15 Mar 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a gift, a present, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, abundance, bring His church to fruition, compassionate heart, courage, curse, died for us, don't walk a good walk, enter the kingdom of heaven, evil associates, evil world, exalt, exceed the righteousness, except your righteousness, faithfully, genuine Christian character, goodness, grow Jesus' church, He deserves our all, hypocrites, I say unto you, inner attitude, interceding for us, Jesus gave His all, Jesus Spirit lives in our souls, Jews, loving kindness, necessity of righteousness, need the warning, negative word, of the scribes and Pharisees, one more day, outward show, penny-pinch, play the scrooge, practical application, Praise the Lord, prosper, put his whole heart and soul, rose from the dead, sacrificed His sinless life, salvation, self-righteousness, spiritual living, succeed, talent, talk a good talk, the gospel in action, the heart God desired, the law, the living truth, the LOVE of Jesus, the One and Only, the present, Thursday Blessings, tomorrow, true living God, unbelievers, undeserving children of men, what a bam bam, work tirelessly, ye shall by no means, yesterday
Matthew 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter the kingdom of heaven.
One more day friends! Yes one more day; that’s what we’ve been given, and that’s why it’s called a present, a gift, as well as the present, because it’s all we have to work with.
Yesterday has gone by for ever, and tomorrow has not come as yet, if it ever will. Therefore, we need to do all that we can in this present day to exalt the ONE and ONLY, True, Living God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as best we can.
And all God’s children said a loud, proud and grateful, ‘Praise the Lord! Thank Him for all His goodness and LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men. Amen!
And as the li’l thought from the Daily Bread Devotional tells us: ‘Jesus gave His ALL; He deserves our ALL.’ I couldn’t have put it any better my brethren. Jesus did not penny-pinch and play the scrooge when He sacrificed His sinless life for us. He gave it everything He had, put His whole heart and soul into what He was doing for us.
Now, after He died for us, then rose from the grave, from the dead, so that we too can rise eventually, given us salvation, and is interceding for us at the Father’s right hand in heaven, while His Spirit lives in our souls, leading and guiding us in all truth, don’t you think the least we can do in return is to work tirelessly and faithfully to bring His wonderful church to fruition?
Wow! What a mouthful my people! (smile) But it is the living truth. We’re definitely not doing as much as we ought to grow Jesus’ church. And WE ALL KNOW IT! We’re still letting the evil world and it’s evil associates control too much of our time and our actions. We talk a good talk, but don’t walk a good walk.
That’s why the unbeliever looks at us askance, with a knowing smirk on their faces. They know that many of us are just a bunch of ole hypocrites, like the scribes and Pharisees of bygone days. That’s why Jesus declares so definitely in our Bit: ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter the kingdom of heaven.’
What a bam bam my people! Imagine that nuh; the most righteous, or supposedly righteous people of Jesus time could not get into heaven. And I know that we’ve used this scripture as our Bit fairly recently, but the Lord just put it on my heart to do it again today, possibly because He knows that we need the warning badly. So don’t get vex with the messenger. (smile)
Now listen to the scholar’s explanation, once again. ‘5:20. Because of the necessity of righteousness as a requirement to enter heaven, Jesus then declares that except their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees they could not enter heaven.
The significance of this is seen in the fact that the Jews of Jesus’ day considered these people to be the most religious in all Israel. However, their religion was largely an outward show of self-righteousness. In communicating the depth of His message, Jesus used a series of contrasts between the outward behaviour demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God.
Here we discover the practical application of genuine Christian character to true spiritual living. Here we see the gospel in action.
Law Spirit
No murder No anger
No adultery No lust
No divorce Commitment
No oath-taking Speak the truth
No retaliation Forgiveness
Hatred for your enemy LOVE for your enemy
(tradition allowed it) (commanded)
And there you have it friends! As Christians we need to come up higher in the spiritual realm than in the law of the world, if we are to be sincere believers. And I’m pleading with us today to stop giving Christ a bad name with our hypocritical behaviour. If we can’t live up to what He expects of us, then let’s stop talking the high talk we talk, and walk whatever low walk we can. Let’s not talk more than we can do.
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, blessings that the Lord has specially prepared for us who sincerely try to do His will. As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Oh friends, doesn’t it make you feel bad when you enjoy all those heavenly blessings and don’t at least try to reciprocate as best we can? It ought to. Much LOVE!
…righteousness is simply…the LOVE of Jesus…in action
05 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a hot date, abominable sins, aches and pains, addiction, belief in Jesus, blood test, boast, challenge, Christ is the way, crash and burn, cursed, earthly wealth, eternally grateful, evil thoughts and actions, favour, getting old, give to God a ransom, glad to be alive, God's kingdom, good works, halfway home, hanged on a tree, heaven, Jesus Christ, live righteously, Lucifer, of the spirit, on the wrong foot, only One, open the doors, our heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, possessions, ransom, receive the promise, redeem, redeem his brother, redemption, refresh our souls, relationship with Jesus, riches, see God's face, thanks, the blessing of abraham, the breath of life, the cross at Calvary, the curse of the law, the fires of hell, the Gentiles, the Life, the multitude of riches, the Truth, the wicked, through faith, trust in jesus, trust in wealth, undeserving children of men, Wednesday Wail, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, what starts our wrong ends right, when the roll is called up yonder
Psalm 49:6-7. They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.
Oh friends, I surely hope that the old adage that states what starts wrong turns our right is true yes, because my day certainly got off on the wrong foot.
I got up early, partly because of some aches and pains in the ole body, then discovered that a blood test I had planned to take in the afternoon actually stated early morning. So I got myself together and rushed out to the nearby lab, which opens at eight.
But lo and behold when I got there at seven forty five, there were already people sitting inside waiting, and a line that ran from the desk, all through the office and halfway up the corridor.
