24 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, anger, bless the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessings, Christians, clean spirits, disagreement, disputes, dissension, earthly family, encouraging, envy, exhortation to praise, exhorting, father in heaven, fellowship with other believers, fellowshipping, fill our coffers, forgiveness, friends, good news of the gospel, great commission, jealousy, lift up your hands, lifting up holy hands, light of jesus, living example, living our faith, Lord God Jehovah, LOVE, loving fold, loving god, magnificent and majestic God, mark of respect, mature in Christ, men pray every where, mercies, mercy, obedience, outstretched arms, personal relationship, pure hearts, resentment, salt of the earth, service, spreading God's Word, state of our hearts, strife, Sunday, teaching, the day of the Lord, the joy of brotherhood, this is the day the Lord has made, to dwell in unity, unconditional LOVE, we will rejoice and be glad in it, without wrath, worshipping
Psalm 134:2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
Well hello there mih lovelies! It’s a new day –Sunday –the day of the Lord, when we gather in His sanctuary to praise, worship, give thanks and glorify His Holy Name!
And all God’s children boldly declared: ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord who hath blessed us with all good things!’
Yes Friends, as usual, today will be filled with a whole new slew of blessings and mercies from our magnificent and majestic God! Thus His people joyfully proclaim: ‘This is the day the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’
Ah mih breddren, what a wonderful God we serve! Who else would still fill our coffers with mercy and forgiveness in spite of our less than exemplary service and obedience eh? Nobody else Friends, nobody else! That just goes to show how much He LOVES us and desires a personal relationship with each and every one of us.
It’s just like and earthly family, where the parents provide for and look after the children, nourish, protect and LOVE them, but not always unconditionally like our God LOVES us. That’s the big difference! Our God will never turn His back on any of His children. We are the ones who stray, who walk away from Him.
But yuh know what? Whenever we choose to return to His wonderful and LOVING fold, He is always there to welcome us back with open, outstretched arms and wrap us in a big bear hug, gently whispering in our ear how much He missed us and how glad He is that we’ve come back home.
Ah mih people, what a glorious Father we have in heaven! It’s just like the parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus told.
So now that we’ve established what a great and magnanimous Deity we worship, let’s put on our Sunday-best and get ourselves out to the sanctuary and fellowship with other believers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big sprawling fancy church building, or an old wooden shack, because it’s not the building that matters, but the people within it.
And please note that dressing up to go to church is not to incite envy and jealousy from your fellow believers, as so many of us do, (smile) but as a mark of respect and appreciation to Almighty God, though He doesn’t really care so much about our dress, but more the state of our hearts.
Now let’s check out Psalm 134, from which our Bit comes. It’s an exhortation to praise. And according to the scholars it’s ‘apparently antiphonal: the people call on the priests to bless the Lord (vv. 1-2); the priests respond by pronouncing a blessing on the people (v.3).’
So let’s get on with it my people: ‘Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.’ (Ps.134:1-3)
Yes Friends, it’s short, but certainly to the point!
Now hear how Bruh Paul puts it to Timothy: ‘I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.’ (1 Tim.2:8) That’s certainly a wonderful idea, my brethren!
And the scholars have this to say about that verse. ‘2:8. I will…that men pray every where (or, “I intend…that men in every locality pray”): The Greek word andres means “males.” Men are to lead audibly in public prayer; women are to pray silently.
This directive remains the same “in every locality,” geography being no factor. The manner in which men are to pray is that of lifting up holy hands, that is, with a pure life, which is without wrath and doubting (disputes).’
And though women now conduct public prayers, the requirement for doing so is still the same; without anger, resentment and disputes. As Bruh David says so wisely in Psalm 133; the joy of brotherhood: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’ (Ps.133:1)
Oh my brethren that is gospel truth, and what Jesus desires of His followers here on earth. But unfortunately that unity doesn’t exist in Christ’s earthly body, His church, as strong and prevalent as it ought to. There is still too much dissension, disagreement, resentment, envy and jealousy in the church.
We’re supposed to all come under one umbrella, that of the Lord God Jehovah, with pure and humble hearts and clean spirits, all for the purpose of worshipping, of fellowshipping, of exhorting and encouraging and teaching each other, so that we can stay strong and grow, become mature in Christ and spread the good news of his gospel through the living example of our lives.
But obviously that’s not happening, hence the poor view that so many unbelievers have of Christians and the sad state of our very troubled and strife filled world. Every day I hear about the hypocrisy with which we are viewed. And I dare say Friends, that if we, as Christians had a better testimony amongst the heathen, our world would definitely not be as war torn and strife filled.
Please remember that we are the ones Jesus is depending on to bring the world to Him, to salvation and eternal life. And if we falter on the job, then numerous souls will miss out on the good things that Christ died for them to have, meaning His tragic and very painful death would have all been in vain.
