02 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a haven of peace and truth, after their own lusts, all church members are equally valued, all the members of that one body being many are one body, any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, as the body is one and hath many members, be a breeze from here on in, be alert, be bond or free, be Jews or Gentiles, be turned unto fables, been all made to drink into one Spirit, biblically speaking, both an individual and corporate matter, bring light and love to mankind, by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, called to care for one another, causing grief, church members are interconnected, come to know and love christ like we do, comfort those who suffer, diverse gifts and functions, doing many things differently, duty bound, every part is essential to the whole, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine, faith, fall into bad habits, for all the saints, get down to the nitty gritty, give thanks to Jesus' commitment to the church, God's compassions are new every morning, granted life, great is thy faithfulness, grow in love discernment and good works, have the Holy Spirit present wherever you are lifted up, have the same care for one another, heap tp themselves teachers, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, instead of what they need to hear, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, itching ears, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the legal head of the church, Jesus will not let the church fall, keep us safe as we hope in you, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, live in righteousness and thanksgiving, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make your church ready for your return, mercy, need to keep praying for the church, no one part can say it does not need the others, no schism in the body, not guaranteed to see tomorrow, not to the standard it ought to, on Christ's behalf, please protect and encourage your people, Prayer Cards from IN Touch Ministries, prayer is of the utmost importance, praying always with all prayer and supplication, preach the world, preachers telling people what they want to hear, preaching different doctrines, presenting challenges, provide for those in need, rumpled Monday's feathers, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, so also is Christ, spiritual combat, strengthen us against temptation, take one day at a time, thank you for the church, the analogy of the human body, the body of Christ, the church is a single unified body under Christ, the church is badly disunified, the church is strife-filled, the church is the worldwide body of Christian believers, the last days, the spiritual armour of God, the time will come, the truth is skewered, the whole body experiences it together, they will not endure sound doctrine, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, too many different denominations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, turn away their ears from the truth, unified by the Holy Spirit, vigilant against deception, watching thereunto, we cannot give up, welcoming to all, when one part suffered or is honoured, wisdom, with all perseverance and petition, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, worry
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 June 2026 Ephesians 6:18.
Ephesians 6:18. ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’
Oh boy, it’s Tuesday, sunshiny and warm! And since we’ve rumpled Monday’s feathers, it ought to be a breeze from here on in! I wouldn’t be so sure of that nuh, for Tuesday might just rumple our feathers. For any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, presenting challenges that we cannot handle and thus causing us grief. So let’s take one day at a time, don’t belittle any of them, but deal with each one seriously, as though it was our last one. And who knows, it just might be, since we’re not guaranteed to see tomorrow.
And as the prophet Jeremiah so rightly declares in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) Yes friends, let’s remember that it’s only because of God’s goodness and mercy that we are granted life to see a new day, and therefore live the way we ought to, in righteousness and thanksgiving.
Now, today, we’re going to look at one of the Prayer Cards issued by the In Touch Organization a few years ago. This one deals with the church. So please pray with me. ‘Lord Jesus, thank You for the church. Please protect and encourage Your people. Comfort those who suffer, and provide for those in need. Strengthen us against temptation. Help us grow in LOVE, discernment, and good works. May your church be a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception. Let Your Holy Spirit be fully present wherever You are lifted up. Make Your church ready for your return, Lord Jesus, and keep us safe as we hope in You. Amen.’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s a wonderful description of all the things Christ’s church ought to be and do! But is it doing them? Definitely not to the standard it ought to. But before we get down to the nitty gritty, let’s see what the church really is. Many people understand it as the building where believers gather to worship, however in the real sense the church is not so much the building, but biblically it refers to the worldwide body of Christian believers with Jesus as it’s legal head.
It’s as Bruh Paul describes the church in 1 Corinthians. ‘For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond (slaves) or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.’ (1 Cor. 12:12-14) Bruh Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain the church. Just as a body has many parts (hands, feet, eyes, and ears), the church has many members, but they form a single, unified body, under Christ, unified by the Holy Spirit.
And later on in that same passage, Bruh Paul further states that although the church is composed of many individual members with diverse gifts and functions, every part is essential to the whole. This means all members are interconnected, equally valued, and called to care for one another. And further still, he emphasizes that no one part can say it does not need the others, and when one part suffers or is honored, the whole body experiences it together. (1 Cor. 12:15-27) Yes mih bredrin, Christ’s church is just like the human body, with Christ at the head and the many other parts making it up into one whole, all unified by the Holy Spirit.
So let’s see now, how it’s living up to its purpose. Per the Prayer Card, the church should be a place where people are encouraged, comforted and provided for when in need; a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception.’ How much of that is the church really doing eh? Not enough. And it cannot when it’s so badly broken up and disunified, when there are so many different denominations, cliques and different entities all claiming to be a part of Christ’s body and preaching different doctrines, as well as doing many things differently.
Therefore, it’s totally contrary to Bruh Paul’s words; ‘That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.’ (1 Cor. 12:25) And is the church really a haven of peace and truth? No way! For today’s church is strife-filled and what truth that’s being preached is usually skewered to the preacher or the people’s liking.
To a great extent it’s like Bruh Paul warned Timothy: ‘Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
And are we ever seeing that in these last days, where preachers are telling people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. But regardless of how bad things might seem, we still cannot afford to give up. No way! For giving up does not exist in Christ’s vocabulary! And we desperately need to keep on praying for the church, for the body of Christ that’s supposed to bring light and LOVE to mankind on Christ’s behalf, for if we don’t, it will only continue to fall into bad habits and eventually crumble. And that we definitely don’t want to happen.
