15 Mar 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fallen angel, a personal relationship with God, all should come to repentance, Bible, choose life, Christ died for us, Christ sacrificed His sinless life for us, christianity, Christians, closer intimacy with God, communion with god, deepen my breath, disgrace, disobedience, eternal life, eternal separation from God, falling into Satan's trap, flowing in our souls and spirits, fraternize with Satan, free will, get the ball rolling, God commendeth his love for us, God demonstrated his LOVE for us.', God is not willing that any should perish, have it more abundantly, heartfelt prayers, holy spirit, I am come that they might have life, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, I may know you all the more, I place before you life and death, I praise you Lord, increase my awareness of you today, Jesus cares deeply for us, Jesus Christ, Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, leaves us in the lurch, LOVE, made righteous in God's eyes, meditate on God's Word, mercy, nothing of substance to offer us, one fold one shepherd, other sheep I have, peace, putter around the house, quiet my soul, quietly interact with God, relax my muscles, repentance, rest, rolls of thunder, salvation, shame, sin, sincerity and truth, slow my thoughts, steal us away from Jesus, straight and narrow path, thank you for your tenderness, that you and yours might live, the ball's in our court, the father of lies, the good shepherd gives his life for his sheep, the greatest show of love, the Lord never leaves us in the lurch, the right perspective, the thief, the thief only comes to steal and to kill, truth, while we were yet sinners, wisdom, wrongdoing, you can't be contained, your love surrounds and fills me, your peace and love are present, your unceasing nearness
John 10:11. ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’
Well, I guess in the Lord’s wisdom, He figured that everyday could not be bright, sunshiny and dry, but there must be an opposite to keep everything well balanced and in the right perspective, that’s why today is cloudy, rainy and wet. (smile) I believe I also heard a couple rolls of thunder earlier on, so it looks like a serious day. But yuh know what, it’s also a perfect lazy-day Saturday, where you simply putter around the house, rest and meditate on the Lord’s Word and quietly interact with Him. Nothing can be more refreshing and uplifting that that!
So let’s get the ball rolling by offering up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer with all sincerity and truth. As one positive voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’
And the peace and calm just begin flowing in our spirits and souls, as the Lord answers our heartfelt prayers that only serve to bring us closer to Him. Yes friends, there’s nothing the Lord desires and likes more than His children seeking to have closer intimacy and communion with Him, because that’s the main purpose for which He created us. And it breaks His heart when we turn away and instead fraternize with the foolish, fallen angel Satan, who has nothing of substance to offer us, nothing but sin, shame and disgrace that will eventually lead to eternal separation from our Creator and heavenly Father.
That’s why it’s oh so important to create a personal relationship with Jehovah God, through His Son Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit that indwells us to try and keep us out of the clutches of the enemy and guide us on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life with Him. But because we have fair amount of free will, and are naturally imbued with a sinful nature, we tend to drift and stray away from the straight and narrow path, anxious to sample some of the seemingly awesome delights of the world held out and up to us by the deceitful and devious Satan, who’s so full of wiles and lies that he’s called the father of lies.
And Jesus spells it all out in His analogy to the thief and the shepherd, in this scripture passage from John’s gospel. ‘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.’ (John 10:10) Right there we see the answer friends, Satan is a thief and only in intent on death and destruction. However, Jesus came that we could have life, and have it in abundance! So, whom will you accept as your leader and guide under those circumstances eh? Jesus of course!
Unfortunately though, for whatever reason, too many of us are choosing Satan, or somehow or the other are falling in his devious trap, that’s why our world is so sinful, angry, strife-filled and ungodly! But it’s time many more of us wake up and listen to Jesus, when He says: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) And that is exactly what He did when He sacrificed His sinless life on the cross of Calvary so that our abominable sins could be forgiven and we be made righteous in God’s eyes.
So why this great movement, this sudden trend to turn to Satan eh, whom Jesus candidly describes in the next couple of verses? ‘But he that is an hireling (a hired man), and not the shepherd whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.’ (John 10:12) And Satan is both the thief and the hireling, for he tries to steal us away from Jesus, and when we find ourselves in trouble, he runs off and leaves us in the lurch, because he’s not really interested in our wellbeing, neither has he anything good or worthwhile to offer us.
Jesus explains it thus: ‘The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have (Gentiles), which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one shepherd.’ (John 10:13-16)
There you have it my fellow believers: Jesus states it in black and white. Unlike Beelzebub, He won’t run away from us when we find ourselves in trouble, but will always runs to us, because He cares deeply for us, that’s why He came to earth and died on Calvary’s cross. And if you can’t see the awesome truth in that, then you’d better get your mind examined right away.
And please note how much Jesus cares for His creation, when He declares that He has other sheep to add to His fold, meaning us, the non-Jews or Gentiles. He came first to bring salvation to the Jews, through whom God worked and distilled His message down through the ages. But God didn’t forget the rest of His creation, because He LOVES us all, so badly, that it’s as Bruh Paul writes in Romans: ‘But God commendeth his LOVE toward us (demonstrated His own LOVE for us), in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8)
Now, isn’t that the greatest show of LOVE? Of course it is! Moreover, He couldn’t stand to lose even one of us to Beelzebub, as Peter says; ‘He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (2 Pet. 3:9:b) Yes friends, God LOVES all of His creation and has done His best to ensure that we all have the privilege of gaining salvation and eternal life through the sacrificial death of His sinless Son, which paid for all of our disobedience and wrongdoing. The ball is now in our court; it’s up to us to either accept or reject His most gracious offering of life with Him for ever and ever. Please be wise and accept it! Much LOVE!
