31 Jul 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a faithful ambassador, a horror show, a lie, a sin, a wicked messenger, ambassadors of Christ, brings health, burn the candle at both ends, Caribana, Christians, controlling things, Covid-19 pandemic, defeat the virus and unrest, diligence, excellence, falleth into mischief, fellow saints in Christ, followers of Christ, Friday chant, lockdown, omnipotent help, people behaving irresponsibly, racial riots, reconciled to God, represent Christ, sinful world, still on His throne, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the long weekend, the Lord God Jehovah, the ordinary workingman, the right attitude, the weekend, this too shall pass, tools at our convenience, towards Him and His word, uncertain times, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee, we can't help others, what a bam bam, working for Jesus
Proverbs 13:17. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief (trouble): but a faithful ambassador is (brings) health.
And then it was Friday and everybody…well most everybody was shouting with glee: ‘The weekend, the weekend, the long weekend at last!’ Yeh friends this is the Civic Holiday weekend, the first Monday in August. And it’s also what should have been Caribana weekend in Toronto with all the carnival stuff happening. But like most everything else the Covid-19 pandemic has put paid to that for this year. What a bam bam of a year this 2020 has been eh! (smile) But what to do eh? We need to know that the Lord God Jehovah is still on His throne and still controlling things and that with the right attitude towards Him and His Word, this too shall pass!
But enough of me, let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say nuh. And as always, he exclaims: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! And thank God for this long weekend too! Just hope it not too hot and miserable though. And finally the rest of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) is being released into the Stage 3 lockdown mode. More places opening and inside service in restaurants and stuff. That sounds good, but ah wondering how safe or sensible it is for them to make this decision on this long weekend eh, knowing how people behaving irresponsibly all over the place?
Just think about that house party last week up in Brampton nuh, with some two hundred people and cars parked all over the grass and wherever. Steups! Can yuh imagine how some of them going to behave with the freedom granted them over this long weekend? But who am I to question it eh? The government seem to think they know what they doing…ah certainly hope so yes, for all of our sakes. But me and mine not going to do anything much different, to what we been doing – barbequing and going for walks and playing games together.
I need to get some rest too, as well as cut down on the drinking and smoking. Ah finally realizing that I’m not as young as I used to be, and can’t burn the candle at both ends like I used to, and get away with it. Hn, Hn! Let us hope though, that the release in this lockdown don’t drive people crazy and they end up doing nonsense to cause the virus to start spreading again nuh, and we have to go back into another lockdown. Brother! Would that ever be a horror show!’
And isn’t that the God-awful truth people! Having the society locked down again will definitely cause much more panic and disobedience than the original seclusion did! So let’s pray that people will be sensible, serious and responsible nuh, and we won’t be forced back into a lockdown situation again, but keep reopening li’l by li’l, glory by glory.
As one voice, with sincere hearts, let’s declare (steups!) our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. And now, on top of all that, we have racial riots and protests to put up with. Oh Lord, yuh know we can’t handle it on our own and desperately need Your help.
Yes, heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Ah friends, so much of this recovery from our current sickness and strife depends on how we, followers of Christ, Christians behave. We need to show the world Christ though not only our talk, but more importantly through our actions and behaviour. Things like LOVE, compassion, care, forgiveness and mercy have to be prominently displayed by us in these dark, angry and dangerous times. This is when we truly have to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, showing forth our faithfulness in spades.
This is more a time for action rather than talk, and even though some of us are still in lockdown mode we can still do a lot to help those less fortunate than us. We now have so many tools at our convenience that it would be a lie, and a sin, to say we can’t help others. Yes my fellow saints in Christ, this is a time when the cream, we believers in Christ need to rise to the top, be true and good ambassadors of our Lord and Saviour. Bruh Paul said it quite plainly to the Corinthians. ‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray (implore) you in Christ’s stead (behalf), be ye reconciled to God.’ (2 Cor. 5:20)
Oh friends, we who have been reconciled to God, become righteous and justified, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, now need to go out and do what He wants us to do. He is our leader, and followers ought to do what leaders desire of them. Just like political ambassadors represent their countries in foreign lands, we too need to represent Christ wherever we go. And like Cousin Sol so wisely declares (yeahhh!) in Proverbs: ‘A wicked messenger falleth into mischief (trouble): but a faithful ambassador is (brings) health.’ (Prov. 13:17)
Oh my people, please, I implore us to be faithful ambassadors of Christ in these dangerous and uncertain times, and thus bring health to our society. Much LOVE!