So, let’s do as the Prayer Card strongly suggests by using as it’s Bible verse: ‘Be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.’ Now that’s a new-fangled version of Bruh Paul’s declaration after admonishing us to put on the spiritual armour of God in Ephesians. But here’s the real McCoy. (smile) ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18)
Yes my people, prayer is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. For even the spiritual armour of God is inadequate without it. And we are to pray not only for ourselves, but for all of God’s saints, because, as the scholars tell us; ‘spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’
And now, with all that information re the church and its purpose refreshed and renewed in our minds, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
And as per the Prayer Card …Give thanks for Jesus’ commitment to His church…He will not let her fall…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
26 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a shortsighted situation, a wise and perceptive passage, as the grave, as those that go down to the pit, behold the upright, bringing tough circumstances to the forefronteach day can cause tous, cast in thy lot among us, caught with our pants below our knees, christianity, Christians, come to know and love christ like we do, come with us, death-bringing sinfulness, deliver them from the wicked, do not err my beloved brethren, drawn away of his own lust, duty bound, each day can cause serious challenges, earthly pleasures, enticed, every man is tempted, faith, fill our houses with spoil, find all precious substance, for the innocent without cause, full grown sin brings forth death, God cannot be tempted with evil, God tempts no man, have rule over all my labour, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, I am tempted of God, I am the beloved of god, I hated all my labour, I sought him but he culd not be found, if sinners entice thee consent not, in god's eyes, in the sight of any bird, in vain the net is spread, involved with the schemes of the wicked, Jesus Christ, leave it unto the man tat comes after me, let no man say when he is tempted, let the world know to whom we belong, let us all have one purse, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily, let us lurk secretly, lie in wait for blood, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, lurk privily for their own lives, lust brings forth sin, make haste to shed blood, make Tuesday and easy target, mark the perfect man, mercy, one strong and sincere voice, our nemesis, plunder, promise wealth without work, refrain thy foot from their path, salvation, save them because they trust in him, seen the wicked in great power, share His love with my neighbours, shewed myself wise under the sun, sin brings painful consequences, so few seeking righteousness, so many practicing wickedness, spreading himself like a green bay tree, swallow them up alive, taken under the sun, taketh away the life of the owners, the BIBLE, the counsels of the wicked are deceit, the end of sin is always death and destruction, the end of that man is peace, the end of the wicked shall be cut off, the house of the righteous shall stand, the individual's responsibility, the Lord shall help them, the mouth of the upright shall deliver them, the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, the thoughts of the righteous are right, the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the way of sinners, the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, the wicked are no more, the wicked are overthrown, the wise son rejects the invitation of criminals, the words of the wicked, their feet run to evil, their strength in time of trouble, they lay in wait for their own blood, this also is vanity, to avoid the tempter's snare, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, trust in the Lord, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wait on the Lord and keep his way, walk not thou in the way with them, when the wicked are cut off, who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool, wisdom, with the whole wide world, worry, yet he passed away, you shall see when the wicked are cut off
Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 May 2026 Proverbs 12:7.
Proverbs 12:7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Oh boy, we’ve beaten our nemesis Monday into the ground! But please, don’t think that will make Tuesday an easy target. It most likely won’t be, for Monday might give us starting problems after the weekend break, but each day is very capable of bringing tough circumstances to the forefront. That means every day is a challenge in itself, and we cannot afford to lower our expectations, otherwise we can be caught with out pants below our knees. (smile)
And on this bright, warm, sunshiny Tuesday, with temps in the mid-twenties, we’re going to look at a few verses from the wisdom of Cousin Sol in Proverbs, re the difference between the wicked and the righteous. He expounds thus: ‘The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.’ (Prov. 12:5-7)
Oh friends, how many times in the Bible have we been told the same basic story eh – that the wicked shall be destroyed and the righteous saved? But too many of us seem not to believe it, otherwise there would not be so many wicked people in the world practicing their wicked behaviour, and not so few seeking righteousness. And right at the beginning of Proverbs, Cousin Sol warns us about walking in the way of sinners with a very wise and perceptive passage.
‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood (to shed blood), let us lurk privily (secretly) for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down to the pit: We shall find all precious substance (wealth), we shall fill our houses with spoil (plunder): Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain (keep) thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain (futility) the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily (secretly) for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.’ (Prov. 1:10-19)
Yes my brethren, we could not get a better discourse on the actions of the wicked and advice not to fall into their snare. As the scholars explain: ‘The wise son rejects the invitation of criminals who promise wealth without work (vs.13). The verse stresses the individual’s responsibility to avoid the tempter’s snare (cf. James 1:14-15).’ And that’s the point we’re trying to make, it’s our responsibility, not anybody else’s, to avoid getting involved with the deeds and schemes of the wicked.
As James states it: ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desire), and enticed. Then when lust (desire) hath conceived, it bringeth forth (gives birth to) sin: and sin, when it is finished (full grown), bringeth forth death. Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren.’ (James 1:13-16) So when we’re tempted to sin, we cannot say it’s God tempting us, but it’s our own lustful, carnal desires that are driving us to sin. And in the end, that sinful desire only causes death!
How many times do we need to hear that before we turn away from sin eh? Obviously some of us must like death, the way we live such a sinful life. But that’s a shortsighted and very unwise situation, for you cannot carry any of the wealth and pleasures you amass here into the next life; in fact you’ll forfeit it all to someone else. As Cousin Sol writes as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes:
‘Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken (toiled) under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity (futility).’ (Eccl. 2:18-19) Yes, you’ll leave all your earthly wealth for someone else to possibly use and abuse. So what’s the point in toiling hard to amass it eh?
And if you don’t believe Cousin Sol or James, or me, (smile) then listen to Bruh David from Psalm 37, titled ‘Trust in the Lord.’ where he confidently declares: ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree (a native green tree). Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect (blameless) man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust him’ (Ps. 37:34-40)
Oh my people, it could not be said any clearer than that! Stay away from evil and trust in the Lord and your life will be saved. It as simple as that! So please, let’s cut out, turn away from all the foolish and death-bringing sinfulness that we’re currently involved in nuh, because it certainly doesn’t do us any good, neither now or in the hereafter. And furthermore, sin always brings painful consequences right here on earth. So why pursue it eh?
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…sin might bring some earthly pleasures…but its end is always…death and destruction…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
19 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 10th century African Prayer, a breath of fresh air, a modicum of circumspection, at the foot of the cross, Christ who died for us, Christ's crucifixion was the playing out of God's plan for man's salvation, Christ's death on the cross, christianity, come to know and love christ like we do, comfort yourselves together, complain that it's too hot, dogs have taken first place over children, duty bound, edify one another, encourage each other, faith, Father forgive them, felt the sun strong, God hath not appointed us to wrath, have the light of life, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, holy spirit, hurry, I am the light of the world, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the light of life and the life of light, lay all your worries at the foot of the cross, live together with christ, lost forever in the darkness of the devil, LOVE, mercy, our sins have been forgivien, Prayers Through the Ages Publication, receive hope for the future, run to the cross for any and everything, salvation, share Christ's amazing love and friendship, share His love with my neighbours, sick calls to work, summer ritual, thank you father for the cross, the aim of the priests, the basic foundation of our faith, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the cloth of the naked, the coming of Christ, the consolation of the bondman, the cross, the cross of Christ - the symbol of everything good and true, the daily grind and common task, the doctor of the sick, the forgiveness of sins, the freedom of slaves, the hope of christians, the hope of the hopeless, the life of light, the light of the world, the power of kings, the resurrection of the dead, the saviour of the lost, the source of those who seek water, the staff of the lame, the strength of the weak, the water of the weeds, the way of the lost, they know not what they do, to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, took the sage asvice, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, we're enver satisfied, we've seen the light Jesus, whether we wake or sleep, wisdom, without the cross of Christ, worry, you never know the good thing you have unti you lose it
Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 May 2026 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
And then it was Tuesday; meaning all the Victoria Day celebrations over, and we need to get back to the daily grind and common task, called work. (smile) Let’s hope the celebrations were enjoyable but were not overdone, that we took the sage advice of Cousin Sol and Bruh Paul and exerted a modicum of circumspection, (smile) and also that there weren’t a lot of sick calls to work this morning, for that just spoils the employer’s attitude over public holidays, especially when they have to still pay their employees.