Steups! No way was I going to get blood work done early enough to satisfy the doctor’s request, with at least twenty people before me. So I just turned around and came back home. And that’s actually to your benefit, because you’ll get the Bit earlier than if I had stayed at the lab. (smile)
Ah mih people, it’s certainly a challenge getting old yes, because you don’t know what aches and pains and illnesses will suddenly show up at some unexpected time. (smile)
But yuh know what, in spite of all the challenges, I’m still glad to be alive and I give our heavenly Father plenty, plenty thanks for keeping me going, as He also helps me handle the challenges that come against me.
And I’ll say it one more time: What a wonderful God we serve and worship my faithful brethren! There’s none LIKE Him anywhere else in this whole wide world! Please give Him some thanks and praise for being so wonderful to the undeserving children of men!
That brings us to our Bit. ‘They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.’
And we all know that to be indisputable truth, yet many of us still strive for the riches of this world, hoping that it will bring them salvation. Chuh! What a foolish generation we have raised my people!
All throughout the Good Book we’re told that the wicked will not see God’s face, for their abominable sins will cause them to crash and burn in the fires of hell. But yet many of us still insist on participating in downright evil thoughts and actions.
Friends, there is no salvation in either an addiction to procuring earthly wealth or to be a proponent of evil, for you will take none of the wealth with you, and your evil deeds will only get you a hot date with Lucifer.
And when we talk about redemption, there’s ONLY ONE who can redeem; that’s our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And yuh see the exorbitant price He had to pay to redeem us: enormous shame and excruciating death on the cross.
As Bruh Paul told the Galatians: ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made (having become) a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE:’ (Gal.3:13)
Yeh friends, Bruh Paul is there quoting Deuteronomy 21:23. Please look it up. And why did Jesus take this curse upon Himself for us?
Hear Bruh Paul to the Galatians again: ‘That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.’ (Gal.3:14)
So yuh see my brethren, if Christ had not borne our sins on the cross at Calvary, we, as Gentiles, would not have received the promise of Abraham, and would have been completely shut out of God’s wonderful and generous favour.
That means we have to be eternally grateful to Jesus and live the righteous way He wants us to live. Even if we have been graced with a lot of earthly wealth, it is still very important for us to live a clean and righteous life. Why?
Because when the roll is called up yonder, our earthly wealth will mean absolutely nothing, unless we have used it to help propagate God’s kingdom here on earth. And even then, though our good works down here will bring heavenly rewards, it’s our sincere belief in Jesus that will open the doors of heaven for us.
So friends, I implore us to stop focusing on the wealth and possessions of this evil world, and instead to focus on our attachment to Jesus, develop a strong and enduring relationship with Him, because that is what will ensure our eternal life with Him!
And now, having heard all these truths re our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and having them refresh our souls and spirits, let’s go home announcing to the world our sincere faith and trust in Him, by declaring our Wednesday Wail with plenty enthusiasm and much chutzpah. (smile)
Wailing: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Oh friends, that’s the answer to all our problems right there; a wonderful present and future relationship with Jesus! Much LOVE!
…only Jesus saves…only Jesus redeems…only Jesus can open the door to heaven…that’s why He is indeed…the Way, the Truth and the Life…
10 May 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a forgiving heart, a generous hand, a glorious future with Jesus, a life of godliness, a life of lasting significance, a steadfast desire, a thing of beauty, an ornament of grace, blessed, blessing, chains about thy neck, charity begins at home, Christian, Creator, deceit, depart from evil, do good, Dr. Charles Stanley, every new day, folly, forgiveness, fundamentals of Christianity, godless times, grace, gratitude, halfway home, hear ye children, I'm not looking back, impactful, in the home, interactions with others, Jesus Christ, keep thy tongue from evil, know understanding, listen to, loving-kindness, meaningful, mercy, mirror images of God, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, obey the Lord, our Lord and Saviour, personal influence, Praise the Lord, provider, rejoice, reverence for God's work, seek peace, sincere faith, sincere love, teaching others, thanks and praise, the breath of life, The eyes of the Lord, the face of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the instruction of a father, the Lord hears the righteous, the remebrance, the righteous, the splendour of nature, thy lips from speaking guile, to follow jesus, transmission of wisdom, undeserving children of men, Wednesday Wail, wisdom, without works faith is dead, write deep in our hearts
Proverbs 4:1. Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Oh my Scrip-Bit friends and family, another glorious day on God’s great earth is opening up before us! Let’s give the Lord some thanks and praise for that nuh. It’s not everyone who went to bed last night that got up to see the rising sun this Wednesday morning, so we ought to count ourselves very blessed indeed.
Oh, one of these mornings we won’t wake up either, (smile) but until then, let’s rejoice in the blessing of every new day that we see, and give many thanks to our Creator and Provider for each opportunity to behold the splendour of nature here on earth!
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord for His LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men!’
And without a doubt, our God does shower us with LOVING-kindness; things like grace, mercy, and forgiveness that we do not deserve! But that’s the kind of magnanimous God He is! So please let’s never forget it, and suitably show our gratitude.
Now here is some wonderful advice on living ‘A Life of Lasting Significance,’ I discovered on a card on my desk this morning. It comes from Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley).
And he says to live a life of lasting significance we must: ‘Ensure that your interactions with others are truly meaningful and eternally impactful by: Modelling a steadfast desire to follow Jesus and a sincere faith in His will and ways.
Demonstrating reverence for God’s work. Teaching others how to listen to and obey the Lord. Expressing a sincere LOVE, a forgiving heart, and a generous hand in every situation.’
Now that’s some wonderful advice every Christian ought to write deep in their hearts and do their best to put into practice, for remember, without works faith is dead, and they will know us by our works.
And I guess one of the best ways to achieve that goal above is by paying serious and sincere attention to our Bit. ‘Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.’
