The Most Beneficial Partnership in Life, is that with Almighty God!

17 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 128:1.        Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

And in accordance with God’s great plan of creation, another new day has dawned, thankfully not rainy like the last two, and we have also opened our eyes to see it, another part of God’s great plan. (smile) Unfortunately though, that new day is called Monday, which means getting back to work after the quiet and restful weekend and once again experiencing all the frustrations, annoyances, irritations, disappointments and resentments that will undoubtedly crop up during the day. 

But if we have made good use of the weekend, by getting sufficient rest, going to church and renewing our faith and confidence, then we will be able to handle whatever comes against us in Jesus’ name, with the awesome help of His Holy Spirit. Now, isn’t that alone a great reason to make Jesus our Lord and Saviour eh? For sure! And when you add all the other benefits we receive by making Him the Lord of our lives, it’s inconceivable that anyone could ever refuse to accept Him as the Number One Person in their lives. 

And we all know what Psalm 103 says about the Lord’s benefits: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-KINDNESS and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps. 103:2-5) 

Yes Friends, that’s some of the wonderful benefits we receive when we partner with Almighty God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. And we’ve got to pay close attention to that word partner, because it doesn’t all happen automatically, but is dependent on us playing our part in the relationship. And I believe Psalm 128 gives us a good idea of how that works. 

It says: ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands (the fruit of thy labour): happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of (in the heart of) thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.’ (Ps. 128:1-4) 

Now we all want to have those good things; happiness, eating the fruit of our labour, a fruitful wife and many responsible children. But it only comes when we sincerely reverence the Lord, walk in his ways and keep his commandments. And the opening verses of Psalm 119, agree with that, as they say: ‘Blessed are the undefiled (blameless) in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.’ (Ps. 119:1-4) 

There again, we see the responsibility expected us of from God, basically to keep His commandments, obey and revere Him, seeking Him with our whole hearts, not a part of them. But Moses possibly says it best, or rather more explicitly, when he told the Israelites as he reminded them of their responsibilities. 

‘Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee (you may prosper), and with thy children after thee, and thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth (live long in the land) which the Lord thy God giveth thee for ever.’ (Deut. 4:39- 40) 

Now there’s no mistaking what the Israelites and consequently we modern day believers need to do to see the Lord’s blessings on our lives. And for our information, the scholars explain that ‘The law is identified as testimonies…statutes…judgements. The “testimonies” denoted the covenant stipulations; the “statutes” were laws written down or inscribed on some suitable medium; and the “judgements” were the decisions of a judge (cf. Ps. 19:7-9).’ 

And those are also some very interesting verses from the pen of Bruh David, as he writes about God’s Law is Perfect. Please read with me: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (the drippings of the honeycomb). Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.’ (Ps. 19:7-11) 

Oh my people, what a great and happy world we would have if many more of us kept the Lord’s law instead of Satan’s lawlessness! Bruh David explains it so excellently; it makes wise the simple, restores our soul, rejoices our hearts, it’s  true and righteous, more desirable that gold, sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb, it warns us about the pitfalls of this life and last but not least it brings great rewards to those who revere the Lord and keep His law! 

It could not get any better than that my fellow believers! However, the Lord’s law is not always easy to keep in this sinful and ungodly world, but being the wise and compassionate Sovereign He is, He’s also provided a way for us to get His help; that’s by going to the throne of grace in times of need. So let’s do that right now nuh, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. 

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 even in our own prayer, we voice the same things God expects of us; prayer, sincerely seeking His face, and turning from our evil ways. So how do we expect to get help if we don’t put those important things in place eh? Much LOVE!

…the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…but fools despise wisdom and instruction… (Prov. 1:7)

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 March 2016 Psalm 77:13‏

01 Mar 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 77:13.   Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (holiness): who is so great a God as our God?

Aye friends, who says our God isn’t the greatest and brings interesting things and events into our lives eh? Earlier on this morning, after I finished my devotions on the patio, I went out for a short walk on the grounds near the sea shore as I usually do. 

This morning though I saw a white gentleman preparing to fish from the bank close to the reef with a small rod. I’ve seen a few people fishing around the area before but never spoke to them re their catch. 

Today though I asked the fellow, who turned out to be Hungarian, if he catches anything there. He said yes, barracuda and cavalli, and that he’s been coming there for a couple years now because of what he can catch. 

