29 Oct 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a spring in your step, argue with the boss, aura of love, awesome power, complete in him, distresses, evil, faith, glory to God, I can do all things through Christ, infirmities, jobs, labouring, meet the enemy in battle, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, necessities, overcome, persecution, power, power of Christ, powerful medium, principality, reality, reassuring scripture, reproaches, responsibility, spiritual armour, sufficiency in Christ, taunts, the head, vacation, we are strong, weakness, when we wre weak, wiles
Colossians 2:10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power (rule and authority).
And just like that this great vacation is over! Chuh! Unfortunately, all good things do come to an end at some time. That’s the unbreakable law of nature. I tried to get an extension, but the boss lady said a stern ‘NO!’ It was extended once before and there’d be no more. It’s time to return to reality and responsibility, we’ve had enough of this fairy tale life. And I’ve learned over the years, never to argue with the boss. (smile) So I’m getting myself together to go back to the reality of the cold and responsibility.
But for most of us, Monday means the first day of labouring for the week, and try as we can, we just don’t seem to make the transition from rest to work very well. So please join us in this most powerful medium, that of prayer, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, as we petition our heavenly Father for His strength, goodness, grace, mercy and guidance to help us get through this day successfully.
All together 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!’
Yes friends, the antidote for all your Monday ills; crying out to our heavenly Father in sincere heart and reverence! And you know it worked, because you’ve felt the power of the Holy Spirit moving in you, lifting you up and putting a spring in your step! Glory to God my people!
And that’s exactly why we declare that there is all sufficiency in Christ! He is enough to take care of EVERYTHING in our lives! I don’t know why we don’t realize and recognize that awesome power for what it truly is nuh. And it’s so important that we’ll continue with our Bit from yesterday ‘And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power (rule and authority).’
Why? Because there are some more important scriptures to recognise on that subject. The first being one we like to quote, but don’t truly acknowledge in our everyday lives. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil.4:13) And why do you think that is so my brethren? Simply because Christ is strong and powerful and sufficient to fulfill all our needs, and we don’t need anything or anybody else to help Him do it!
Whatever situations we might find ourselves in, Christ is powerful enough to get us out of them. Please remember that it’s our complete faith in Him that enables us to overcome the enemy. Now hear this other magnificent and reassuring scripture. Remember when Bruh Paul had some bodily issue troubling him and he prayed to the Lord three times to remove it?
Remember the answer he received? The Lord said a polite but certain ‘NO!’ Just like the duchess did to me when I asked for another extension of our vacation. (smile) But the Lord’s reason was different. ‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Cor.12:9a)
Yes my people, it’s in our weak times that the Lord’s power really shows up. When we are strong, there is no real need for Him to do much of anything. But when we are down in the dumps, feeble and powerless…brother! That’s when His awesome might and power shows up. And Bruh Paul being the man he was, therefore declared: ‘Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ (2 Cor.9b)
Yeh, he decided that he would extol his weaknesses so that God’s power would work wonders in him. ‘Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.’ (2 Cor.12:10) Oh friends, I know that most of us don’t hold with Bruh Paul’s logic, we want to be always strong and in command, but the fact is that we see and need God’s hand in our affairs when we are weak, much more than when we are strong.
Now just a couple more scriptures. In Hebrews, the author tells us: ‘For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.’ (Heb.10:14) Ah mih people, everything’s been made perfect for those who believe by Christ’s sacrifice, showing that He was more than sufficient to atone for all our sins.
And finally, Bruh Paul tells the Ephesians, and by extension, we modern day believers: ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.’ (Eph.1:3) Yes friends, the Lord is worthy of praise because He has prepared and bestowed spiritual blessings on His people through the ministry of Christ, our Lord and Saviour! Please give Him much thanks and praise for His enduring goodness to us, by providing all that we need through Christ Jesus.
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’ Much LOVE!
…in only the risen Christ…can we find everything we need…to live this earthly life…
18 Sep 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heart fixed on God, assurance, back to Him, champion, children of God, confession, defeat, foolish choices, forever, God who never changes, God's discipline, griping, irrefutably true, Jesus Christ, Jesus never changes, live a life, lost opportunities, medical appointments, meet and greet, never be rectified, never be retrieved, never reject, new way of working, one objective, One Year Book of Bible promises, restore, Ruth Harms Calkin, s spirit of despair, surrender, the end of ourselves, the same yesterday, today, Toronto, travel time, vacation
Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Ah friends, the vacation is over! I’m talking about my vacation from medical appointments in the city. Hn! Amazingly I had none last month. In fact I only had a couple in my area for the whole month! Wow! But that ‘s over now, and it’s why you’re getting the Bit so early. I have to journey into the fair city of Toronto for a mid morning doctor’s meet and greet. (smile)
And that’s just going to tie up the entire day! Steups! What with the travel time and waiting in the doctors office and whatever else crops up, by the time I get back home it will be late afternoon. And then to make things worse, I open my e-mail and find that they’ve changed the set up. Chuh man! I have to get accustomed to a whole new way of working. And the sad part is that the changes are always worse than what you had before.
But griping isn’t going to make it go away – and it’s free too. (smile) So here goes with something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin; something that we all need to constantly remember. It’s titled ‘The God Who Never Changes.’
Please pray with me: ‘It is irrefutably true: We have lost many opportunities that can never be retrieved. We have made foolish choices that can never be rectified. But we dare not live life in a spirit of despair and defeat. As children of God we need to understand that all God’s discipline has but one objective: To bring us to the end of ourselves and back to Him!
His desire is always to restore us, never to reject us. His goal is always to use us, never to ignore us. With confession, renewed surrender, and a heart that is fixed on Him, God will do in us whatever He needs to do to make us whatever He wants us to be. Every necessary change God chooses to make is wonderfully possible because of Jesus, who never changes.’
And all God’s people declared a loud, proud and grateful shout of ‘Glory to God for His never changing character and wonderful ways!’ Yeh friends, we have to be eternally grateful that our God never changes, else what a mess we’d be in, with Him moving from one position or character to another as the spirit moved Him.
But thankfully, as the Bible Promise for the poem above and our Bit declare: ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ Glory be my people! Jesus is a stalwart, an unchanging champion, therefore we can put ALL of our faith, trust and hope in Him, because what we see we will always get, it won’t change form one moment or day to another!
Knowing that our Foundation Stone, the Rock, the Fortress upon which we build our lives is unchangeable certainly breeds stability and trust my brethren! Yes, things within God’s world might change, but God doesn’t. Hear this powerful assurance of God’s, through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah.
‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax (grow) old like a garment, and they that dwell within shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished (broken). (Is.51:6)
Ah mih people, the things that God made, the heavens, the earth and people shall disappear and fade and die, but the Lord’s salvation and His righteousness will live forever! What wonderful, reassuring news!
And if that verse didn’t touch your hearts (smile), then listen as Isaiah continues: ‘Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.’ (Is.51:7-8)
Ah mih breddren, if that did not touch you, then you don’t know righteousness and the law of the Lord is not in your heart, and for your great benefit, you’d better right that situation as soon as possible. Because here’s what will happen eventually: ‘Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning (sighing) shall flee away.’ (Is.51:11)
And the scholars offer this explanation of all that: ‘51:1-16. Heavens shall vanish away…and the earth: Isaiah looks down the corridor of human history to a time when the heavens (atmosphere) and the earth will be no more. He likens the earth to an old…garment, meaning the earth will one day wear out (a fact borne out by the second law of thermodynamics) and only the ransomed and redeemed shall return with singing unto Zion and experience everlasting joy.’
Oh what a joyful time that will be my fellow believers…but only for those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour! So I’d strongly advise you to get with the programme immediately, if you want to be one of the ransomed and redeemed singing with everlasting joy in the not too distant future! Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know who and whose we are.
In strong voice, and with sincere sense of purpose: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
So having said all of that, to be true to our calling, we now have to go out and share it! Much LOVE!
…only through Jesus…will you come to everlasting singing…salvation…and joy…
27 Mar 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, anointed, antidote, aura of love, be weary, blues, book off sick, Christians, complaints, confidence, conquerors, do god's work, doom and gloom, enthusiasm, evil, faint, followers of Jesus, friends, glorious kingdom, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lies, like eagles, LOVE, LOVE to hate, Messaih, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, peace, promises, pumped, recalcitrance, refuse to acknowledge, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renege, renewed vitality, righteousness., run, salvation, shield, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strangling ourselves, strength, stubbornness, swagger, taunts, the bit and bridle, the lord will bless his people, the Lord will give strength, trust, truth, ungodly world, vacation, walk, wiles, wisdom, youths
Psalm 29:11. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
So our LOVE-to-hate friend, Monday, has rolled around again. And as we’re won’t to do every week, come this time, we’re strangling ourselves, refusing to acknowledge, not accepting the urging of the bit and bridle that wants us to get a move on, to get out into the world and do God’s work with enthusiasm and confidence.
Ah friends, our stubbornness and recalcitrance are legendary on a Monday morning, even though we know that there’s not much of a choice. You can only book off sick so often and take so much vacation. After that, you can only quit, and we all know what such a rash and ofttimes foolish move entails; no food, no roof over your head.
So why we allow these Monday blues and complaints to be such a large part of our lives, I truly don’t know. What I do know though, is that we have the sure antidote for whatever is ailing you this Monday morning: it’s called the Monday Morning Battle Hymn, and when you sing it with exuberance and sincerity it just displaces all the doom and gloom in your soul, raises your adrenaline level and has you just chomping at the bit, ever eager to get out onto the battle field beside Jesus.
So let’s sing it out loud and proud nuh, raising up a storm of praise and thanks in heaven. As one harmonic choir 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!’
Oh mih people, mih people, that was most excellent! We even added a bit of a swagger to it, which lit up the eyes of our choirmaster Jesus and produced a big, encouraging smile on His handsome face! Wow! I haven’t seen Jesus so pumped in a long while! (smile)
So now, with the adrenaline just rushing through our bodies, let’s give it the big push this Monday morning nuh, and get up and get out there and let the evil world see what we Christians, we believers, we followers of Jesus are made of; that we’re the salt and the light of this earth!
Consequently, our Bit declares the everlasting truth. ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.’
Ah friends, those are promises of our God which will never fail, because He is not the kind of God who reneges on His promises. Of the many thousands found in His word, not a single one has He ever reneged on, and He will never renege on ANY! That’s because His word is sure and strong!
Listen to some corroborating scriptures. From Psalm 28 – A prayer for God’s help, Bruh David proudly and confidently proclaims: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed (Messiah, commissioned one). (Ps.28:8-9)
Yeh mih breddren, the Lord God Jehovah is the strength of everyone; even down to our Messiah, Jesus Christ!
Now listen to Bruh David again, this time from Psalm 68 – God has gone before his people. ‘Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord. Selah. To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible (awesome) out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.’ (Ps.68:32-35)
And if that still doesn’t convince you, then listen to these awesome words of Isaiah. ‘Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is.40.28:31)
Yes friends, that is what happens when people place their trust in the Lord God of Israel! Now the choice is yours, please choose wisely. Much LOVE!
…who else can give you strength…but your Creator…
20 Feb 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: almighty god, Any and everything, Bad Hill, bamboo, breadfruit, Carnival, Charlotteville, cocoa plantation, eggplant, ever-present, exotic, Friday chant, friends, generous help, glorious kingdom, God's goodness, Jeremiah, Jesus Christ, kingfish, Little Tobago, LOVE, loving kindness, Mason Hall, memories, Moriah, nothing too hard for God, number 1, omnipotent, omniscient, Parlatuvier, perspective, plant it deep in our souls, portrait of God, relaxation, rest, Scarborough, Speyside, sweet Tobago, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Lord of hosts, the mighty God, tiredness, tobacco pipe, Tree House Restaurant, truthful words, vacation, with god nothing shall be impossible, without God on our side, World Cup Cricket
Luke 1:37. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Ah Friends, it’s Friday once again… And the shout of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, the end of the work week!’ rises to the high heavens all over the world. And nowhere is it a greater relief than in T&T where the Carnival madness finished on Tuesday night, and then the majority of the partying crowds had to go back to work on Wednesday and suffer through the rest of the week. As for me, I’m so lost in the reverie of Paradise, that I did not even realize it was Friday until a short while ago. And when I did realize it, I was somewhat saddened because it meant that my time on the beautiful shores of God’s Little Acre was fast drawing to a close. Next Friday, God willing, I’ll be writing you from the cold North Country.
And strangely, returning to the cold is not bothering me as much as leaving Paradise. But I can’t afford to get greedy, resentful and foolish after enjoying God’s bountiful goodness down here for these past few weeks. And deep down I know that once I’m drawing living breath, He will bring me back again.