And before I go any further, let me share some info from the scholars that I wanted to share yesterday, but didn’t. ‘4:3-4. Three generations are linked together in the transmission of wisdom. Note that it is transmitted by personal influence, especially in the home.’
Yes friends, those words refer to verses 3 and 4 of chapter 4 that we read yesterday. You can read them for yourselves, but what I want to point out is the fact that the wisdom of God is transferred most often by personal influence, by the way we demonstrate it in our personal lives to those around us, especially in our homes.
As the old adage so rightly says; Charity begins at home! And that’s exactly where it ought to begin! We parents and elders have to show the young people the LOVE and wisdom of God first in our homes.
We can’t wait and expect them to find or learn them when they go to school or to church, especially in these godless times, when those things are no longer taught in schools, and churches are teaching, God alone knows what!
Remember my brethren, the teaching of, and the reflections, the mirror images of God have to begin at home!
Now let’s check out some other scriptures that agree with out Bit. Listen as Bruh David calls to us from Psalm 34 – The Lord hears the righteous.
‘Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).
Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut of (destroy) the remembrance of them from the earth.’ (Ps.34:11-16)
Oh precious people of God, that’s the simple, practical way to live a life of godliness! It couldn’t get any simpler than that: speak truth, do good, seek peace! Those are all the basic elements of our Christian faith.
Now hear this last scripture from Cousin Sol. ‘My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.’ (Prov.1:8-9)
And the scholars tell us. ‘1:8. My son begins the first of 10 similar discourses in which the father appeals to the son to listen to his counsel and choose wisdom over folly. The mention of the mother shows that the original setting of the book was the home, not the court or school.’
‘1:9. Chains about thy neck, that is, an adornment or thing of beauty in one’s life.’
Ah mih people, again we see the critical importance of teaching our faith at home, if we want to continue propagating it. So please, I implore us, if we want to see our children live wholesome, godly lives, then we desperately need to get back to teaching and living the fundamentals of Christianity in our homes.
Now let’s end by sincerely and truthfully declaring our Wednesday Wail. As one strong voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home.
My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And as always, let’s go out and put all that we’ve talked about into action nuh, so that we can glorify our great God and Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…
20 Mar 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, an easy row to hoe, antidote, aura of love, Christ is Lord indeed, complaints, confidence, contention, cry out to thee of violence, dangerous, disease, enthusiasm, every foe is vanquished, first day of spring, glorious kingdom, habakkuk, how long shall I cry, humble servants, hunger, iniquity, injustice, Jesus' face, Jesus' Second Coming, jobs, judgement, justice, keeping families together, let not your heats be trouble, lies, LOVE, mansions, Monday blues, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my Father's house, plundering, poverty, Praise the Lord, rain, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, replica, salvation, spiritual armour, stand up for Jesus, steadfast faith, strife, surrender, surround, taunts, the Babylonian Empire, the dust of the earth, the Great War, The Israelites, the Rapture, the righteous, the trumpet call obey, thou wilt not hear, thou wilt not save, trust, truth, undeserving children of men, unfair, ungodly world, useful purpose, violence, wickedness, wiles, wisdom, woes
Habakkuk 1:2. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Oh friends, welcome to this the first day of spring in the northern climes!
Now isn’t that something wonderful for sore ears to hear on this crisp Monday morning? It surely is! But spring weather is not guaranteed friends; according to the weather forecasters, we should have a high of about 2 degrees Celsius and possibly a drizzle of rain in the morning hours.
However, just like we’ve had much spring time weather in winter, the tables can, and most likely will be turned somewhat. But there’s nothing to worry about, for we have you covered with our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, the antidote for all your Monday morning blues and woes and complaints.
So let’s sing it like we truly mean it nuh; in strong voice and with lots of enthusiasm so that a big beautiful smile will have no alternative but to blossom on our choirmaster, Jesus’ face.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Wow friends! That was indeed wonderful! And a bright smile did blossom on Jesus’ face! Glory Be! I don’t know if it was the thought of spring being in the air or what, but we did make an impact on heaven this Monday morning. Praise the Lord! So let’s see if we can’t take that same adrenaline fuelled attitude out with us now and do some mighty deeds in Jesus’ name, as He desires and expects of us.
But the reality of the situation my brethren is that it’s not an easy row to hoe. We might have all the good intentions in the world, but the evil enemy will not let us go forward without a fight. And as I was seeking a Bit this morning, I was drawn to the cry of the prophet Habakkuk back when Israel was in a most ungodly and evil state. ‘O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!’
Oh my people, tell me if Habakkuk’s description of Israel doesn’t very closely resemble that of our current world, as he continues his cry to the Lord? ‘Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance (trouble or toil)? for spoiling (plundering) and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife (there is strife) and contention. Therefore the law is slacked (powerless), and judgement (justice) doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about (surround) the righteous; therefore wrong (perverse) judgement proceedeth.’ (Hab.1:3-4)
Yes friends, our world is indeed a perfect replica of Israel back then! The violence and strife and endless toil for insufficient pay, the plundering, the wickedness, the slackness of the law which inevitably leads to injustice, the widespread hunger, poverty, sickness and disease are all very prevalent in our time too; a time that’s been the most progressive since the Lord made man from the dust of the earth and breathed His breath of life into him. Steups!
Ah Lord eh! What’s to become of our society eh friends? Let’s hope it’s not like what befell the Israelites, where God used the Babylonian Empire to teach them a lesson; destroy them and take them away captive. Let’s hope the Rapture, Jesus’ Second Coming, occurs before World War III breaks out, because at the rate we’re currently going, that last Great War seems unavoidable.
But be not afraid my precious people of God, remember our Lord and Saviour’s promise. ‘Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ (John 14:1-3)
Wow mih brethren! What a wonderful promise! And we all know that Jesus never reneges on any of His promises, so once we consistently abide in Him, and He in us, we’re set for eternity!
