07 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a leisurely day, anger, at the forefront of our minds, away from have to things, be of good cheer, behooves us, burn out, coddling a pent-up rebellion, come to know and love him like we do, didn't want to go to church, do what we feel like, doing a brisk business, faith, fear, followers of Christ Jesus, foolishness, for His name's sake, get away from the alarm clocks, get away from work family friends, God is a refuge for us, greed, handle our problems properly, hate, he leads me beside the still waters, he leads me in the paths of righteousness, he makes me lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul, holy spirit, hurry, i have overcome the world, I shall not want, I will fear no evil, In God is my salvation and my glory, in god's eyes, in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, insecurity, Jesus Christ, learned a profound lesson, let not your heart be troubled, life is good, lock stock and barrel, lose our focus, lose the capacity for personal enjoyment, LOVE, mental illness, mercy, my hope is from him, my peace I give unto you, my refuge is in God, my soul wait thou only upon God, neither let it be afraid, not as the world gives, of whom shall I be afraid, Once in a while we can, once in a while we can do what we want to, once in awhile we need to walk think meditate, One Year Book of Bible promises, only God can satisfy our deepest longings, our competitive society, Peace i leave with you, personal enjoyment, pour out your hearts before him, pressing commitments, propaganda, rely upon God, reminiscent of our current society, retain our sanity in this crazy world, salvation, Selah, sense of purpose, share His love with my neighbours, share our private secrets with God, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, the beloved of God, the Lord is my light and my salvation, The Lord is my shepherd, the Lord is the strength of my life, the mind doctors, the negatives running rampant in our society, the rock of my strength, the shattering pressures, these things I have spoken unto you, thou art with me, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, to whom we belong, trust in him at all times, trust my friend Jesus, truth, trying to keep up with the world system, unfair systems of the world, whom shall I fear, wisdom, without hurting someone, worry
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
And finally the bright sunshiny days have come to an end! Yes, rain is in the offing for today. We’ve already had a small drizzle, but with all the cloudiness around, we’ll probably have some bigger showers later in the day. And we really can’t complain because we’ve had such beautiful unseasonable weather recently, and though rain might fall, the temperature is still almost summer-like. (smile) So let’s give thanks, for life is good; we’re alive, and the weather is fine!
Now, here’s a very interesting and rather appropriate writing from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. And though I’m sure I’ve shared this one before, it’s worthwhile hearing again, because it’s highly reminiscent of our current society. It’s aptly titled, ‘Once in a While We Can.’
So please read with me: ‘One bright Sunday when I was twelve, I didn’t want to go to church. I wasn’t coddling a pent-up rebellion. I simply pictured a leisurely day away from “have to” things. How to explain and be understood! Finally I just blurted it out as Mother prepared breakfast. She listened attentively. “Honey,” she said calmly, we can’t always do what we feel like doing without hurting someone.” That settled it, I thought. I was sorry I had asked. Suddenly I heard, “But once in a while we can do what we want to – just because we want to. You may stay home this Sunday.”
The memory of that day is still vivid. Not because I stayed home from church, but because I learned a profound lesson: Once in a while we can! Once in a while we can get away from the alarm clocks, peanut butter jars, milk cartons…away from the shattering pressures of our competitive society. Once in a while we need to get away from work, family, friends, and pressing commitments. Often we lose the capacity for personal enjoyment. Once in a while we need to walk, think, and meditate. Only God can satisfy our deepest longings. He longs for us to share our private secrets with Him. Once in a while we can.’
And that my friends is ever so true! In fact, it’s not only we need to do it, but we must do it, if we’re to retain our sanity in this crazy world in which we now live! Everything is fast and quick, busy and now for now, that if every so often we don’t get away from it all, we’ll simply burn out, lose our focus and sense of purpose. And that’s not a very nice picture to contemplate, much less experience.
And all around us, we see the danger in living at the crazy pace our society dictates with the high amount of mental illness and burn out that now exists. Pharmaceuticals for tiredness and mental illness have reached a sky high level, and the mind doctors are doing a brisk business because of the amount of fear, insecurity, greed, anger, hate, and all the other negatives that currently are running rampant throughout our world. And please note that this downward trend is not filled with only unbelievers, but also many believers, who are trying to keep up with the world system, but unfortunately are not doing so well at it.
Why? Because we have forgotten where our hope, health and strength come from. And just to remind us where it comes from, please listen as Bruh David passionately declares: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Ps. 27:1) Yes my fellow believers, as a follower of Christ Jesus, that’s where our health, hope and strength are supposed to come from! Not from the insecure, unfair and uncompromising systems of the world, that so many of us are trying to get them from.
That’s why Bruh David also penned these words in Psalm 62: ‘My soul, (silently) wait thou only upon God; for my expectation (hope) is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved (shaken). In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.’ (Ps. 62:5-8) Now that’s something we ought never to forget, especially when the trials and tribulations of the world come upon us.
And we also need to vividly remember these two poignant and very reassuring verses from Jesus. The first says: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) And the second verse strengthens the first. ‘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, if those two verses from our Lord and Saviour don’t resonate strongly within us, then I don’t know what will.
But hopefully, may be these verses will. (smile) They are the ones listed as the Bible Promise for our reading today. So, please read with me: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:1-4)
And if we keep those scriptures at the forefront of our minds, then we won’t allow the world to drive us crazy with all the foolishness and the propaganda that it purports to be progress and wisdom. Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all the world know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said all of that, it now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…only as we rely upon God…will we be able to handle our problems properly…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
13 Jun 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: amidst all the anxiety and confusion, be as a tree planted by the waters, be fat and flourishing, be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, be responisble, blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, blessed is the man that walketh not in the way of the ungodly, bring forth fruit in their old age, brings forth his fruit in his season, by the example your faithful believers set, cease from bearing fruit, crying out for your help, day and night, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, depart from evil, discontent, dissatisfaction, do good, doesn't take your fancy, dwell for evermore, dwell therein for ever, faith, flourish in the courts of God, Friday chant, God's promises for the righteous, gospel truth, grow in spirituality, grow like a cedar in Lebanon, he delights in his way, he is always merciful and lendeth, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, he shall not be utterly cast down, heavenly Father, her leaf shall be green, his delight is in the law of the Lord, his leaf shall not wither, his seed begging bread, hit the ball out of the park, holy spirit, I have been young and now am old, I have not seen the righteous forsaken, in his law doth he meditate, insufficient Christian witness, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, keep his way, lean on God's everlasting arms, LOVE, mercy, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, nor stands in the way of sinners, not afraid of whatever comes against him, obedience, omnipotent help, our sinful world, positive chages, problems escalating, Psalm 23, restoring faith in you, return backsliders to your fold, righteousness, salvation, shall not be careful in the year of drought, shall not fear when heat comes, show them the error of their ways, spreading our slat and light, spreads out her roots by the river, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, step up to the plate, strong faith in God, strong roots planted in God, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the Lord forsakes not his saints, The Lord is my rock, The Lord is my shepherd, the Lord loves justice, the Lord upholds him with his hand, the necessities of life, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, the righteous shall inherit the land, the seed of the wicked shall be cut off, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, there is no unrighteousness, these ungodly times, they are preserved for ever, though he fall, to enjoy the good life one must live the good life, to shew that the Lord is upright, to show that the Lord is upright, too much a part of the world, trust God's every word, trusting faith, truth, unbelievers could be attracted to jesus, unexpected storms, wait on the Lord, wake up and smell the coffee, whatsoever he does shall prosper, when the wicked are cut off, whose hope the Lord is, wisdom, wise guidance
Psalm 92:12. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (strong and tall).