So for all of us who have something that we’re not particularly happy about, let’s chant our Friday Chant, so we can get a somewhat better hold, a better perspective on things.
As one chanting body 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 Friends, it’s short, but to the point. We all need to rest, relax and get our priorities in order, with Almighty God ALWAYS BEING #1!
Oh mih people, mih people, the ole fella had a wonderful day yesterday! A couple of Friends took us on a trip around the Windward side of the island. We visited an experimental cocoa plantation and a couple of Agricultural stations because the wife worked for the Agricultural Department and was working while carrying us around.
We stopped for lunch at the famous Tree House Restaurant in Speyside, situated on a beautiful bay with the Island of Little Tobago some distance out on the water. The place was extremely busy and we had to do some waiting, but the wait was worth it, for the food was delicious. When yuh hear the ole fella ate curried kingfish and sweet and sour fried fish, you must know that it was tasty!
My old mother in heaven must have been chuckling and saying; ‘You old so and so! When I used to cook the fish you wouldn’t eat it. But now you enjoying all kinds of fish!’
I also had food like breadfruit pie and eggplant (melongene) casserole. Hn! Never thought I’d ever eat stuff like that. But using a lot of their indigenous stuff in different, unaccustomed ways, like the food mentioned above, is one of the things that’s made me proud of my little island paradise.
Then we continued up hill and down dale along the winding, narrow roads to Charlotteville, the northern-most town at the cup of the tobacco pipe, which Tobago’s shape resembles. Bad Hill is still there; one of the worst corners on the island, where many vehicles, especially the big buses couldn’t go around it in one effort, but had to reverse and then try it again.
Visiting Charlotteville also brought back memories of my youth, for I spent much vacation time up there with a family whose children boarded by us in Scarborough to go to High School.
The memories included walking up those steep hills to go to the garden, further into the bush, then coming back struggling to bring a bamboo rod or two, while the young ladies who lived up there, although around my age, were bringing back much more. Ah mih people, those were the days when life, though somewhat difficult, had more meaning and appreciation.
Then we travelled along a fairly new road along the northern side of the island. In my time you could only reach places like Hermitage and L’Anse Fourmi and Parlatuvier from that direction by boat. But now you can drive right around the island.
And Friends, the scenes along the hilly, winding road are so exotic and beautiful that you don’t want to leave them. And every time you stopped at one, you’d ooh and ahh over it, claiming that it was more beautiful than the last one. But that’s the beauty of sweet Tobago!
We passed through towns like Moriah and Mason Hall, where the main road is built on the crown of the hills, while the houses are set on the slopes above and below it. We didn’t get back home until about 5.30 p.m. having left around 10 a.m. So you can imagine the tiredness that radiated through the ole body.
But I just went into my new waterhole, had a wholesome, refreshing dip, then lolled around for the rest of the evening, including watching New Zealand rip Ye Olde England apart in World Cup Cricket in their home stadium of Wellington, New Zealand. So that was my day in a nutshell. (smile)
However it doesn’t leave much space or time for our very confidence building Bit that wisely and truthfully reminds us: ‘For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And that’s how it ought to be with an omnipotent, omniscient, ever-present God, who created the Universe and all therein! But Friends, we will only see God’s power when we believe that He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can.
And we’ll end with these very encouraging and truthful words of Jeremiah on the subject. ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard (too difficult) for thee.
Thou showest LOVING-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest (repays) the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name. Great in counsel, and mighty in work (deed): for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to the fruit of his doings.’ (Jer.32:17-19)
Yes Friends, that’s a fairly accurate portrait of our great God! So let’s plant it deep within our souls nuh, and go out and live a live truly dedicated to Him, for without Him on our side, we are able to do very little for ourselves. Much LOVE!
…only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…has the incredible power to do…ANY and EVERYTHING…
30 Jan 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abiding nature, almighty god, antichrists, assurance, belief in spirits, body and soul, born of God, Britain, British accent, chat, Christ indwells believers, Christians, crazy world, cunning, Curry Shop, deceitful, dwell in you, evil rogue, evil spirit, false prophets, goat, God in favour, God's Spirit, good service, greater is he that's in you, halt, he that is in the world, holy spirit, ink, Internet, love of Christ, Lucifer, madness, memories, memory bank, misled, my constituional, on behalf of Christ, out of sync, outward affiliation, overcome, overcome the enemy, paper, Paradise, pawpaw, peace of god, pen, pen-pal, Pigeon Point, potato, residual effect, roti, rough draft, rule in our hearts and minds, Satan, smile, social media, staunch believer in Jesus, steal, Store Bay, strength, stupidity, test, the place of Christ's Spirit, time passes quickly, Tobago, truth, try, trying spirits, ungodly hour, usurp, vacation, victory, villain, wary, wept sorely, whom the Lord knows, wisdom, work diligently, writing
1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
And sadly my people, it’s Thursday. Steups! That means I only have one more week of this wonderful vacation left. Chuh! I can’t believe that two weeks in Paradise have already gone by. But it seems that even in Paradise, time passes quickly. (smile)
So what good memories did we make yesterday eh? Not many really nuh. I had my constitutional at Store Bay… and even that wasn’t so hot, because the water was a little choppy and I wasn’t feeling up to scratch. On the way home, we stopped for a brief chat with the Duchess’ old pen-pal at her business place.
But I wonder if the young people even know what a pen-pal is or was eh? Those were the long ago days of pen, paper, ink and writing, before the internet and all the other social media nonsense.
Oh, I just remembered that before going to Store Bay, we passed through Pigeon Point, another popular beach close to Store Bay, but I’ve been biased against Pigeon Point from my youth (smile) and it seems that nothing has changed in that respect.
For though the physical surroundings are better planned and more colourful and interesting than Store Bay, the beach itself still does nothing for me. And anyway, the Duchess would never be comfortable bathing there. End of Pigeon Point Story! (smile)
After leaving Rosalind, we came home and crashed, because we were both tired. We read and ate. I had my first roti in Tobago, which unfortunately had more potato than goat. That caused me to remark. ‘If I’d wanted so much potato, I would have both a potato roti yes!’
But that was really small potatoes (smile) in the grand scheme of things. And it helped support a British sister, who runs the Curry Shop on the road to Pigeon Point. When I first heard her British accent I was amazed at the connection between a ‘Britisher’ and curry, although curry is popular in Britain.
Anyway, I asked how she’d gotten from Britain to Tobago? She claimed that she wanted a change, and I believe that Tobago is all the better for it, because she seems to be providing a good service.