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness to the undeserving children of men. Bless His Holy Name!’
Now friends, let’s go out and do His work without fear of the evil enemy, blessed by the confidence and assurance His word inspires in us. That’s what true followers and believers do. Much LOVE!
…stand up…stand up for Jesus…the trumpet call obey…till every foe is vanquished…and Christ is Lord indeed…
18 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a positive outlook, abundance, affliction, almighty god, authority, awe-inspiring, belief, broken, call upon me, clear direction, confession, confidence, courage, creativity, curse, death, divine protection, faith, faithful promise, family, favour, fire, forgetfulness, friends, fulfillment, God cannot lie, God's supernatural wisdom, gold is tested, good friends, good health, great family, He is faithful that promised, heartfelt words, heavenly Father, hell, hold fast, hope, I cry unto thee daily, I put my hands to, I will deliver thee, in the day of trouble, in the name of Jesus, it is my people, Jesus Christ, lift up my soul, Lord and Saviour, Lord of all, Lucifer, merciful, mercy, Most High God Jehovah, negative word, negatives, our redeemer, plenteous in mercy, power, prayer, promotion, prosper, ready to forgive, reneged, righteousness., Scrip-Bit, self-control, self-discipline, silver is refined, soul, soul of thy servant, strong will, success, supernatural strength, supplications, talent, teach me thy way, test, the evil one, the goodness of God, the grave, The Lod is my God, the profession, the rhird part, the wonderful news of Jesus, thou shalt glorify me, through the fire, Thursday Blessings, trust, truth, try, undeserving children of men, uplifting sentiments, voice, wastes away, wavering, wisdom
Psalm 50:15. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
A beautiful Thursday morning to you, my Scrip-Bit friends and family! It’s always good to come to you with encouraging and uplifting sentiments based on the wonderful news of Jesus, our Redeemer, Lord and Saviour…
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful; ‘Praise the holy name of Jesus! Praise Him for His selfless sacrifice on our behalf at the cross of Calvary! For that, the Father gave Him authority over all. Therefore let every knee bow before Him, and let every tongue admit that He is Lord indeed! Amen.’
Yes friends, that’s how it ought to be, and how it will be at the end. No doubt about it! Jesus Christ has already defeated, the evil one, Lucifer, hell, death and the grave, so who’s there to stop Him from becoming Lord of all eh? Absolutely no one or nothing!
Now let’s get into the groove by declaring our Thursday blessings, for remember a blessing is not a blessing until it’s declared. So in one strong, loud, sincere and truthful voice let’s declare blessings over our lives.
‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Oh precious children of God, please don’t let those be only idle words spoken, but sincere, heartfelt words of hope and belief, for it’s only when we believe them that they have authority over our lives.
Now let’s see what our Bit has to offer. ‘And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’
Ah Friends, that is such an awe-inspiring verse of scripture; a faithful promise of Almighty God, the Maker of everything in this world! Therefore it must be filled with the truth and power which emanates from our heavenly father. There’s absolutely no reason to doubt it.
As the Good Book so wisely advises: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.’ (Heb.10:23)
Yes my brethren our God’s promises are ever faithful, for He cannot lie. He has never reneged on not even one, and will never renege on any, so please don’t be afraid to hold Him to them.
Now let’s check out a couple scriptures that exemplify our Bit, beginning with Bruh David’s immortal words from Psalm 86 – Teach me thy way, O Lord.
‘Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily (all day long). Rejoice, (make glad) the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.’ (Ps.86:3-7)
And call upon the God of his forefathers did Bruh David – often and with deep, strong faith…And answer him did the Lord of heaven and earth with blessings and safeguards untold! Glory Hallelujah!
Likewise my people, will the Lord answer us if we call upon Him in our time of need. We just have to be faithful, persistent, persevering and patient. (smile) We can cry out like the sons of Korah did in Psalm 88 – A cry for deliverance from death.
‘Mine eye mourneth (wastes away) by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou show (work) wonders to the dead? Shall the dead (the Spirits of the dead) arise and praise thee? Selah.
Shall thy LOVING-kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent (come before) thee.’ (Ps.88:9-13)
Yuh see friends, despite all the negatives the psalmist writes about, he still insists that his prayers will be made each and every day to the Most High God Jehovah. Nothing is going to stop that from happening! And as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we should be acting the same way.
Now let’s end with these words from the prophet Zechariah, from the chapter headlined – The cleansing of Jerusalem. ‘And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try (test) them as gold is tried (tested): they shall call on my name, and I will hear (answer) them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.’ (Zech.13:8-9)
What a beautiful promise friends! Now let’s go out and put it into action nuh… Let’s call upon our God with confidence, trust and faith, for that is the utmost height of wisdom! Much LOVE!
…oh…how great is the goodness of God to the undeserving children of men…
14 Apr 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a great family, a magnanimous Deity, a positive outlook on life, abundance, alive and kicking, all praise and glory to God, and follow me, ashamed, be cast away, be gracious to you, blessings, care, clear direction for my life, compassion, courage, creativity, curse, declare blessing, deny ourselves, divine protection, everything is doable, faith, favour, for my sake, fulfillment, gain the whole world, glorify, good friends, good health, he said to them all, hockey, if any man will come after me, in the name of Jesus, Joel Osteen, late mornings, late nights, let him deny himself, lose himself, lose his life, LOVE, loving kindness, may the bless and protect you, may the Lord smile upon you, mercies, negative word, of a truth, on a daily basis, peace, praise, praise the Lord for His goodness, promotion, prosperity, relationship with Jesus, revere, save his life, self-control, self-discipline, selflessness, strength, strong will, success, supernatural wisdom, take up his cross daily, talent, taste of death, terms of discipleship, the kingdom of God, the Son of man, Thursday Blessing, undeserving children of men, victorious living, walking with Jesus, wisdom, with God's help, worship, zeppo
Luke 9:23. And he said to them all, If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Oh friends, oh friends, it’s Thursday, another bright and sunshiny day in my neck of the woods! And on top of that, it’s also supposed to be warmer than yesterday.