And then, at long last, it was our favourite workday, Friday. And although the sun’s not as hot and shining as we might like it, with a few clouds overhead, it doesn’t stop those shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ from rising on high. I guess it would take a really terrible Friday to stop those shouts from rising up. (smile) Anyway, since God has spared our lives to see another day on His beautiful planet earth, that’s sadly beset by all kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, let’s keep our promise of yesterday to check out God’s promises for the righteous, having seen how He intends to utterly destroy the wicked.
And one of the best scriptures on God’s blessing on the righteous is found in Psalm 1, aptly titled – Blessings on the Godly. The psalmist opens with this awesome proclamation: ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate (ponder on) day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers (channels) of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.’ (Ps. 1:1-3)
Wow! What a wonderful blessing the Lord proclaims for the righteous! And if that scripture doesn’t take your fancy, then try this one from Psalm 92, titled – Give Thaks to God. The psalmist confidently declares: ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (strong and tall). Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat and flourishing (plump and green); To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps. 92:12-15)
Now, that’s the indisputable truth! There is no unrighteousness whatsoever in the Lord God Almighty! That’s why we can trust His every word and lean on His everlasting arms without fear! And even in their old age, the righteous will still be flourishing bringing forth good fruit, because the Lord is with them. But if you still don’t believe, then try this word from the prophet Jeremiah. ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer. 17:8)
Another wonderful verse of the Lord’s blessing upon the righteous! And you might be wondering why all these metaphors about trees planted by water. That’s because in the old time agrarian society, where farming was a major part of life, it was much easier for them to understand that kind of comparison. And furthermore, when you receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, afterwards you don’t just sit around and do nothing, No, you’re expected to grow in spirituality and obedience, in faith and righteousness.
And what better way to explain that than by talking about trees planted by a plentiful supply of water with long, strong roots that go deep into the ground, and bear good fruit even in a season of drought. That’s how the righteous Christian ought to be; with strong roots planted in God and His Word, not afraid of whatever comes against him because of his strong faith in His Creator and Giver of Life, who blesses Him with all the necessities of life.
And Psalm 37 further tells us: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and am now old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed (descendants) begging bread. He is ever (always) merciful, and lendeth; and his seed (descendants) is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord LOVETH judgement (justice), and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.’ (Ps. 37:23-29)
Now, you cannot want better testimony than that! Straight from the personal experience of Bruh David. He was a man just like us, with all our faults and foibles, but He trusted the Lord with all of his heart, and though his life was not easy, he still ended up victorious because of the Lord’s faithfulness. And he perfectly describes the Lord’s faithfulness and blessings on the righteous in his famous and heartfelt Psalm 23 – the Lord is My shepherd. Perhaps you should take a minute afterwards and check it out and see how rich and wonderful it is in godly faithfulness and blessings. (smile)
In the meanwhile please follow these most reassuring words of Bruh David from Psalm 37. ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.’ (Ps. 37:34) And that’s the gospel truth my people! Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help in these tough and turbulent 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 truthfully, one of the major reasons for the chaotic state of our world is insufficient Christian witness. We have been too much a part of the world, rather than being apart from it and spreading our marvellous salt and light so that the unbelievers could be attracted to Jesus. And if we want to see productive and positive changes in our world, then we have to step up to the plate and hit the ball out of the park. And do it right now! It’s as simple as that my faithful brethren! Much LOVE!
…to enjoy the good life…one must live the good life…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
09 Mar 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: about the tough rows I've hoed, according to his riches in glory, all at once, all things work together for good, and was dead, appreciate what we have, battle to the death, be in good health, be of good cheer, Bible, called according to His purpose, christianity, Christians are not pushovers, consider one another, courage, don't know our right hand from our left, don't worry about that much, Drinking from my Saucer, earthly sojourn, eternal second death, ever-faithful, exhorting one another, faith, fellowship, fight the enemy, giving up is never an option, go along life's journey, God never fails, God will provide for all of our needs, God's strength is made perfect in my weakness, gospel truth, have the keys of hell and death, He is faithful that promised, hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, holy spirit, I am alive for evermore, I am he that liveth, I encourage you today, i have overcome the world, I pronounce a blessing on your life, I shall not want, I thank God for all his blessings, I'm already blessed enough, I'm happy anyhow, I've got a friend in jesus, I've never made a fortune, I'll not ask for other blessings, if God gives me strength, in Jesus economy, in me ye might have peace, in the name of Jesus, Jabez, Jesus Christ, learn to be contented, like clockwork, living in LOVE, Lord help me not to grumble and complain, LOVE, mano a mano, may I never be too busy, mercy, my faith wore somewhat thin, never never give up, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, our cup is overflowing, our Triune God, reaping better than I sow, remain steadfast in faith, salvation, sometimes the going's rough, staying faithful, stop complaining, sweet sacrifices of praise, thanks be to God who gives us the victory, that makes me rich enough, the dark clouds broke, the last days, The Lord is my shepherd, the mercies he's bestowed, the sun peeped through again, times things went wrong, to go on living, to help others bear their loads, to provoke unto love and good works, to them that love God, too late now, trials and tribluations, truth, upon your family, We can do all things through Christ, when the way grows steep and rough, wisdom, you must prosper, you see the day approaching
Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Oh friends, if there’s one thing we know it’s that one day follows the next like clockwork, because that’s the way God made it. That means Sunday always follows Saturday, which further means that it’s time for true believers in Jesus Christ to gather in His sanctuary, or wherever possible, to engage in fellowship with Him and with each other. And we’ll open today’s fellowship with a true and sincere song by Jamaican Gospel Artiste Jabez, titled ‘Drinking From My Saucer, from his album God Never Fails!
And we all know that as gospel truth! So let’s offer up some sweet sacrifices of praise in a mid tempo, soulful rendition of this truth-laden song. But before we sing, we pray: ‘We Worship You Lord, we worship You with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds.’ Then, singing: ‘I’ve Never Made A Fortune, And It’s Probably Too Late Now, Oh, but I Don’t Worry About That Much, Cause I’m Happy Anyhow. And As I Go Along Life’s Journey, I’m Reaping Better Than I Sow. I’m Drinking From My Saucer, Because My Cup Has Overflowed.