Anyhow, around 8 p.m. my body and soul being out of sync, I decided to rest for a spell. Hn! That spell lasted till after midnight, that’s why I’m writing a rough draft of the Bit at minutes after three in the morning. Don’t think I’ve been up at this ungodly hour since I got here.
And that’s basically what I saved in my memory bank yesterday. I have to chuckle here, because I just got up and reached for a piece of pawpaw, only to find the dish empty. Like I’d eaten it all with realizing it.
And we have a very interesting and helpful Bit today. As if they’re not all interesting and helpful eh? (smile) Listen up. This is John talking about trying spirits. ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’
And that Friends, is the undeniable, indisputable, recognizable, gospel truth! And if you don’t believe it, then your life will always be a mess! That’s because you’re allowing the evil rogue, Lucifer, who is in the world, to be stronger than the Holy Spirit of Almighty God that’s supposed to dwell in you.
And that makes no sense whatsoever my people. For why would a staunch believer in Jesus Christ, knowingly allow that cunning, deceitful villain Lucifer, to steal, to usurp the place of Christ’s Spirit in his soul and life eh? That’s total madness and undeniable stupidity!
Now hear what the scholars have to say about our Bit. ‘4:4. Christ indwells believers. Satan is likewise the lord of his own followers. But Christ is greater than he who wreaks havoc in the world. Have overcome is in the perfect tense, stressing the abiding nature of their victory. Their strength lies in the fact that they are (born) of God.’
Yes my brethren, unless we are spiritually born of God, we lack the strength to overcome the enemy. And how does John arrive at this position? Because at the beginning of the chapter he tells us: ‘Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.’ (1 John 4:1)
And that’s no lie my people! There are even more false prophets today than in John’s time. He would certainly have held his head and wept sorely, if he saw what was happening in today’s false and crazy world.
Now listen carefully to the scholars’ note. ‘4:1. The Spirit gives assurance (3:24). But how do believers know it is God’s Spirit, and not a lying one, who is assuring them? John acknowledges the presence of numerous spirits. Christians must be wary that they be not misled. The Greek grammar here may indicate that John is calling for a halt to belief in spirits that was already in progress. This could have been a residual effect of those who had already left (2:19).’
And to complete the understanding of the scholars note, here is what 2:19 says. John’s here talking about the dangers of the antichrists. ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all (none of them were) of us.’ (1 John 2:19)
And the scholars further explain: ‘2:19. Some in the church, but now departed, were never really part of it. Here is a clear distinction between those who merely appear to be Christians, based on outward affiliation, and those who really are, whom the Lord knows and claims as His own.(1 Cor.8:3; Gal.4:9; 2 Tim.2:19).’
Oh my fellow believers, please take a moment and read those scriptures, for they will enhance your understanding of the Word. And we’ll end there, for you have enough on your plate to ponder and rectify today.
So till we meet again tomorrow, God in favour, please let the peace of God rule in our hearts and minds, and let’s work diligently on behalf of Christ. Now that’s wisdom at its highest level! Much LOVE!
…where the LOVE of Christ rules…no evil spirit can ever enter there…
28 Jan 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: after one time is two, against our neightbours, attributes, backbiting, betterment of mankind, biblically speaking, blessing from God, bounden duty, Bruh David, busyness of life, Canada, character, Christ-like character, Christian, clean hands, condemn, control tongues, corruption. unfaithfulness, daily constitutional, deceit, disgusting weather, eradicate, evil, false rumours, fiery splendour, follower of Christ, food place, fraud, good character, gospel truth, greed, grocery, headache, hearts, heavenly wisdom, holy hill, holy tabernacle, honour, idols, innocent, Jesus, keep people apart. long periods of time, king of glory, lift up soul, Lord, LOVE, make memories, make up, memories, necessary improvements, negative things, never something that you had, North country, old friend, pardners, personal integrity, pride, promises, proper example, pure heart, qualifications, reminisce, reminiscences, responsibility, reverence, righteousness., room for improvement, rule the roost, salvation, selfishness, sojourn, speak truth, sufficient time, swearing, thanks, the world in shambles, to serve the Lord, Tobago, unchristian activity, unrighteous, usury, vacation, vanity, visited, vows, walk uprightly, wind and rain, winding down, worthy
Psalm 15:1. Lord who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
And then Friends, it was Tuesday! Unfortunately, the vacation time is winding down. But not to worry, for there’s yet sufficient time to get in whole lot more activities and make many more memories, so that when I’m sitting in my rocking chair in the cold North Country, I can just reminisce and chuckle at the reminiscences.
And that’s what life really is all about yes people; making good memories. For when old age arrives and you physically can’t do much of anything, all you will have then are memories of the way your life was spent. Therefore it’s very important that we make as many good ones as possible.
For as the Johnny Bristol sings in his song of some years ago: ‘Memories don’t leave like people do. They always stay with you. Whether they been good or bad. They’re never something that you had.’
Gospel truth my brethren! Memories never leave us. When all else fails, memories will still be there. So let’s try and make as many good ones as possible nuh. Now let’s see what good ones I made yesterday. (smile)
Oh, in the early morning hours, some wicked wind and rain lashed my little area – twice to be exact. And what amused me was that in between each episode, the sun came out in all its fiery splendour. Also, around lunch time some friends from Canada came to visit. They are only here for about three days.
Then in the afternoon, I went down to Store Bay for my daily constitutional. I believe the last time I mentioned that, I said testimonial, but it was really constitutional I meant. And that’s simply something good that you do for yourself on a fairly regular basis.
But lo and behold, as I entered the change room at Store Bay, I saw a man sitting there buckling the straps on his sandals. His face seemed familiar, but his cap was hiding the upper portion of his face. So I looked closer at him, only to realize that it was another old friend from Canada, one whom I hadn’t seen in ages, although we don’t live far from each other in the North Country.
But the busyness of life and the disgusting weather often keep people apart for long periods of time. You might talk to them regularly on the phone but hardly ever see them.
Anyway, as the Lord would have it, his wife, daughter and himself were just finished bathing and were planning to drop in on us on their way home. So we just visited right there, since they were only in Tobago for the day.
Nothing much happened after that. I got my dip, said some thanks to a couple of people who had been instrumental in safely securing my bag last week, stopped in the grocery and a food place, then came home and relaxed as best I could with the stupid headache still bothering me.