Oh my people, we can’t allow that to happen. So please let’s get our act together nuh, let’s clean up whatever we need to, so that when we go out into the world, others will notice a difference in us; that the light of Jesus is truly shining through us, that we’re truly the salt of the earth, and they will want to become like us, for remember that examples work more forcibly on the human mind than words.
Remember too, Jesus’ last directive to the disciples, the Great Commission, of which we are now the recipients: ‘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. Amen.’ (Matt.28:19-20)
Let’s concentrate and ponder on that today nuh Friends, truthfully considering how we are individually obeying Christ’s directive, and then let’s invoke the Lord’s help to improve our obedience to it. For if we don’t improve, our world will sink even deeper into the evil morass in which it’s now wallowing. Heavenly wisdom is desperately calling for us to respond favourably. Much LOVE!
…it’s all about truly LOVING our God… sincerely LIVING our Faith…and diligently SPREADING His word…
20 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new palette to paint on, awesome promise, be led astray, Christ-like, commandments, communing with the Lord, Cousin Sol, covetousness, diligence, direction, discern between good and bad, discernment, don't look back, endurance, endures, faith, focus, foundation, get with the programme, God's promises, God's Word, guidance, hang on in there, he that endures to the end shall be saved, he that has ears let him hear, hope, hope of a better tomorrow, hungry for understanding, I shall keep it unto the end, I shall keep thy law, illumination, indisputable truth, life with a future, look neither to the right nor to the left, look straight ahead, LOVE, magnanimous god, perfect example, persecution, perseverance, Praise the Lord, put our hands to the plough, reproach, Revelation, righteousness., run the race that's set before us, sense of purpose, Sloopy, sprinkles of blessings, teach me thy statutes oh Lord, testimonies, Thank You God, the Holy Spirit, the Lord's promised, the path of thy commandments, the pilgrim's journey, the weekend, this is the day the Lord has made, thunderstorms, time, trials and tribualtions, troubled world, trust, understanding, understanding is the key to success, vanity, we have nothing to fear, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday, wisdom of heaven, wisest and richest man ever, ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake
Psalm 119:33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Ah Friends, it’s a damp Wednesday morning in my area, due to some sprinkles of blessings overnight. It’s also been forecasted to have thunderstorms during the day, so please dress appropriately those of you who live in the surrounding area; walk with your raincoat, your hat and your brolly (umbrella). (smile)
But the good news is that we’re half way through the workweek already. Praise the Lord! So just hang on in there, like Sloopy, the old song that only the old fogies will know, but everyone can imitate. Just another couple days and the weekend will burst upon us, and everyone will give a great sigh and declare a loud ‘Thank You God!’
But until then, let’s put our hands to the plough and don’t look back, look straight ahead, neither to the right nor to the left, and let’s run the race that’s set before us with a strong sense of purpose, trust, faith, hope and LOVE!
That’s the only way we’ll discover all that the Lord has in store for us, for remember He’s promised to give us a life with a future and hope of a better tomorrow. (Jer.29:11)
So let’s just get with the programme, no whining or complaining, regardless of the difficulties we encounter along the way, because our wonderful God has also promised that He will bring us safely through whatever storms we have to weather, and in better shape too.
Therefore we have nothing to fear, and whatever comes against us, we will handle with faith. And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WIIL rejoice and be glad in it!’ Yes Friends, that’s the only way to endure this pilgrim’s journey successfully!
That brings us to our Bit, from the great Psalm 119, divided into 22 sections, one for each of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Our section today is ‘He’, the section that petitions the Lord for understanding. ‘Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.’
Yes my brethren, there’s no better gift we can ask of our heavenly Father than understanding of His Holy Word. That’s because when we understand where He’s coming from, we’ll be able to go where He desires us to go.
In other words, understanding opens up a whole new palette for us to paint on; discernment, direction and focus are brought to light, we’re illuminated, and guidance is totally enabled by the Holy Spirit.
And we have the perfect example of that in Cousin Sol. When the Lord anointed him king over Israel, and asked what he desired, Cousin Sol was wise enough to say: ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding (hearing) heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people.’ (1 Kin.3:9)
Oh my fellow believers, the Lord was so pleased that Cousin Sol hadn’t asked for stuff like riches and power, that He nonetheless made him the wisest and richest man ever. (1 Kin.3:10-14) Wow!
And the psalmist in Psalm 119 feels so strongly about the attainment of understanding that he proclaims: ‘Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. (Ps.119:34)
Oh my people, are we that hungry for understanding too? I surely hope so, because without understanding God’s Word, we can easily be led astray by the enemy and his evil minions. Now it’s not an easy thing to attain, nor maintain. It takes time, and diligence, and perseverance, and faith and trust.
For as Jesus said: ‘And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.’ (Matt.10:22) What an awesome promise Friends!