… I place before you life and death…please choose life…that you and yours may live… (Deut. 30:19)
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
18 Dec 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a discerner, a two-part being, believers in Jesus Christ, Christians, compassion, dirt poor, dividing asunder of soul and spirit, doing God's work, fellowship, Friday chant, fun, functions, furthering God's glorious kingdom, getting me through another week, glory hallelujah, God's LOVE, godly power, human bone structure, in soul body and mind, integrity, John's vision, judging by what we have, like a hammer, LOVE, material possessions, my word is like a fire, our most important activity, overstanding, P.S. I Love You, partying soon start, preserved blameless, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, sharper than any twoedged sword, speaking God's Word, the branch of Jesse, the joints and marrow, the right perspective, the rod of his mouth, the Son of man, the thoughts and intents of the heart, the Word of God is quick, the workweek finish, there is power in the Word, till the coming of Christ, True wealth is what you are, wisdom, with righteousness, with the breath of his lips, with your generous help
Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is quick (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 (is able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.
And then, at last it was Friday…
And the whole town singing, ’Friday, Friday Friday, we LOVE you! Even though today yuh dark and dreary, we still glad that yuh here, because it means the workweek finish and the weekend finally here. Partying soon start! Thank God for Fridays yes! Thank Him for everyday, but especially Friday!’
Ah mih people, try as we can, we can’t break the party attitude that is first and foremost on our minds come Friday eh. As I keep saying though, nothing’s wrong with partying, just that it shouldn’t be the major thought in our minds come the weekend. Some rest and relaxation, plus serious time with our heavenly Father are also important to our weekend activities.
And to help us get in the right perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant like we really mean it nuh. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes Friends, we need to remember that doing God’s work is our most important activity down here on earth, so it is necessary to make some special preparations that we can do it positively and effectively.
Now here’s a li’l brain teaser from my ‘P.S. I LOVE YOU’ poster. And it says: ‘True wealth is what you are, not what you have.’
And that’s the truth in spades my fellow believers in Jesus Christ! Who we are as people, is much more important that what we have. Unfortunately though, the world, including too many Christians behave the opposite way, judging others and ourselves by what we have.
Our material possessions are too often used to describe us as successful or not. But the truth is my people, we could be dirt poor in economic terms, but wealthy as ever internally, with integrity, compassion, wisdom, overstanding and God’s LOVE! Glory Hallelujah!
Now there’s nothing wrong with possessing economic wealth, but it must not take priority over those other things we just mentioned. So please, let’s get our priorities straight this Friday morning nuh, because the whole ebb and flow of our lives depends on it.
And that segues very nicely into our Bit. ‘For the word of God is quick (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 (is able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.’
Ah Friends, there is indeed immense power in the Word of our mighty and wonderful God! All glory and majesty be to Him!
And the scholars have this interesting info on our Bit, which they have titled: ‘Immaterial Part of Man. 4:12. The writer here draws an interesting parallel between the joints and the marrow, which have different functions, yet both are a part of a human’s bone structure.
Thoughts and intents are also two distinctive activities, yet both activities of the mind. And while the soul and spirit are distinct in function, both have an immaterial character. When considering the nature of humanity, we must realize a person is a two-part being, that is, with body and soul. But in activity or function the body, soul, and spirit of a person each has a different function.
Paul desired of his converts “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess.5:23). (First Reference, Gen.2:7; Primary Reference, 1 Thess.5:23; cf. Prov.4:23.).’
Now that’s what is so wonderful about a human being; we’re made of so many different parts that function separately, as well as together, to make up the whole that we are in God! And please take a moment to read those references, because they are oh so good and true!
And today we’ll continue looking at some scriptures that corroborate the truth of our Bit, beginning with words from Isaiah, as he talks about the righteous reign of the branch of Jesse.
‘But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity (decide with uprightness) for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite (strike) the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.’ (Is.11:4)
Yes people, the Lord’s servant will do it all through the power of His mouth. Meanwhile, when talking about false prophets, Jeremiah describes it thus: ‘Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?’ (Jer.23:29)
And finally, in John’s vision of the Son of Man, he declares: ‘And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.’ (Rev.1:16)
Oh friends, I do hope that all of this is having some significant impact on us, teaching us about how mighty and powerful the Word of out God truly is. Why you ask?
Because until we understand that, we will be severely limiting ourselves of the power that we have, through speaking God’s Word. And life is hard enough as it is, we don’t need to make it any harder by limiting the godly power that’s available to us. Much LOVE!
…there is power in the Word…power in the Word…power in the Word…
11 Sep 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, all them that Love Jesus, Bruh Paul, but against principalities, coerced, demonic forces, evil strategies, exuberant celebrations, fellowship, fodder for the enemy, Friday chant, fun, generous help, get ahead, glorious kingdom, grace, having done all to stand, having your loins girt about with truth, imprison our spirits, Jesus Christ, Labour Day, LOVE, love with faith, Lucifer, maelstrom, make ends meet, pay the price, peace be to the brethren, perseverance, physical warfare, praying always, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, soul body mind, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, stand our bounce, supplication for the saints, take up the whole armour of God, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the armour of God, the breastplate of righteousness, the evil day is at hand, the evil one, the fiery darts of the wicked one, the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the protective armour of Almighty God, the right perspective, the shield of faith, the spiritual realm, the sword of the Spirit, the weekend's here at last, the Word of god, walk safely in god's light, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, week of work, whirlpool of madness, withstand in the evil day
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (hosts of ) wickedness in high places.
And then it was Friday…
And obviously the shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! The weekend’s here at last!’ are heard everywhere. And even though it’s been a short week, only four days, a lot of us are extremely happy to see it because we’re pretty tired from the exuberant Labour Day celebrations on Monday, then right to work without a refreshing break.
But Friends, if we want to party too heartily, knowing that work is right around the corner, then we will have to stand our bounce and pay the price it calls for. Anyway, the weekend is upon us, and we’re all glad that it’s here, so let’s chant our Friday Chant to find the right perspective, so we don’t mess up our lives any further. (smile)
As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Ah Friends, I do hope we take that simple prayer seriously, because one of the negative things in our crazy world is that everyone is so busy and consequently so tired, trying to make ends meet or simply get ahead in this maelstrom, this whirlpool of madness, that our world’s become.
