06 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a blast of sunshine, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, a pipe dream, a world on edge, ambassadors, anxiety, avoid serious setbacks, Banana Republic, be full of salt, be responsible, be trodden underfoot of men, be true salt and light, brings out the best in mankind, Christians, confusion, Covid-19, craziness, divisive partisan leadership, embrace your love and compassion, endurance, faithful believers, foolish antics, Friday chant, glorify your father in heaven, good examples of His gospel, good for nothing, gospel truth, handle the situation properly, hemming and hawing, Immortal words of Jesus, in a world of violence, in the name our Lord and Saviour, it giveth light unto all that are in the house, it's been rough, Jesus Christ, least amount of loss to life, legal wrangling, Let your light so shine before men, monkey see monkey do, neither do men light a candle, perseverance, prayers are in order, put it under a bushel, racial strife, ready to fall over the precipice, rest from the slave master work, restoring faith in you, salt has lost its flavour, show their mettle, sinful world, stay safe, stop our world going over the brink, sunshine, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the ordinary workingman, the pandemic still raging, they may see your good works, U.S. elections, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee, warm temps, warm weather, weekends, well flavoured, widespread unrest, wise guidance, Ye are the light of the world, ye are the salt of the earth
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And the election craziness and confusion continues in the good ole U.S. of A! What a surprise! (smile) On this spring-like Friday morning with glorious sunshine in my neighbourhood, it’s hard to pay much attention to the foolish antics that’s happening down there. The only sure thing is that there’s no sure thing, and won’t be for a while, what with all the hemming and hawing and legal wrangling and fake news and all the other stuff that’s recently made the U.S. look like one of those long-ago Banana Republics in South and Central America.
I wish them the best of luck, but it seems that with the pending results, we will have four more years of overwhelming, divisive partisan leadership down there, which doesn’t bode any good for anybody, neither the country itself nor the whole world looking on, who unfortunately suffer in some way according to how the U.S. goes. Prayers are in order, rather absolutely necessary, for all of us! End of spiel! (smile)
Now let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say today nuh. And as always, he crows: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! And it’s going to be a wonderful day, with sunshine and warm temps. Imagine that nuh, way down in November we been having temps in the high teens…Mama Yo! Today it might even rise to about twenty… Well that I can certainly handle! Ah don’t care what nobody says, but a blast of sunshine and warm weather brings out the best in mankind, at least in me! So let it shine bright and stay warm all the time nuh…Hn, hn hn!
Oh I know that is only a pipe dream up here in these northern climes, but who says a body can’t dream eh? And the pandemic still raging all over the world, but plenty more worried and concerned about what happening with the U.S elections, but not me nuh, because I know them people down there don’t care a darm about nobody else but themselves, so if they want to fight and kill each other over foolishness, I say let them go ahead yes! But unfortunately, we up here in Canada too tie up with the U.S yes, so whatever happens down there, we certain to feel some backlash up here, especially since we have plenty up here who like to play, monkey see monkey do, and behave like them down there. Steups!
Ah Lord eh, ah don’t know what the world coming to nuh, but it surely not as nice and warm and welcoming as it used to be. All a small man like me could do though is hope and pray and live one day at a time and give God thanks for Fridays and the li’l rest from the slave master work on the weekends yes!’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends! The most a lot of us can do is hope and pray for better times and give God thanks for our situations. And yes, I know that’s difficult in a world that is on edge, that’s just waiting and ready to fall over the precipice, but we believers have been charged with the enormous task of not letting it go over the brink and plummet into war and all the negative things that will happen if we reach that unfortunate stage. And all I can do is quote these immortal words of Jesus concerning our behaviour and duty in this confused and divided world.
Please listen closely to our Leader, our Lord and Saviour. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand) ; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:13-16)
Yes my brethren, that’s what our leader expects of us; to shine bright like the morning sun and be full of salt, well flavoured in our lives, being good examples of His gospel, ambassadors of His kingdom, offering, help, encouragement and meeting the needs of our fellow man, wherever and however we can! Oh, I know it’s never been, and will never be an easy task, but with His awesome help, we can do it. So let’s spend a li’l time right now and go to Him for that help we need nuh. Let’s cry out to Him through our Friday Chant for endurance and perseverance and whatever else it will take for us to stop our world going over the brink.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, as the faithful believers we claim to be, let’s go out and do our best nuh; handle the situation in the best way we can! Much LOVE!