And we can see it, serious persecution still happening in many parts of the world, simply because of believing in Jesus. But if we endure the trials and tribulations with a staunch faith, as we said above, the Lord has promised to bring us out stronger, more Christ-like, on the other side.
However, to be able to do all of that successfully, we must first understand what the Lord and His Word are all about. And the psalmist makes a good argument of why understanding is so helpful, so vital and so necessary.
‘Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto (cause me to long for) thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity (looking at worthless things); and quicken (revive) me in thy way.
Stablish (establish) thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear (fearing thee). Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgements are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken (revive) me in thy righteousness.’ (Ps.119:35-40)
Yes my fellow believers, every word there rings with indisputable truth! For understanding is the key to success in anything at all. With it, we know where to go, and where not go; what to do, and what not to do.
So today my Friends, let’s wisely turn to our magnanimous God, who’s generosity, like His LOVE, is unlimited, and ask Him for that key, that understanding we need to be successful in this evil, ungodly, troubled world that currently surrounds us.
Remember, Jesus’ promise in Revelation, during His message to the seven churches: ‘And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over nations….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.’ (Rev.2:26; 29)
So today my people, let’s seek to understand and thus endure nuh. It’s the wisdom of heaven. Much LOVE!
…understanding is the sure foundation…upon which we can build the endurance…that we so desperately need to be successful…
P.S. Late night, spent mostly communing with the Lord. And that’s the gospel truth! (smile) And then to make matters even worse, just as I was about to send out the Bit, the so and so computer froze on me. Ah Lord eh! The trials and tribulations we have to go through to spread God’s Word eh! (smile) Much LOVE!
25 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A for effort, accept Jesus, accomplish that goal, broad is the way that leads to destruction, bumps and bruises, Christ, Christ-like, Christian life, destruction, difficult is the way that leads to life, enjoy a blessed day, enter at the narrow gate, eternal life, eternal separation, evil, exciting, find, forgiveness, friends, goodness, gospel truth, greetings, Hallelujah, interesting, irony, Jesus Christ, lead and guide, life gets rockier, live life the best way you can, live life to the fullest, living for Jesus, LOVE, Matthew's gospel, mercies, mess up, mistakes, modus operandi, narrow is the gate, narrow pathway that leads to Christ, personal experience, personal Lord and Saviour, plethora of stuff, Praise the Lord, required effort, Rowland Hill, salutations, salvation, Scrip-Bit family, seek, Sermon on the Mount, special relationship with Jesus, strive, surrender, tests, the irony of it all, the joy and strength of the Lord, the Lord moves in mysterious ways, this is the day the Lord has made, treasure trove, treasury of goodies, trials, tribulations, ungodly world, walk proudly and faithfully, we will rejoice and be glad in it, wide is the gate, wisdom, wise, words of wisdom
Luke 13:24. Strive to enter in at the strait (narrow) gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Greetings and salutations my wonderful Scrip-Bit family! May we all enjoy a blessed day as we walk proudly and faithfully in the joy and strength of our omnipotent God, while He showers us with His goodness and LOVE, His abundant mercies and forgiveness, all prepared new and special for this Wednesday morning.
And all God’s people declared a loud and thankful: ‘Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!’ And furthermore Friends, let’s proclaim and acclaim our faithful intentions: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’
Oh my people, of that there is no doubt, because we’ll strive valiantly to accomplish that goal. And speaking of striving, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. (smile)
Seriously though Friends, I have an almanac from my Insurance Agent tacked up on the wall on the right side of my desk, a fairly large one too, and if I turn my head to the right, I ought to see it. But it seems like I haven’t turned my head to the right for almost six months…that is until last night. Would you believe it’s still on January? Hn, hn!
Now there are other smaller almanacs on my desk that I use most of the time. But that is certainly ridiculous, especially since I always have a calendar in that position. Now I’ve been known to miss a couple of months, but this is surely the worst. Can you imagine that – not seeing a calendar, a big enough one too, that’s right beside you, for almost six months?
And coming to think of it, the whole plethora of stuff on that wall; acclamations, pictures, etc, I pass by them everyday and don’t even notice them! Chuh! And yet that was my studied purpose for putting them there… that I would notice them whenever I passed by. Oh the irony of it all!
But anyway, when I went to change the calendar last night, to my great surprise, I discovered that it contained a whole lot of quotes on different subjects from different people; a virtual treasury of goodies. Ah Lord eh! But I’m sure that such situations happen to all of us. We go searching for stuff far and wide, when there’s a treasure trove of valuable stuff right in front of us.
Sorry about that Leo (my Insurance Agent), but the Lord does move in mysterious ways. He knew that come June, I’d need some words of wisdom to share. (smile)
Anyway, the first item is titled ‘STRIVE!’ And the quote is attributed to Rowland Hill. Now I can’t say much about him, because there were several people by that name – a preacher, a viscount and a postmaster – when I looked it up. But the quote wisely advises us to: ‘Strive to live your life to the fullest and don’t let one day go by without trying to live it the best way you can!’