But my people, we have to be careful in this apparent madness, because it is not all instantaneous and/or unplanned. Not on your life! The evil one and his associates have planned a lot of it to throw us off balance, get us weary and disappointed and thus more easily coerced into their evil strategies and schemes.
And thankfully, our Bit so wisely informs us: ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (hosts of) wickedness in high places.’
Yes Friends, physical warfare is not the only kind that’s widespread in our world, but an even more vicious and threatening and dangerous one is being waged in the spiritual realm. This one to capture, enslave and imprison our spirits and souls in a dark and wicked dungeon controlled by Lucifer and his evil forces, from which the chances of escape are rather slim.
That’s why, as we saw yesterday, Bruh Paul strongly advised the Ephesians. ‘Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:13)
And believe me my brethren, we need to take that advice today even more seriously than the Ephesians, because the evil day is at hand!
Yes my fellow believers, the powers of evil and darkness are in the ascendance right now. Oh so sadly, they are indeed holding sway in our confused and troubled world, that’s why we so badly need to put on the protective armour of God, for that’s the only thing that will offer us protection from the attacks and machinations of the dark and evil powers.
And what, you ask, is this armour of God that’s so powerful to protect us from Beelzebub? As believers in Jesus Christ, we should all know it, but I’ll let Bruh Paul refresh our memory.
‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about (having girded your waist) with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (an eagerness and willingness to take the fight to the devil).
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one). And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph.6:14-18)
Yes Friends all that protection is absolutely necessary in the spiritual battle against the evil and demonic forces of this ungodly world!
And you’ll notice how Bruh Paul lays it out just like the armour of a soldier going into battle, with a helmet, a breastplate, waist securely girded, with proper shoes to handle the terrain, a shield, and a trusty sword, all backed by the power of prayer.
Oh my people, without the armour of God, we are simply fodder for the enemy. He will cut us down like a sharp scythe cuts grass or a lawnmower mows it; with no problems at all. So please, please let’s be wise and take this most important advice to heart nuh, provided you want to be saved from the unpleasant advances of the wicked world.
That’s enough for now. Tomorrow we’ll continue looking at the wonderful protective armour of God, delve into it a little deeper. Till then, please walk safely in God’s light.
Or as Bruh Paul would say: ‘Peace be to the brethren, and LOVE with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that LOVE our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.’ (Eph.6:23-24).
Much, much LOVE my people!
…one cannot walk this wicked earth safely…unless one has on the protective armour of Almighty God…that’s a proven fact…
07 Aug 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dark world, be obedient to god's will, busy, Caribana, consequences, death cannot celebrate thee, desire, diligently learn, disobedience, eagerly utter the memory of thy great goodness, expectant faith, fellowship, flavourless, forms of communication, Friday chant, friends, fun, generous help, get on our horses and ride, glorious kingdom, God's greatness is beyond our understanding, great is the Lord, hope for thy truth, hungry hope, immerse ourselves, Jesus Christ, lazy, light, LOVE, magnificent and magnanimous God, make known thy truth, make me to understand, making the effort, men shall speak of thy awesome acts, not interested, one generation shall praise thy works to another, passionate about God, praise thy works, putting up a good fight for Jesus, quicken me according to thy word, relaxation, rest, righteousness., salt, salvation, seek first the kingdom of God, sing of thy righteousness, so shall I talk of thy wondrous works, spread the good news of Jesus, spread the word, teach me thy statutes, tell others about Jesus, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the father to the children, the godless infidel, the gospel of Jesus, the grave cannot praise thee, the living shall praise thee, the Lord's greatness, the right perspective, the things of God, the things of the world, the way of thy precepts, wisdom, wisdom of the ages, wondrous works
Psalm 119:27. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of (meditate on) thy wondrous works.
And then it was Friday; a short workweek for many of us after the Caribana weekend. And yuh better believe many of us are truly thankful as we tiredly shout: ’TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes! Mama yo! Though the week’s been short, it’s been truly rough. So hard to catch yuhself after all the Caribana partying. Thank God for true that is Friday oui!! Definitely going to rest this weekend away.’ Hn, hn!
Yes Friends, when we abuse our body it does come back to haunt us. But remember the weekend is not solely for rest, but also for participation in godly fellowship, so to help us keep the right perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant with whatever verve and gusto we can muster. (smile)
As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, it’s ever so important that our souls, bodies and minds be renewed and refreshed so that we can go back out with a spring in our step, hungry hope and expectant faith in our souls, to continue putting up a good fight for Jesus against the godless infidel.
Yes, because our mission is to be salt and light to a dark and flavourless world, as well as to spread the good news of Jesus all around the globe! Jesus delegated that awesome job to a handful of men before He ascended into heaven, and look at the wonderful work they’ve wrought.
Two thousand years later, it is now our turn to spread the Word, to bring Jesus and His wonderful salvation to the masses. And no generation has ever had the ability to really spread the gospel of Jesus all over the world, like we now have, with the many forms of almost immediate communication at our command.
So please let’s get a move on with it nuh. No excuses will be tolerated. (smile) Do we want to be labeled the generation who could, but didn’t? Obviously not!
Therefore let’s get on our horses and ride; tell others about Jesus, and above all, live a life that’s pleasing and obedient to Him, so that those we talk to will see the genuine LOVE and desire working and reflecting in us. That’s the only way to do it my brethren.
That brings us to our most appropriate Bit. ‘Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of (meditate on) thy wondrous works.’
Yes my people, we can’t talk sensibly about what we don’t understand, therefore we need the Lord’s help to bring us to a true understanding of His Word. Like at work, we need a supervisor to explain the instructions, the duties of the job, otherwise we’d just make a mess of things.
The psalmist says earlier in this section of Psalm 119, under the heading – Make me to understand thy way: ‘My soul cleaveth unto (clings to) the dust: quicken (revive) thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest (answered) me: teach me thy statutes.’ (Ps.119:25-26)
Ah Friends, we desperately need to know God’s Word, but unfortunately too many of us are either too lazy, too busy, or simply not interested in making the effort it requires to do so. However we are quite ready, willing and able make the effort to acquire and learn about the things of the world though!