As for me, I didn’t do any real celebrating, but I did get to begin my summer ritual of sitting on my front porch and watching people go by with their many dogs and few children. Ah Lord eh! Dogs seem to have taken first place over children. And it’s amazing what you can see and hear while people pass by and don’t even notice you, although you’re sitting in full sight. You can only shake your head and wonder what’s happening; what our world will be like some fifty years hence, that is if we haven’t totally destroyed it by then.
Anyway before I came down to write the Bit, I had a breath of fresh air and felt the sun strong on my arthritic bones. Oh what a good feeling that was! As they say, you never know the good things you have until you no longer have them. And sadly, it seems like this spell of summer weather will end sometime this week and we’ll go back to temps in the mid-teens or thereabouts. Hopefully that will be just for a short while though, and we’ll soon get the real heat, when we’ll begin to complain about how hot it is, and how it’s too hot. (smile) We’re never satisfied are we?
However, on this warm, sunny May Tuesday, we’re going to declare a 10th Century African Prayer, found in the Toronto Anglican Diocese 2025 publication ‘Prayers Through the Ages,’ Daily prayers for spiritual renewal. So please pray with me: ‘The cross is the hope of Christians The cross is the resurrection of the dead The cross is the way of the lost The cross is the saviour of the lost The cross is the staff of the lame The cross is the strength of the weak
The cross is the doctor of the sick The cross is the aim of the priests The cross is the hope of the hopeless The cross is the freedom of the slaves The cross is the power of kings The cross is the water of the weeds The cross is the consolation of the bondman The cross is the source of those who seek water The cross is the cloth of the naked We thank you, Father, for the cross.’
And do we ever thank the Lord for the cross, because it’s the basic foundation of our faith, of all that we are and stand for! Yes friends, without the cross of Christ we’d all be lost forever in the darkness of the devil and this evil world. But through the coming of Christ and his death on the cross, our sins have been forgiven and we’ve finally seen the light; Jesus, the light of the world! As He so rightly said: ‘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) And that’s why we Christians have the life of light, as well as the light of life! (smile)
And isn’t it amazing that the cross is truly the basis of all the prayer states: ‘The hope of Christians; the resurrection of the dead; the way of the lost; the saviour of the lost; the staff of the lame; the strength of the weak; the doctor of the sick; the aim of the priests; the hope of the hopeless, the freedom of the slaves; the power of kings; etc. etc.’ Yes my brethren, the cross of Christ holds the answer to every question and problem our world has or can ever devise. That’s how important it is. We can run to it for whatever we need, whatever ails us or is trying to tear us apart.
At the foot of Christ cross, we can place all our worries and ailments and receive hope for the future. Nothing else in this world has the power to do that! No wonder the cross has become the symbol of Christianity, because it’s everything to us. It’s where the forgiveness of our sins was purchased, with Jesus, even as He hung on that old rugged cross, asking ‘Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) Yes, those who crucified Christ, had no inkling whatsoever of what they were doing. They thought that they were getting rid of an opponent, but the truth was that He came to earth to be crucified and pay our sin debt. So what they were doing was just the playing out of the Lord’s plans.
And Christ’s resurrection on the third day, made our lives even better, for not only were our sins forgiven, but with His resurrection, we also received the totality of salvation and eternal life! All thanks and praise to our wonderful God! It’s As Bruh Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. ‘For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage each other), and edify (build up) one another, even as also ye do (are doing).’ (1 Thess. 5:9-11)
That’s it in a nutshell, my fellow believers! God, through Christ, made a way for us, where there seemed to be absolutely no way. So please, let’s not abuse or reject it, but gladly grab hold of it, cherish it, and stay with it until the end! Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And if we truly meant it, then we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…the cross of Christ…the symbol of everything good and true…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
12 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a friend of the world is the enemy of God, be fulfilled in us, belly and backbone, carnally minded, Christ carried out His divine mission, come to know and love christ like we do, do mind the things of the flesh, doing God's will with a sense of joy and inner peace, Dr. Robert H Schuller, duty bound, eternal life, every man's life is a plan of God, faith, fellowship, fight us tooth and nail, free from the law of sin and death, friendship with the world is enmity with God, fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our life, God condemned sin in the flesh, gumption, holy spirit, Hours of Power Devotional, hurry, I am come that they might have life, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his, if any man love the world, if the Spirit of God dwell in you, in god's eyes, It is finished, Jesus Christ, Jesus' purpose for coming to earth, know ye not, let not your heart be troubled, live the good and abundant life, living by the spirit of christ, lock stock and barrel, lots of perseverance study prayer and fellowship, LOVE, love not the things in the world, love not the world, mercy, my joy might be in you, my peace I give unto you, neither let it be afraid, no condemnation to them which are in Christ, not as the world giveth give I unto you, not subject to the law of God, Peace i leave with you, perseverance, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, succumb to the devil's evil and ungodly will, taken from darkness into light, the basics of the good life, the beloved of God, the carnal mind is enmity against God, the good life, the good life begins and ends with living for christ, the good life has a deep undercurrent of profound peace, the good life is one with inner joy, the good life is the awareness of fulfilment, the good life is the deep feeling of fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our life, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, the law was weak through the flesh, the love of the Father is not in him, the righteousness of the law, the secret of Jesus' satisfying life, the thief cometh not but to steal, the things of the Spirit, they might have it more abundantly, they that are after the flesh, they that are after the Spirit, they that are in the flesh cannot please God, to be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life and peace, to kill and destroy, trials and tribluations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, wisdom, with flying colours, worry, you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, your joy might be complete
Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 May 2026 John 10:10b.
John 10:10b. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
So, we’ve gotten through Monday with flying colours, and now come to this sunshiny day called Tuesday. Well what’s in for us we wander? Is it more heartache, more trials and tribulations or the Good Life? Now all of us pant for the Good Life, but what exactly is it? Today, we’ll look at what Dr. Robert H Schuller wrote about it in his Hours of Power, Daily Book of Motivation and Inspiration. He wrote thus about the Good Life.
‘If you want to know what is meant by the good life, direct your attention to Jesus Christ. This was the good life incarnate.’ Oh, for sure! None of us would ever doubt that Jesus’ life was indeed the good life, but what was it all about eh? Dr. Schuller continues: ‘What was life like for Him? Take a look at His last days on earth and you will see the secret of His satisfying life. Shortly before He died he said to his apostles, “I would that my joy might be in you and that your joy might be complete” (John 15:11). The good life, then, is a life that has an inner joy.
Then hear this: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The good life is a life that has a deep undercurrent of profound peace. The last words to fall from Christ’s lips, as he hung and died under the Jerusalem sky, were short and simple, but triumphant: It is finished” (John 19:30). He had carried out His divine mission. The good life is the awareness of fulfilment. For “every man’s life is a plan of God.” God has a plan for you. And the good life is the deep feeling that we are fulfilling God’s plan and purpose in our life.’
Yes friends, that’s the basics of the good life! Doing what God desires us to do, while doing it with a sense of joy and inner peace. And to help us find those things, we need to remember these reassuring words of Jesus, as he talks about the good shepherd in the gospel of John. ‘The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) That was certainly Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth, so that we could have the abundant life of being saved, taken from darkness into the light, not be overwhelmed by our trials and tribulations, have joy and peace, with the eventual action of eternal life in His wonderful presence!