And that surely is gospel truth my Friends! Everyday we ought to try and live our lives the best way we can. Some days we will mess up and make a whole lot of mistakes, but the important thing is that we at least get an ‘A’ for effort. And that’s sadly where a whole lot of us Christians fall down. We don’t put in the required effort, and then we wonder why we can’t get ahead.
Oh my brethren, I’m here to tell us that living a truly Christian life takes mucho, mucho effort! And even then, there will be bumps and bruises along the way. Not because we’ve entered into a special relationship with Jesus means that our lives will be easy. His definitely was not easy.
On the contrary, when you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, life tends to get rockier, because of the tests, the trials and tribulations the Lord allows or puts us through in order to refine us into a more Christ-like individual. That’s why, when we’re living for Jesus, we have to pay greater attention to how we walk, talk and behave, so that it conforms to His modus operandi.
No Friends, the truly Christian life is not an easy one, especially in this evil and ungodly world that now holds sway. But I can assure you, from personal experience, that it is indeed and interesting and exciting one! Oh my brethren, there’s no life like the one you experience when you truly surrender to God and allow Him to lead and guide you!
That’s why Jesus cautions us in our Bit: ‘Strive to enter in at the strait (narrow) gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.’ If Jesus says so my people, then it must be so!
Meanwhile, Matthew’s gospel relates it this way. ‘Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt.7:13-14)
Now hear are some explanations from the scholars: ‘7:13-14. The closing section of the Sermon on the Mount presents two choices to the listener. These are presented in a series of contrasts: two ways (vv.13-14); two trees (vv.15-20); two professions (vv.21-23); and two foundations (vv.24-29).
This was a common method of teaching in both Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. Enter ye in at the strait gate (narrow) means that one must come through the narrow gate in order to reach the path that leads to eternal life.
Though many are on the broad…way, that leadeth to destruction (eternal separation from God), the gate that leads to life is so narrow that few there be that find it. Christ Himself is both the gate and the way (cf. John 14:6), and God enables men to find that gate (cf. John 6:44).’
And that my Friends, is what this life is all about; striving to find the narrow pathway that leads to Christ, to salvation and eternal life! Please, I implore us, let’s be wise and seek it nuh. Much LOVE!
…the highways are straight and wide…easy to find…but not so the narrow and winding byways…those we must diligently seek to find…
22 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dart of sorrow, a news flash, a word of warning, acceptable with God, affliction, an example, ask in faith, asking for wisdom and understanding, assurance, attributes, bear our sins, beaten for your faults, blessed are those who endure, boomerang, by His stripes we are healed, challenging and encouraging words, Christ did no sin, christ had no deceit, Christ our Saviour, Christ suffered for us, Christ's Resurrection, Christian life, coming of the Lord, commendable, compassionate, condemned, confidence, couldn't help but laugh, don't doubt, don't grumble against each other, endurance, endure grief, follow Christ's steps, for conscience toward God, God answers prayer, God is merciful, God's people, God's Word doesn't lie, guile, he that wavereth is like a wave, hunky dory, if you lack wisdom ask God, important passages of scripture, in the name of the Lord, in your patience, joy, let us rejoice and be glad, living for Jesus is interesting and exciting, living for Jesus is not easy, long patience, LOVE, mercy, mysterious ways, negative things, overseer of souls, patience, patience in affliction, Patience of Job, patient endurance, perseverance, possess ye your souls, precious fruit of the earth, rain, repentance, resurrection, reviled, righteously, righteousness., shepherd, shout of thanks and praise, spiritual maturity, stoic, substitutionary death, suffering, suffering affliction, suffering wrongly, talking to the Lord, test, testimony, the judge stands at the door, the Lord is compassionate, The Lord's alive and kicking, the risen Christ, this is the day the Lord has made, trials, tribulations, true believers, ungodly world, walk of faith, wanting to do better, willing to suffer, wisdom, wisdom of the ages
Luke 21:19. In your patience possess ye your souls.
Oh Friends, it’s Thursday, the day before the big day, Friday, when we’ll be finally blessed with a couple days off from our labour! So let’s enjoy and celebrate this wonderful day with a shout of thanks and praise to our heavenly Father.
And all God’s people rose up with joy and delightedly proclaimed: ‘This is the day the Lord our great God has made. We SHALL rejoice and be glad in it! Amen!’ And so let it be my people.
Ah mih breddren, our God is something else yes. And this small testimony I’m about to offer here, just proves that His Word doesn’t lie.
James tells us: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.’ (James 1:5-6)
Well Friends, I got up this morning and there are currently a few negative things happening in my life that I can’t understand why they are happening, for in the natural, everything should be hunky dory.
Well since I got up I’ve been talking to the Lord about them, asking for some wisdom and understanding. And lo and behold, just now, when I read yesterday’s Bit, as I usually do before writing today’s, I got the answer in a news flash.