A couple pardners dropped by for a short visit later in the evening. But other than that it was quiet, had an early night because of the headache, which unfortunately is still bugging me some, almost two days later. I guess though, as the old people would say; after one time is two, since I hardly ever have headaches, especially ones of this magnitude and length.
But for whatever purpose the Lord’s allowing it, I just have to get a grip and keep on doing what I have to, knowing that eventually He will make all things right. And those are the good memories I made yesterday. (smile)
Now let’s see what the Lord wants me to write on biblically speaking, today? And Friends it seems like He wants us to focus today on the important question of: ‘Lord who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s an interesting and also very important question! Who is worthy to serve in the Lord’s tabernacle, what are the qualifications necessary for that awesome job?
And Bruh David answers the question he just posed in the following two verses. ‘He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up (receives) a reproach against his neighbour.’ (Ps.15:2-3)
Oh Friends, that means that the person who serves in the tabernacle must have personal purity. But all those things also pertain to the ordinary Christian. EVERY follower of Christ needs to walk uprightly, work righteousness and speak truth from their hearts. It’s all a part of the Christian make up and character. Neither can we be spreading deceit and false rumours with our wicked, hard to control tongues, or doing evil against our neighbours.
As Bruh David also asks in Psalm 24, the King of glory: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? (Ps.24:3)
And his answer is basically the same: ‘He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (to an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ (Ps.24:4-5)
Unfortunately though mih breddren, those characteristics are in very short supply these days, even amongst supposed believers! That serious drop in moral standards and otherwise, are why our world is now such a troubled, evil, disaster-prone and calamitous place.
The attributes of good character and personal integrity have sadly lost their position of high standing and importance. They are no longer considered necessary aspects of human life. These days fraud, corruption, deceit, unfaithfulness, selfishness, pride and greed rule the roost.
And it’s sad that many of us believers dabble too much in such unchristian activity, instead of being the ones to uphold the Christ-like character and integrity. That brings us back to Psalm 15, where Bruh David continues his discourse on the qualifications for working in the Lord’s sanctuary.
One ‘In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.’ (Ps.15:4-5)
Yes my people, those are all qualifications that the ordinary but serious believer also needs to possess. We ought not to uphold the works of the unrighteous, but remember they are also God’s creation. And furthermore, at times we also behave unrighteous, and we surely don’t want others to despise or condemn us then.
We need to honour those who reverence God, and promises and vows should be taken seriously, neither should we take advantage of the already disadvantaged. But unfortunately all the negative aspects of those things are rampant in our troubled, misguided world. Like the constant and severe oppression and suppression of the poor and needy and the insatiable greed of the wealthy.
Oh my brethren, those things should not be happening on such a large scale. And it is our responsibility, the responsibility of the true and serious believer, first to eradicate those negative things from our own lives, set a proper example, then try and eradicate them from our immediate circle and surroundings, then keep moving up to the higher levels of our society, and finally the world.
That’s our bounden duty Friends, for nobody else has any real and serious interest in the overall betterment of mankind, which is what Jesus came to do, and what His followers ought to be doing!
Therefore, please let’s ponder our individual situations today, re the things we’ve talked about, then, with the Lord’s help obviously, try to make the necessary improvements. And even for those who are already fairly decent, there is always room for improvement.
Let’s make Jesus proud of us nuh, by living the kind of life He desires of His followers. That’s heavenly wisdom my people! Much LOVE!
…until believers improve their own performance…the unbelievers will rule…and the world will remain in shambles…
26 Jan 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: armour of god, assaults, batting number two, bless others, blessed, breastplate of righteousness, breath in our bodies, cast off the works of darkness, church, coconut tart, conversion, curry crab and dumpling, defeat, etched indelibly, evil, evil day, far from the madding crowd, favour, fiery darts, fireworks, gird your waist, giving thanks, God's little Acre, good times, gospel of peace, hearts souls and minds, helmet of salvation, historic names, holy spirit, honeymoon, interesting, joyous, LOVE, magnanimous god, moment in time, Most High, new acquaintences, nostalgic memories, old friends, one in a lifetime occasion, partying, persverance, powers of darkness, prayer, put on, redeeming spirit, run for its money, saints, salt, sand, schemes of the devil, sea, sensible way, shield of faith, smile, soca riddims, soul searching, spiritual armour, stand, supplication, sword of the Spirit, take up the armour of light, Thank You Lord, the day's at hand, the night is spent, the whole armour of God, truth, ungodly planet, vacation, wiles, wind and rain, wisdom, wise, Word of God
Romans 13:12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
And what is shaping up to be the second best vacation ever, keeps rolling along nicely! Yes Friends, it has indeed been a blessed and joyous eleven days so far on God’s Little Acre! But has it really been eleven days already? Let’s see. I arrived here on the 16th, and today is the 26th. Yeh people, that makes it 11 days inclusive!
Our magnanimous God has certainly shone His incredible favour down on me in those past 11 days. Almost everything I’ve wanted, I’ve been blessed with; from a clean, quiet, comfortable and spacious place to stay, to coconut tart, pigeon peas soup, curry crab and dumpling, sea, sand, salt and good times with old friends and new acquaintances. How can I ever complain eh?
Rather, I’m giving thanks and saying ‘Thank You Lord! Thank You ever so much for looking after me! And I pray that as I continue to serve You to the best of my ability, You will keep on blessing me, so that I can bless others.’ Oh my brethren, that’s the only wise and sensible way to go on this evil and ungodly planet!
Right now though, at about two thirty on what has turned out to be a bright, sunny and windy Sunday afternoon, I’m having a cup of caffeine, struggling to come awake. Hn, hn! It’s already been a busy day. I was up and off to church for 7.30 this morning. And though it ran for almost two hours, it was interesting and soul searching.
I then came home and fed my face and had to catch up with some lost night time rest, for yesterday was hectic. That included a trip in the hot afternoon sun to the Windward side of the island, after my episode in Store Bay. Passing through villages and towns with historic names like, Hope, Mt.St.George, Belle Garden, Roxborough and Delaford, certainly brought back nostalgic memories of my youth on the island.
Because of time constraints, we stopped in Delaford at a beach called Kings Bay and hung out there for a short period. Strangely enough though, although the beach seemed fine, either through laziness to change my clothes and then change back again, and /or the movement of the Spirit, I just did not feel like bathing in the sea, and that surely says something.
Oh I just had a bit of delicious watermelon from my brother’s garden to cool the heat in the body. (smile) The winding hilly roads of my youth are still there, with very little been done to straighten or widen them. However the surface quality in many parts is crying out for serious fixing.