Oh, all praise and glory be to our amazing God, who bestows, who showers us with new and wonderful mercies, blessings and LOVING-kindness each and every day!
Wow! How could I not LOVE, worship, praise, revere and glorify such a magnanimous Deity eh!
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud, ‘Praise the Lord, for His goodness to the undeserving children of men!’
Yes my people, we do deserve to praise our heavenly Father for His unselfish care and compassion for us. Just wish that we could show Him and each other the same kind of care and concern. Anyway, since it’s Thursday, it’s time for us to confidently declare our Thursday Blessing…
And with a thoughtful frown, the congregation asks: ‘What yuh talking about eh? Didn’t know we had a Thursday Blessing.’
Well the truth is my precious people, I didn’t know that either until a couple nights ago when I got this zeppo. (smile)
And the story goes like this. As part of my devotions, I read an old devotional written by Bubba (Joel Osteen) in his early days of ministry. It had to be, because it’s old and beat up now, with some of the pages falling apart, and it was already old when I discovered it at my mothers place some years ago and we began reading it everyday, even when we couldn’t remember Bubba’s name. (smile)
It’s called ’30 Thoughts for Victorious Living.’ I don’t know if Bubba even remembers that he wrote something like that, the amount of stuff he’s written over the last few years. But I like it; it serves my purposes, and I will continue to use it as long as I can.
On a point of interest, most of my devotionals are old, but I prefer them to some of the new-fangled stuff that’s out there now.
Anyway a couple days ago I was reading the devotions for the 11th of the month, which says ‘Declare Blessing’, and the prevailing scripture for that is the blessing instituted by our God long time ago for the Israelites. ‘Say to them, may the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favour and give you His peace.’ (Num.6:24)
And the opening lines of the devotion are: ‘A blessing is not a blessing until it is declared! So today declare a blessing over yourself and others. Speak that blessing in the name of Jesus!’ And then he goes on to declare some blessings.
Now the other day when I finished reading it, it suddenly occurred to me that it would make a good prayer for Thursdays. I thought about a couple of names, like ‘Thursday’s Temptation,’ or ‘Thursday’s Tantrum’ (smile) but eventually ended up with ‘Thursday’s Blessing’ as being more appropriate.
And what I’ve done is basically taken Bubba’s general blessings and individualized them. So please declare with me now my brethren our Thursday Blessing, in a loud, proud, sincere and confident manner.
‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Yes friends, that’s our Thursday Blessing. I like it, and I do hope you like it too. It’s basically a rework of the Lord’s blessings promised to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
Now let’s turn to our Bit, some very important words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, re the terms of our discipleship. ‘And he said to them all, If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’
Yes my brethren, the number one rule in following Jesus is to deny ourselves, become selfless instead of selfish, as our world is today. That doesn’t mean we don’t look after ourselves as best we can and do stuff for ourselves, but that we are not the be all and end all of our earthly lives.
Just as Jesus came to serve and save, we too must concentrate on serving and saving, and on a daily basis too, which isn’t always easy. But as I keep saying, with God’s help, EVERYTHING is doable!
And we’ll end with Jesus’ words after our Bit. ‘For whosoever will (desires to) save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose (loses) his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged (benefited), if he gain the whole world, and lose himself (is destroyed), or be cast away (lost)?
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.’ (Luke 9:24-27)
And there we have it friends, the self-explanatory, immortal words of Jesus on how we must approach our discipleship. Please, let’s take some time today to ponder our individual relationship with Jesus, re those terms of discipleship. And as always, with God’s help, try to improve them, for that’s the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…successfully walking with Jesus…takes lots of time…lots of selflessness…lots of care and consideration for others…
P.S. I know it’s long and late, but please be aware that the hockey playoffs have begun, which means that there’s lots of hockey every night, and thus there will be many late nights and consequently late mornings. (smile) Just bear with the ole fella nuh. He’s got to have a life too yuh know. And once he’s alive and kicking, the Bit will get there…eventually. Much LOVE!
22 Jan 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a soft spot in my heart, a word of warning, an intimate relationship with God, backbreaking work, be in vain, by grace ye are saved, caring, christ jesus, Christian, compassionate, Creator, dead in sins, divine response, energy, enthusiasm, Ephesians, eternity, faith, fellowship, for God so loved the world, Friday chant, fun, generous, generous help, glory to God, God hath quickened us, God's goodness, grace, have everlasting life, he gave his only begotten son, in heavenly places, LOVE, magnanimous god, massa, morally dead in sins, motivating factors, nefarious purposes, new life, party, raised us up, relaxation, rest, sacrificed, sin, sit together, spending time with god, spiritual life, surrender, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, that whosoever believes in him, the best use of our time, the weekend, to the ends of the earth, ultimate purpose, undeserving children of men, week of work, will not perish
John 3:16. For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And as the world turns my people, it has finally turned to Friday…
And that simple remark brings forth all kinds of joyful shouting: ‘Oh TGIF! Thank the Lord it’s Friday! The weekend’s here! Mama Yo! The good times are here at last! Party fuh so mih breddren! Thank You yes Lord that Friday has rolled around at last! No more of the evil massa and his backbreaking work for a couple days. Thank You again Lord!’
Yes Friends, it’s certainly interesting what comments a Friday can elicit from the work force. And some of them are truly genuine, though many still use it as an excuse to just party.
But we know that’s not the main reason for the brief respite from labour, so let’s chant our Friday Chant which gives us a better perspective on the situation.