I haven’t Got A Lot Of Riches, And Sometimes The Going’s Rough, But I’ve Got a friend in Jesus, And That Makes Me Rich Enough. I Thank God For all His Blessings on me, And The Mercies He’s Bestowed. I’m Drinking From My Saucer Because My Cup Has Overflowed. I Remember Times When Things went Wrong, And my Faith Wore Somewhat Thin, But All At Once The Dark Clouds Broke, And the Sun Peeped Through Again,’
(Monologue:) ‘You know, right now you may be going through some rough times in your life, but I’m here to encourage you today, not to give up. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! I pronounce a blessing upon your life, upon your family. You must prosper and be in good health in the name of Jesus. I believe it with all my heart.’
(Singing:) ‘So Lord, Help Me Not To Grumble and complain About The Tough Rows That I’ve Hoed. I’m Drinking From My Saucer Because My Cup Has Overflowed. And If God Gives Me Strength And Courage to go on living, When The Way Grows Steep And Rough I’ll Not Ask For Other Blessings Jesus, For I’m Already Blessed Enough, And May I Never Be Too Busy, To Help Others Bear Their Loads, Then I’ll Keep Drinking From My Saucer Lord, Because My Cup Has Overflowed! Yes, I’ll keep drinking from my saucer Lord, Cause my cup has overflowed, Oh my cup has overflowed…. Yes My cup has overflowed… Thank You Lord, that my cup has overflowed…’
Ah mih people, almost all of us believers can agree on the truth of those words, encompassing the many trials we’ve experienced, but also the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us during our lifetime, especially in those times when we didn’t know our right hand from our left, or what step to take next. And that’s the beauty of our Triune God, He saves us, just when we’re about to go under. And though we might never accumulate many riches, we will always be contented if we walk with the Lord, for as Bruh David says in Psalm 23: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Ps.23:1)
Now that should stop all worries, but He’s also promised that we can do all things through His strength, (Phil. 4:13) and will provide for all our needs, (Phil. 4:19), as well as His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9) And we all know one of His many names is Ever-Faithful, so what’s there to be worried about eh?
Remember what the author of Hebrews also writes: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:23-25)
Yes friends, that’s what we ought to be doing: staying faithful, living in LOVE, gathering to celebrate our faith and encouraging each other to do good works. And that’s especially important in these evil and ungodly times, when it seems like the last days are upon us. Now, more than ever, we need to be strong and take on the enemy, mano a mano and let him know that we Christians are not pushovers, but mighty in Christ Jesus, willing to battle him to the death!
And although many of us are still finding the going tough, believe me, we’re living better than most of the world, so let’s stop complaining and appreciate all that we have, for compared to may others, our cup is truly overflowing, so that we must drink from our saucer. Let’s also remember, that in Jesus’ economy, giving up is never an option. Those words don’t occur in His vocabulary.
And we need to hold on to this awesome promise found in Romans: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28) That assures us that although things might go wrong during our earthly sojourn, in the end, the Lord will make it all right. Remember how Cousin Sol said it in Ecclesiastes: ‘Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.’ (Eccl. 7:8)
In other words, ‘The end of a matter being better than the beginning highlights the importance of perseverance. We are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith and actions.’ And that’s what following Jesus is all about; remaining steadfast and strong, true and faithful, despite the trials and tribulations we will undoubtedly face. And what better words to end with than these most reassuring one from Jesus, where He encourages the disciples thus: ‘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)
And we know that’s true because Bruh Paul says it in his first letter to the Corinthians: ‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor, 15:57) Meaning that ‘Jesus broke the power of sin and its relationship to death. His death on the cross paid for our sins so that believers will not face the eternal second death. His resurrection from the dead conquered death.’ And if you don’t believe Bruh Paul, you might believe Jesus Himself when He says to John in Revelation: ‘I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and death.’ (Rev. 1:18)
Now, if you can’t believe Jesus, then something’s seriously wrong with your faith, and you’d better check it out immediately. Much LOVE!
…though trials will come…if we stand steadfast and true…the faithful promises of God…will help us triumph over them…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
02 Dec 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a merciful forgiving and gracious God, a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, abundant provision, all the days of my life, alleviate our problems, divine aid, faith, flying wingman for you, for His name's sake, God's goodness, grin and bear it, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul, holy spirit, honoured position, humble servants, I am the good shepherd, I bless you and praise your holy name, I know my sheep and are known of mine, I shall not want, I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, I will fear no evil, in the presence of mine enemies, Jehovah Rapha, Jesus Christ, Jesus riding shotgun, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, leads me beside still waters, leads me in the paths of righteousness, let not your heart be troubled, LOVE, mass confusion, mercy, my cup runneth over, my peace I give to you, neither be afraid, not as the world giveth, pain, pray, repentance, salvation, separation from Almighty God, shame, sincerely seek your face, sinned and disobeyed your Word, strong faith in Christ, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, the God who heals, the King of Kings, The Lord is my shepherd, the Lord of lords, the peace of Christ, the peace of God which passeth all understading, thou anointest my head with oil, thou art with me, thou preparest a table before me, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, truth, turn from our evil ways, winter's finally arrived, wisdom, wise guidance, without faith it is impossible to please God
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Well friends, it’s seems like winter has finally arrived, with minus temperatures and flurries of the white stuff happening in my area. However, cottage country, just north of the Greater Toronto Area, was bombarded with oodles of snow early in the weekend, so badly that roads were closed and thousands out of power. I guess it’s only a matter of time before we get our fair share down here. But one can only grin and bear it, especially when you have the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, Jesus Christ, flying wingman for you. (smile)
Oh my people, Jesus is all we ever need, for with Him running our lives through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, we will not want for anything. Like Bruh David declares with such assuredness in his most famous psalm: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ (Ps. 23:1) The question now is do we believe that statement as strongly as Bruh David did when he wrote it? We better had, otherwise we’ll lose out on so much of God’s goodness and mercy by being unsure and insecure.
Remember what Hebrews says: ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb. 11:6) Yes friends, it’s of the utmost importance that we believe God is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do, if we want to enjoy benefits like what Bruh David continues to write about in Psalm 23. ‘He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.’ (Ps. 23:2)
How wonderful is that peace which God provides to those who believe and diligently seek Him! It cannot be beaten by anything or anyone the world has to offer. As Jesus so rightly characterized His peace: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) And why don’t we need to be troubled or afraid when we have the peace of Jesus? Because, as Bruh Paul explains to the Philippians: ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:7)
Yes my fellow believers, the peace that Jesus gives is one that far surpasses anything that can be found on earth, because it is the peace of Almighty God Himself! And with the peace of Jesus riding shotgun by his side, Bruh David could afford to write: ‘He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’ (Ps. 23:3) Of course, when you are filled with the Holy Spirit of Jesus, He restores your soul and helps you to walk a path of righteous behaviour. That’s why the Holy Spirit indwells us; to help with those tough endeavours!