…in a world of violence and widespread unrest…Christians must show their mettle…be true salt and light…
20 Oct 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a built-in sense of upliftment, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, a wonderful ray of sunshine, assurance, being egotistical, christianity, courage, disputed Jesus' authority, disunity amongst Christ's followers, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, free them from Roman atrocities, glorify your father in heaven, God is omnipresent, grow up as stall fed calves, guarding their earthly power, have seen a great light, he that followeth me, I am the beloved of god, I am the light of the world, I bear record of myself, in Christ's guiding light, in god's eyes, in the land of the shadow of death, inherent touch of melancholia, intimidating, it giveth light unto all that are in the house, Jesus as your Guiding Light, laziness, Let your light so shine before men, light will always overcome darkness, LOVE, Malachi, my witness is true, neither do men light a candle, not what I do, not what I have, our hold on life worldwide, our invaluable and unbreakable connection to the Father, peaceful Rabbi, put it under a bushel, rainy days and Mondays, relaxation, shall have the light of life, shall not walk in darkness, share His love with the world, tenuous, the great warrior king, the inward dwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Messiah, the outer recognition of the Father's creation, the people that walked in darkness, the Pharisees, the Sun of righteousness, they may see your good works, they that dwell, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, unto you that fear my name, upon them hath the light shined, will arise with healing in His wings, with Love as His testimony, words of awesome truth, Ye are the light of the world, ye shall go forth
John 8:12. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Another wet and dreary day seems to be in the offing. But yuh know, unlike what the Carpenters said in their hit song way back in 1971, it’s not only rainy days and Mondays that get me down, but rainy days period. (smile) It’s just that rainy days seem to have this inherent touch of melancholia in them; just like sunshiny days have a built-in sense of upliftment. You see the sun and spirits automatically lift despite your circumstances. Likewise, you experience the wet and dreary looking weather and your spirits tend to fall somewhat, the attitude of relaxation and laziness also seem to pop up. (smile) You have to actively lift them up again.
And so it is with this Tuesday morning, after a rather melancholy Monday. But yuh know friends, when you have Jesus as your Guiding Light, the kind of physical day doesn’t really matter, because He Himself is such a wonderful ray of sunshine that just thinking of Him and talking to him automatically lifts you up! Glory to God my people! Jesus Himself revealed His awesome Light. ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12)
But unfortunately, the Pharisees disputed His authority because He witnessed to Himself, which to them, invalidated His claim. That however did not change anything, all it meant was that the Pharisees would remain on the outside looking in; stubborn, like the head-butting goats they were. (smile) As Jesus’ reply indicated. ‘Though I bear record (witness) of myself, yet my record (witness) is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.’ (John 8:14)
Now here is an interesting explanation on Jesus being the light of the world from the www.biblestudytools.com website. ‘Jesus saying He is the Light of the world is the outer recognition of His Father’s creation and presence, and the inward dwelling of the Holy Spirit, by which we know our Father and walk with Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world, our world, and in the world. Like God is omnipresent, so Jesus is Light.’ Ah friends, what a wonderful depiction of Jesus; His light just shining everywhere, being the ever-present reality, our invaluable and unbreakable connection to the Father!
And it’s obvious that the Pharisees, supposedly the most learned scriptural group back then, didn’t know or understand the true meaning of the scriptures, or were simply being egotistical and guarding their earthly power, for Isaiah said it loud and clear. ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’ (Is. 9:2)
The prophet Malachi also told us about the bright Light that would come. ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the SUN of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves).’ (Mal. 4:2)
Now if the Pharisees were so wise or knowledgeable of the scriptures, they would have put two and two together and come up with four and not three, especially since Jesus was healing people like crazy, something they’d never seen before. Or, possibly, as I said earlier, they did come up with four, but were wary of losing their upper crust position if they acknowledged Jesus for whom He really was.
One stumbling block for the whole Jewish society though, seemed to be the thinking that the Messiah would be this great warrior king who would come and through war-like means, free them from the Roman atrocities, not a gentle, meek, peaceful Rabbi with LOVE as the basis of His testimony. And no doubt we have also been influenced by what or whom we believe Jesus to be in our lives, not what He truly is, and thus have erred in our direction, belief and behaviour, just like the Pharisees did.
That can clearly be seen in all the different religions and denominations, doctrines, beliefs and behaviour held under the same great umbrella called Christianity. Thus the great disunity amongst Christ’s supposed followers. And thus, the lack of substantial testimony from us on Jesus declaration. ‘Ye are the light of the world.’
Yes friends, when Jesus returned to heaven, He designated us as His replacement for light in this ungodly world. But have we done that? Not to the extent that we should have, for there are still too many unbelievers out there, who have never heard about Jesus, or heard about Him and refused to believe because of our dark, unlit testimony.