Ah Friends, I couldn’t help but laugh as the answer just hit me from the words of the Bit. And I’m still laughing as I write this. And they say the Lord isn’t real, isn’t alive and kicking and moving in mysterious ways? Chuh!
Well I’m here to testify that they are oh so wrong. Because our God is indeed alive and kicking, and kicking real hard too, and He does answer prayer in all forms and fashions, as He sees fit!
And as I keep saying living for Jesus is not easy, but it certainly is interesting and exciting. I finally discovered that what’s happening is a test of my spiritual maturity. Yuh see, I have to be careful of what I write and/or say, because the Lord oftimes turns right back and tests me on those things.
So a word of warning Friends; be very careful in what you say, or ask for, or testify to, for it will no doubt boomerang right back on you. Ah Lord eh! I’m still laughing…
But let’s move on to our Bit, the challenging and encouraging words of Christ our Saviour: ‘In your patience possess ye your souls.’
Oh Friends, I know I said that yesterday was the last day for this Bit, but unfortunately, or rather fortunately (smile) there was so much stuff to say that I couldn’t get in all the scripture I wanted to. And remember, I don’t want to overburden us with too much stuff to ponder on at once. (smile)
And these are also important passages of scripture, so I just didn’t want to waste them, not bring them to your attention. So without further ado, let’s delve deeply and meditatively into them.
The first one comes from James, talking about patience in affliction. ‘Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman (farmer) waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish (establish) your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (has come near). Grudge (grumble) not one against the other, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take thy brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy (blessed) which endure. Ye have heard of the patience (perseverance) of Job, and have seen the end of (intended by) the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (compassionate), and of tender mercy.’ (James 5:7-11)
Yes my people, our God is indeed compassionate and full of tender mercy to those who wait patiently and endure whatever comes against them in His name!
Now here’s a word from the scholars: 5:7-8. The coming of the Lord: Few doctrines concerning Jesus Christ are taught in James. His vicarious (deputed, substitutionary) death and resurrection are omitted, yet Christ’s return is cited to encourage patient endurance. Early and latter rain: Farmers in Palestine absolutely depended on two rainy seasons, late fall and mid-spring, for their crops.’
And we’ll end with another awesome passage of scripture on patience, this time from Peter, as he talks about the example of Christ’s suffering. Listen up carefully and closely now my fellow believers.
‘For this is thankworthy (commendable), if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongly. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted (beaten) for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with (commendable before) God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of souls.’ (1 Pet.2:18-25)
Ah my fellow believers, if that doesn’t put a dart of sorrow, repentance and wanting to do better in our hearts, then I don’t know what will. Jesus suffered so much for us, that we ought to be willing to suffer a little to bring His Words, His story to the heathen, ungodly world in which we currently live.
Please, as true followers of the risen Christ, let’s attempt today to improve our walk of faith, of LOVE, enduring any suffering, affliction, trials and tribulations that might come our way, with the same stoic, God-granted assurance and confidence that He displayed. For that is the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
…of all the necessary attributes for living a truly Christian life…patience might just be the most important and all encompassing…
08 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bounce of pride and joy, afraid, agape, alive and kicking, anger, anointed Jesus, bitterness, bounden duty, charity, Christians, compassion, Controller, Creator, depressed, do good to all mankind, doing good, done on a regular basis, down in the dumps, e-mail, earthly pilgrimage, egotism, empathy, empowered by the Holy Spirit, encouraging, encouraging words, envy, evil world, exude warmth, faith, fat, friends, gladness, God anointed Jesus with the Holy spirit, God was with him, greed, hate, heavenly Father, holding a door open, hope, hypocritical, I am with you always, insignificant things, into all truth and righteousness, jealousy, Jesus christ of Nazareth, Jesus went about doing good, Jesus' desires, Jesus- the sole director of our lives, joy, lazy, lead and guide, Lexicon of Love, living a decent life, loney, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, make Jesus proud, mercy, negative endeavours, one one cocoa fulls basket, opportunities, opportunities for good deeds, oppressed of the devil, Pharisees, pnoe call, power of the Spirit of Jesus, praise, praise our wonderful God, praying, pride, proselytize the whole world, provider, raison d'etre, rear ends, refuse to embrace them, relevant bit of scripture, resentment, righteousness., rocket science, saying good morning, set our minds to the task, shame-faced, sick, sinful, sinful fools, smiling with a stranger, special joy, sphere of influence, spring to our step, stare us in stright in the face, text, thanks, the golden rule, the Great Commission, the greatest of these is love, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, this is the day the Lord has made, Thursday, treat others the way you want to be treated, truth, understanding, uplifting movement in our lives, we will rejoice and be glad in it, wisdom, worldwide change
Acts 10:38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s Thursday, it’s Thursday, the day before Friday, the day before the weekend! And we are definitely alive and kicking! So let’s praise our wonderful God and enjoy it nuh!