I’m sorry Friends, but that’s not the way it ought to be. Remember Jesus said that our first requirement is to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and then all the things of the world that we need would be granted to us. (Matt.6:33)
If we unwisely choose to do it the other way, then we’ll just have to suffer the consequences. For remember too that there ARE consequences for disobedience.
My people, we need to be able to talk about our God as sincerely as Bruh David does in Psalm 145 – The Lord is gracious. ‘Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable (beyond our understanding). One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will speak of (meditate on) the glorious honour (splendour) of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible (awesome) acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly (eagerly) utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.’ (Ps.145:3-7)
Oh Friends, are we that passionate about our God, about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? I don’t think so. At least not sufficient of us supposed believers. But then again, we can’t be passionate about Jesus when we don’t spend sufficient serious time in His Word.
We ought to be able to sincerely shout out like Isaiah: ‘For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit (grave) cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.’ (Is.38:18-19)
Yes Friends, we are the living, and we are the fathers to the children, so please let’s praise and make known our magnificent and magnanimous God, for therein lies the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!
…only as we diligently learn…and deeply immerse ourselves in the things of God…can we talk wisely and sincerely about Him…
24 Jul 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a crown of righteousness, a fool despises instruction, a foolish son is the grief of his mother, a haughty spirit before a fall, a modicum of circumspection, a wise son makes a glad father, abides among the wise, aches and pains, another week of work, be humble, before honour is humility, Cousin Sol, despises his own soul', dishonour, disobey God's laws, don't give up, don't stop the party, fellowship, foolish, foolishness, fraud, Friday chant, generous help, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God has a plan for your life, hanging in there, he that regards reproof is prudent, he that regards reproof shall be honoured, honour, honoured, humility, instruction, invade, Jeeves, let my hair down, listen to wise instruction, listening, live it up, Lucifer, mih dan dan, never never give up, not giving up the fight, obedience, old fashioned things, pay a price, personal space, poverty and shame, pride goes before destruction, Proverbs, prudence, prudent, rebuked, relaxation, renewed and refreshed in soul body and mind, rest, righteousness., TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the fear of the Lord, the instruction of wisdom, the Lord gives and He takes, the pressures of age and time, the reproof of life, the right perspective, the weekend's here, to him that refuses instruction, understanding, violate, wisdom, wisdom of the ages, wise, with God's help
Proverbs 13:18. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth (disdains, ignores) instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Oh Friends, it’s another beautiful day in God’s great universe! Wow!
However, the night wasn’t so great nuh. Though I went to bed earlier than normal, sleep was hard to come by. The aches and pains gave me a rough time, couldn’t find a comfortable position for any length of time. Then I come down here and my ole trusty computer acts up, so I have to waste time and reboot it.
I guess, like its owner, it is feeling the pressures of age and time. (smile) But yuh know what? Just like it’s owner though, it’s not stopping, it’s not giving up the fight. Age and time might slow us down, but Glory Hallelujah we’re hanging in there to the very end! And with God’s help we will be successful!
So all you other ole fogeys out there who are experiencing the same aches and pains and drawbacks, please take note and don’t give up. Slow down if you must, but never, never give up! You’re still alive, that means God still has a plan for your life.
And having said all of that, I guess I’ll remind us that today is Friday…
And the shouts of joy suddenly echo through the atmosphere. “TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! The weekend’s finally here, and I’m all ready to party! I have mih dan dan (dress clothes) all ready and waiting for me to step out later and live it up!
What’s the purpose of working so hard all week, then can’t let mih hair down for even one night eh? Steups! Thank You ever so much that it’s Friday yes Lord!’
Ah Friends, there is some logic to that, but please remember that the weekend is not only for partying, and we have to be very careful when we let our hair down that we don’t give the ole crook Lucifer a chance to invade and violate our personal space, because that’s what he is always on the lookout to accomplish. So don’t stop the party, but do have ‘a modicum of circumspection,’ as Jeeves would say. (smile)
And to help us get the right perspective on handling the weekend, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincerity and faith. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yeh mih people, that is more like how we should handle the precious two days off, rather than just partying them away. And that segues rather nicely into our Bit for today.
Isn’t the Lord just grand, the way He leads us to do His work? But of course! He never gives us stuff to do without giving us the wherewithal to do it.
That’s why our Bit is so pertinent. ‘Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth (disdains, ignores) instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.’
Yes my brethren, those of us who choose to refuse or disobey godly instruction and advice will be brought to shame in any of many ways. But those who choose to obey, or be rebuked, will be honoured, again, in any of many ways.
Remember Friends, the Lord gives and He also takes, so if we don’t step up to the plate as required, how can He bless us eh? One of the most important considerations in God’s law is OBEDIENCE, and for those who follow it, a crown of righteousness is set up for them in the end.
The same goes for the law of man; when we break it, we are punished, have to pay a price in some form and fashion. So therefore obedience; to our parents, to our bosses, to man’s law in general, and to God’s dictates is something we ought to value highly and try our best to follow so that we won’t have to pay a heavy price of shame and dishonour.
And Cousin Sol points that out to us several times in Proverbs. Listen up. In Proverbs 10, where he contrasts the wise and the foolish, he opens by declaring: ‘The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness (grief) of his mother.’ (Prov.10:1)
And that’s no lie Friends! The choice between wisdom and folly is of great importance to our parents, and can either gladden or break their hearts. Then in chapter 15, Sol spells it out in black and white. ‘A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.’ (Prov.15:5)
Now that word ‘prudent’ is one that I believe has been lost to this generation. I don’t know if they ever learned it, but they surely don’t practice it. And sadly, we the older generation behave like we’ve forgotten all about it, and also just rush headlong into whatever captures our fancy and imagination.