So my people, this dark and cloudy morning, please let’s remember Jesus words and do our best to put them into action nuh. ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt. 5:14-15)
Those are words of awesome truth people, and if our light was shining as bright and as far reaching as possible, our hold on life worldwide right now would certainly not be as intimidating and tenuous. That means we have to raise our level of shining. In the immortal words of Jesus: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16)
And that’s all Jesus really expects of us yes friends; that we give good testimony of Him through our beliefs and behaviour, so that the Father can be glorified, which is what the Father sent him to do. And in these dangerous and uncertain times, it behooves us Christians to come up higher than we ever have, so the world around us can take some courage and assurance in Christ’s guiding light that shines forth through us. So let’ step up to the plate and do better nuh mih people.
And now, as we go home, let’s boldly and confidently proclaim to the world, who and whose we are by declaring (steups!) our Tuesday Mantra. ‘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 the world. Amen!’
And if we’re sincere, we’ll now go out and share that awesome LOVE and friendship of Christ with others who, in these desperate times, so desperately need to know and come to LOVE Him! Much LOVE!
…light will always overcome darkness…but only when it’s shone there…
19 Aug 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a city set on a hill cannot be hid, a damning statement, above all we can ask or imagine, answer for wasting valuable time, be about the Father's business, before men, Christ's saints, Christlike character, compassion of Jesus, do the work, exceeding abundantly, forgiveness, gace, glorify your father in heaven, God can do, good for nothing, halfway home, hands on the plough, let your light so shine, light a candle, like the idle rich, living a life that glorifies Christ, lost their saltiness, LOVE, mercy, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, not looking back, of him who sent me, pussyfooting around, put it under a bushel, put our money where our mouth is, raise up our faith, salt has lost it's savour, Sermon on the Mount, shining lights of Christianity, thank God, the breath of life, the light of the world, the night cometh, they may see your good works, to a glorious future with Jesus, trod under foot of men, turbulent times, waiting for a slowpoke, Wednesday Wail, when no man can work, while it is day, winning souls for christ, ye are the salt of the earth
John 9:4. I must do the work of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.
And then it was Wednesday… ahready? Yes, already! (smile) Unfortunately, it seems that the days are not waiting for a slowpoke like me, they are going about the Father’s business, as they are meant to. And believe me, they are indicating in scowling disapproval, that I should also be about His business instead of pussyfooting around like the idle rich! Yeh, when even the days are disapproving of your behaviour, then you must know that things are bad with you. (smile)
So what’s a poor man like me to do under those circumstances eh? I guess I ought to do like Jesus said when, on the Sabbath day, He healed the man that was blind from birth. ‘I must do the work of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.’ (John 9:4) Ah my brothers and sisters in Christ, we should indeed do the work of Him who sent us, Jesus Christ, while we have the time, for there will eventually come a time when we cannot work, through death or Christ’s return.
And then, we’ll all have to answer for the valuable time we wasted in doing everything else, besides winning souls for Christ. Yes friends, that’s our basic job down here on earth; to live a life that’s so reminiscent of Christ, that others will desire to follow Him. But if we’re living in darkness, spiritual darkness that is, we can’t do that job successfully. We have to believe and act as Jesus said: ‘As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ (John 9:5)
And that’s no lie! When Jesus was here on the earth in the physical form of man, He was indeed the light of the world, but once He returned to heaven, then we, His believers and followers became the light of the world. As He said so purposefully in the Sermon on the Mount. ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt. 5:14-15)
So it’s not just my imagination (smile) that we ought to be bright shining lights of Christianity in a dark and evil world, Jesus said it very clearly and boldly to all and sundry. And furthermore, He exhorts us with heartfelt passion: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16) Oh precious people of God, we cannot get away from that exhortation because it’s our very purpose for being in the world: living a life that glorifies our heavenly Creator.
And I don’t know if there’s ever been a time in man’s history that we’ve ever needed Christians, believers in Christ to stand up and be counted more than we currently do. Yes friends, in these seemingly last and very troubled times, we desperately need to show our mettle, our true Christlike character and nature, so that we can be encouraging beacons of light for those who don’t know Christ or are not very strong in their faith. There is no doubt my brethren, that this is the time for which we who are currently here were made for. And it’s ever so important that in the fear and darkness that’s hovering over our world, that we believers stand forth as lights of the world and salt of the earth!
Yes, Jesus also did desire us to be salty, that is to have qualities that are refreshing, effervescent, flavourful, preserving and healing; all the many things that salt are good for and used for in our society. He puts it thus: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ (Matt. 5:13) Wow! What a damning statement from our leader!
And it seems He knew what He was talking about, because right now in these very trying and turbulent times, many of His saints have apparently lost their saltiness, not being very refreshing, preservative, effervescent or otherwise and are of no earthly use to the kingdom! Now that doesn’t speak very well of us my people, neither does it reflect very well on our Lord and Saviour, since we are His ambassadors, His representatives down here.