And all God’s children loudly and boldly proclaimed: ‘This is the day the Lord, our magnificent and magnanimous God has made! We WILL, we SHALL, we ARE going to be exceedingly glad and enjoy it!’
Wow mih breddren, Wow! What a way to begin our day – with joy, gladness, thanks and praise to our heavenly Father, our Creator, Controller and Provider!
And all God’s people declared a loud: ‘So let it be! Amen!’
Yes Friends, the ole fella seems to be in fine form this morning. The Holy Spirit is just moving and grooving in him. Hn, hn, hn! But seriously though, I do hope that He’s also having a bright and uplifting movement in all your lives, because that’s what He was designed to do; to lead and guide us into all truth and righteousness.
And when we’re walking in truth and righteousness, there’s a special spring to our step, a bounce of pride and joy that is very discernible by onlookers.
And that’s what we’re being called on today and everyday to possess and display – that special joy that comes only from having Jesus as the sole director of our lives, where we just exude warmth, compassion, LOVING-kindness, empathy, wisdom, understanding, and above all, charity, in the form of agape LOVE!
Aye mih people, what a force for worldwide change we’d become, if we truly lived out the edicts of Jesus! As our Bit so graciously says of Him, when Peter preached to the Gentiles: ‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’
Oh what an uplifting, encouraging and ever so relevant Bit of Scripture my people! Why you ask? Because it’s the same thing that God has done to each and every one of us!
Our heavenly Father has anointed each and every believer with the power of the Spirit of Jesus, so that we can go along our earthly journey doing exactly what Jesus did; heal, show compassion and mercy, encourage, uplift – in other words, just do good as is necessary.
And yuh know Friends, that’s not such a difficult task as we sometimes make it out to be. We just truly have to set our minds to do it. We have already been empowered by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; it’s just left for us to get up off of our fat, lazy, shame-faced, afraid, hypocritical rear ends and do the job that we’ve been called to do as Christians!
All we have to do is set out every day, as Jesus did, and oodles of opportunities to do good, to uplift, exhort and encourage others will come our way. We don’t even have to go looking for them, they will find us. The problem is that we have to have the discernment…
Chuh! Discernment isn’t even necessary, because opportunities for good deeds stare us straight in the face each and every day, we just refuse to embrace them.
Everyday we hear about someone being sick, depressed, lonely, or just down in the dumps for no good reason, and all it takes from us is a phone call, or an e-mail, or text, a visit, or whatever method of communication you choose, to let them know that you’re thinking of and praying for them.
Is that so hard to do mih breddren? Absolutely not! But for some unknown reason(s), many of us supposed Christians believe that doing good is big business, and requires plenty effort. That’s just not true!
Oh my people, it’s the little things that truly matter. As the Jamaicans say: one one cocoa does full basket. And that’s the awesome truth! It’s the little things, done on a regular basis that truly matter and eventually make a big difference.
We’re talking about, small, seemingly insignificant things like smiling with a stranger, saying a bright and pleasant good morning to our neighbours, co-workers and even strangers we pass on the street, holding a door open for someone.
Oh Friends, all those things might be small, but they are extremely important in Jesus’ Lexicon of LOVE!
Why? Because that’s exactly what He did during His sojourn here on earth!
If you read the Good Book, you’ll see He stopped and helped people all the time. Ofttimes He even went out of His way to do so. He offered encouraging words to all He met. The only people He spoke roughly to and embarrassed were the Pharisees and the Jewish elite for their hypocritical behaviour.
Oh my brethren, doing good is not rocket science! It’s simply living a decent life, treating others the way we would like to be treated. Yuh know, if more of us would simply adopt that golden rule and consistently live by it… oh what a truly wonderful world planet earth would be!
But no, like sinful fools, we’re foolishly adopting the hate, greed, resentment, anger, bitterness, egotism, pride, envy, jealousy, and the whole host of negative endeavours that the evil world champions! How wrong, how sad, and how ungodly my people! We’ll never get Jesus’ LOVE Revolution going with that kind of attitude.
So please my fellow believers, today, let’s take a good look at ourselves, consider what we need to do in our earthly pilgrimage to sincerely carry out Jesus’ desires, to do good to ALL of mankind. Remember, He wants, and it’s our bounden duty to proselytize the entire world! So we can’t pick and choose, just minister to whomever he brings into our sphere of influence.
That’s the only way we can ever accomplish the Great Commission: ‘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.28:19-20)
Let’s do it nuh Friends, let’s make Jesus proud! That should be our whole raison d’etre; our whole reason for living! Much LOVE!