Then by the time I got home and rested some, my half-brother and his wife showed up with the curry crab and dumpling that they had promised to make. Mama Yo! Was it ever delicious mih people! I even got a new convert in the Duchess. (smile) She finally appreciates why I’ve always talked so highly of the exotic T&T dish.
And while we were here visiting with my brother and his wife, a party was simultaneously happening somewhere nearby in the compound, with plenty talk, laughter and hot soca riddims rocking through the atmosphere, accompanied at one stage by some brilliant fireworks.
At one stage too, a strong wind storm and driving rain erupted. But as anyone from these parts knows, a little wind and rain doesn’t stop the party. It only prevents one from going to work. (smile) Oh the wind and rain were hot to trot this morning too. The radio announcer was warning people not to leave home without their umbrellas, and I drove to church amidst intermittent showers.
And that my Friends, is where we stand at this most auspicious moment in time!
And for those of you who are fast and inquisitive enough to wonder what was our Number One vacation experience. Well it was a trip the Duchess and I took, what… possibly 20 years ago, to Jamdown, (sweet Jamaica) and stayed far from the madding crowd down in the Parish of Trelawney, renting a townhouse there and going on some guided tours around the island.
Now we’ve never been tour people, always wanting to do our own thing, in our own time, but the Lord must have guided us to that, because it was the BEST TIME EVER! The things we did and places we went, are etched indelibly in our hearts minds and souls. And try as we want, we’ll never be able to recreate that enthusiasm and energy that arises in such one in a lifetime occasion.
We were young, no younger and stronger then, and could handle the hectic pace that was necessary for those endeavours. Our honeymoon, right here in Tobago, forty odd years ago, has so far been batting number two, but it’s certainly getting a run for its money from this current experience.
For your info, it seems that another joyful gathering is taking place nearby in the compound. I can’t see anybody, but the sound of talk, laughter and sweet soca are circulating through the airwaves. It sure seems like a partying compound.
And now that you know as much as I do, (smile) let’s see what out Bit has to offer. ‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.’
Yes my people, it’s certainly time for us believers to wake up and realize that the powers of darkness are smothering a lot of the world! Believers need to get serious about their Christian faith, to wake up and realize that Beelzebub is on a serious tear. And as Bruh Paul informs us, it’s only by putting on Christ’s armour of light, can we ever hope to beat back and eventually defeat those strong and evil powers that hide within the darkness of the world.
And the best way to bring that home to us, is by quoting Bruh Paul’s immortal, admonishing and ‘exhortatious’ (I just like how it sounds) advice 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 (schemes) of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (rulers), against powers (authorities), against the rulers (world-rulers) of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (spiritual hosts of) wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Be ready for constant assaults from the wicked one).
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about (girded your waist) with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one).
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph.6:10-18)
That says it all my brethren! I didn’t plan on quoting the last five verses which describe the spiritual armour, but I knew that very few of us would actually look it up, if I asked us to. So I decided to spoon feed us, (smile) so that we can get the full gist, the real importance of the subject.
It makes the Bit longer, but you can’t have it both ways. We need to get clothed, and stay clothed as long as possible in the strengthening and perceptive spiritual armour of God, if we want to bring the world to acceptance and conversion to Jesus.
So please, let’s go out and do that today, and every day, while there’s breath in our bodies nuh. That’s the wisdom of the age! Much LOVE!
…only as believers are filled with the redeeming Spirit of the Most High…will they be able to put up a good fight against the powers of darkness…
18 Jan 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: beach, bless, blessings, call on God, Canada, captive's soul, christianity, Christians, clean spirit, confidence, connection to our heavenly Father, Connie Francis, contented, cut to the chase, dire siutations, direcct my prayer, drunk or sober, dry and thirsty land, early in the morning, fallible men, fight against God's will, friends, good news, good Samaritans, grace, guilty, hear my voice, heartfelt prayer, hot to trot, hunger and thirst for God, importance of prayer, joyful lips, learned my lesson, lifeline, longing flesh, look up, lost my way, LOVE, loving kindness, magnanimous god, man-made devices, mercy, mind your business, North country, onipotent, overflowing with thanksgiving, power and glory, praise, prayer, refuge, remember the cold, right heart, righteousness., satisfied soul, spirituality, strong breeze, sustenance, take my own advice, thirsty soul, umbilical cord, vacation, warm wind, wedding ring, wisdom
Psalm 5:3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning , O Lord; In the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Well Friends, the good news is that we’re somewhat earlier than we were yesterday, but we’re still not as early as I would like. Hopefully though, we’ll get better every day, and though I’m not making any promises because I’m on vacation – va-ca-tion – as the old pop song said, (smile) which I believe was sung by Connie Francis.
Anyway, at long last, on my third day in Paradise, I finally got the salt water that I’ve been so avidly desiring. I never rushed into it, partly because of the internet problems I was having, and also because I’ve learned my lesson from the time I went to California a few years ago.
That time I was real hot to trot, and though the sea was some distance away, and everybody else was too busy to accompany me, I jumped in the car and headed for the beach. Disappointingly, I ended up on a dismal patch of sand on the Pacific side, with cold, rough water, lost my wedding ring of thirty something years, then also lost my way back home.
But as always Friends, the Lord sent a couple of good Samaritans to help me out, and I returned home safely, having given my family some anxious moments. So now, with that lesson in mind, a rather expensive one, I’m trying my best not to fight against His will. Hn! Hn! I even ended up on two obscure beaches today since I didn’t feel like handling the crowds on the popular beaches.
The first, Arnos Vale beach, was a little too rocky and unpredictable underfoot for my liking. So after having a dip there, we hit Grange beach, which had better footing. And though they were both less than calm, I enjoyed Grange more because of the more sandy and predictable footing.
But brother, this area I’m in always seems to have a strong breeze blowing. Around 3 a.m. this morning, I was outside on the balcony and the wind was blowing so powerfully, that you would have thought a storm was blowing. It reminded be of the winds back in the North Country – only this wind was warm! (smile)
And as I was telling the Duchess earlier on, I feel somewhat guilty, because since I’m down here I don’t even remember the cold up in Canada. But as she so wisely said, I’d better forget the guilt and enjoy it, because we’ll soon be back in the cold. So I’m going to listen the duchess – as I always do anyway. (smile)
However my people, let’s cut to the chase and get into the Bit. I’m expecting some friends to come by and visit later, and today I intend to take my own advice; drunk or sober mind your business. Unfortunately I didn’t do that yesterday, so the Bit didn’t get done till very late, and I’m not going to allow it to happen again today.