And Bruh David takes it up several notches when he adamantly proclaims: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4) Wow! What an awesome declaration! (chuh!!!) Can you imagine walking through the valley of the shadow of death without fear? Only if Jesus is the your Guide and Protector! And please notice that Bruh David specifies ‘walking through’ not stopping in ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’ He’s assured that he will make it safely through because Jesus is the Number ONE person in his heart!
And he gets even bolder and more courageous on the Lord’s strength as he continues: ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.’ (Ps. 23:5) Now that’s certainly something to think about! We must be very important to the Lord for him to do all those extraordinary things for us. And so we are, as Bruh David concludes: ‘Surely goodness and mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS) shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ (Ps. 23:6)
And why not, for that is the eventual reward for belief, obedience, trust and faithfulness in Almighty God; He of Abraham, Issacc and Jacob! Ah my fellow saints, the psalm is simple but powerful, as it depicts God as our shepherd, who guides, protects, and provides us with a good life. We are the sheep of His pasture who follow Him closely. As Jesus says: ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of them.’ (John 10:14)
And I like how the scholars characterize our relationship to God. ‘The believer is more than a dependent sheep, however; he is also like an honoured guest, since the Lord prepares a table for him. Connected with this honoured position is abundant provision, vindication before one’s enemies, an eternal celebration of God’s goodness.’ Now it doesn’t get any better than that, so why do we still hobnob with the old devil Satan who can do absolutely nothing good for us, just cause us pain and shame and eternal separation from God?
It’s therefore high time to remove him from our lives, and to help us do that, let’s go to the throne of grace through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, seeking divine aid in these times of dire need. Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems.
Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems.
Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’
And it should be obvious that we won’t receive any divine aid until we do like our prayer indicates; that’s humble ourselves, turn from our evil ways and sincerely seek God! Much LOVE!
…with Jesus as our Good shepherd…who needs anyone else…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
29 Oct 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: crapaud smoke we pipe, Drinking from my Saucer, dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, faith, fellowship, goodness and mercy shall follow me, holy spirit, I am the door of the sheep, I am the good shepherd, I lay down my life for the sheep, I shall not want, I've got a friend in Jesus, in the fires of hell, Jesus Christ, LOVE, mercy, my cup runneth over, never give up, never too busy to help others, reaping better than I sow, sacrificial praise, salvation, the dark clouds broke, the joy of the Lord is our strength, The Lord is my shepherd, the sun peeped through again, there shall be one fold and one shepherd, truth, wisdom
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
And that day which the Lord declared sacred and special, Sunday, has come around again friends, meaning it’s also time to gather in the Lord’s sanctuary for fellowship and worship, with a joyful rejuvenation of our souls and spirits. Remember the joy of the Lord is our strength, (Neh. 8:10) so when we gather together, His joy percolates through us making us strong and confident in this evil world in which we live. And today we’ll open our worship celebration with a song that reminds us of the never-ending goodness of God, of His marvellous mercies and grace to the children of men who hold Him in high esteem.
The song is aptly titled ‘Drinking from My Saucer’ and is performed by Jamaican gospel artist Javenius Walker, better known as Jabez. It’s a bright and soulful ditty, so let’s get into soulful mode and offer up heartfelt sacrifices of praise to heaven. And the song opens with these spoken words of praise: ‘We Worship You Lord, we worship You with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds.’ Then we burst into soulful song: ‘I’ve Never Made A Fortune, And It’s Probably Too Late Now, Oh but I Don’t Worry About That Much, Cause I’m Happy Anyhow. And As I Go Along Life’s Journey, I’m Reaping Better Than I Sow. I’m Drinking From My Saucer, Because My Cup Has Overflowed.
I haven’t Got A Lot Of Riches, And Sometimes The Going’s Rough, But I’ve Got a friend in Jesus, And That Makes Me Rich Enough. I Thank God For all His Blessings on me, And The Mercies He’s Bestowed. I’m Drinking From My Saucer Because My Cup Has Overflowed. I Remember Times When Things went Wrong, And my Faith Wore Somewhat Thin, But All At Once The Dark Clouds Broke, And the Sun Peeped Through Again,’
(Monologue: ‘You know, right now you may be going through some rough times in your life, but I’m here to encourage you today, not to give up. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! I pronounce a blessing upon your life, upon your family. You must prosper and be in good health in the name of Jesus. I believe it with all my heart.’)
Singing: ‘So Lord, Help Me Not To Grumble and complain About The Tough Rows That I’ve Hoed. I’m Drinking From My Saucer Because My Cup Has Overflowed. And If God Gives Me Strength And Courage to go on living, When The Way Grows Steep And Rough I’ll Not Ask For Other Blessings Jesus, For I’m Already Blessed Enough, And May I Never Be Too Busy, To Help Others Bear Their Loads, Then I’ll Keep Drinking From My Saucer Lord, Because My Cup Has Overflowed! Yes, I’ll keep drinking from my saucer Lord, Cause my cup has overflowed, Oh my cup has overflowed…. Yes My cup has overflowed…’
And that’s the unblemished truth my people, because some of us have been so blessed by the Lord God Almighty that we don’t know what to do with ourselves! (smile) Now, although there are many scriptures that can be applied to different parts of the song, the scripture that I believe best encompasses the whole song are those marvellous words penned by Bruh David, that we call Psalm 23,or more precisely, ‘the Lord is My Shepherd.’ And if you don’t believe me, there’s no better way to make my point than by us declaring it (chuh!!!).
So please pray with me: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ (Ps. 23:1-6)
Wow mih bredrin! That surely reads like the song! All the tough times and trials we go through in this earthly life are covered, made up for by our wonderful God, our mighty and ever-LOVING Shepherd! That’s what the shepherd is all about; taking care of the sheep, and Jehovah God does indeed take care of those who follow obediently in His fold. And one of the reasons why I believe that psalm captures our imaginations so much is because we know that Bruh David lived the words he wrote.
He didn’t have an easy life, and paid dearly for his mistakes, but through it all, he never strayed far from the Lord, and consequently the Lord gave him the desires of his heart, made him a mighty warrior, a LOVING and generous soul, and when all was said and done the most powerful and adored king that Israel ever had. Bruh David himself learned the tough lessons out in fields looking after his father’s sheep, so he was very conversant with a shepherd’s duties and thus could write from personal experience, that’s why the psalm is so real.