That’s one of the reasons why there is so much successful fraud in our world right now, especially amongst the older folks. We have forgotten about the word prudence, and are not as careful as we ought to be in our dealings with the many people and things that buffet us these days.
But to try and remind us about the old fashioned things like prudence, listening and obedience, let’s end with these marvellous words of advice from Cousin Sol. ‘The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth (disdains, ignores) instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth (heeds) reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and before honour is humility.’ (Prov.15:31-33)
Yes Friends, before we can be honoured, we have to be humble, by being obedient, by listening to wise instruction and not thinking that we know it all. So today may we go out, and with God’s help, put all that we’ve learned into action, that we may be honoured with a crown of righteousness later on. That’s the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!
…pride goeth before destruction…and a haughty spirit before a fall (stumbling)… (Prov.16:18)
10 Jul 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a brand new day, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, beck and call, Bruh David, confession, confidence, doing God's will, enemy, enjoyment, eternal life, faith, faithful, faithfulness, fellowship, for he is faithful that promised, free gift of grace, Friday chant, friends, generous help, glorious kingdom, Glory be to God, gobble us up, Gods thoughts and ways are higher than ours, gospel truth, grace, great is thy faithfulness, harmony, his compassions fail not, hope, in Jesus' name, indisputable truth, Isaiah, jehovah god, Jeremiah, Lamentations, let us hold fast the profession of our faith, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, refreshed, renewed, repentance, righteousness., roaring lion, salvation, sincerity, slave drivers, steadfast love of God, stray from the straight and narrow path, surrender, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the fountain of life, the good news of Jesus, the One and Only Living God, the right perspective, the straight and narrow path, the weekend, truth, under the shadow of God's wings, unrighteousness, wisdom, with God's help, without wavering, wolf in sheep's clothing
Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Oh Friends, it’s a brand new day in God’s great universe! And thankfully the ole fella’s feeling much better than he did yesterday, not as much doddering (smile). All glory be to God! And by the way, it’s also Friday…
‘Oh yes we know that. That’s why all morning we’ve been singing; TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend’s here at long last! This has been a rough week, for the slave drivers drove us harder than usual. But with God’s help we survived. Thank the Lord it’s Friday yes! We certainly going to enjoy this weekend.’
Yes my people, the weekend is there for us to enjoy, but we have to be careful about what we consider enjoyment and make sure it is not of a sinful, but rather of a godly nature. And to help us get the right perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincerity and truth.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Ah mih breddren, please pay serious attention to our Chant, and let it keep us on the straight and narrow path when we set out to have fun this weekend, for it’s ever so easy to fall into unrighteousness when we let our hair down.
And the wily enemy, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, the roaring lion is waiting ever so patiently to gobble us up when we diverge, stray from the straight and narrow path. So let’s not give him any satisfaction this weekend nuh.
That brings us to our Bit, which encourages and assures us that our faith is dearly worth holding on to. ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Yes my people, you definitely won’t find any human, or any supposed deity more faithful than the ONE and ONLY TRUE and LIVING God whom we serve and worship; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! That’s an indisputable truth!
But sadly, too many of us supposed believers loose faith as soon as something doesn’t go the way they want it to. We expect God to be there at our every beck and call and to give us what we desire. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.
We are the ones supposed to be at God’s beck and call and do His desire, which is first and foremost to tell others the good news about His wonderful Son and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and live the kind of life that will encourage others to come to Jesus in sorrowful repentance to receive His free gift of grace, which leads to salvation and eternal life.
Wow! Now isn’t that mouthful? It certainly is. But it’s also the glorious truth! Ah mih people, we can’t afford to loose our hard won faith as soon as things don’t go our way. We’ve got to be stronger and much more faithful than that. God has promised to look after us, but in His own way and time, and to eventually make everything work out well.
We might not always understand or appreciate His motives and ways, but remember He says that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, (Is.55:8-9) so His actions won’t always blend seamlessly with our desires. That’s where our trust and faith, surrender and confidence comes into play.
Now let’s look at some scripture, in particular from three men of faith, none of whom had it easy in doing God’s will, but they all declared His faithfulness with supreme confidence and assurance.
First up is Bruh David, the servant of the Lord, from Psalm 36 – The steadfast LOVE of God. Bruh David confidently declares: ‘Thy mercy (LOVING-kindness), O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains (Lit. mountains of God); thy judgements are a great deep (ocean):
O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent (precious) is thy LOVING-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness (fullness) of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.’ (Ps.36:5-9)
Oh Friends, after hearing such a glowing report on God, how can we not put our trust and faith in Him eh? Bruh David did not live an easy life, but he certainly lived a rewarding one by faithfully trusting the God of his fathers.
Now hear Isaiah as he declares the righteous reign of the branch of Jesse. ‘And righteousness shall be the girdle (belt) of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins (belt of his waist). The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.’ (Is.11:5-6)
Yes my people, such shall be the peace and harmony existing in the kingdom of the Messiah, of Jesus when He returns to rule the earth. We only have to look at the many predictions of Isaiah and see that most of them have already come true to realize the absolute faithfulness of Jehovah God.
And we’ll close with this popular scripture from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, another prophet who did not have an easy life, but who nonetheless extolled the faithfulness of his God. ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam.3:22-23)
And that is the gospel truth my brethren! It is only because of God’s compassion and faithfulness that we have not been consumed. He has shown us mercy, because of His great LOVE for us, and He is ever reliable and faithful to those who worship Him in sincerity and truth. Please remember that. Much LOVE!