I was most surprised to hear that those big and ofttimes dangerous fishes could be caught so close to my water hole, especially with the small rod and thin line that he had. (smile) We talked for a few more seconds and I continued walking while he turned his attention to his fishing. 

Some five or so minutes later, on my way back, we spoke for a few more seconds, then all of a sudden he shouts ‘I’ve got one…and a big one too!’ 

I could see the tension on the line, and a couple of times while he fought it, saw the silver fish jump out of the water into the bright sunshine. It did look fairly big. He fought it for another few minutes, trying to not let it get caught on the rocks near to the shore. 

I stood up there watching with interest and hearing him say he wished he had someone to go down on the rocks and bring it in. Then like he got a sudden brainwave and asked me to hold the rod, while he went down on the rocks to get it. I held the rod and watched as went down the rocks and collected the fish, which put up a little struggle before he could get it out of the water. 

And I can now boast that in my first fishing expedition, I helped catch a three-foot barracuda weighing some thirty pounds or so. (smile) It was amazing that after he had it on the grass and extricated the hook from its mouth, it was still alive. 

Now my friend was really excited because this was amongst the biggest fishes he had ever caught. But what happened next surprised me; he took up the fish, went back down into the water and tried to release it. When I asked why, he claimed that he was only a catch and release fisherman. If the fish was still alive, he usually put it back into the sea. 

And wonder of wonders, when he couldn’t get it back into the sea because the water was just washing it back up on the shore, he lifted it up, all the time commenting on how big and heavy it was, then he walked about thirty yards further down to a small coral bay area, went into the water with the fish and stayed there for the approximately ten minutes or so, that it took the fish to regain its strength and swim away. 

Meanwhile a fellow working on a house nearby was also amazed at the size of the catch, and promised to come and fish down there. In his mind though, he would already have been at home having the oil heating in the frying pan, while he cut up the fish and seasoned it. 

The fisherman’s wife, whom I believe he had called on the phone, had also come along, and he had her take some pictures. She was telling him to keep the fish and give it to his local fishing partner. But he insisted that once it was alive, he would try to send it back to the ocean. 

And having finally done that, he came up on the shore, soaking wet, from head to foot, and explained that a few years back some dramatic experience happened to him, and since then, he doesn’t kill anything, possibly beside mosquitoes. His wife kept saying that he was crazy, because he did that sort of thing all the time. 

Finally, some half an hour or more after I’d begun my walk, we said goodbye and went our separate ways. And I guess that’s my excitement for the day, although after that I had to go into town, Scarborough, fight a couple traffic jams, to get some local bush from one of my friends to boil for my cough. 

I haven’t drank any bush medicine for umpteen years now, but I do remember my mother filling me with them either for the cold or for cooling, what we now call detoxifying the body. (smile) 

Wow! That’s taken up so much time and space, we don’t have much left for other stuff. So let’s get right into our Tuesday Mantra, or Prayer of the Beloved. 

All together now with heartfelt sincerity. ‘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 the world. Amen.’ 

Now friends, that’s the way we ought to think of ourselves, each and every day of our lives. What the world says and thinks about us is immaterial, because we are God’s beloved children and Jesus’s friend. Glory Hallelujah! 

What could be better than those two things eh? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING my people! And until we stop allowing the dictates and thoughts of the world to shape our lives, we’ll be forever held in bondage by the enemy, when that is totally unnecessary. 

Now let’s take a quick gander at our Bit. ‘Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (holiness): who is so great a God as our God?’ 

Yesterday we looked at the first part, today I had intended to get into the second half; ‘who is so great a God as our God?’ And as we all know, my fellow believers, the emphatic answer to that is ABSOLUTELY NO ONE! 

Yes friends, there is no supposed deity or otherwise who is mightier and more powerful than the Creator of our universe and all therein, including mankind! How could there be eh, when He spoke it all into existence eons ago, and still controls it? 

And we’ll end today with God’s own words as spoken through the prophet Isaiah when His people Israel were fooling around with worthless, powerless idols. He says: ‘To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?’ (Is.46:5) A very good question that friends. 

Then later on He declares: ‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’ (Is.46:9-10) 

Now my brethren, let’s ponder those words of indisputable truth today nuh and write them indelibly in our hearts, minds, souls and bodies, for that is indeed eternal wisdom. Much LOVE!

…all other supposed gods are lifeless and powerless…ONLY our great God Jehovah is alive and kicking…full of power and majesty…