In unison and harmony now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yeh mih people, the weekend is also a time for rest and relaxation and fellowship with other believers, so that we can go back out revitalized and do God’s work with energy and enthusiasm. In this sinful and godless world though, we sadly use it for all sorts of other nefarious purposes.
But a word of warning friends; please remember that the Lord is watching, and in due course, He will do whatever He thinks is necessary to correct the situation.
Now let’s turn to our Bit, that most awesome, auspicious and momentous piece of scripture which shows how much our magnificent God truly cared, and still cares for us, despite our lacklustre approach to Him.
‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’
Oh my brethren, after hearing such caring and compassionate words, how can we not have a soft spot in our heart for our wonderful Creator eh? I really don’t know nuh. I guess it depends on whether you believe them or not.
But as for me and mine, we will believe them and follow the Lord to the ends of the earth! Such a magnanimous and generous God deserves to be followed any and everywhere!
Now listen to this scripture that enhances that picture. It comes from Bruh Paul’s missive to the Ephesians and it deals with two huge motivating factors in the Christian’s life; grace and faith.
‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great LOVE wherewith he LOVED us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are (have been) saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:’ (Eph.2:4-6)
Oh Friends, what a wonderful Deity we serve and worship! Which other supposed deity has ever sacrificed their only Son on behalf of their followers eh? NONE, my people, NONE whatsoever!
And not only that, in our sinfulness He has also raised us up to sit in heavenly places with Him and His resurrected Son. Oh glory to God for His undeserved goodness to the undeserving children of men!
And here are some useful explanations from the scholars. ‘2:4-6. But begins to disclose God’s response to man’s sin of verses 1-3. This divine response is expressed in three main verbs:
(1) God…hath quickened us. Because they were morally dead in sins, the Lord gave them spiritual life;
(2) and hath raised us up together, that is God has not allowed those Christians to remain in the grave of their old life with its sinful ways and habits, but He brought them into a new life and demonstration of it; and
(3) God made us sit together in heavenly places, that is, He has brought us into His presence and into an intimate relationship with Himself.’
And if that isn’t stuff to sing and shout about, to be everlastingly thankful and grateful for, then I don’t know what is nuh mih breddren!
And why you ask, did God do all of that for a bunch of ungrateful sinners? The Good Book answers that question. ‘That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through (in) Christ Jesus.’ (Eph.2:7) Wow! What a truly magnanimous Deity!
The scholars explain that verse thus: ‘2:7. That …he might show (or, demonstrate): This denotes the ultimate purpose for all that God did for the Ephesians in verses 4-6. It is that throughout eternity He might make us understand more and more His goodness to us.’
And friends, if he did it for the Ephesians, He also wants to do it for us. However, we have to surrender ourselves to Him, so that He can work in our lives. We can’t fight against Him, otherwise His efforts will all be in vain.
So please, let’s be wise and spend some time today pondering our relationship with our Maker nuh. There can be no wiser use of our time than that. Much LOVE!
…spending time with God…is the BEST use of our time…
23 Oct 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: as it is written, divine revelation, doctrine, ear hath not heard, earthly pilgtimage, encompasses everything we hope to be, eternal life, eye hath not seen, fellowship, forgiveness, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, glory to God, grace, great expectations, human contrivance, illumination, in Jesus' name, inspiration, Jesus fills us with truth, Jesus lights our darkness, Jesus shows us the way to walk, LOVE, man's wisdom, massa's labour, mercy, neither have entered into the heart of man, our earthly walk with Jesus, peace, rallying cry, relaxation, responsibility, rest, Revelation, salvation, sincerity, soul body and mind, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanks for getting me through another week of work, the BIBLE, the deep things of God, the freedom from labour, the Holy Spirit, the Life, the Light, the physical realm, the promises of Jesus, the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, the Spirit searcheth all things, the spiritual realm, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him, the Truth, the Way, the weekend, treasure of God's revealed truth, truth, unchanging truth of God, undeserving children of men, wisdom
1 Corinthians 2:9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE him.
Well then mih people, the day that so many of us look forward to, Friday, is finally here…
And a knowing shout goes up to heaven: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Thank God for the weekend! Thank God for the release from massa’s brutal labour…even if is only for two measly days! Thank God for the freedom from labour!’
Ah Friends the weekend does bring a surcease from labour, but with that freedom also comes the responsibility to use it wisely. And if you don’t know by now, freedom, though it’s a great rallying cry, it is also one of the most difficult things to successfully implement.
And to help us do that this Friday morning in the midst of this autumn season, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincerity and great expectations. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes mih breddren, it all comes right back down to Jesus; to our earthly walk with Him! If we’re walking with Him in sincerity and truth, then He will ably assist us in ALL aspects of our lives.
However, if we’re not a true member of His flock, then things won’t be right with us, for as He says, He is indeed the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE…And please don’t forget He’s also the LIGHT!
Now that simply encompasses EVERYTHING or ALL that we are and ever hope to be! He is the One who lights our darkness and shows us the way we ought to walk, so that we can be filled with truth and receive salvation that leads to eternal life. So who or what can be more important than Jesus in our earthly pilgrimage eh Friends?
NOBODY or NOTHING whatsoever!
And until we truly have all of that written deep in our hearts, minds and souls, then our lives won’t be as good as they can be. Yes mih people, without Jesus, our lives are sadly lacking! That’s why it’s ever so necessary for believers to know and to lean faithfully upon His promises.
Promises like this one that’s our Bit today. ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE him.’
Oh Friends, that’s all so true, the things that God has prepared for those of us who truly and sincerely LOVE Him have not been revealed through the physical realm but in the spiritual!
As Bruh Paul continues to the Corinthians: ‘But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ (1 Cor.2:10)
And the scholars have an interesting explanation on that verse. ‘2:10. Revealed …unto us: Unto us is in the emphatic position in Greek, emphasizing the enormous privilege granted the recipients of divine revelation. The magnificent treasure of God’s revealed truth is accessible to the mature believer.’