Wow! Who would not want that sort of life eh? But it doesn’t just fall in our laps, no, we have to get up and live it; live it sincerely and seriously by the rules set out by Christ for His church; the people who truly believe in Him and follow Him. On the other hand though, the devil will fight us tooth and nail to not do what Jesus desires, but to succumb to his evil and ungodly will. That’s why it takes a lot of belly and backbone, a lot of gumption and perseverance to live the good and abundant life.
And one of the first steps in living that life, is found in these words of Paul. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom. 12:2) And you might ask, why do we need to do that? James answers that question thus: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God?’ (James 4:4)
And you might want to delve further in the reason for that. John explains it this way in his first epistle. ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.’ (1 John 2:15) Basically, it means that living as the world dictates is living by the flesh, by our feelings, carnally minded, while living for Christ is done through the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, found in the Bible, and these two ways of living are totally different and thus cannot exist together in the same body. It’s either one or the other.
But listen to this more in depth explanation from Bruh Paul to the Romans. ‘There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for (on account of) sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness (righteous requirements) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after flesh do mind (set their minds on) the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ (Rom. 8:1-9)
That’s the technical reasoning for the differences in the two ways of earthly living; one by what the world desires, or fleshly living, and living by the Spirit of Christ which dwells within believers. So you have to be a believer if you want to live by the Spirit, because that’s the only way to receive the Holy Spirit. So yes, it is possible to live the good life, the abundantly life that Christ died for us to have, but it must begin with an individual decision, and then lots of perseverance, study, prayer and fellowship.
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…living the good life…begins and ends with living for Christ…
Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.com
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a kind of firstfruits, a state of strife, after that ye have suffered a while, announce Christ's good news gospel, as worthy vessels, be a lighted candle showing others the way, be perfect and entire, be slow to wrath, begat us with the word of truth, believers in Christ Jesus, bring light to our dark and cloudy path, called us unto his eternal glory, christianity, Christians, clinging to you hopefully, come to know and love christ like we do, cometh down from the Father of lights, count it all joy, despite the drain and strain, determined to wait, do not err my beloved brethren, duty bound, encourages God to do even more for us, equipped with all the tools to handle life, eternal separation from God, even confidently, every good and perfect gift is from above, faith, fall into divers temptations, fall into various trials, filled with flavoured salt, firstfruits of his creatures, fresh depths of insight, go out and share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, God will do all He promises, God will himself restore you, good reason for faith hope and trust in God, grace grows best in winter, holy spirit, hurry, I anticipate new perspectives, in god's eyes, in ways unanticipated, into all that is now so mysterious, Jesus Christ, let every man be swift to hear, let patience have her perfect work, like beacons that draw others to us, live our lives like shining lights, LOVE, make all you are now permitting blessedly clear, make the effort to spread God's word, make you perfect, make you strong firm and steadfast, mental unrest, mercy, neither shadow of turning, not easy to put into action, O God ... My God, of his own will, receive the amazing gifts of salvation and eternal life, regardless of the consequences, rise above the noise and hate of the world, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, Samuel Rutherford's words, share His love with my neighbours, slow to speak, someday, someway, sounds very godly and righteous, stablish strengthen settle you, teaching me the great truth, thank you dear God, thank you for that, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the God of all grace, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the trying of your faith worketh patience, the wrath of man, throw a spanner in the works, tickles the Lord's fancy, to an unbelieving multitude, to rely upon your faithfulness, to trust, transform a saltless world, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wait with patience and perseverance, wanting nothing, warms the cockles of God's heart, we consider ourselves teachable, what a show of faith, when the going's good, wisdom, with fixed purpose, with whom is no variableness, worketh not the righteousness of God, worry, you seem totally hidden
1 Peter 5:10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you.
Yay friends! It’s Tuesday! That means we’ve successfully navigated Monday, and the rest of the week will be a breeze! Wow! Isn’t that nice to know. Yes it is, but please let’s not get too sure of ourselves, because it’s very possible for any other day to throw a spanner in the works. Let’s ensure that we’re appropriately dressed up and prayed up, (smile) so that if anything untoward happens we are in a good position to handle it.
And on this fifth day of the fifth month, we have an interesting poem to share from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, one that’s aptly titled ‘O God … My God.’ That’s a wonderful title eh? Wonder what it says? Hope it’s as good as the anticipation. (smile) Please read with me, so we can find out.
‘O God … My God Though You now seem totally hidden I am clinging to You hopefully Even confidently. Someday, some way, you will make All You are now permitting Blessedly clear. With fixed purpose, dear God I am determined to wait, to trust To rely upon Your faithfulness. Despite the drain and strain I anticipate new perspectives And fresh depths of insight Into all that is now so mysterious. O God, in ways unanticipated You are teaching me the great truth Of Samuel Rutherford’s words: “I see that grace grows best in winter.” Thank You, dear God Thak You for that!’
Yes mih bredrin, grace does grow best in winter. For it’s in the hard, cold days of troubled times when we need it the most, and when the Lord showers it down on us the most. When the going’s good, we don’t need grace half as much as when it’s not. And I like how the poem says that although God seems to be hidden from us, we’re still clinging to Him hopefully, even confidently! Wow! What a show of faith!
And furthermore, With fixed purpose, we’re determined to wait, to trust and to rely upon God’s faithfulness, despite the strain and drain on our nerves, our faith and our other resources. Mama Mia! That’s the way I like to hear us talk … and so does our heavenly Father! When we talk like that, with faith and trust regardless of the consequences, it warms the cockles of His heart and encourages Him to do even more for us, because then He knows that we truly LOVE and appreciate Him! It also tickles the Lord’s fancy that we consider ourselves teachable, and wait with patience and perseverance. (smile)
And what’s the Bible verse for today’s poem, you ask? Well … it’s one that we all know, but don’t always take kindly to. However if what we said about the poem is true, then we need to accept it with graciousness. (smile) And it comes from the first epistle of Peter. ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you.’ (1 Pet. 5:10) Or as the NIV (New International Version) says: ‘after you have suffered a little while, God will Himself restore you, and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’
So there is good reason for the hope, faith and trust we put in Almighty God, despite the tough times we go through. No one likes tough times but in this evil and ungodly world they have become a part of life, and only with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can we handle them with some amount of fortitude. Again, it’s like James tries to tell us: ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting (lacking) nothing.’ (James 1:2-4)
Now that sounds very godly and righteous, but it’s not very easy to put into action, especially when our whole world is in a state of strife and mental unrest. But as believers in Christ Jesus, we have been equipped with the tools to do so, and are expected to use them to calm our fears and worries, and even rise above the noise and hate of the world and announce Christ’s good news gospel to an unbelieving multitude, as we live our lives like shining lights, like beacons that draw others to us, as worthy vessels filled with flavoured salt to transform a saltless world.