…to recognize and appreciate faithfulness…one must also be faithful…
19 Jun 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: advice, advising, all is vanity, before the evil days come, circumspection, Comforter, Cousin Sol. the Preacher, Ecclesiastes, encouraging, fellowship, Friday chant, generous help, glorious kingdom, I have no pleasure in them, increased age, joy, live obedient to God's will, LOVE, man goeth to his eternal home, nor the years draw nigh, old age, personal affairs, provider, refreshed in body and soul, relaxation, Remember thy Creator in thy youth, renewed vitality, seek their Maker, spiritual upliftment, strong men shall stoop, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the almond tree shall flourish, the clouds return after the rain, the daughters of music, the dust return to the earth, the golden bowl, the halting gait, the keepers of the house, the mourners, the pitcher, the right perspective, the silver cord, the spirit return to God, the voice of the bird, tiresome, tremble, understand God's Word, vanity of vanities, vitality, week of work, weekend activites, when thou shalt say, white hair, wisdom
Ecclesiastes 12:1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not (before the evil days come), nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them.
So it’s Friday once again Friends….
And the workers shout back: ‘We know that! And thank God for it too, because this week’s just been one long, tiresome, drawn out week. Thus we can’t help but cry out in pleasure: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend’s finally here, so we can get some rest and relaxation from massa’s hard labour! Thank You Lord, thank you!’
Yeh Friends, for some reason or other, this week has certainly seemed long and tiresome. But at last our wonderful heavenly Father has brought us to the end of it, like He’s faithfully promised to do, and now we have two big whole days to look forward to. (smile)
Unfortunately though, for some of us those two days might be even more stressful than the work week because we have a lot of household and personal affairs to attend to. But let’s chant our Friday Chant so that we can get some encouragement and assume the right perspective for weekend activities.
All together now. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Awright brethren, now that we’ve prayed that simple prayer, let’s hope that we can get the right attitude, one of circumspection, along with some upliftment to go bravely into the weekend. (smile)
And today my people, we have a very interesting Bit from Ecclesiastes which talks about vanity and the fear of God. Listen to the Preacher. ‘Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not (before the evil days come), nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them.’
Wonderful words of wisdom and advice my people!
And we’ll continue with the scripture that follows it. ‘While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves (stoop), and the grinders cease (stand idle) because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened (grow dim).
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears (terrors) shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish (blossom), and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long (eternal) home, and the mourners go about in the streets:
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken (shattered) at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.’ (Eccl.12:2-7)
Ah Friends, some real imaginative scripture from Cousin Sol in his role as Preacher or Teacher. And I’m sure some of us have never heard those obscure and hardly ever taught, but highly interesting passages of scripture before.
But as they say, the longer you live, the more you learn. (smile) And that’s the purpose of our messages; to teach us, to help us learn and understand God’s Word so that we can live obedient to His will.
Now let’s hear some explanations from the scholars on the numerous things we don’t understand. ‘12”1-7. Though these verses describe old age, they are actually addressed to the youth (v.1). The gradual darkening of the heavenly bodies represents declining vitality and joy, and the approaching clouds represent the storms of old age (v.2).
The keepers of the house are the arms; the strong men are the legs; the grinders are the teeth; and those that look out of the windows are the eyes (v.3). Growing old is further compared to the decline of a great estate (v.4).
The almond tree is a reference to the white hair of old age; the crippled grasshopper pictures the halting gait of the elderly; and desire that fails may be the loss of sexual desire (v.5).
Finally, life itself in all its preciousness is cut off. Death is pictured as the irreversible shattering of a golden bowl when cut from the end of a silver cord and the similar smashing of a pitcher or wheel (v.6). After death the spirit returns to God for judgement and the body returns to dust (cf. Gen.3:19).’
Ah Friends, leave it to Cousin Sol to paint such a weird but interesting picture of life and death eh. And I do hope that those explanations of the scholars help us to understand the preceding scriptures.
And I’m chuckling here too, because many of us who have moved on in age are already feeling, or have been feeling the effects of increased age that Sol’s talking about for a long time now. (smile) I can tell you that I have.
The whole point of the scripture though Friends is to teach the youth to remember their God, their Creator while they’re young and strong and seemingly invulnerable.
Why? Because there will come a day when they lose all the strength and vitality of youth, and then what or whom will they have to turn to for comfort and succour eh? Nobody but their frail and feeble selves.
However, if during the glorious days of their youth they engage a strong and lively faith with Jesus Christ, then at the end, they will have the Great Comforter and Provider to look after them. Their Spirit will return with pleasure to God from whence it came, and the dust of their bodies to its mother, the earth, just as it was planned by the Father.
So Friends, let’s never stop encouraging and advising the youth to seek their Maker while they are young, so that they can have an enjoyable youth, as well as a pleasant and pleasurable old age, for that is undoubtedly wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!
…vanity of vanities…saith the preacher…all is vanity… (Eccl.12:8)
P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit, but the ole fella never got to be till after 3 this morning, and since he’s reached the stage that Cousin Sol talks about, he wasn’t able to get up too early. (smile) Yes Friends, these things do happen in old age. Much LOVE!
17 Apr 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd, barbecues, because they fainted, billion dollar questions, bounden duty, But when he saw the multitudes, circumspection, commandment, compassion, craziness, crucifixion, deceitful, deity, detriment, dierctionless sons of man, encourage, energy, enthusiasm, fellowship, flees, Friday chant, friends, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, Gentiles, get a foothold in our souls, get too carried away, going astray, Guide, He was moved with compassion, hired hand, hireling, I am the good shepherd, I lay down my life, I lay down my life for the sheep, Jesus Christ, joy, laughing all the way to the bank, lost, LOVE, moderation, my neck of the woods, obedient to the Father's will, on the agenda, one fold, one shepherd, outside activities, personal danger, pleasure, pompous, power, privilege, proper guidance, proud, purpose, relaxation, rest, resurrection, revenous, sacrificed, scatters the sheep, shepherd, sinful world, stumblingblock, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the enemy, the good shepherd gives his life for his sheep, the right perspective, the weekend's up to bat, warm weekend, weary, weekend
Matthew 9:36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted (were weary), and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Ah Friends, it’s Friday, and it’s supposed to be another glorious day in my neck of the woods, so you can imagine the craziness that’s going to take place this weekend if the weather stays fairly warm. All the barbecues and everything that smacks of summer will be out in full swing.