So please, can I implore us to step up to the plate, for while we’re alive, there’s always hope, and let’s do better than we’re currently doing nuh. Look at what Jesus did for us, and is still doing; stuff that we can never repay! So let’s raise up our faith and put our money and faith and action where our mouths are nuh; in being the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Jesus desires, so that we can be of some real use on our planet and not just idly taking up and wasting valuable space. (smile)
Remember, it’s all for Jesus! For our Lord and Saviour who sacrificed His all for us, so that we could be reconciled to the Father, our dastardly deeds, our sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven ours for the taking. And all He’s asking is that we stand up strong now and let the world see the LOVE, the mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion that’s inherent in being a believer. Is that so much to ask? I don’t think so.
Now let’s go home declaring (awright!) our Wednesday Wail, telling the world of our most enviable position in Christ Jesus. In strong voice with sincere and fearless hearts. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And I do believe, like Bruh Paul says, that our God can ‘do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.’ (Eph. 3:20) So if we stand strong and endure to the end, He will indeed boggle our human imaginations with His awesome divine power when we get to heaven. Much LOVE!
…time for Christ’s saints…to get real salty…and to let their lights shine real bright…
10 Aug 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a pronouncement of victory, affections and lusts, against such there is no law, all have sinned, ambassadors, antidote, authority, baptizing them, before men, benot desirous of vain glory, characteristics of Jesus, christianity, come short in obedience, conceited, courtesy, crucified the flesh, dependability, direction, disappointed me, disciples, envying one another, faithfulness, generosity, gentleness, glorify your father in heaven, go ye therefore, goodness, honour, humble ourselves, in the name of the Father, joy, kindness, let your light so shine, lockdown, long-suffering, LOVE, make disciples, martyred leader, mass confusion, meekness, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, need your help, of the Holy Ghost, of the Son, passions, patience, peace, peaceful consensus, power, promised to answer our prayer, protests, provoking one another, reverential devotion, saints of Christ, self-control, sincere repentance, strife, teach all nations, temperance, the fruit of the spirit, the Great Commission, they may see your good works, they that are Christ's, victory over the evil one, virus, walk in the Spirit, wise guidance
Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness (generosity), faith (faithfulness, dependability), Meekness (courtesy, consideration), temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.
Awright, up and at ‘em fellow saints of Christ! Time to get up, go out if necessary and live the gospel; the good news of our Lord and Saviour! Remember some of the last words He spoke to the disciples, and consequently to us, who haven’t seen Him in person, but nonetheless believe?
‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in the earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28: 18-20) Wow! What a marvellous command; one thoroughly laced with divine assurance! We call it the ‘Great Commission!’
And I like how the scholars describe it: ‘28:18-20. Christianity is not represented here as the mere reverential devotion of disappointed men who honour their martyred leader. Here is a far different scene. The triumphant, living Lord sends forth His ambassadors to proclaim His gospel throughout all the world. The Great Commission is not just an order but a pronouncement of victory (mundus regium Christi) by the risen Saviour through His disciples.’
Yes friends on the basis of Christ’s death and resurrection, His victory over the evil one, He was given power and authority over both heaven and earth, and it’s on that same power and authority that we, His ambassadors, His disciples, are able to carry our His Great Commission to all the world through His body, the church. Glory be, mih bredrin!
So our major purpose this Monday morning is to display the wonderful characteristics of Jesus, what we term the fruit of the Spirit, seeds of those awesome characteristics that have been planted within us, and are prosperously growing therein, as we continually water and nurture them.
And what better time and place to remember those precious characteristics called the fruit of the Spirit than right now. ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness (generosity), faith (faithfulness, dependability), Meekness (courtesy, consideration), temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.’ (Gal. 5:22-23) No my people, against that marvellous fruit, there can be no law!
However, as Bruh Paul continues to the Galatians: ‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections (its passions) and lusts.’ (Gal. 5:24). That means when we receive Christ, and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, we become new creatures, giving up our sinful past and evil passions. Which further means: ‘If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.’ (Gal. 5:25) That should be understood. If the Spirit gave us new life when we received Christ, then we ought to continue following His leading and guidance for the rest of our lives if we want the spiritual seeds within us to grow and produce much good fruit, and thus we move from glory to glory in Christ Jesus.
And we have one last, but oh so important warning from Bruh Paul to the church at Galatia. ‘Let us not be desirous of vain glory (be conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal. 5:26) Now that also applies to us, but unfortunately, both in the church and society at large that is not being practiced. In fact those very emotions of conceitedness, provocation and envy are running rampant throughout our entire society. No wonder the fruit of the Spirit is not as abundant as it ought to be. That’s why as ambassadors and disciples of Jesus we have to get out there and spread the message, make a difference, so that His gospel can reach the entire world as He desires and commissioned us to do.