Yes friends, much is expected of us, but Jesus also did much for us, and the least we can do is to make the effort to spread His word and be a lighted candle showing others the way He desires them to live, so that they can receive the amazing gifts of salvation and eternal life. Remember, that’s why He came to earth and died; to save us from a life of eternal separation from the Father, from perishing in hellfire with Satan and his other evil cronies. So, if we can’t do those two simple things, be a light and flavoured salt, of what use are we to Christ eh? None whatsoever!
And to help us understand the problem, we’ll close with an interesting warning from James. ‘Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation) neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not (does not produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:16-20)
Let’s hope those words bring some light to our dark and cloudy path. And now it’s time to declare our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, we’re duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…God will do ALL He promises…if we would only have sufficient faith, trust and patience in Him…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
28 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a privilege to speak out boldly for Christ, all filled with the Holy Ghost, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, behold their threatenings, bold and timely witness, boldness in speaking God's Word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal, caught up in annals of history, cherish today like a present from God, christianity, Christians, Christians are either too afraid or too comfortable, Christians can save the world, come to know and love christ like we do, deeply rooted, deeply rooted in my heart, difficult and dangerous situations in sharing God's word, duty bound, each day is a special gift from God, eah day is a special gift from God, even unto the end of the world, evil doing and ungodliness are running rampant, faith, give us this day our daily bread, go ye therefore and teach all nations, God has a purpose for keeping us alive, God's compassions are new every morning, God's purpose for my life, grant unto thy servants, great is thy faithfulness, his compassions fail not, holy spirit, hope to make a positive difference, hurry, I am with you always, I want everyone to know you, in the name of thy holy child Jesus, In Touch Prayer Cards, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, Jesus Christ, judge ye, lead me into situations to tell others about you, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make me bold to share the gospel, may speak the word with all boldness, may your words abide in me, mercy, Monday's over and done with, nothing is more urgent that speaking out for christ, on a direct tangent to hell fire and damnation, openly and fearlessly, our basic purpose here on earth, people badly need to hear God's word, Peter and John are arrested for healing a lame man in Jesus' name, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, so grateful for the gift of salvation, spake the word of god with boldness, speak the truth of scripture without compromise, speak the word openly with out fear, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever, thank you for your precious word, that signs and wonders may be done, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the Great Commission, the Lord's word contains the path of life, the place was shaken, this is the day the Lord has made, through the power of your Holy Spirit, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, to hearken unto you more than unto God, to spread the good news of Christ's gospel, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, upset the old applecart, warned and threatened not so speak of Jesus, we cannot but speak of the things we've seen and heard, we will rejoice and be glad in it, whatsoever I have commanded you, when they had prayed, whether it be right in the sight of God, wisdom, worry
Acts 4:31b. and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Oh friends, it’s Tuesday! Monday’s over and done with; caught up in the annals of history, and Tuesday has replaced it, though with a somewhat chilly and cloudy look. It’s therefore our duty to pay serious attention to it, to cherish and appreciate it like the present from God that it is! So let’s declare and put into action this wise and wonderful advice from the Bible: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24) And we can never go wrong by doing that, because each new day is a special gift from God to those whom He keeps alive, and there’s a special purpose for Him doing that.
For as the prophet Jeremiah so wisely acknowledges in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) And that’s the gospel truth for God’s mercies are new every day. As Jesus prayed; ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matt. 6:11) For the Lord only gives us enough to handle each new day, as our finite souls and spirits cannot handle much more than that.
However, despite only receiving enough compassion, LOVE, peace etc. for one day at a time, His glorious purpose(s) for keeping us alive is (are) deeply embedded, deeply rooted in our hearts. And today we’ll discuss one of those most important purposes that God’s set in our lives; it’s called Boldness. And we’ll get the basics of that from one of the Praying with Purpose Prayer cards that the In Touch Organization published last year.
So please pray with me: ‘Lord Jesus, I’m so grateful for the gift of salvation. Please make me bold to share the gospel with others openly and fearlessly. I want everyone to know You and Your name to be lifted up. Lead me into situations where I can tell others about You through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May your words abide in me so I speak the truth of Scripture without compromise. Thank You for Your precious Word which contains the path of life. Amen.’
Now, we have to be careful when we pray a prayer like that, for the Lord will take us at our word and begin bringing situations in our paths to do so. However, they might not all be easy or fortunate circumstances. Like Bruh Paul, we could face many difficult and dangerous times in sharing God’s Word. But sharing God’s word with boldness and without compromise is of the utmost necessity.
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples and consequently to all His followers, when He gave them the Great Commission? ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in 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)
Now that’s our basic purpose on this earth my faithful brethren; to spread the good news of Christ’s gospel and live our own lives in a way that others would see it and desire to turn to Him for salvation. And that situation needs to be very seriously addressed today my fellow believers, because evil doing and ungodliness are running rampant. Yes my brethren, it’s in times like these that the Word of God needs to be spoken evermore vociferously and sincerely, because the people need it ever so much, as our world is on a direct tangent to hell fire and damnation, and only we, the servants, disciples and children of Almighty God can save it through our bold and timely witness.
But unfortunately, not enough of us supposed Christians are making the desired effort to spread Christ’s gospel of salvation, so our world is sliding downhill to hell more every day, and Satan and his evil cronies are just smiling and high-fiving each other as it happens. And we can use this situation from the early church as a good example.
Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, and when they were warned by the Council of leaders not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they replied: ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:19-20) And after more threats of serious punishment, they were released and went out and told their people what had happened.
‘And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, ‘Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is.’ (Acts 4:24) Then they went on to state how the Lord had set matters in Israel in Jesus’ time (Acts 4:25-28) Finally, they declared: ‘And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by (through) the name of thy holy child (servant) Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.’ (Acts 4:29-31)
Now friends, it’s stuff like that we need to initiate in these dreadful times, where we can go out and speak the word of God openly, without fear, regardless of any consequences that might arise from it. But unfortunately, Christ’s people are not doing such actions, because we’re either too afraid, or too comfortable, and we don’t want to upset the old applecart. But please note, that no changes, good or bad, ever happen unless the old apple cart is upset. (smile) So please, it’s time for all Christians to seriously get together and both live and speak the Word of God with all boldness and sincerity, if we hope to make a positive difference in our failing world!