You can already hear the working populace crying out with joy. ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes, and the weekend’s up to bat! The ribs will be a braising and the beer a flowing! The talk will be plentiful and the laughter hearty and loud! Thank God at last for a warm weekend yes!’
Ah mih breddren, those of you down south, who have warm weather and plentiful sunshine all year round, wouldn’t understand what a nice, warm weekend means to us northerners nuh. But most aspects of our lives are built around the weather. In winter we do certain things because it’s too cold outside. Then in spring and summer we do other things because it’s warm out side.
Anyway, I believe that this is the first truly warm weekend of the year, so for sure, a lot of outside activities will be on the agenda. But just to help us not get too carried away and keep the right perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant. And I surely don’t have to tell us with much enthusiasm and energy, because those will come naturally at this time of year. (smile)
So let’s chant: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, a dash of moderation and circumspection are definitely needed as we get into this weekend. Otherwise we’re going to allow the enemy to get a foothold in our souls, for he is out there ravenous and deceitful as ever, looking for any way to cause us to fall.
And that is exactly what was happening in Jesus’ time, when our Bit was written. ‘But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted (were weary), and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.’
Yeh Friends, Jesus is still moved with compassion today because so many sheep are still going astray, being lost in this sinful world without any proper guidance. He wants to be, longs to be their guide and shepherd, that’s His bounden duty and purpose.
That’s why He declared during His earthly sojourn: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) And that’s exactly what He did later on Friends; He sacrificed His holy and sinless life for the lost and directionless sons of man. How wonderful!
Then Jesus went on to further explain: ‘But he that is a hireling (hired man), and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling (hired hand) fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.’ (John 10:12-13)
And that’s a proven fact my brethren, as the scholars remind us. ’10:12. A hireling (a servant for pay) will flee in time of personal danger, because he is working for money, and neither owns nor LOVES the sheep.’
But thankfully, Jesus is ever so different! And He proudly proclaims it: ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10:14)
Oh Friends, the billion dollar questions here are (1) does Jesus know you as a sheep of His flock, and (2) do you know Him as your good shepherd? I certainly do hope so, for our very lives, both earthly and eternal depend very much on those distinctions.
And Jesus continues with His monologue on the shepherd and the sheep. ‘As the Father knoweth me, even so know I 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.
Therefore doth my Father LOVE me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.’ (John 10:15-18)
Oh Friends what a beautiful passage of scripture. It says so much in those few words. Jesus is about to lay down His life for the sheep of His flock, and He is so obedient to the Father’s will, that the Father has no choice but to LOVE Him. Plus He’s going to bring another flock, the Gentiles into the equation, and make it all ONE big flock, with ONE shepherd. How glorious a promise!
And as the scholars say: ‘10:17-18. Jesus does more than predict His crucifixion and resurrection, He also shows that He has the power to lay down His life and take it again, once more asserting His deity.’
And sadly my people, that has been a major stumbling block for mankind, right from Jesus’ first days on earth, up to the present time. Men have doubted His deity from day one, and continue to do so, sadly to their own detriment. But the smart few, like us, who have embraced Him in all the splendour and power of His deity are laughing all the way to the bank; figuratively of course. (smile)
On second thought, heaven might have been a better comparison. (smile) Anyway Friends, let’s not be proud and pompous at being a chosen member of Jesus’ flock, for that has never been His intention.
Let’s do like Him, have compassion for those who are still lost, and try our very best to encourage them to come to Him, to become members of His flock too, for that’s what He desires of us. Much LOVE!
…oh what a joy, pleasure and privilege it is…to be a member Jesus’ one, worldwide flock…nothing else can compare to it…
16 Jan 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a robber, a thief, cattle can be driven, consequences, detracts, dwell for evermore, earthly living, enters not by the door, evil, fellow believers, Friday, Friday chant, friends, furthering God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, good shepherd, he calls his sheep by name, he that enters by the door, I am known of mine, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, in Jesus' name, intensity, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the greatest, Jesus' church, leave all the consequences to Him, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, loving kindness, obedient, obey God, Our Saviour and our Guide, Pharisees, relaxation, renewed and refreshed in soul body and mind, rest, sheep must be led, sincere and fruitful followers, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanks for getting me through another week of work, the blind lead the blind, the right perspective, the role of the shpherd, the sheep hear his voice, the sheep know not the voice of strangers, the sheep know the shepherd's voice, the shepherd of the sheep, the weekend, ungodly predators, ungodly world, wander aimlessly, wisdom, with your generous help, work ethic
John 10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Yes Friends, that day for which we’ve all been so eagerly longing and waiting for has finally arrived. It’s Friday…
And the working people all over the world are joyfully shouting out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday oui! No more labouring after today, for two whole big days! Imagine that nuh! Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah mih people, it’s certainly amusing, though possibly unhealthy too, the way we look forward to Friday, even before we begin work on Monday. Hn! I don’t know what it says about this new society, where the work ethic is definitely not as strong as it used to be. But we sure look forward to our Fridays and the start of the weekend!
I suppose there’s nothing wrong with looking forward to a couple days off, after working for five straight, but it’s just the intensity with which we do it, and which most likely detracts from our work efforts during the remainder of the week.
But be that as it may, let’s spend a minute or two, trying to get the right perspective on how we should use the weekend. As one big voice now, let’s chant our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Good chanting Friends! And hopefully that will curtail some of our more extreme desires and plans, (smile) and have us remembering the God factor involved, more than we had originally thought or planned.
And oh my brethren, remembering the God factor in our lives is such an important thing… in fact it is the most important aspect of our earthly lives, for without it we’d simply be lost, gone astray, like the proverbial sheep without a shepherd.
That’s why I believe today is a very good day to remember that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour as well as our Good Shepherd. He saved us from death and eternal damnation by sacrificing His innocent and holy life, then He took on the job of guiding us through this confused, troubled, mish-mash earthly journey.