…and now abideth faith, hope, LOVE, these three…but the greatest of these is LOVE…! (1 Cor.13:13)…and for good reason too…
14 Mar 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new song in my mouth, acknowledge Almighty God, admisnter rewards, almighty god, angry, bitter, blessed, blessings, character witness for Jesus, Christian witness, circumstances, Creator, despair, disobedience, does not respect the proud, enthusiasm, evil, existing circumstances, fear, fellowship, fervour, Friday Morning Chant, fun, generous help, glorious kingdom, godly person, gospel truth, happy, help, hold our heads and bawl, holy spirit, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, joy, joyful, Lent, lights up our lives, live for Christ, Lord and Master of all, LOVE, magnificence, majesty, negative circumstances, negative option, negative reactions, one true God, our Lord and Saviour, peaceful, physical well-being, pleasant, positive outlook, praise and thanks, praise utno our god, provider, rebellion, reclaim His rightful place, relaxation, renewed vitality, resentful person, rest, reverence, righteousness., Scrip-Bit family, sinners, spiritual reaction, strength, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, the best way to begin every day, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, this is the day the Lord has made, time to come to true repentance, true sincerity, trust, trusts in the Lord, trying times, turn to lies, unfavourable circumstances, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, week of work, zeal
Psalm 40:3. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Aye mih Scrip-Bit family! How all yuh doing this second Friday morning in Lent eh? I surely hope that you all are joyful regardless of the existing circumstances in your lives.
And since is Friday, no doubt you all shouting ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ in great expectations of the end of the work week and a good weekend in sight.
Now the Lord has led me to talk today about how we ought to behave in various circumstances. And since all of us are joyful in good circumstances, we don’t need to talk about that. However, we do need to talk about our response to bad circumstances. And why do we need to understand how to properly respond to unfortunate and less than ideal circumstances?
Why it’s simple. If the circumstances are unfavourable and you get down and in deep despair, that’s not going to change those negative occurrences, but it will most likely change you into a sour, miserable, bitter, angry and resentful person. And you definitely cannot be a good Christian witness for Christ if all those negative emotions are running your life.
However, if you’re joyful in unfavourable circumstances, then in all likelihood, you’ll change to being a pleasant, happy, peaceful and godly person, a true character witness for Jesus.
Now isn’t that wonderful? Doesn’t it sound much better than the negative evil option? It surely does!
And I know that some of you will beg to disagree, but please show me, even one instance, where negative reactions to negative circumstances have improved those circumstances. I don’t think you can. But when we come up over the circumstances with a more positive outlook, though the circumstances may stay negative, our spiritual reaction, and thus physical well-being will surely be improved.
So I hope that we all are living everyday by the dictum of ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we shall all rejoice and be glad in it!’ (Ps.118:24)
Very wise words indeed my people! And also the best, the most wonderful way to begin each and every day of our earthly lives! We couldn’t be any safer, any richer, any more positive than when we begin each day with Almighty God, our Creator and sure Provider, Help and Strength leading the way.
But unfortunately, we’re so full of rebellion and disobedience, and foolishly insist on trying to prove that we know better than Jehovah God, what is good for us and when. Therefore we just go on in our merry sinful nature and do our own thing.
However, when the Lord hauls us up on the carpet for the wilful disobedience and foolish rebellion, we hold our heads and bawl rather belatedly; ‘I’m sorry Lord! Oh Lord ah so sorry…!’ But then Friends, as we said, it might just be too late then.
So please, it’s time for all of us to come to true repentance and once again acknowledge Almighty God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It’s time for us to truly acknowledge that He is indeed the Creator of heaven and earth, and all therein; that He is Lord and Master of all that He surveys, since he created everything that exists, and still controls it all!
It’s time to give the ONE TRUE GOD, who’s alive and kicking, and kicking with a mighty force too, the praise and thanks He so richly deserves!
Time to admire His majesty and magnificence, His great undying and unconditional LOVE for us, so magnanimously shown by sending His wonderful Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners! (Rom.5:8)
Now how many of us would do that eh? Not too many, because we like to see change first before we administer rewards.
Anyway Friends, it’s obvious that we’re living in very trying times, most likely caused by our rebellion against Jehovah God, foolishly minimizing Him both in our individual lives and our societies at large. And believe you me, the ONLY THING that’s going to help us is having Him reclaim His rightful place at the HEAD of all our doings, both as individuals and societies.
So please, let’s be smart and do like Bruh David did and still advises in our wonderful and oh so wise Bit: ‘And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.’
And why should we do that? Because, ‘Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps.40:4)
You couldn’t want a better reason than that my fellow believers. So let’s put that advice into effect RIGHT NOW, by chanting our Friday Chant with true sincerity, a sincerity that we’ve never sung it with before, thus making it a new song. (smile)
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.’
That was wonderful my brethren! Now let’s go out and live for Christ with that same enthusiasm and zeal! Much LOVE!