…truly working for Jesus…means diligence and excellence… from a compassionate heart…
17 Jul 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: are destroyed, avoid serious setbacks, be responsible, blind leaders of the blind, calamity, cause them to err, confusion, Covid-19 virus, cured by repentance, delivered from, disaster, do God's will, everyday lives, face the music, faithful believers, fall into the ditch, falling by the wayside, Friday chant, from our schools, greatest tool, havoc, joy, joyfully, let them alone, lightheartedness, loss of life, mano a mano, new every morning, onipotent help, pandemic, prayer, praying without ceasing, public places, racial protests, rebellion, reminds others of Jesus, removed God, restoring faith, revolving work cycle, sinful world, slave master, spend a penny, spout a spiel, stand up, stay safe, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the blind lead the blind, the leaders of this people, the Lord's good ness and mercy, the ravages of sin, they that are led of them, this is the day the Lord has made, to see the world go round, to the best of our ability, trusting faith, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee, we will rejoice and be glad in it, wise guidance
Isaiah 9:16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Morning has broken friends; bright and sunshiny on this Friday in mid-July! Wow! And it’s just rolling along joyfully like we, the saints of Christ ought to. That’s why Bruh David joyfully proclaimed so long ago: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24) Please note that that wasn’t a hope or a wish, but a direct directive! (smile) Christ’s saints were delivered from the ravages of sin, sanctified and made whole, set free and apart, so that they could enjoy the Lord’s goodness and mercy, which are brand new every single morning of our lives!
And that’s despite whatever disaster or calamity that’s happening in the world. So let’s take today seriously and do God’s will to the best of our ability, but with a lightheartedness and joy that reminds others of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; His easy going ways, His compassionate heart and His everlasting, unconditional LOVE! End of sermon! (smile) And the ordinary workingman is anxiously waiting in the wings to spout us his spiel. What a way everybody has a spiel to spout these days eh! (smile)
And he begins in his usual manner: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! Thank God that the weekend is finally here, and hopefully it won’t be as hot as the last one. And this week wasn’t too bad in terms of temperature either. Definitely not as hot as the last couple. And thankfully, some rain did fall too. And the slave master finally bowed to our demands and bought some big, good fans for the sweat shop that he snobbishly calls a machining factory!
Can’t believe that a man who has enough money to live comfortably, lives like a bloody scrooge! He won’t spend an unnecessary penny, not even on himself, much less to see the world go round. His clothes look like he’s had them since forever. But I guess that’s how you behave when you have money. Hn, hn, hn! I wouldn’t know because I’ve never had any. And in spite of any negative things, like this pandemic and racial protests, which still going on, we thankful for the weekend, so we could get a li’l rest and some family time, and go back out fresh and start the whole blooming revolving work cycle again, come Monday! Thanks for the weekend yes Lord!’
Ah friends, I do wish we could learn to accept the inevitability of the work cycle and just take it in stride like the ordinary workingman. We look forward too much to the weekend, and not enough to the beginning of the work week! For our benefit, we need to get ourselves in some sort of balance, so that we’re not as happy to see Friday, and rather perturbed and unhappy to greet Monday. So let’s think on those things nuh, but right now we need to consider something much more important.
This morning when I opened the Good Book, these words of Isaiah jumped out at me. ‘For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed.’ And that’s oh so true my people! Many of our leaders have let us down terribly, in ways that we would never have imagined possible. In the first place they have allowed God to be removed from our schools, public places and our everyday lives without putting up much of a fight. And then in these times of pandemic sickness and worldwide racial protests too many of them are not leading like they should.
Too many are shirking their leadership responsibilities for whatever reasons, not responding positively and timely to our current problems and that is only prolonging the pandemic and the protests. And it’s strange that it’s some of the lesser leaders who are showing the way, while the big ones are conspicuously falling by the wayside. We won’t call names, but we all know of whom we speak. (smile) That reminds me of these telling words of Jesus. ‘Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.’ (Matt. 15:14) And unfortunately, that’s exactly where we are right now…in the bloody ditch!
Anyway friends, most of us can’t do anything on the big stage, but we can on our small, individual ones, and hopefully we’re doing positive stuff there. But we all have the glorious opportunity to use the greatest tool in our world – prayer, both individually and corporately. So let’s use it corporately right now nuh, through our Friday Chant. Let’s call on the Creator of the universe and all therein for His timely and divine help. All together now in sincere, contrite, but confident hearts and voices.
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. And now, on top of all that, we have racial riots and protests to put up with. Oh Lord, yuh know we can’t handle it on our own and desperately need Your help.
Yes, heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Ah mih people, we need to keep on praying, praying without ceasing, and being true and faithful believers, because our world doesn’t seem to be getting better; we’re caught in a seemingly unbreakable cycle. But we know that with sincere prayer and true repentance our great God will come through for us. This too shall pass. But we need to first stand up and face the music – mano a mano! Much LOVE!