So here goes: ‘My voice shalt thou hear in the morning , O Lord; In the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.’
Yes my brethren, prayer is our lifeline, our umbilical cord, our connection to our heavenly Father! And the good thing about it is that we don’t need any man-made devices to call on Him, just a right heart and a clean spirit.
So what scriptures pertaining to the importance of prayer in a believer’s life are we going to look at today? Let’s start with Psalm 63, where Bruh David talks about God satisfying the thirsty soul. That’s something he wrote while hiding out in the wilderness of Judah from his enemies.
And he begins it with this powerful verse: ‘O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water.’ (Ps.63:1)
Then not satisfied to stop just there, he continues to pour out his heart to his God. ‘To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary (so have I looked for thee out here). Because thy LOVING-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow (the best) and fatness (abundance); and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.’ (Ps.63:2-5)
Oh my fellow believers, is that the way we feel about our God? Is that the way we hunger and thirst for Him and His righteousness? And are our souls contented with His grace and mercy, so that we can praise Him with joyful lips? That is how it ought to be my brethren! And if we aren’t doing and feeling those things, then we’re foolishly missing out on a lot of God’s good blessings.
As the scholars say: ‘Psalm 63. The location of the writing of the psalm is described generally as in the wilderness of Judah. Unlike many of the psalms written in these dire situations, however, this psalm is overflowing with thanksgiving rather than lament and petition. David declares his longing for spiritual renewal (vv.1-2), he expresses his thankful mood (vv.3-6), he gives voice to his trust in God (vv.7-8), and he announces his hope for the future (vv.9-11). Enemies are mentioned only in passing (vv.9-10).’
Oh mih people, would we have been able to show such trust, desire and LOVE for God under such dire circumstances? I truly doubt it. We find it difficult to praise and thank Him when things are going well, much less when they are rough. But Friends that’s the attitude true believers ought to be able to display. In rough times we ought to have enough confidence in our omnipotent and magnanimous God not to whimper and turn turncoat.
And that’s the biggest problem with Christians today; we talk the good talk, but when the rough times crop up, we don’t run to the one place and person who can truly provide refuge and sustenance; our wonderful God. Instead we quickly turn to the cheap, perishable man-made devices and seek help from powerless, fallible men like ourselves. That’s not wisdom Friends.
So I’m saying to us today, that the first place we must turn in ANY kind of situation, is to Almighty God, our Creator, Provider and Protector!
That’s what He is there for. He prides Himself on being able to help His children, and if we don’t turn to Him FIRST, He feels very disappointed and offended. If He wants us to turn to other men for help, then He will direct us to them, after we talk to Him.
And that my people is one of the reasons why we and our resultant world are in such bad shape, we simply don’t talk seriously and enough to Father God. I’m therefore asking us today to try and change that unwise attitude by turning to Him for help and guidance in every situation, through constant, genuine, heartfelt prayer, for that is wisdom at its finest. Much LOVE!
…only sincere prayer to our heavenly Father…can set the captive’s soul free…
13 Nov 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to His purpose, all things work together for good, charles stanley, cloud over the earth, colours, computer mouse, computers, covenant, deleted expletives, destroy all flesh, don't worry, ever-faithful, ever-forgiving, ever-Loving, ever-merciful, everlasting covenant, every living creature, exiled, faithfulness, flood, friends, glory hallelujah, God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, God's contemplating, heavens, holding my breath, inconvenience, land of my birth, less stressful life, Lord God Jehovah, Love God, navel string, Noah, promises of God, rainbow, series of messages, serve and worship, sign, sign of God's goodness, sincere plea, Spirit of the Lord, T&T, Thank You Lord, those who LOVE God, today's the day, typewriter, vacation, wipe out mankind, wonderful god, work through, you can never go home again
Genesis 9:6. I do set my bow (rainbow) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token (sign) of a covenant between me and the earth.
Ah Friends, what would we do without computers eh? Have a much less stressful life, that’s for certain! Have you ever noticed that they choose the absolute worst time to act up? I sure have. For instance this morning I came down here early to get an early start…
Chuh! I might as well have slept in, because after booting up satisfactorily, the stupid mouse refused to work. I unplugged it, then plugged it back in, banged it on the desk, clicked it numerous times, but nothing happened.
So finally in frustration I went upstairs to get the mouse from my laptop computer. By the time I came back though, I had some 39 entries for Internet Explorer on the go. Hn!
Then you think I could shut them down? No way! I eventually had to switch off the whole computer. Steups! Then by the time it booted back up, there was this message saying it was downloading updates, which slowed up all the stuff I tried to do.
Then to make matters even worse, it cut in and said that the computer needed restarting so that the updates could take effect. Ah Lord eh! By then I was ready to throw it through the window. (smile) But the Spirit of the Lord prevailed, and I simply used a few deleted expletives.
But that’s why I like my typewriter; just turn it on, slip in a piece of paper and go! No laughter from the penny section now my children. Anyway, if that’s the biggest inconvenience that the Lord has planned for me today, then I’ll definitely declare a big, ‘Thank You Lord!’
But I’m not holding my breath, because that might just be the smallest one for the day. However, I know that whatever He causes to come against me, He will help me to work through, once I come to Him with a sincere plea.
As Bruh Paul told the Romans and reminds us today: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those that LOVE God, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Rom.8:28)
So if we LOVE God, and He’s called us to be one of His elect, then we don’t have to worry about anything, because God will work it out for our good, one way or the other.
Now Friends, today we’re starting a series of messages on the promises of our great and wonderful God. I got this idea from Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) some weeks ago, when he preached a sermon on it, but I obviously never got around to doing it until the Lord said today’s the day.
And we’ll begin with one of the first promises God made to man, our Bit. ‘I do set my bow (rainbow) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token (sign) of a covenant between me and the earth.’
Yeh Friends, after the Lord caused the flood to wipe out mankind and his evil from His beautiful earth, He covenanted with Noah and his sons, Ham, Shem and Japheth, to set a rainbow in the heavens.
‘And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow (rainbow) shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow (rainbow) shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.’ (Gen.9:14-16)
So mih people, whenever we see a beautiful rainbow arcing through the sky, let’s remember that God is contemplating His ‘everlasting’ promise to never destroy the earth with water again.