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
We are now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…what a privilege it is…to speak out boldly for Christ…and nothing is more urgent… (In Touch Prayer Card on Boldness)
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
21 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a broken world, a disicplined mind, a future guaranteed by Christ's resurrection, a journey toward wholeness, a journey with christ by our side, a new heaven and a new earth, a successful Christian, according to his riches in glory, all these things shall be added unto you, awaken from sinfulness, behold I make all things new, Christ's resurrection is not ancient history, christianity, Christians, come to know and love christ like we do, consequences of disobedience, Consider This Section of the In Touch Devotional, courage and strength to believe, declare my praise, disobedient to God, every moment of our life, faith, feel out of our league, felt God's wrath, For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, free from the consequences of sin, give drink to my people, God shall supply all of our needs, God shall wipe away all tears, he that sat upon the throne said, holy spirit, hopelessness, hurry, I will do a new thing, in god's eyes, in the long run, Jesus Christ, Jesus has defeated death, Jesus' victory belongs to every believer, let the world know to whom we belong, living in mortal bodies, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make a way in the wilderness, mercy, my chosen, neither consider the things of old, no more death, no more negative effects of sin, no more sorrow or crying, now it shall spring forth, of power love and a sound mind, pain my constant companion, prepared for the worst, remember ye not the former things, remind yourself of this truth, return to God's fold, rivers in the desert, salvation, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, sent Monday to the history dump, share His love with my neighbours, sincere repentance, successfully gotten through Monday, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the former things are passed away, the Lord will work everything out for our good, the resurrection is unfolding within us, there shall be no more pain, things will never get better, tied up in knots of fear and worry, to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, trials and tribulations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, we are well able, we can do all things though Christ who strengthens us, we know that all things work together for good, we serve an ever-faithful God, wine women and song, wisdom, worry, write for these words are true and faithful
Revelation 21:5a. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And then it was Tuesday…Yes, Tuesday, meaning we’ve successfully gotten through Monday, sent it to the History dump, showing that there’s no need to fear the opening day of our work week, that we can handle it just as efficiently and capably as we handle any other day! So, let’s hope that when another Monday rolls around, as it most certainly will, we won’t be fearful and feel out of our league, for we are well able.
And whenever the devil tries to bring fear into our souls and spirits, let’s remember these most encouraging words of Bruh Paul to Timothy, and to consequently to all believers: ‘For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:7) That ought to keep us strong in the belief that we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. (Phil. 4:13)
And furthermore, that our wonderful, wealthy and generous God shall supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19) For He has promised that when we seek Him and His kingdom of righteousness first, that all of our needs will be met. (Matt. 6:33) So, considering all of that, there is no real reason for a believer to get tied up in stressful knots with fear and worry. End of Sermon! (smile)
And today, we’ll do some more contemplation from the Consider This Section of the In Touch April Devotional. So please consider this with me: ‘When the women arrived at Jesus’ tomb, (that’s on Easter Sunday morning), they’d come prepared for the worst. But they didn’t find a body to tend to – only a piece of cloth lying apart from the linen wrappings. They wept because they thought their beloved Teacher had been taken away. They didn’t understand that Jesus had defeated death or that His victory belongs to every believer.
We’re living in mortal bodies in a broken world, so it can be easy to forget something marvellous has already happened. The moment we said yes to Jesus, we began a journey toward wholeness – one we make with Him by our side. So when hopelessness is saying that things will never get better, remind yourself of this truth: The resurrection isn’t ancient history or a mysterious moment in the distant future. It is unfolding within us every moment of our life and will be complete when Jesus returns to make all things new.’
Now that’s indeed something to look forward to, because He’s promised in His Word: ‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev. 21:4-5)
Oh my fellow believers, what a joyful and glorious day that will be, when Jesus creates a new heaven and a new earth, and there’s no more negative effects of sin. In other words, that’s the day we’ll be free from the consequences and effects of sin. It’s a future guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. And as one commentary says: ‘it fulfills God’s plan to restore, rather than merely replace the broken world.’
Yes friends, that promise of making all things new is ever so wonderful, because it offers us believers hope for a brighter and more glorious future while facing trials and tribulations here on this sinful and evil earth. And oh, I can’t wait to not feel the effects of pain, (smile) because it’s been my constant companion in one form or another over the last several years.
And having said all of that, we certainly cannot overlook possibly the most poignant and meaningful promise in all of God’s Word, one that we desperately need to cling to if we are to make it through this life with the success He’s planned for us. And yes, that’s a Bruh Paulian sentence, (smile) and it stems from his encouraging and reassuring words to the Roman church. ‘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)
Oh mih bredrin, those words give us the courage and strength to believe that in the long run, despite all our trials and tribulations, the Lord will eventually work everything out for our good. Wow! Remember, the Lord never promised that it would be all wine, women and song down here on earth, but that the end will be much better than the beginning or the middle. And we know that He is an ever-faithful God who never reneges on His promises.
Now that was not even the first time that the Lord promised to make all things new, but simply the last. For long ago, through the prophet Isaiah, He promised His people Israel thus: ‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field shall honour me, the dragons (jackals) and the owls (ostriches); because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth (declare) my praise.’ (Is. 43:18-21)
But unfortunately the Israelites were constantly disobedient to God, so they often felt His wrath. However, when the consequences of their disobedience were too great to bear, they would eventually awaken from their sinfulness and with sincere repentance, return to God’s fold, seeking His forgiveness. But sadly, with all the disobedience and tribulation in our current world, we’re not even wise enough to turn back to God with sincere repentance, seeking His forgiveness, so that He could make things better. That’s how prideful, foolish, egotistical and dumb we are!
But for the relative handful of us who see the problems and aspire to solve them, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, we are beholden to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…to be a successful Christian…one must believe that things will eventually get better…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a guiding principle, a proactive forward looking attitude, actively discard the negative past, as a man thinks in his heart so is he, be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, be enthusiastice about the success of others, be not conformed to this world, be so strong, be strong in the Lord, be too large for worry, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, Bible, change your behaviour by changing your mindset, Christian D Larson, christianity, come to know and love christ like we do, don't look back at your sinful experience with Satan, draw spiritual strength from God's boundless power, duty bound, evil schemes of Satan, external circumstances, faith, focus on faith prayer and daily devotion, focus on future goals and spiritual growth, for the prize of the high calling of God, forget the mistakes of the past, forgetting past mistakes, forgetting those things which are behind, give everyone you meet a smile, God's mysterious movements, holy spirit, hurry, I count not myself to have apprehended, in god's eyes, in the power of his might, Jesus Christ, laid hold of Christ, leave all negative baggage behind, look at the sunny side of everything, looking forward to a glorious future with Christ, looking towards the future, LOVE, maintaining integrity over mere outward appearances, make all your friends feel there is something in them, make your optimism come true, mercy, move forward to the wonderful stuff Jesus offers, not that which goeth into the mouth that defiles a man, nothing can disturb your peace of mind, one's internal mental and emotional state ultimately manifests outwardly, personal willpower, press on to future achievements, press toward the mark, pressing on toward a higher purpose, promise yourself, prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God, put on the whole armour of God, reaching forth unto those things that are before, reignite a passion in our hearts for Christ, rely on god for inner empowerment, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, spiritually impure, talk health happiness and prosperity to everyone, the beloved of God, the importance of managing thoughts, the indisputable truth, this one thing I do, to withstand trials and fight spiritual battles, too happy to permit the presence of trouble, too many of us still live in the past, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, urging individuals to release past mistakes regrets or achievements, we become what we think, what comes out of a man defiles him, wisdom, worry
Philippians 3:14. I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.
And after a rainy start, this Tuesday morning has become somewhat sunshiny, although a bit of cloud cover still remains at midday. It should be another fairly warm day like yesterday, with temps in the high teens or low twenties, but again somewhat windy. And we cannot complain about a li’l wind and rain when we have such high temps. (smile)
Anyhow, today I want to share an interesting article, written a long time ago by someone called Christian D Larson. And it’s both amazing and amusing how I came across it again. Last night while putting some stuff in one of the drawers of my file cabinet, I espied this small newspaper clipping taped to the top drawer, and it must have been there for ages, because the paper is now yellowed. Obviously I didn’t know what it was about, since I had not perused it in a long while, and was I surprised when I read the title ‘Promise Yourself,’ and the information that followed.