And the first thing we ought to do each and every day is pray. So let’s do that nuh, by declaring (awright!) our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. In strong and confident voice, but with humble and contrite hearts. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You that this Monday morning we’re alive, and hopefully haven’t contracted the virus that’s causing havoc around our world. And our anxieties have been recently deepened because several restrictions have been lifted in the lockdown, so more of us are going out to work now without any guarantees of safety.
Then to complicate matters Father, suddenly, and unexpectedly, just like the virus, worldwide strife and protests have also struck us in this sad time of pandemic, and we don’t have a clue how to handle either situation properly. Mass confusion is currently prevailing in our world, and we desperately need your help to solve both problems, as You are the ONLY One with the power and insight to successfully handle them.
Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously come short in obedience and compliance to Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, and You have 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, ordinary folks, as well as our leaders, employers and medical personnel, wise guidance and direction.
Please show us how to successfully handle these scourges that are currently plaguing Your beautiful earth. Please help our leaders to wisely quell the strife and protests, thus bringing unity, peaceful consensus and real improvement in the areas that are now sadly lacking. Please help the scientists to also find a positive solution, a sure antidote to the virus as quickly as possible. And for those who have already contracted the virus, or been injured in the strife, we pray that You will ease their suffering and heal them.
Father, 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 while we wait for God’s help, let’s walk in the Spirit nuh, so that we can produce much good fruit! Much LOVE!
…let your light so shine before men…that they may see your good works…and glorify your Father in heaven… (Matt. 5:16)
08 May 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: another day of inactivity, anxiety, anxious time, before men, boredom, bring mankind to their senses, Coid-19 virus, divided leadership, false, fighting for medical supplies, fretting, Friday chant, glorify your father in heaven, hid under a bushel, illiminate darkness, lack of income, let your light so shine, light shining through darkness, making me feel old, misssleading, omnipotent help, our earthly purpose, pandemic, protesters, reflect Christ, restoring faith, saints in Christ, scads of information, sensible and safe solution, staunch the flow of death, stop the bloody virus, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, they may see your good works, trodden underfoot, uncertainty, wake up and smell the coffee
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Welcome to Friday friends and another weekend off for the relatively small number of us who have been working all week. For others, it’s just another passing day of inactivity, lack of income, anxiety, fretting and boredom. Uncertainty is still in the air and it seems like there is no unity in how to handle this uncertain situation. Leadership is divided, and nations and states and provinces and cities are doing things differently, fighting for the medical supplies they all need to staunch the flow of death that’s currently happening.
Now what does all of that say about mankind eh? If we can’t get together for the greater good of all in a pandemic time such as this, what hope is there for us to get together in times of no pandemic eh? Ah Lord eh? I don’t know what it will take to bring us together as our great God desires nuh! I guess nothing but Jesus’ Second Coming will ever bring mankind to their senses! Anyway, it’s Friday, so let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say for himself nuh.
And he begins with a rather lacklustre: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! Although nothing seems different to me…and it isn’t, since I’m not working, so there’s no weekend to look forward to. I’m simply lazing about, doing a few odd chores around the house, getting under mih wife’s foot and skin. Even playing with the children getting tiring now, because they have more energy than me. I just hope they fix this thing soon yes, because this inactivity slowly driving me mad.
And as every day pass by without me doing anything substantial, I have to sadly chuckle about how I missing the slave master work! Hn! Never thought that would ever happen. But as they say, after one time is two oui! Steups! Sometimes I even want to go and join the protesters who want the place to open back up. But that is not too smart until we have a safe way to do it.
And yuh know, is not even the money ah losing that bothering me so much nuh, because we mostly staying home, we getting by with the few dollars from the government. But is the whole uncertainty surrounding everything and the scads of information yuh getting, plenty of it false and misleading, that not really telling yuh anything yuh really want to hear; something solid and concrete they doing to stop the bloody virus! Chuh man! This thing making me feel older than mih years yes! Just hope and pray they find a sensible and safe solution soon yes!’
Oh friends, all of us are hoping and praying for the same thing; a safe and sensible solution to this pandemic situation! But who knows how long and what form it’s going to take eh? In the meanwhile, all we can do is hope and pray and do the sensible things like social distancing and washing of hands as often as possible and encouraging each other in whatever sensible ways we can. So let’s do the first thing we ought always to do nuh in uncertain situations; pray! Let’s chant our Friday Chant, that’s been reworked for this uncertain and anxious time.