Listen to Him as he boldly proclaims that fact in our Bit. ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’
Oh what a glorious day it was my people, when the Lord God Almighty gave us His only Son to be our Saviour and our Guide!
And all God’s children gratefully declared: ‘Thank You heavenly Father for giving us Jesus to be our be all and end all, our everything! There’s none other like Him! He is indeed the GREATEST! And we promise to be obedient to all His dictates, be sincere and fruitful followers of His church, so that we can dwell for evermore with Him in His kingdom.
Thank You again Father for Your wonderful Son and His bright, shining light that displaced all the hurting darkness in our lives! We LOVE You Father, we give You much thanks and praise for Your LOVING-kindness, as we glorify You and magnify Your Holy Name! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!’
Oh Friends, I have to chuckle here because most of the time I’m writing these prayers, I have to force myself to stop, as words of thanks and praise just seem to flow automatically from my pen. (smile)
Anyway, let’s listen to Jesus expound on the role of the shepherd, and how He sees Himself in that role. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold (pen), but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter (doorkeeper) openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable (illustration) spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.’ (John 10:1-6)
Yes my people, that’s Jesus’ view of the role of the shepherd in the lives of the sheep. Now here are some explanations from the scholars.
’10:1. Door is the one who stood in the opening of the (stone) fold. The thieves and robbers were the Pharisees.’ In olden times a sheep pen was made with one opening, where the shepherd or someone stood to guard sheep going out or intruders coming in.’
’10:3. Sheep know only their own shepherd’s voice. In the Near East several flocks belonging to different shepherds may be in one fold (a fenced area). But only a shepherd’s own sheep will follow him out of the fold. Cattle can be driven, but sheep must be led.’
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, what a most illustrative and very appropriate statement that is! ‘Cattle can be driven, but sheep must be led.’
That’s why we are considered sheep and not some other animal! We have to be led, otherwise like dumb sheep, we’d just wander aimlessly every which way, get lost, get in trouble and be captured by the evil and ungodly predators of this dangerous and disgusting world.
Please remember that my people. We cannot lead ourselves, that would be like Jesus said of the Pharisees. ‘Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.’ (Matt.15:14)
And with those wise words of our Lord, our Saviour, our Guide and our God, we’ll end today. Enjoy the day Friends, because that’s why the Lord gave it to us. But on the other hand, please don’t abuse it, for there will be serious consequences to pay, if you do. Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) is wont to say…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…that’s the power of earthly living…
05 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a hard row to hoe, an even keel, be thankful for small mercies, bless them that curse you, Christian, christianity, disgrace, do good to them that hate you, do unto others as you want them to do to you, evil, fellowship, focus on the good things of God, Friday chant, friends, fun, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, have regard for good things, honest, honourable, in the sight of all men, Jesus Christ, jesus name, joyful, live peacably with all men, Love your enemies, pray for those who use you, relaxation, repay to no man evil for evil, shame, sound advice, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thankful, the right perspective, the weekend, tit for tat, turn the other cheek, vengeance is mine saith the Lord
Romans 12:17. Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.
Well Friends, we’ve made it through another week all in one piece. Glory Hallelujah!
Yes my people, it is indeed Friday, and the labouring will soon cease for a couple of days, so let’s shout it out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and soon my time will be my own!
No more supervisors looking over my shoulder with their beady eyes and sour dispositions, telling me what to do, as though I’m dotish (stupid) and can’t read or follow instructions. Chuh! They are the ones who make most of the week hard yes! But thank God is Friday oui, and I can get them off mih back for a li’l bit!’
Oh my brethren, we do have to be thankful for small mercies! The big ones are indeed wonderful, but they only occur once in a while. It’s the small ones that are always happening, and for which we must remember to be thankful, because they often are so small and seemingly insignificant that we don’t even notice them.
However, they are the ones that God uses to demystify us, to build our faith, and keep our lives on an even keel. And over time they do add up and eventually become the testimony of our lives.
So please, let’s pay attention to the small happenings, to the small showers of mercy in our lives and allow them to make us joyful and thankful, as our God intends for them to do.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant which enables us to keep the right perspective on the weekend. As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes my people, we have to be very careful that we don’t abuse the freedom and privilege of the weekend. And our Bit talks to the problem in its own way. ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’
Now that’s solid advice and heavenly wisdom we should all heed my Friends!
And please note Jesus’ words on the subject. ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil (an evil person): but whosoever shall smite (slaps) thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ (Matt.5:38-39)
Oh my people, it is indeed a hard row to hoe, but as followers of Jesus we have to hoe it. And Luke’s version goes like this: ‘But I say unto you which hear, LOVE your enemies, do good unto them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat (tunic) also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.’ (Luke 6:27-30)
That’s sound Christian advice my brethren, straight from the Master’s mouth! He doesn’t mean we should just roll over and play dead, but we shouldn’t be playing tit for tat and treat others the way we want to be treated.
Unfortunately neither of those directives holds much in this current world. We all want revenge for wrongs done to us, and we tend to treat others terribly, but expect great treatment ourselves, in spite of our evil doing.
That obviously doesn’t wash with our Saviour, so let’s try and get rid of those unchristian habits nuh my brethren, for all they do is bring shame and disgrace on us, as well as the Lord’s church.
And the second part of our Bit reminds us to ‘Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’ We must be honest in all our doings Friends.
As Bruh Paul reminds the Corinthians: ‘Providing for honest (honourable) things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.’ (2 Cor.8:21)
And he continues after our Bit, to the church at Rome: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:18-21)
And here are some explanations from the scholars. ’12:19-21. Give place unto wrath: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and He certainly will avenge.
Heap coals of fire on his head (cf. Prov.25:22): This may refer to a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’
And therein my people, lies one of the basic tenets of our Christian faith; don’t return evil for evil. So let’s try and do as it says nuh, put it into serious practice in all our lives, for it is truly the wisdom of heaven. Much LOVE!
…evil only begets evil…therefore the true Christian will not condone evil…but rather focus on the good things that pertain to God…
SCRIP-BITS 