Now, I wonder if anyone else is like me; has a lot of stuff posted all around their office with supposedly good advice and information, but never sees them, just comes into the office every day, does whatever, then leaves again without paying any attention to those pictures and bits of paper decorating the office walls and elsewhere. I seem to do it all the time, and last night I smiled as I read the article, because deep down I just knew that it was one of God’s mysterious movements to have me renew it in my own mind, as well as share it today.
So please read with me: ‘Promise Yourself: To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.’
Wow! Now doesn’t that sound as though the author was referring to Christianity, for we are supposed to do all those things mentioned in the article? Like being so strong that nothing can disturb our peace of mind. Well there’s only one way to accomplish that, and it’s as Bruh Paul writes to the Ephesians. ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph. 6:10-11)
And I like how this overview explains it: ‘Be strong in the Lord, is a call to draw spiritual strength from God’s boundless power rather than personal willpower. It requires relying on Him for inner empowerment to withstand trials and fight spiritual battles by putting on the “armor of God,” focusing on faith, prayer, and daily devotion.’ And that’s the indisputable truth.
Then, there’s this other interesting promise about forgetting our past mistakes and looking towards the future that bring to mind these powerful and wise words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians. ‘Brethren, I count not myself not to have apprehended (laid hold of Christ); But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth (forward) unto those things which are before (ahead), I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 3:13-14)
And that’s exactly how we ought to be my fellow believers; looking toward a glorious future with Christ, and not back at a miserable sinful existence with Beelzebub. The problem though is that too many of us still live in the past; we allow our past mistakes, and disappointments to control the way we now live, instead of leaving all that negative baggage behind and moving forward with all the wonderful stuff that Jesus offers.
It’s like this commentary tells us: “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead” is a guiding principle from Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV), urging individuals to release past mistakes, regrets, or achievements to focus entirely on future goals and spiritual growth. It highlights a proactive, forward-looking attitude, often described as “pressing on” toward a higher purpose.’
But to accomplish that goal, we have to actively discard the negative past, not just talk about doing it. And how do we do that? Bruh Paul offers this advice to the church at Rome. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom. 12:2) Yes friends, the only way to change our behaviour is by first changing our mindsets, for as Cousin Sol in his great wisdom explains in Proverbs. ‘For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he:’ (Prov. 23:7a)
In other words, you become what you think, for our thoughts control our behaviour. Or as this overview declares: “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” means a person’s true character, actions, and destiny are shaped by their innermost thoughts, beliefs, and desires. It emphasizes that one’s internal mental and emotional state ultimately manifests outwardly, highlighting the importance of managing thoughts and maintaining inner integrity over mere outward appearances.’
It’s like Jesus says: ‘Not that which goeth into the mouth that defileth a man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.’ (Matt. 15:11) Again, it’s our words and actions that stem from our thoughts that cause us to be spiritually impure, rather than external circumstances like not washing our hands before eating.
Ah friends, I do hope that these promises to ourselves reignite a passion in our hearts and souls for Christ, because they are all Bible based. Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…only true believers can be…too large for worry…too noble for anger…too strong for fear…and too happy to permit the presence of trouble…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
07 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a long and arduous process, amidst much pain and sorrow, arise and go down to the potter's house, as the clay is in the potter's hand, as the heavens are higher than the earth, being confident of this very thing, cast our minds forward to the end product, christianity, Christians are tough people, come to know and love christ like we do, cry out for help, don't like God's timing, Easter Tuesday, encouragement to stand the pain, enjoy the tough times, every tough step is wothwhile, everyday we're in the potter's hands, faith, faith grows stronger with each misfortune, faith only grows in tough times, feel god's presence hovering over me, from sinner to saint, Goat races in Tobago, God is always just in time, God is faithful, God is never late, god moves in mysterious ways, God will change us into the image of Christ, God will not suffer you to be tempted more than you can bear, God will provide a way for us to endure the negative situation, God's imminent rescue, God's incomparable goodness and mercy, God's main purpose, growing our faith, he which hath begun a good work in you, holy spirit, how much aggravation our faith can stand, hurry, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, lacks spontaneity, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make a way of escape, mercy, more flabbergasted than normal, my thoughts than your thoughts, no Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, O house of Israel, personal experience, salvation, see the Lord's hand guiding and protecting, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, so are my ways higher than your ways, so are ye in mine hand, such as is common to man, testing our faith, the beautiful replica of Christ, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the eventual rewards are incomparable, the potter made a different vessel from the same clay, the potter wrought a work on the wheels, the right time for intervention, the vessel of clay was ruined in the potter's hand, there hath no temptation taken you, to have His children resemble Jesus, tough like Jesus, tough times, tough times don't last but tough people do, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, will perform it until the day of Jesus, wisdom, wit with bated breath, with the temptation, worry, ye may be able to bear it
Jeremiah 18:6b. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
And not because it’s Easter Tuesday and we gone back out to work means that the Easter celebrations over …Not by a long shot! For they are continuing in full swing at the Goat Races down in the seaside town of Buccoo in sweet Tobago! And oh, do I ever have some fond memories of Goat Race Tuesday‘s in Buccoo, but that was before it got so big that they built a stadium to house it.
Back then it was held in a field between some houses, and in several of those houses loud parties would be happening, while the goats and crabs ran. Yes, crabs did run in those days too! (smile) Back then it was a more inclusive and personal occasion, as opposed to the new situation of paying customers sitting down watching an event. It’s still a great time, though it lacks the spontaneity and vivacity of the earlier, less controlled era.
Ah friends, the ole fella’s lived a fairly long life, and though it’s been pretty tough many times along the way, when I look back at those tough times, I can definitely see the Lord’s hand guiding and protecting me through them. And believe me, there are still tough times today, but now I look to the Lord and cry out for help, when they come around. And He might not help me exactly when I need it, or in the way I desire, but I can always feel His presence hovering over me, waiting for the right time for His intervention.
And although I don’t like His timing, (smile) He’s never really late, but always just in time. Just before you go over the cliff, He reaches down and rescues you. Now, that’s not always easy to endure, but once you experience it a few times, your faith grows stronger with each occurrence, and you wait with bated breath amidst much pain and sorrow for His imminent rescue. (smile) And we wonder why it sometimes takes so long for Him to rescue us, when He has the power to do it right away.
But He’s the Creator and Controller and has His own reasons for His varied actions, many of which we can’t and don’t want to understand, for we will be even more flabbergasted than normal. And, as He long ago said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is. 55:8) Now, that’s putting it in a very mannerly and decent way. (smile) But with our small and finite minds we can never hope to understand the reasons for Him doing what He does.
However, in His incomparable goodness and mercy, He does promise, as Bruh Paul writes to the Corinthians: ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) Now that doesn’t mean He will always recuse us, but if He doesn’t, then He will provide a way for us to endure the negative situation.