As one strong and confident voice, but with humility of heart: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…though not from work, but from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid -19 virus causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. But with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat this virus. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, and also introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And having prayed that prayer my people, we’ve now got to ask ourselves if we’re doing the things, behaving the way that will cause others to want to come to Christ? Can the fruit of these awesome words of Jesus be seen in us? ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: Ye are the light of the world.’ (Matt. 5:13-14) Oh my people, unless others can feel our saltiness and see our bright light shining through their darkness, like a city set on a hill, then we’re not doing what Jesus desires of us. Instead we’re being like salt that’s lost its flavour and is thus no good but to be trodden underfoot. And also we’re hiding whatever light we may have under a bushel or a basket.
Friends, light is not meant to be hidden, that’s the purpose of darkness. Light is meant to be shone brightly forth, to illuminate darkness. So please, let’s get ourselves together as true believers and do what Jesus desires of us nuh. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ That’s our earthly purpose my fellow saints in Christ, so let’s get to it nuh! Much LOVE!
…only when we truly reflect Christ…will others want to come to Him…
P.S. Hope yuh notice how short and early it is today! (smile) Much LOVE!
12 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a city set on a hill, a positive outlook, B.S. baffles brains, before men, cannot be hid, compassionate heart, curse, every knee shall bow, every tongue swear, exemplary, favour, full of compromises, genrously share, gentleness, glorify your father in heaven, god lives in a home, God's in the house, good friends, good health, gospel truth, have the light of life, hide the light of Jesus, I am the light of the world, I have sworn by myself, in righteousness, Jesus shining in our lives, kindness, laughter, let your light so shine, light a candle, lights for Christ, like the morning sun, magnanimous god, negative owrd, never a secret, problems mixed with prayer, prosperselfishly hoard, put it under a bushel, raison d'etre, Ruth Harms Calkin, Scrip-Bit friends and family, self-control, set free in the darkness, shall not walk in darkness, shining bright and beautiful, sincere effort, success, take an oath, the Great First, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the word is gone out, they may see your good works, this ungodly world, Thursday Blessings, wishy-washy, Ye are the light of the world, You cannot be hid
Matthew 5:14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Well hello there my beautiful Scrip-Bit friends and family! Oh… you’re shining bright and beautiful like the morning sun outside my window! Now that’s the way our Lord and Saviour likes to see His people blooming and blossoming in this evil world! Yes, I know you’re thinking that B.S, does indeed baffle brains, but why couldn’t what I’ve just said all be true eh? That’s exactly how followers of Christ ought to be! And a lot of us are…just not enough!
But we won’t belabour the point, I’ll just share this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, which shows exactly how believers are when Christ is in the house. And it’s titled, quite appropriately, ‘You Cannot Be Hid.’
Please pray with me: ‘Lord, I’ve discovered it’s never a secret When You live in a home For You simply cannot be hid. The neighbours soon know You are there Even strangers learn of Your presence. When You are the Great First in a home There is a radiance that speaks of joy There is gentleness, kindness Laughter and LOVE. There is a commotion mixed with contentment There are problems mixed with prayer. Lord, Your own Word says it so vividly: “It was known that He was in the house.”
Oh Mama Mia people! That says it all so wonderfully! When Jesus is truly in the yard, it must show! If it doesn’t, then He’s not there! And this Christmas season when we celebrate Christ’s birth, let’s make sure that others can clearly see Him in our homes and lives nuh, because that’s the biggest advertising and selling point we could ever have: the light of Jesus shining in our lives. And Jesus Himself said it in the promise for our poem: ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.’
Wow! What a gospel truth, from the very mouth of our Lord and Saviour! That means, as true believers our lives ought to be exemplary, not wishy-washy and full of compromises. Oh don’t worry, Jesus knows that we’re not perfect, and never will be, but what He desires is the sincere effort on our part. As He further enables and reassures us by these reassuring words. ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) What more assurance can we ask for or need eh friends?
Please let’s not be like the Pharisees disputing His authority because He witnessed to Himself. Who else could He witness to or by eh, when he was God, the Creator, the Highest of all beings? As the Lord said so emphatically in Isaiah concerning salvation. ‘Look (turn) unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return. That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear (take an oath). (Is. 45:22-23) Yes my fellow believers, the Lord could not be more emphatic than that re His sovereignty and overall position in the cosmos!
So since we are His disciples, His ambassadors in this ungodly and wicked world, our lives ought also to be bright and shining like His was. For, as He continues in Matthew after our Bit: ‘Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt. 5:15) More gospel truth that friends! We don’t light lights then hide the light, so why are we trying to hide the light of Jesus that dwells in us and wants to be set free in the darkness of this world eh?
No, we have to do like He says: ‘Let your light shine so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16) Now that’s our very raison d’etre, our very purpose for being alive my brethren; to glorify God! That’s why He created us; so that we could worship and glorify Him, praise His holy Name and live just for Him alone!
