And remember it’s all for our benefit, not His. He has everything we want, and we can only get it by going to Him in reverential awe and humble communion. That brings to mind these most beneficial words of Bruh David from Psalm 103: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVINGKINDNESS and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps. 103: 1-5)
Wow mih bredrin! Yuh see how many benefits we get from being in close association with Almighty God? We ought never to forget them, or Him, for without Him, we are absolutely nothing. Jesus said it in no uncertain terms: ‘for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5b) And if you don’t believe Him, then try living this devilish earthly life without Him, and see how far you get. So, let’s check out some of these benefits in a li’l more detail nuh. And the greatest of them all is that he forgiveth all our iniquities. That means the Lord forgives all of our sins. And how does He do that?
Through the sacrifice of His sinless Son’s life on the cross of Calgary. He placed all the burden of the world’s sin on Jesus’ shoulders, so that we could be set free from Satan’s evil bondage and see the bright light of Christ’s resurrected glory. As Bruh Paul writes to the church at Corinth: ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:21) Now, how much more do we want eh? Oh, in our lazy, entitled fashion, we expect it all to happen automatically, but unfortunately it doesn’t. We have to do our part, work at it, by receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour and living the life He desires of us.
Then there is the phrase ‘who healeth all thy diseases.’ What another powerful blessing my people! The Lord not only forgives us of our sins, but He also heals our sicknesses. Who else can do that for us eh? Nobody! Because Jehovah Rapha is the Great Healer. And again, as Isaiah says, it’s by the stripes of Jesus, that we are healed. (Is. 53:5) And if you don’t believe Isaiah because He’s an Old Testament prophet, or the psalmist who declares: ‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds (sorrows).’ (Ps. 147:3) then listen to Peter, who actually walked with Christ on the earth.
He writes in his second epistle: ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps; Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet. 2:21-25) Wise and true words indeed!
But before all of that happened, the Israelites were warned about disobedience, for when they came out of Egypt into the wilderness and could find no water, they began complaining against Moses, and at a place called Marah, Bitter Waters, the Lord allowed Moses to cast a tree into the water and it became sweet and they drank their fill. Then Moses delivered this message. ‘If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.’ (Ex. 15:26)
And we all know the ten plagues that the Lord wrought on the Egyptians, ending with the death of the firstborn and the instituting of the Passover. (Ex. Chapters 7-12) Anyway, time has run out on us, so we’ll continue studying the awesome benefits we derive from close communion with God tomorrow. Right now, let’s go to the throne of grace through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid in these turbulent and fearful times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, let’s remember that we’re not doing such a great job for Christ on the earth right now, that’s why it’s such a mess, but if we would only mend our evil ways and become better witnesses, the Lord will surely look down on us with divine favour. Much LOVE!
…God’s awesome benefits are available…to all who sincerely LOVE the Lord…and are obedient to His will…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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