And let’s not forget that Jesus referred to Himself as a shepherd, the Good Shepherd. And He knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him and will not follow another. Furthermore, He went on to boldly proclaim: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:7-11)
And that’s exactly what Jesus did for us my fellow believers; gave His sinless life on the cross of Calvary for our salvation. And since then He’s been looking after us as well as can be expected given our sinful and disobedient ways. So how can we not say that He is indeed our Good Shepherd eh? We cannot, if we are being truthful. And Jesus continues with the shepherd analogy. ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one shepherd.’ (John 10:14-16)
Now, we had better give a big ‘Thank You!’ to Jesus for including us Gentiles in His fold, for we are the other sheep He was referring to. And if hadn’t included us, then crapaud would surely smoke we pipe down in the fires of hell with Satan! Ah my fellow saints, I jut can’t understand why so many of us refuse to believe in Jesus, when He’s the best option we have in this topsy-turvy, chaotic and evil world. But as they say, there are no accounting for taste buds. And all I can say to those unbelievers is, as for me and my house, we will follow Jesus, right down the very end. And I sincerely hope you’ll join me there. Much LOVE!
…the sheep that doesn’t follow its shepherd…will eventually get lost and be forsaken…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
08 Oct 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a blessed sign, a rainbow, a spirit of power love and a sound mind, all the days of my life, an honoured guest, beside the still waters, covenant people, do it afraid, dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, eternal life, fear no evil, For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, for His name's sake, goodness and mercy shall follow me, HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA!, I shall not want, in the presence of mine enemies, lie down in green pastures, my cup runneth over, preparest a table before me, protector and provider, Ray Conniff Singers, restoreth my soul, sacrifices of praise, sheep dependent on their shepherd, stick to God like white on rice, successes, the 23 Psalm, the God of his fathers, the Holy One of Israel, The Lord is my shepherd, the paths of righteousness, the role of God, the valley of the shadow of death, thou anointest my head with oil, thy rod and staff, thy rod and thy staff comfort me, trials, uplifting sentiments, wisdom to the nth degree
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!
Oh friends, yesterday evening I was travelling on the highway around 6 p.m. and was guided to look up to the heavens, and what did I see? A glorious rainbow arcing over the highway from north to south. And it wasn’t one of those thin ones you usually see, but a big, thick one shining forth in all its glory. And as I gazed at it in wonder, I noticed that my windshield was getting blurry.
Much to my surprise, in all the sunshine, a thin drizzle of rain had begun falling. And it only fell for a couple of minutes. Then a couple of minutes later, when I looked for the rainbow, I didn’t see it. I don’t know if I had simply driven past it, or it disappeared. And you can call me foolish, but I took it as a blessed sign on this long Thanksgiving weekend, for I have not seen a rainbow, and one as thick as that, in quite some time. (smile)
Now, let’s get to some worship on this Sunday morning in the Lord’s sanctuary. And today we’ll open with possibly the second most favourite prayer in our faith…The 23 Psalm, better known as the Lord is My Shepherd. Those wonderful words of faith and encouragement penned by Bruh David most likely in one of his most difficult and trying moments when his faith in the God of his fathers definitely shone through. The Holy One of Israel who had been his strength and deliverer in both his trials and successes.
We couldn’t have a more appropriate song for today! And since it’s a song of joy and good news, we’re not going to do a dirge-like version that seems to be so popular. No sir, we’re going to sing a sweet, scintillating up tempo version, like that done by the Ray Conniff Singers, with beautiful voices raising sincere sacrifices of praise to high heaven.
Singing: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever…Yes, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever…for ever…for ever and ever…’
Oh my my! What beautiful music my people! What moving and uplifting sentiments! Short and simple but capturing the whole essence of our faith! And I must share the wonderful explanation provided by the scholars. They say: ‘The psalm has been a favourite of God’s people through the ages and with due reason: it expresses as simply and clearly as any the role of God as our protector and provider in life.
The charm of the psalm rests on two figures of speech: the Lord is compared to a shepherd and the believer to His sheep (vs. 1-4); then the Lord is likened to a host with the believer as the guest (vs. 5-6). The image of the Lord as a shepherd is a frequent one in both the Old Testament (Is. 40:11; Jer. 31:10) and the New Testament (John 10:11-16; Heb. 13:20).’ That’s because the society back then was agrarian, dealing with the cultivation of land and the herding of animals, so the analogy to the Lord as a shepherd would be readily understood.
And the scholars continue: ‘Believers are never pictured in Scripture as mighty lions, independent and self-sufficient; rather, they are sheep who are dependent on their Shepherd for His provision and protection. However, the believer is more than a dependent sheep; he is also like an honoured guest, since the Lord prepares a table for him (vs. 5) Connected with this honoured position is abundant provision, vindication before one’s enemies, and eternal celebration of God’s goodness.’
Wow! How could you get any better looking after than that eh mih people? No way Jose! Our God is undeniable the Greatest! And it doesn’t mean that we don’t have problems, but He brings us through them and works it all out eventually for our eternal good! And for my money, the most evocative, the most expressive of all the sentiments is the one expressed by the first line: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ Yes friends, Bruh David could have stopped right there, and we would have known full well what he meant. The rest of the psalm is just an explanation of the first line, outlining what a shepherd does for his flock, and in this case what our great God Jehovah does for His covenant people.
But nonetheless, each sentiment offers encouragement for the believer. How could not lying in green pastures beside still, calm waters not encourage us eh? Then generously restoring or refurbishing our souls, while leading us along righteous paths… No other supposed god has ever promised those things. They only want to take from you, while our God desires only to give in return for our faithfulness.
Now this next verse is indeed a big one: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4) Mama Mia! What courage and strength our God engenders and imbues in us! That’s certainly reminiscent of Bruh Paul’s words to Timothy: ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind). (2 Tim. 1:7)
Glory be my faithful brethren! The courage our God instills in us helps us to overcome the greatest fear. Or as sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) likes to say, we overcome fear by faith, and even if we are beset by fear, we nonetheless do the Lord’s work afraid, because we know that He is with us all the way. And who says our God isn’t audacious eh, that’s daring and intrepid? Boldfaced, boldfaced, He prepares a table of goodies before us in the presence of our enemies. Which other God has the parts to do that eh? NONE!
On top of all that, He LOVINGLY anoints us with oil, while our cup runs over with abundance! And as always, we’ve left the best part for last: ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ (Ps. 23:6) Yes, my fellow saints, that’s what we said, and it’s exactly what we mean…we will dwell in the Lord’s sparkling mansion with Him, have eternal life, spend eternity with Him…for ever and ever and ever…
And if after all we’ve said above there you don’t want to embrace that wonderful Shepherd and all that He stands for, then there’s nothing I can do about it. But yuh know what? As for me and my house we will embrace Him as tightly as we can; stick to him like white on rice! For that’s wisdom to the nth degree! Please have a blessed and enjoyable Thanksgiving! Much LOVE!