And why is that you ask? Well, it could be for several reasons, like growing our faith, for our faith doesn’t grow in good, easy times, but in rough, tough ones. And also for testing said faith; seeing how strong it is, how much aggravation it can bear up under. (smile) For remember God’s main purpose is to have us become strong and faithful like His Son Jesus Christ, which means breaking us and building us like a potter does a piece of clay.
It’s like how the Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potters house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels (the Potter’s wheel). And the vessel he made (was making) of clay was marred (ruined) in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.’ (Jer. 18:2-6)
Yes my fellow believers, we are like clay in the Lord’s hands. He created us and He can recreate us into any shape or image He desires. Although His preferred image to turn us into is that of His wonderful Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It’s like Bruh Paul wrote to the Philippians: ‘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) Meaning that once we come to God seeking salvation and eternal life, He will begin to change us into the image of Christ, and will do so, everyday we’re alive, or until Christ returns to earth.
So, as believers, we cannot get away from the potter’s work of God’s hands. And it’s not easy being formed or marred on the potter’s wheel, or being placed in the oven to harden, but in going though it all, we have to cast our minds forward to the end product; the beautiful, glowing replica of Christ that we will all eventually become, using it as encouragement and reassurance to stand the pain of becoming like Jesus.
And mih bredrin, I know of which I speak, not from hearsay, but from personal experience, for sometimes when I write certain stuff here, before it can even reach you, the Lord is already working it out in me. And when I eventually realize that fact, despite the painful situation I might be in, I just have to chuckle at how our great God moves in very mysterious ways.
So, as we keep saying, living for Jesus is by no means a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, but by the same token, we can still enjoy the tough times we go through living for Him, as the eventual rewards are marvellous and incomparable. It’s as Dr. Schuller says: ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.’ And we are indeed tough people, tough like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel! As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…from sinner to saint…the process can be long and arduous…but every tough step is worthwhile…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
31 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a charlatan, an impostor, an interesting heartfelt prayer, christianity, cling to the one who can give us peace of mind, come to know and love christ like we do, come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, detonation of ammunition, don't know who I'll be, done like dinner, Dr. Charles Stanley, faith, feel free and unburdened, feel naked without our problems, fill the spaces left behind with warmth and light, find rest unto your souls, find true rest from our earthly cares, forgotten, freedom and relief from earthly pressures, gentle and humble, go out like a lion, he that believeth on me shall never thirst, he that comes to me will never hunger, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, help me each day, him that cometh to me, holy spirit, hurry, I am the bread of life, I am the way the truth and the life, I will give you rest, I will in no wise cast out, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, Jesus is there to alleviate all our fears, labour not for the meat which perisheth, learn of me, lightening flashed brilliantly, Lord I'm tired, LOVE, March In touch Devotional, meek and lowly in heart, mercy, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, no man cometh unto the Father but by me, no room no need to take them up again, obey God and leave all the consequences to him, pay the high price that disobedience demands, reach the point, reassurance, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, speed, stand your bounce, suffer the consequences of disobedience, take my yoke upon you, that comes only from knowing you, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the great invitation, the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, the overflowing joy, the Son of man shall give unto you, the thunderous roar of a mighty lion, the truth is, the whole wide world, this is the work of God, thunderous thunder, tired of the burdens I carry, to let one fear one problem fall into the dust, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wisdom, without their familiar weight on my shoulders, words of encouragement, worry, ye believe on him whom he hath sent, ye did eat of the loaves and were filled, ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Ah friends, like March was determined to go out like a lion this year…and he certainly did with the thunderous roar of a mighty lion and the amazing brilliance of light that he unleashed during the night time hours. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard such thunderous thunder, (smile) like it wanted to destroy the place, the same way a big detonation of ammunition does. And the brilliance of the lightening was extraordinary. It was so strong that the Duchess had to cover a glass scale in our bathroom with a cloth because the lightening was throwing dangerous reflections off of it.
At one point, while sitting on the side of my bed, the thunder roared and the lightning flashed so brilliantly that it came clear through the aluminum blinds and curtains at the window. Anyone looking directly at it would surely have been blinded. But thankfully all of that is over now, and for the last day of March, we have just a damp, somewhat cloudy day. Yes, believe it or not, March is now done like dinner, and like the other months, it has passed by rather quckly. But isn’t that what our society is all about…speed?
And today we’re going to offer up an interesting heartfelt prayer from the March In Touch Devotional, that I’m sure will resonate with some of us. So please pray with me. ‘Lord, I’m tired – tired of the burdens I carry, both those given to me and the ones I picked up myself. The truth is, I’m afraid to release them to You. I don’t know who I’ll be without their familiar weight on my shoulders. Father, help me each day to let one fear, one problem fall into the dust, forgotten. Fill the spaces left behind with warmth and light – the overflowing joy that comes only from knowing You until there is no room, no need, to take them up again. In Jesus name, amen.’
Yes my brethren, all of us have some fears or problems that’s been with us for so long that if we let them go, we won’t know what to do with ourselves, we’ll feel strange, possibly naked. But thankfully that’s what Jesus is there for; to alleviate all our fears, to take them to Himself and free us from them. That’s why He offers the Great Invitation to all who are troubled, fearful and weary.
Listen to these wonderful words of encouragement and reassurance. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
Oh my people, have you ever heard anyone else offer such freedom and relief from our earthly burdens and heartaches? Obviously not! And if anyone tries to do that, then you’ll know that they’re just a charlatan, an impostor, a fake, a fraud, for it’s only our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that has the power to take away our burdens and replace them with His light yoke. Listen to Him again from the gospel of John, where He invites us to come to Him so we can experience the good life.
A multitude of people had followed Jesus over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee after He did the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, but as He told them. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles (signs), but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat (food) which perisheth, but for the meat (food) which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then they said unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he had sent.’ (John 6:26:-29)
Yes sir, it’s that simple! All the Lord expects of us is to believe on the One whom He sent to earth to save us. And after the people desired of Him, the bread that came down from heaven, ‘Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise (certainly not) cast out.’ (John 6:35-37)
Obviously Jesus was talking there about the spiritual and eternal life, which one can only acquire through Him. As He says later on: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) That’s why so many of us are tired and worn out, because we don’t truly and fully believe in Jesus. We say it, and think we believe it, but it doesn’t show up sufficiently in our everyday lives, thus we never reach the point where we feel free and unburdened.
And furthermore, some of us are like those spoken of in this passage from Jeremiah. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.’ (Jer. 6:16) So then you stand your bounce and suffer the consequences of disobedience. No wonder Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) always said ‘Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.’
Yes friends, if we obey God, we won’t have to worry about the consequences. But if we don’t then we’ll surely pay the high price disobedience demands. And with the world in this awful state, it only makes sense to cling to the One who can give us peace of mind. That’s Jesus Christ!
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said that, it now behooves us to go out and share the LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…ONLY in Jesus…can we find true rest from our earthly cares and concerns…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
Previous Older Entries
SCRIP-BITS 