But getting back to the heart of the matter, this Christmas season when we’re celebrating Christ’s birthday with lots of lights, please, please, let not the lights be only on the trees and ornaments and buildings, but even more importantly, sincerely shining from our hearts, radiating in our faces and blossoming forth in our LOVING actions! As I said earlier on, the sincere light that shines in our lives is the best testimony we can ever give for Christ!
Now let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!) our Thursday Blessings which our ever magnanimous God has showered down on us so we can do His work, be bright, shining lights in a dark world. Altogether in full voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
And it pays to remember that those blessings are for us to generously share, like the Lord generously shared them with us, not to selfishly hoard for ourselves. Much LOVE!
…as lights for Christ…we can choose no better time to shine…and shine brightly too…than at Christmas…
05 Jan 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a city set on a hill, all is not lost, amputate the rotting part, Anselm, ascendance of darkness, ask God, balance the list, before men, behind the eight ball, building His church, by actions, cannot be hid, Christmas spirit, commodities, compromising, confront the situation, cracks to be patched, darkness, depending on us, enhances the taste of our food, evil, fearful, fester, followers of Christ, glorify your father in heaven, inflamed sore, lax, lazy, lead not follow, let go of anxiety, let your light so shine, light, like there is no tomorrow, listen more, looking for flaws, not words, potential, pray, prepare to be great, room by roo, sacrifices, sad state of disrepair, Saturday, see the vision, separate worries from concerns, Sermon on the Mount, set the foundation, sit on your ego, succeed, take one day at a time, talk less, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, they may see your good works, under a bushel, walking closer with Jesus, with Jesus anything is possible, work to be done
Matthew 5:13a,14a. Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world!
Well it’s the first Saturday in the New Year, and though the ole fella was up a bit early, he’s fallen somewhat behind the eight ball. But that’s allowed eh, especially on a cloudy, winter’s Saturday morn? (smile) Hope everybody is catching up on their rest after the hectic Christmas and New Year’s seasons, but please don’t put away the Christmas spirit with the decorations, and remember that we are walking closer with Jesus this year of 2019!
And since it’s Saturday, it’s time to look at what our friend Anselm sent us this week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. Now this is an interesting scenario that he’s submitted: ‘We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.
Things to think about for 2019: 1. Talk less; listen more; 2. Remind yourself you are not the General Manager of the Universe; 3. Sit on your ego; 4. Take one day at a time; 5. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it; 6. Pray. Happy New Year to all my friends and family!‘
There’s nothing wrong with any of that! In fact it’s all stuff we should do, if we want to live a joyful and peaceful and blessed New Year! Then there is this quote that sort of paraphrases the thoughts above: ‘There are greater things to be achieved in every New Year, and each and everyone must prepare themselves to be great, not by words of the mouth, but by a lot of sacrifices.’
Oh friends, our world is in such a sad state of disrepair, that only enormous sacrifices on the part of each and every believer could ever hope to right it! That’s why, as true believers in, and steadfast followers of Christ, we have to totally embrace this last quote: ‘The ones who can see the vision when no one else can, and work on it like there is no tomorrow, will succeed. The rest will follow.’
Yes my Christian brethren, that’s what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ expects of us; to have the vision He’s supplied and then to diligently and sincerely work on it like He desires of us. He most urgently wants us to be leaders, not followers! That’s why in His most memorable sermon, that on the Mount, He took such pains to point out what He expects of us: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world!’
Yeh faithful followers, in Jesus’ time, and still today, salt and light, are two of the most valuable things, much needed commodities in our world. Salt still enhances the taste of our food and keeps it fresh, while we can’t walk anywhere or do anything constructively if there’s only darkness.
Light, especially that special light that Jesus brings and offers, is desperately needed in this terribly dark world of ours. The powers of evil and darkness are ruling the roost, and that doesn’t sit well with our Leader. And that ascendance of darkness and evil didn’t just happen overnight, it happened over a period of time when His followers were too lax, lazy, fearful and compromising to step up and confront the undesired situation!
But remember friends, all is not yet lost, and once we have Jesus on our side, ANY and EVERYTHING is possible! However, we have to put in the sacrifices, the actual work, not just talk to improve our world! Just thing about the kind of world our grandchildren will inhabit in the next couple of decades if we do nothing NOW to make it better nuh?
We’ve already allowed the evil and corruption of this world to fester and run like an inflamed sore, we can’t afford to let it get any worse, otherwise we’ll just have to amputate the rotting body part. That’s why these immortal words of Jesus ought always to be pounding in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls:
‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lamp stand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt.5:13-15)
Oh friends, what more can I say eh? Except that we can’t let down Jesus like we’re currently doing! We need to pull up our britches and tighten our bootstraps if we want to be truly successful workers in His cause. And one thing also to remember, when we fail Jesus, since we are His chosen workers, it also means that He is failing the Father!