…only if you join the fold of the Good Shepherd…will you enjoy goodness and mercy…and live for ever and ever…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
01 Sep 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a badge of honour, a future and a hope, busyness, coddling a pent-up rebellion, don't know whether we're coming or going, drunk or sober mind your business, embrace your love and compassion, for His name's sake, Friday chant, get away from alarm clocks, God has our best interest at heart, he leadeth me beside still waters, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he restoreth my soul, I know the thoughts I think toward you, I shall not want, introduce a new flock of believers, labour day weekend, LOVE, Once in a while we can, once in a while we can do what we want to, One Year Book of Bible promises, only God can satisfy our deepest longings, our competitive society, return backsliders to your fold, running on the treadmill of life, show them the error of their ways, simmering unrest, take a break, the constantly spinning merry-go-round of life, The Lord is my shepherd, the shattering pressures, the unexpected storms, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end, wake up and smell the coffee, wise guidance
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
And as we open our day and say ‘TGIF Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend is here at last!’ we are beholding a bright, new, sunshiny day, as well as a new month, that of September, which unfortunately spells the end of the summer vacation season, and a return to work and school. But them’s the breaks, as Job so rightly said, we can’t expect to have all good and no bad, at least what we consider bad. (Job 2:10)
Now, if the weather forecasters are to be believed, September is supposed to come in like a lion with a week of hot temps, and not like the lamb it usually is, bringing cold temps after Labour Day. And this is the Labour Day long weekend, so you know the partying will be plentiful, but I’m pleading with us, to not overdo the celebrations, and as Granny would say: ‘Sonny boy, please, ah beg yuh, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business!’ Yes friends, this weekend, please, let’s all mind our business, and let’s be sober, rather than the former state nuh. (smile)
Now here’s an interesting and encouraging tidbit from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s titled ‘Once in a While We Can.’ So please read with me: ‘One bright Sunday when I was twelve, I didn’t want to go to church. I wasn’t coddling a pent-up rebellion. I simply pictured a leisurely day away from “have to” things. How to explain and be understood! Finally I just blurted it out as Mother prepared breakfast.
She listened attentively. “Honey,” she said calmly, “we can’t always do what we feel like doing without hurting someone.” That settled it, I thought. I was sorry I had asked. Suddenly I heard. “But once in a while we can do what we want to – just because we want to. You may stay home this Sunday.” The memory of that day is still vivid. Not because I stayed home from church, but because I learned a profound lesson. Once in a while we can!
Once in a while we can get away from alarm clocks, peanut-butter jars, milk cartons… away from the shattering pressures of our competitive society. Once in a while we need to get away from work, family, friends, and pressing commitments. Often we lose the capacity for personal enjoyment. Once in a while we need to walk, think, and meditate. Only God can satisfy our deepest longings. He longs for us to share our private secrets with Him. Once in a while we can.’
And is all of that ever so true my fellow believers! Our world is so competitive, so busy and running 24/7 that we can’t always be running on the treadmill of life and be successful. No! Sometimes we just have to get off of the constantly rolling treadmill, take a break from the constantly spinning merry-go-round and refresh ourselves. Take some time for us to think and walk peacefully, not at the pace our world wants to go. And in those quiet and thoughtful moments, our thoughts ought to be centered on our Creator, Almighty God, the ONLY ONE who can truly satisfy the longings of our troubled and tired souls.
Ah friends, our world is so busy, with most of us busy but going nowhere fast, or nowhere at all. Busyness these days is looked upon as a badge of honour. And it’s the number one excuse for not keeping our promises. ‘Oh, I was so busy!’ Busy doing what? Stuff the world considers important, but God considers unimportant! The world has us running so fast that oftentimes we don’t know whether we’re coming or going. It’s time to stop and consider our priorities my people. That is if we want to make it to the end, all in one piece.
And the only way to do that is by having the Lord God Jehovah as our Number One Priority, while following His will and plan for our lives. Remember what He says in Jeremiah? ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you and expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) Now does the devil have your best interest at heart? No way! He just wants you to do his evil will and couldn’t care less what happens to you, once you do it.
But our great God is different. He always has our best interest at heart, because He truly cares about us. We’re His creation and He wants us to spend eternity with Him, not with the evil Satan. That’s why He went so far as to send His sinless Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross at Calvary so our sins could be bought and paid for with his precious blood. Now doesn’t that spell compassion and care? It certainly does.
And before I forget, (smile) let’s see what’s the Bible Promise for today’s writing. And boy oh boy, it’s these marvelous words of Bruh David, but in the NLV translation. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green pastures; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name.’
I’m sorry though friends, that translation doesn’t cut it for me. So, let’s declare (yesss!!!) the real McCoy nuh. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’ (Ps. 23:1-3) Now that sounds more like it! And yes, I am biased towards the King James Version! (smile)
Now let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking help for our many earthly problems. 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 having committed all of that to prayer, it will be in our best interest to keep our promises and improve our evil ways. Much LOVE!
…the Chrisitan life should not be a constant merry-go-round…every so often…we need to come off and take a break…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
06 Jun 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all the days of my life, chickens have finally come home to roost, claiming God's help through the wilderness, climate patterns compromised, excessive amounts of rain causing floods, for His name's sake, God come through all the time, God is never late, God will never leave you in the lurch, goodness and mercy shall follow me, he leadeth me beside still waters, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he restoreth my soul, help me not to despair, hurry, I am weak weary and worn, I shall not want, I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, I will fear no evil, in the presence of mine enemies, LOVE, man should pray and not faint, no heavenly blessings of rain, share His love with my neighbours, stop climate change from getting worse, the 23rd Psalm, the beloved of God, the faint of heart, The Lord is my shepherd, the promise, thou preparest a table before me, though I walk through the valley of death, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, Tuesday Mantra, waiting with bated breath, wildfires from coast to coast, worry, you are true to your word
Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Welcome to Tuesday my people, more sunshine, cool weather and polluted air, but no heavenly blessings. Several times yesterday, the skies darkened as though getting ready to release some precipitation, but nothing happened; those dark clouds eventually drifted away with the promise of rain unfulfilled. Our once steady and reliable climate patterns have been thoroughly compromised, so much so that nowadays we don’t know what to expect weatherwise.
And the wildfire season has certainly began with a bang, all over North America. I thought it was somewhat early for that to start, but apparently not, (smile) as they are burning from one coast of the continent to the other. However, in some other places there’s a plethora, excessive amounts of rain, that’s causing deadly flood situations. As they would say, it’s either feast or famine.
The fine balance of God’s weather setup has eventually been thrown out of sync by mankind’s selfish and greedy methods of living and producing. Hundreds of years of putting carcinogens and other deadly stuff in the atmosphere, the earth and the water, those chickens have finally come home to roost, as we were warned that they would. But man’s stubborn pride and greed, particularly those of the rich and powerful class, made him ignore those warnings, and now we’re all paying the price.