Oh my brethren, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, who reveals His beautiful truths to us through the medium of His Holy Spirit!
And Bruh Paul continues: ‘For what man knoweth the things of a man, save (except) the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’ (1 Cor.2:10-13)
Wonder of wonders Friends! Our God connects with us through the immense power of His Holy Spirit that indwells us! Oh glory to God for His undeserving goodness to the children of men!
Now the scholars have some teachings on those verses that will help us better understand them. ‘2:10-13. The apostle deals with three vital doctrines. In verse 10 he touches on the doctrine of revelation. The truth Paul is talking about is contained in the record God has given to us – the Bible. This is the eternal and unchanging truth of God.
Verse 11 deals with the doctrine of illumination, which has to do with human understanding of divine truth. The subject of verses 12 and 13 is the doctrine of inspiration. In verse 12 Paul talks about the content of inspiration. In verse 13 his concern is with the communication of inspiration. Paul’s message was not of human contrivance. He was a channel simply communicating God’s truth (cf. Gal.1:11-12).’
And that’s it for today my brethren. Don’t want to give us too much to ruminate and meditate on this Friday morning, what with our short attention spans and all the other worldly activities that fill our day. (smile)
So until we meet again tomorrow, God willing, may we all walk in His peace and LOVE, grace, mercy and forgiveness, enjoying them ourselves, and more importantly, also sharing them with others, for that is indeed His desire for us and also the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!
…how would we understand the things of God without…His revelation…His illumination…and His inspiration…through His Holy Spirit…
30 Aug 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a special invitation, advocating on our behalf, arrogant, awe, blessed be the Lord, Christ died for us, Deity of all deities, embracing, eternal life, foolish, forgiveness, gather together in God's sanctuary, getting into bed with Lucifer, glorify, glory hallelujah, glory to God, god, God demonstrates His love for us, God loved us, God's great compassion, grace, grasp God's love, gratitude, His only begotten Son, human love, Jehovah, jehovah god, Jethro, LOVE, magnify, make a joyful noise unto the Lord, mercy, Moses, obedience, our bounden duty, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Pharaoh, praise, promting, propitiation for sins, proud, revelling in, reverence, salvation, sing, thanks, thanksgiving, the bells tolling, the Boss, the Lord is greater than all gods, the LOVE of God, the Most High, the things of God, the things of this world, thou art exalted far above all gods, thou Lord art high above all the earth, undeserving children of men, unwise, while we were yet sinners, worship
Psalm 97:9. For thou , Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Aye Friends and neighbours! Yuh hear them; the bells tolling sweetly in the distance? Yes, this Sunday morning they are extending a special invitation to all and sundry, to gather together in God’s sanctuary to sing and praise, worship and glorify and magnify Him, for He is a great and wonderful God and is indeed worthy of our awe and reverence, our thanks and our everlasting gratitude. What a mouthful! (smile)
But it’s all true, my people. Our God Jehovah, is a most wonderful Deity; the Deity of all deities!
And John, in his first epistle brings it home to us in these two immortal verses of scripture. ‘In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ (1 John 4:9-10)
Oh Friends, if the Lord never did anything else for us in this world, that alone would be more than sufficient! Having our sins washed clean, with the promise of salvation and eternal life with God is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to mankind!
And here are a couple of insights into those verses from the scholars. ‘4:9. To grasp God’s LOVE aright, one must look to how God has demonstrated it. Here John is in total harmony with Paul (Rom.5:8).’
And I might as well spell out that reference, because I know that very few of you will actually go and look it up. (smile) ‘But God commendeth (demonstrates his own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom.5:8) Glory Hallelujah!
And as per ‘4:10. No human LOVE is the standard for understanding God’s great compassion, but God’s own action on man’s behalf.’
Yes my brethren, our God is so wonderful that it’s impossible to argue with sentiments of the psalmist in our Bit. ‘For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.’
And why wouldn’t He be eh? He created the universe and all therein, and still controls it from His throne in the high heavens, where our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ sits at his right hand advocating on our behalf.
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud and grateful: ‘Glory to God for His wonderful grace and mercy and forgiveness to the undeserving children of men!’
And that’s exactly why we ought to hold Him in greater esteem, show Him more reverence, LOVE and obedience than we do. Instead of trying to remove Him from our society, we should be promoting, embracing and revelling in His wonderful word and works!
It just goes to show how proud, arrogant, unwise and foolish we are, that the prevalent action nowadays is getting into bed with Lucifer and the evil, easily destroyed and moth eaten things of this world, rather than with Almighty God and the everlasting things of heaven.
Oh Friends, what can Lucifer, a fallen angel, kicked out of heaven when he tried to over throw God, really do for us now eh? Not a blooming thing, but make us lose our salvation and eternal life with Jesus!
Even from olden times it was recognized that Jehovah God was a most powerful and magnanimous deity. Listen to what Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law declared when he visited Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. ‘And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt (behaved) proudly he was above them.’ (Ex.18:10-11)
Yes Friends, even Jethro, who had been on the sidelines all the time that Moses was doing God’s work in Israel, recognized the power and the majesty of Israel’s God. So why can’t we do the same today eh? Who knows!
Now let’s look at some other scriptures that magnify God to the highest, beginning with Psalm 95 – A psalm of praise to the great God. ‘O Come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto him with psalms (songs). For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.’ (Ps.95:1-3) There is absolutely no doubt all that my people!
And finally these words from the psalmist Asaph, from Psalm 83 – A prayer for the destruction of Israel’s enemies. ‘O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind (the whirling dust). As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute (pursue) them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled (ashamed and dismayed) for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah (Lord), art the Most High over all the earth.’ (Ps.83:13-18)
Oh Friends, that is exactly what our God needs to do in these evil, wicked, treacherous and troubled times, so that mankind can truly know who is the real BOSS!