Please note my brethren, that it wasn’t just a promise for some short period of time, but an everlasting one; one that would last forever and ever. That’s how much our God valued His promise to Noah and His earthly creations. And please notice too, that our magnificent God didn’t use some little wishy-washy sign to remind Him, but a glorious arc of beautiful colours set in his blue heaven.
That reminds me of my trip to T&T last year. On the plane from Trinidad to Tobago I espied a beautiful rainbow outside my window, one that followed me all the way to landing, which I took as a good sign; a sign of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
And believe me Friends, the vacation in the land of my birth, or as the old people would say, where my navel string was buried (smile) from which I had been exiled for some thirty years, turned out to be most excellent. So I simply don’t believe the adage that you can never go home again.
In fact I’m hoping to go back again some time in the not too distant future, and eventually spend my last days there. ‘Glory Hallelujah!’
And on that glorious note we’ll close today Friends, because we don’t have enough time and space for another promise. But don’t worry, tomorrow, our God in favour, we’ll look at one or more great promises of our ever-faithful, ever-LOVING, ever-merciful and ever-forgiving God.
We simply cannot ask for a better Deity than the Lord God Jehovah, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Please remember that my people, and live accordingly. Much LOVE!
…to mankind…promises are made to be broken…but to God…promises are made…NEVER TO BE BROKEN…so that His children can always feel safe and secure…in whatever situation…what a wonderful God we serve and worship…
03 Sep 2013
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dry and thirsty land, a longing for God, appear before God, back to work, christianity, commandments, common sense, control of the universe, deer pants for the brooks, depressing news, dr robert h schuller, ever-LOVING God, extol, four seasons, freedom, frivolity, fun, get aquainted with God, God alone can satisfy our thirst, God satisfies the thirsty soul, Hour of Power, improve our standing, intense longing for God, Jesus Christ, joy, Lord God Jehovah, LOVE, man's fault, meditate on God's words, my flesh longs for God, my soul pants for God, my soul's thirsty for God, northern climes, partition in our souls, partition reserved for God, peace, permeate our being, planet earth, polluting the atmosphere, ponder God's work, positive stuff, power, Prayer for Success, pressure, religion, running from enemies, sad state of our world, school, schools reopen, scriptures, shedding of leaves, sojourn in the wilderness, spirituality, spring summer autumn, summer, the living God, thou art my God, trees turning brown, true peace, truly find God, undeniable fact, vacation, wealth, what I am, what I do, wisdom, work, work of God, zenith
Psalm 42:2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Well mih Friends, all the summer frivolity is now ended in the north country! That’s so sad! (smile) Schools will reopen today, and many adults who have been on vacation will also go back to work, having closed up the cottages for another year.
And though the summer wasn’t as hot and sunny as it usually is, it’s way, way better than what we’re about to receive. Would you believe that it’s only the third day of September and trees are already turning brown and shedding their leaves?
Ah Lord eh! But that’s what we bargained for when we decided to live in the northern climes. The Lord promised us four general seasons, spring, summer, autumn and fall, but He didn’t say exactly how long they’d be, or what temps we’d have on what days.
All that we have are man’s approximation. So if the leaves begin falling at the start of September rather than at the end, around the 22nd, when we audaciously declare that autumn begins, then that’s our problem.
The Lord God Jehovah is still in control of His universe, although I believe that the divergence between what should be and what actually happens is basically man’s fault, due to his polluting the atmosphere and thus setting the finely tuned work of God awry.
And having given us that somewhat depressing news (smile), here is some positive, uplifting stuff. It’s a Prayer for Success from Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) from his Hour of Power Devotional. I don’t know if I’ve shared it before, but even if I have, it’s certainly worth sharing again.
So let’s pray together for success this Tuesday morning, when our lives will get busier and change from much fun and freedom to much school and work.
As one voice now: ‘As I become a success with your help, Lord, let me never forget that what I am is more important than what I do. Faith stimulates success. Hope sustains success. LOVE sanctifies success. So I cannot and I dare not succeed without your power, peace, and pressure in my life, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
And again my true believers in Christ, we say a loud and lusty, ‘Amen!’
Now all of that just fits nicely with our Bit: ‘My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?’
Now that’s certainly a good question my people! And it’s certainly how we ought to feel! A longing for God, just dying to get acquainted with Him and His ways should permeate our very being.
Please note how the psalmist begins the psalm. ‘As the hart panteth after (the deer longs for) the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.’ (Ps.42:1)
Oh Friends, do we pant after God, do we have that intense longing for our Creator as Psalm 42 is superscripted? And do we say, as the author of Psalm 119 says: ‘I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.’ (Ps.119:131)
I surely do hope so, although from the physical evidence reflected by the sad state of our world, it’s obvious that enough of us feel that way, otherwise planet earth would be in much better shape.
But let’s look now at some scriptures that also extol the longing for God, starting with Psalm 63, God satisfies the thirsty soul, penned by Bruh David during his sojourn in the wilderness of Judah, while running from his enemies.
‘O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;’ (Ps.63:1)
Yes Friends, whenever we find ourselves in a dry and thirsty situation, be it physical, spiritual or emotional, the correct place and first person to run to is our ever-LOVING God, for He ALONE can satisfy our thirst!
Meanwhile, Psalm 84, a psalm of the sons of Korah, confidently proclaims: ‘How amiable are thy tabernacles (lovely are thy dwellings), O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.’ (Ps.84:1-2)
Oh Friends, I couldn’t put it any better or simpler! To be a longing for God is just how and why we were created!
That’s why none of us are ever fully satisfied with the mere wealth and things of the world, regardless of how much we have, but can be satisfied with little or nothing, if we truly find God.
We never find true peace, wealth and joy until that little space, that small partition in our souls that God reserved for Himself, has been filled with a sincere longing for the Almighty.
And that’s an undeniable fact my people! Check out all the rich and famous and powerful, and you’ll find very few are truly happy, unless that part of their souls reserved for God is filled with Him.
And we’ll end with some true and stellar words of Bruh David, when he was again beset by enemies. ‘I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse (ponder) on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.’ (Ps.143:5-6)
Yes my brethren, let’s muse, let’s ponder on that today nuh! Let’s see how we personally shape up on the matter of longing for, of panting after God. Then let’s make and take the necessary actions to improve our standing in so important a matter. For that’s undeniably wisdom and common sense at their zeniths! Much LOVE!
…if there’s NO longing in our souls for God…then there’s NO God in our souls…
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