And unbelievably, some of us are still denying the existence of climate change, when its many tentacles are showing up all around our world. Thankfully though, some of that message is finally getting through to some of the rich and powerful as they suffer the consequences, and at last, they are trying to do something to clean up the sordid mess we’ve made of God’s wonderful planet. Let’s hope it’s not too late, and even if we cannot reverse the situation, that we can at least prevent it from getting worse.
But thankfully, as with all the troubles and calamities that we believers in Christ Jesus are forced to go through on this evil and sinful earth, we are assured that we ought not to fear. Yes, we ought to pray and not faint or give up, because we have the many faith-filled promises of our omnipotent God to hold on to. And though that’s not always easy to do, most of us find a way, with God’s help obviously to do it. Today, I want to share a poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin that’s associated with our faith and trust in Almighty God, and most appropriately, it’s simply titled ‘The Promise.’
So please read and inwardly digest with me. (smile) ‘O dear God, I continue to believe Your personal promise still stands Though every quivering emotion within Shouts that it will be broken. I am claiming Your help through the wilderness Despite every frightening shadow and vale. Often You do the most When You seem to do the least. Sometimes secretly Sometimes quietly Often slowly But always most certainly You are true to Your word. And so, my Lord Though I am weak, weary, and worn Help me not to despair. You see me, You hear me. You know I am depending utterly Upon Your unblemished integrity Surely You will keep Your word.’
Most assuredly He will my faithful brethren! The Lord has not failed one person as yet who has put their unmitigated trust in Him…and He NEVER will! The problem usually lies with us, we either don’t fully trust Him, or because we don’t see quick and obvious results, we figure He’s not around and not working. But as the poem says, when God seems to be doing the least, He’s actually doing the most, but we just can’t see what He’s doing in the background to set up the answers to our prayers and petitions.
And, as He sometimes works secretly, He also moves quietly, with no fanfare, and we all know that He very often moves slowly. That’s the bane of our existence, the plague and ruination of many of our best laid plans and desires. (smile) Waiting on God’s timing is possibly the biggest drawback that many of us believers face. And I can tell from personal experience that as the time is drawing near for the bottom to drop out the bucket and the Lord hasn’t shown up as yet, it’s one of the worst feeling we can ever go through.
But, until you believe that He’s NEVER late, and will NEVER leave you in the lurch, you’ll always be plagued by His less than early entrances. Sadly though, you can only learn that most important lesson by going through the fire of waiting with bated breath several times, until you see that He comes through EVERY time. It’s like most things in this life, you only learn by experience, by going through them more than once, until you get accustomed to them. And strong faith in our great God is one of those things we can only learn by experiencing the hard times and seeing Him come through for us, though often right at the very end.
That’s the Lord’s style, and unfortunately we can’t do anything to change it. I guess He just likes to test our faith to see if we’re truly the believers we claim to be. And what’s the Bible Promise for today’s poem you ask? You won’t be surprised to know that it’s none other than these marvellous sustaining and reassuring words of Bruh David found in the 23rd Psalm. Let’s say them together to give our faith a big boost. ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’ (Ps. 13:1-3)
Yes friends, that’s as far as the promise for the poem goes. But even in those three short verses oodles of wonderful promises are to be found. For example, the wise guidance of the shepherd, and lack for nothing under His careful watch. And what about lying down in green pastures beside quiet waters eh? Wow! I could certainly use some of that right now! Then the restoration of one’s soul, and the leading of one in paths of righteousness. Where can we ever find better promises than those eh? NOWHERE!
And that’s not the end of it either, there’s much more to come. So, let’s read the rest of that most invigorating and uplifting psalm. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy (LOVING-kindness) shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ (Ps. 23:4-6)
Oh mih people, what wonderful words of reassurance in God’s bountiful kingdom! Yuh know if Bruh David had never written another word, that poem, that mantra to the faithfulness of God would have been sufficient to make his name great, for I believe it’s the most well-known and prayed prayer after the Lord’s Prayer. And now, having had our faith replenished and renewed, (smile) let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, proudly letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it’s time to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with all we meet, so that they too can come to know and LOVE him like we do! Much LOVE!
…believing in Christ is not for the faint of heart…but if you believe…He will strengthen your heart…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
11 Apr 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a sure recipe for hellfire and damnation, abide in me and I in you, all these things shall be added unto you, ask for patience, be not wise in thine own eyes, colourful camaraderie, Easter Tuesday, fly be the seat of your pants, Goat race in Buccoo, God is with us, hurry, I am the vine ye are the branches, in both the panful and good moments, lack of passion, lean not unto thine own understanding, let us pray, live high on the hog, LOVE, presence of mind, ride the difficult waves with God, seek first the kingdom of God, share His love with my neighbours, skip the hart parts of life, the beloved of God, The Lord is my shepherd, too much to bear, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, without me ye can do nothing, worry
Proverbs 3:5.Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
It’s Easter Tuesday friends, and the celebrations continue! And today, all roads are leading to the picturesque seaside town of Buccoo in sweet Tobago, for the latest edition of their fabulous day of goat racing. And would you believe that the goat races have become so popular over the years that they built a special stadium just to hold them. (smile) I believe though that it’s a multipurpose stadium, but goat racing was apparently the driving engine to build it. But like so many events that seem to have made progress, this new scenario has lost some of the spontaneity and passion. It’s well organized and everybody sits down and watches now.
Where it was previously though, in an open field between a group of houses, the passion and enthusiasm were sky high, as everyone stood on the sidelines right next to the racing strip. There were also crab races back then too. But the best part was that in several houses around the area a scintillating party would be happening: before, during and after the races, with the firewater making itself felt in the crowd. (smile) Those were the days though, when everything wasn’t so well organized and sometimes you flew by the seat of your pants, but that’s usually when you are more creative and enthusiastic.
And brother…it would certainly be nice to be in Tobago now, enjoying the sunshine and the cool sea breezes while relaxing in the calm, beautifully blue sea, feeling the amazing propensity it has for easing the stress and pain in my mature, less than flexible body, (smile) then going to the goat races to check out the food and the colourful camaraderie that’s a major part of the celebration. Now that’s what dreams are made of…but one day soon… one day soon…
However, today I want to share this short and simple but very interesting and to the point prayer I found in the March edition of the In Touch Daily devotional. It is simply titled, ‘Let Us Pray.’ So please do that with me. ‘Lord, sometimes I wish I could skip the hard parts of my life. Some days they’re just too much to bear. But I know you’re with me in the painful moments just as much as in the good ones. So today I ask for patience – to gently ride those difficult waves with You. For attentiveness – to look for You at unlikely turns. For presence of mind – to remember the highs and lows are both opportunities to be with You. Help me experience the richness of this life You created. Amen!’