In the meantime though, let us continue to press on with our own accolades for our heavenly Father, diligently spreading His Word and living sincere lives that reflect it, and thus glorifies Him. That is our bounden duty. Much LOVE!
…if one doesn’t recognize God’s great LOVE and awesome power…then thou art not one of His children…
13 Jul 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool despises instruction, a God of mercy, authority, comfort, compassion, counsel, Cousin Sol, cross at Calvary, deliver his soul from hell, despise, dictates of God, disdains instruction, disobedience, disobedient children, disobedient parents, disobey, emotional, encouraging, eternal life, exhorting, faith, faithfulness, fellowship of spirit, forgiveness, give thanks for god's goodness, glory hallelujah, hear counsel, heavenly Father, hogwash, holy relationship, instruction, latter days, laud, LOVE, loving kindness, magnify, mental, mercy, mortal standards, my heart shall rejoice, obeying the Word of God, penalties, physical punishment, pomp, poverty, praise God's holy name, precedence, price to pay, proper balance, Proverbs, prudent, punish, rearing children, receive instruction, reconciled, rejoice, reproof, sacrificed his only son Jesus, salvation, sanctuary, self-control, sensible, shame, sinners, speak right things, splendour, take for granted, the breath of life, the Lord's Day, the right way, the wrong way, thine heart be wise, undeserving children of men, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, words of knowledge, worship God, wrath
Proverbs 15:5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth (keeps, accepts) reproof is prudent (sensible).
Oh mih Friends, one more day has just been added to our illustrious lives! Glory Hallelujah! What a wonderful God we serve and worship! A God of mercy, of LOVING-kindness, of forgiveness, of compassion, of comfort, and above all, of LOVE!
Wow! How could we not LOVE Him in return and bless and praise His Holy name and thank Him for the myriad of blessings He showers down on us each and every day eh, even if we don’t deserve them?
And all God’s people declared a loud and thankful: ‘All praise and glory be to God the Father, who in His never-ending stream of LOVING-kindness, sacrificed his only Son Jesus Christ on the rugged cross at Calvary so that we abominable sinners could be reconciled to Him, brought back into a holy and glorious relationship with Him, featuring salvation and eternal life!’
Yes my people, it is of the utmost importance that EVERYDAY we recognize and appreciate and give thanks for God’s goodness to us, the undeserving children of sinful men! A lot of us just take it for granted. But that is oh so wrong my brethren.
Remember too, that one of the reasons God created us from the dust of the earth, then blew the breath of life into our nostrils is so that we could laud and magnify Him, worship Him in all faithfulness, with pomp and splendour!
And since today is Sunday, the day that most of us recognize as the Lord’s Day – no divisive arguments over that now – it’s only fitting that we should gather at His sanctuary and fellowship with other believers, exhorting and encouraging each other in our faith, while giving the Lord the thanks and praise He so richly deserves!
And having said all of that, let’s turn to our Bit which encapsulates it all. ‘A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth (keeps, accepts) reproof is prudent (sensible)’
And since those words are truth-bearing my brethren, it means that the majority of us on this planet earth are fools, because we very much despise and disobey our heavenly Father’s instructions, laid out for us in His Word. There’s no getting around that, if our Bit is true. And it certainly is, even by our mortal standards, as we saw from the several Proverbs we quoted yesterday, and will see from some more that we’ll quote today.
Yes Friends, we consider disobeying our earthly parents to be unwise, but hypocritically, we set up a different standard for our disobeying God. But disobedience is disobedience: in reality it’s the same; not abiding by the rules and regulations of a higher authority.
And Cousin Sol in his Proverbs, so wisely warns us that: ‘Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth (disdains, ignores) instruction: but he that regardeth (accepts) reproof shall be honoured.’ (Prov.13:18) And that my people goes for both the children of earthly men, and the children of our heavenly God!
When our children disobey us, we punish them; likewise, when we disobey God, we shouldn’t be surprised if He punishes us, because He states it quite clearly in His word. And if you don’t believe me, then just read Leviticus 26, where blessings for obedience are listed from verses 3-13, but penalties for disobedience run from verses 14-46. What does that intimate eh Friends? That there’s a very heavy price to pay for disobedience!
And in that vein, Cousin Sol tells us:’ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end (days).’ (Prov.19:19-20)
And we come back to why there are so many disobedient children; because there are too many disobedient parents. Parents who are not rearing their children in the dictates of God, with a proper balance of LOVE and discipline! Oh my people, if we don’t teach them, the right way, someone else will teach them the wrong one, as is happening so much nowadays.
Hear these wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘Apply thine heart unto instruction; and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my (own) heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yes, my reins (my innermost being) shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.’ (Prov.23:12-16)
Now Friends, that doesn’t mean we have to beat our children senseless or abuse them, but by the same token if we don’t apply some measure of physical correction they’ll just turn out as they are today; spoiled rotten, undisciplined, ungrateful, believing that the world owes them a living, and all because the goody two shoes folks in their false wisdom declared that physical punishment tends to child abuse.
Hogwash! Most of us who received some sort of physical punishment for disobedience have turned out pretty good. Like everything else, if it’s overdone, it’s bad; just like mental and emotional punishment, or no punishment at all, can be abusive.
The only way our innermost beings can rejoice over our children’s behaviour, my brethren, is if we teach them discipline in the proper manner – just like God is trying to teach us, so that His heart can rejoice. (smile)
Anyway Friends, enough for today, let’s ponder all that we’ve read and heard, but in the end, let’s ensure that we are all following the Word of God, which is the only true wisdom that exists. Much LOVE!
…our world will only improve when discipline and self-control…based on God’s Word…take precedence over all else…
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