…whenever a new song fills our heart…we sing it with much fervour and joy…it also lights up our lives…and that’s the gospel truth…
02 Jul 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: affirmations, all praise and glory to God, all things are possible only believe, all things work together for good, be of good cheer, build our faith, christianity, education, encouragement, enlightenment, ever-LOVING God, everlasting truth, everything's possible with God, evil machinations, exhortation, fools despise wisdom, God will finish whatever He starts, God's grace, gospel truth, He is faithful that promised, holy spirit, I can do all things through Christ, if God be for us, LOVE for God, more than conquerors, motivation, no weapon formed against us shall prosper, overcome the world, put your nose to the grindstone, rejoice and be glad, reverence for God, reverential awe, right decisions, right directions, righteousness., spirit of a sound mind, spirit of fear, spirit of LOVE, spirit of power, spirituality, the heritage of God's servants, the party's over, this is the day the Lord has made, time to call it a day, to them the LOVE God, who can be against us, wisdom
Romans 8:31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Well Friends, the Canada Day party is over, time to call it a day and get back to labouring. Hope you had a fine time and did not embarrass yourself, your country or your God. (smile)
And I hear a lot of ‘steupsing’ and ‘chuhing’, but them’s the breaks my people. We can’t party all the time, work must be the rule and partying the exception, otherwise we’d soon party away all we have. And what then eh?
So let’s put our noses to the proverbial grindstone and get productive; not only physically and economically, but more importantly, spiritually. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit that dwells within us to truly lead and guide us in right decisions, directions and true Christianity, which means sincere LOVE for God and each other.
And to help us do that, I’ve been guided to make this a day of affirmations; a day for scriptures that enlighten, encourage, exhort and educate us about God, His Word and His wonderful and gracious desires for us, His earthly children. These are scriptures that help build our faith, that keep us steadfast and strong. And what better way to begin than with our Bit, a scripture that encompasses it all.
Please affirm with me: ‘What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?’
And that’s as gospel truth as we’ll ever get my people! If our God is in our corner, who can harm us eh? Not a single solitary soul, be they man, beast or evil power!
Let’s continue affirming with this popular scripture. ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:24)
Then there’s this other well known one: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil.4:13) And what a great and true motivator that is Friends!
Now hear this other powerful affirmative scripture: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom.8:28) And isn’t that ever so true Friends, as so many of us can attest to!
And as I’m on this page in Romans, I might as well stay there. (smile) ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom.8:37)
Wow mih breddren! Doesn’t that just boost your confidence, especially when it’s followed by this omnipotent scripture: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is.54:17)
And all God’s servants rose up in one accord with one shout: ‘All praise and glory be to Jehovah God, who made us and protects us with His strong arm! He is indeed worthy to be praised and glorified!’
Yes mih people, we do indeed serve a mighty, magnanimous, magnificent and ever-LOVING God!
Now listen to this one straight from Jesus: ‘Jesus said unto him (the father of a dumb child), If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ (Mark 9:23) More words of everlasting truth and encouragement my brethren!
And why is that eh? Because ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’ (Luke 18:27) Now that Friends, is the granddaddy of all truth!
And we can’t forget the wisdom of Cousin Sol: ‘A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain (acquire) unto wise counsels.’ (Prov.1:5) Yes my fellow believers, if we diligently read and meditate on God’s Word, we shall acquire wisdom and understanding, even if our formal education is limited.
But beware of this next scripture, for it’s a serious warning. ‘The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov.1:7)
And is that ever so true, in both aspects. To truly acquire wisdom, one must first have reverence for the Lord and submit to His will, but prideful fools refuse to do that, feeling that they are sufficient unto themselves, which is the furthest thing from the truth.
And moving right along, check out this encouraging scripture: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil.1:6)
Yes Friends, whatever God begins in us, He will bring to fruition, right up until the day Jesus returns. His grace and mercy will never depart from believers working on His behalf. That gives us an eternal security, wherein God’s purpose for our lives will NEVER be abandoned or unrealized.
Now hear this powerful exhortation to endurance from Bruh Paul to Timothy: ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7)
Oh my people, please let’s drill that deep into our consciousness nuh, for it’s the absolute truth, and if we believe it and act on it, we’ll do ever so much better in all aspects of our lives. That’s because a lot of what we do or don’t do is based on fear; fear of the world and its evil machinations.
But please remember Jesus’ admonition: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33)
And on that awesome note we’ll close my brethren. And if you’re a true believer, then you’ll believe that and indeed be of good cheer, despite the trials and tribulations you face down here on this dark and evil earth. That’s Jesus promise and we all know that He doesn’t lie, ‘for he is faithful that promised.’ (Heb.10:23b)
So my fellow believers let’s memorize as many of those Bible verses as we can, let’s saturate our hearts and minds with them, so that they can encourage us, build our self-confidence, and keep us strong and steadfast in our faith. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Much LOVE!
…to live a true Christian life…our souls must be saturated with God’s Word…we must believe His promises…and then act confidently on them…
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