Yes friends, it’s a simple prayer, but it touches all the important bases in our everyday lives – the patience, attentiveness and presence of mind. If we are solidly grounded in those three things we can’t go wrong, since they will keep us close to and in touch with out heavenly Father, and once we are ensconced in His righteousness and LOVE, everything else will be clear sailing. As Christ said so clearly in the Sermon on the Mount. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33)
And He means what He says. If you keep God first place in your life, then all the necessities of life will come your way. As Bruh David so succinctly and sweetly puts it: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Ps. 23:1) And is that ever the gospel truth my fellow believers! We won’t necessarily get rich, or live high on the hog, although that is certainly possible, but we’ll never face times of serious want. And a lot of times that we face a state of want, it’s because we’re not keeping God first place. These words from Cousin Sol in Proverbs 3, which we all know, but don’t properly follow, also reverberate with that wisdom.
He writes: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear (reverence) the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength, refreshment) to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance (possessions), and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses (vats) shall burst out with new wine.’ (Prov. 3:5-10)
Now what’s in those few short sentences that we don’t understand eh? They are as clear as day: Put your trust and faith in the Lord and not in your own strength, and life will go well with you. Both Cousin Sol and Bruh David are speaking from personal experiences. So, if they, who were frail and fragile men just like us, and even made many more serious mistakes than some of us will ever make, could do it and prosper, why can’t we eh? And it’s not like it’s rocket science; but simply trust and obedience. But no, we figure that with the gift of free will, we need to do stuff on our own, although we don’t have the power or knowledge to do half of what we want to do.
That’s why the Lord advises us to stick with Him. As Jesus also said so clearly. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) Now that should just about end the arguments. If we don’t abide in Jesus, that’s stick close to him, like white on rice, and He doesn’t abide in us, then crapaud smoke we pipe, because we can’t do much of anything without Him!
So my fellow saints, on this Easter Tuesday, or rather, all through this Easter season, let’s contemplate and consider our positions in Christ nuh. Are we abiding in Him, and He in us. If the answer is yes, then let’s hold on as tightly as possible and don’t ever let Him go, for that means certain disaster. And if the answer is no, then please, please make the conscious decision to begin abiding with Him, as soon as possible, right now will be best, because if you don’t, you have as much chance of enjoying eternal life, as a snowball has of surviving in hell!
Now, for those of us who are doing our best to abide in Christ, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the BELOVED of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
It’s now our bounden duty to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…living for Jesus is not easy…but living without Him…that’s a sure recipe for hellfire and damnation…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
06 Jun 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, a jolt of God's grace and mercy, a merciful forgiving gracious God, a zeppo, because my cup has overflowed, cover the whole spectrum of the believer's life, Drinking from my Saucer, God is a good god, God-inspired words, he leadeth me beside still waters, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, I will fear no evil, in fine form, Jehovah Rapha, keep pur promises, LOVE, mass confusion in our world, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my cup runneth over, not a fairy godmother or doting grandfather, Pentecost Sunday, refilled with the Holy Spirit of Christ, scrutinize our lives very carefully, sharper than any twoedged sword, something good is going to happen through me, something good is going to happen to me, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, the birthday of our church, the God who heals, The Lord is my shepherd, the motives of our hearts, the Word of God is quick and powerful, this is the day the Lord has made, thou anointest my head with oil, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, we will rejoice and be glad in it
Psalm 23:5c. my cup runneth over.
Oh friends, what a rollicking Pentecost Sunday we had yesterday, as we gathered with fellow believers to celebrate the birthday of our church some two thousand and odd years ago, by reading about that most marvellous and memorable occasion and being refilled with the Holy Spirit of Christ! Glory be! What a time that was! And I’m sure that celebration reignited our passion and fire for Christ and all that He stands for! That means today, on Monday, this first day of our work week, we ought to be in fine form, just rearing to get out there and engage the heathen…and even our backsliding Christian brethren!
That fire and passion, if real, could not have been so easily quenched in just one day, and consequently the day before us must look bright and sunny, despite the true state of the weather. (smile) It’s one of those days when we get up and say, ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it,’ and truly mean it. Likewise, when we declare (steups!!!) ‘Something good is going to happen to me today, and something good is going to happen through me today,’ we just feel that jolt of God’s grace and mercy truly lined up in our favour!
Yes my people, it’s these kinds of moments that we live for as true believers in Christ Jesus! Oh, and we do have to handle the maudlin, same old, same old days with Christian aplomb too, but our spirits just automatically rise to the occasion at these special times in our church’s calendar. That’s why yesterday we could sing the Javed song ‘Drinking from My Saucer,’ and mean it because God’s goodness is just flowing through us, or at least we feel it more on the special occasions. (smile) No wonder we could genuinely sing ‘I Thank God For all His Blessings on me, And The Mercies He’s Bestowed. I’m Drinking From My Saucer Because My Cup Has Overflowed.’
Now that just reminds me of a great man of God who spoke about his overflowing blessings…that’s Bruh David in our favourite psalm, Psalm 23. And instead of only quoting one verse, I just got a zeppo that since it’s our favourite, we might as well just pray the whole psalm. (smile) So please pray these wonderful sentiments with me. ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ *Ps. 23:1-6)
Now doesn’t that just touch a tender spot in our hearts? Of course it does! Because the words and sentiments seem to cover the whole spectrum of the believer’s life… and remember, they were also God-inspired, so they have inherent power. Like the Good Book says: ‘For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in (hidden from) his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (must give account.’ (Heb. 4:12-13)
And all I can say to that my brethren is … ‘Wow!’ Now that shows we ought to continually scrutinize our lives very carefully, because the Lord is always intently scrutinizing them. Yes, His word is quick and powerful, that means living and active, not inept or inactive. And according to the scholars, God’s word ‘reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eye sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuse or pretense.’ That makes us wonder why Adam and Eve hid from God (Gen. 3:8) after they disobeyed God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:17)
But sadly, after all this time, many of us still try to hide from God, something that’s totally impossible. I guess when we do that, God just shakes His head and feels empathy for us, because that’s just the kind of God He is. Yes my fellow saints, our God is a good God. There’s no doubt about that. The problem though is that we want a fairy godmother or doting grandfather, and He’s neither of those. He is the omnipotent Creator and Controller of His universe, and we are the sheep of His pasture, and it’s time we know our place.
But yuh know what, despite our unfaithfulness and rebellion, He’s such a good God that He’s given us options to change our ungodly ways. And one of those ways is through prayer, or sincere communication with Him. So please, let’s take that opportunity right now nuh, to go to Him in prayer through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, re all the problems we currently are experiencing.
As one voice: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face.
That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’
And having acknowledged those sentiments to heaven, we must now ensure that the motives of our hearts are right, and also keep our promises, if we expect to receive anything positive from God. Much LOVE!
…God is good…all the time…but He does not put up with nonsense…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
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