And under no circumstance can we allow the Father the opportunity to look askance at Jesus. That’s why we have to make the effort, the real sacrifice this year of 2019 and do as He pleaded: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16)
Yes mih breddren, letting our light shine in this dark world must be our avowed purpose for this New Year, so that our Father in heaven, our Creator, Almighty God can be glorified. Remember that’s why He created us! Much LOVE!
…the Father sent Jesus to do a job…He did His part…set the foundation…then sub-contracted the rest of building His church to us… and He’s depending on us to do our part…to bring about successful completion…all to the glory of the Father’s name…
06 Dec 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a reflection, abound. more and more, abstain, abundance, an easy row to hoe, approve things, at the name of Jesus, attributes, before men, christianity, come to the Lord, conduct, courage, curse, discernment, endurance, eternal life, every knee shall bow, every tongue declare, evil, evildoers, excellent, fear God, fight the good fight, filled with, finished the work, fleshly lusts, foolish men, Gentiles, glorify your Father, God's standards, good example, good works, honest, honour all men, honourable, ignorance, in heaven, in the form of God, Jesus is Lord, let your light so shine, LOVE, LOVE the brotherhood, made of himself, maliciousness, moral conduct, negative word, no reputation, perseverance, pilgrims, put to silence, rat-race, rise again, run the race, safety, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, servants of god, sincere, strangers, succour, talent, thanks and praise, the cross, the day of Christ, the day of visitation, the fruits of righteousness, the straight and narrow path, the will of God, they may see your good works, Thursday Blessings, to the glory of the Father, Triune God, trustworthy Spirit, war against the soul, well doing, without offense
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
So what’s up this Thursday morning eh my people? I do hope that we all gave sincere thanks and praise to our great God when we joyfully awoke to a new day. And then, asked for His wonderful and ever-trustworthy Spirit to lead and guide us on the straight and narrow path all through our eventful day.
In fact, that’s how we ought to begin each and everyday my believing brethren; with sincere thanks and praise and a strong desire to be led by the best guide in this evil and crazy world, the Holy Spirit of our Triune God! Amen!
And then, having done that, we need to get out there and fight the good fight, run a strong race of endurance and perseverance in Jesus’ name, so that we can bring all the glory to our heavenly Father! That’s why our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ made the time immemorial statement in our Bit: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’
Yeh friends, it’s all about showing our good works, to the heathen; living by shining example, walking our talk, so that they can see the great benefit in our way of life and come to the Lord for safety and succour, salvation and eternal life.
Here’s how Peter puts it: ‘Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation (conduct) honest (honourable) among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation….
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness (evil), but as servants of God. Honour all men, LOVE the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.’ (1 Pet.2:11-12, 15-17) I didn’t say it friends, but Peter. (smile) And he walked with Jesus, so obviously he knew what Jesus desired of His followers.
Now hear Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘And this I pray, that your LOVE may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement (discernment); That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.’ (Phil.1:9-13)
Yes friends, as true believers we are expected to live up to a code of moral conduct and behaviour that lives up to God’s standards! No, Christianity is not an easy row to hoe, and Jesus made that quite clear; the world is evil and doesn’t like goodness, and we’d suffer just because we believed in Him, but He also promised that if we stayed true to His word, He would lead and guide us with His Holy Spirit and we’d come out the winners in this rat race called life.
And again He specifies that all our good deeds are not for His glory, but for that of the Father. Listen to Him with the disciples: ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’ (John 15:7-8) One proviso there though my people; we need to ask it all in Jesus’ name, doing it the way He wants it done, abiding by His will.
And Listen to Jesus once again as His time had come and He prays for His own. ‘These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power (authority) over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with (alongside) thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.’ (John 17:1-5)
Yeh friends, our Lord and Saviour was preparing Himself to go to the cross, rise again and be glorified by the Father on our behalf, also bringing them back to the wonderful relationship they had before all the nonsense that sin caused in the world. And I think it’s only fitting that we consider this passage of scripture in showing Jesus’ desire to glorify His heavenly Father.
In the immortal words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made (coming) in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil.2:5-11)
That says it all friends! All our efforts on this earth ought to be aimed at glorifying our heavenly Father! Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, which our magnanimous heavenly Father have bestowed on those of us who try our best to glorify Him.
All together in loud and sincere voice now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
And since a blessing is not a blessing until it’s been spoken over someone, let’s go out and share them nuh, like Jesus so greatly desires of us! Much LOVE!
…the Lord made man…to be a reflection of His wonderful attributes…and to glorify His Holy Name…
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