…rebellion against God…can only be cured by sincere repentance…
10 Jul 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a stumbling block, abide in Him, anxiety, assurance, be strong, be yuh best, believers in Christ, book learning, Christ, confusion, damage, enjoy the fruits of your labour, faithful believers, faithfully promised, fight the good fight, flooding, foolishness, formal education, Friday chant, God's thoughts and ways, grace, havoc, he who endures to the end, heatwave, higher than ours, in word and deed, introduce a whole new flock, is stronger than men, is wiser than men, keep on keeping on, life experience, look yuh best, LOVE, no air conditioning, no other name like Jesus, not falter, not give up, nothing is impossible, omnipotent help, our heavenly Father, pandemic, peace, protests, quench the fiery heat, recourse, regardless of the circumstances, restoring faith in you, serious setbacks, show them, sinful world, slaving in the boiling heat, stand strong and steadfast, strength, strife, take courage, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the crown of glory, the error of their ways, the foolishness of God, the Greeks seek after wisdom, the Jews require a sigh, the message, the power of God, the weakness of God, the weekend, the wisdom of God, trusting faith, unrest in the streets, wake up and smell the coffee, we preach Christ crucified, what a hot week, will be richly rewarded, wisdom in spades, wise guidance
1 Corinthians 1:25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Grace and peace and LOVE from our heavenly Father be unto you this Friday morning my fellow believers in Christ Jesus! It’s a new day and His mercies are new! Glory be! And the message is that we must abide in Him, regardless of the uncomfortable and dangerous circumstances that surround us, we must be strong and not falter, not give up, for he who endures to the end will be richly rewarded! And all God’s children said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’
Yeh friends, there’s no other name in the universe like that of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, to whom NOTHING is impossible and through whom we can do ANYTHING He desires of us! So let’s take courage, strength and assurance from those facts today nuh and keep on keeping on, keep on fighting the good fight for which we were created so that we can eventually win the crown of glory that we’ve been so faithfully promised! Sermon done! (smile)
It’s time to hear what the ordinary workingman has to say. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! And best of all, the weekend is upon us! But what a hot week this has been! Oh brother, both outside and inside, especially in the blooming slave master factory that don’t have no air conditioning! Steups!
What a cheap man! He refuse to spend the few dollars to put it in, even though they tell him it going to make the machinery last longer, not to mention his employees. We all lost a couple pounds this week, including him, slaving in the boiling heat! To tell the truth though, sometimes the AC not even good enough at home to quench the fiery heat during the nights and them. It’s what you call a real heatwave…and it looks like it going to last even longer.
Just hope the weekend not too bad nuh so I can get some much needed rest… And then this pandemic and strife thing still going on, with no end in sight to them either…What a bam bam! Pandemic, strife and heat! What a glorious trio! And not even a drop of rain to put out the fire. Although Toronto got a good deluge this week for an hour or so that cause a whole lotta flooding and damage, but nowhere else on the outskirts had anything but a li’l drizzle.
But what yuh going to do eh? Life’s never been easy…and nobody ever said it was ever going to be either. Yuh just have to live it as best yuh can…look yuh best and be yuh best, enjoy the fruits of yuh labour and say thank God for Fridays and weekends yes!’
Ah mih people, the ordinary workingman might not have a lot of book learning, but he does have life experience that no amount of formal education can ever teach, and it would be very wise of us to pay some attention to his pronouncements, because remember the Lord uses the simple and foolish to upset the applecart of the wise and powerful.
As Bruh Paul so nicely and wisely put it to the fractious, infighting and thus divided church at Corinth. ‘Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer (debater) of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (the message preached) to save them that believe.’ (1 Cor. 1:20-21)
Yeh friends, it wasn’t by wisdom that the world learned of Christ Jesus, but by the message of the cross preached by simple men and women, to those who chose to believe. As Bruh Paul continues: ‘For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.’ (1 Cor. 1:22-25)
Oh my people, even on His worst day, God’s foolishness and weakness is much wiser and much stronger than man’s best! For remember, He said quite plainly that His ways and thoughts are way above ours. (Is. 55:8-9) And logically, they would have to be for Him to do all the awesome things that He’s done. So please let’s pay serious attention to Him nuh, for though it might sound like foolishness to the world’s way of thinking, it’s actually wisdom in spades.
Now let’s go home showing true wisdom, falling on our bended knees and offering up prayerful sentiments to Him in the form of our Friday Chant. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us.
And now, on top of all that, we have racial riots and protests to put up with. Oh Lord, yuh know we can’t handle it on our own and desperately need Your help. Yes, heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And having said all of that, our only recourse now is to be faithful believers, both in word and deed! Much LOVE!
…whether times are good or bad…Christ is ALWAYS the answer…
03 Jul 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 4th July weekend, agree to disagree, anxiety, bacchanal, being responisble, bring backsliders back, brought to desolation, Canada Day holiday, citizenship responsibility, common sense, confusion, contemplate the situation, divided against itself, division, embrace your love and compassion, every city or house, every kingdom, fear not, fervently pray, Friday chant, heavenly Father, in a positive manner, in the name of Jesus, introduce a whole new flock, let's not disappoint Him, light of the world, loss to life and property, LOVE, no weapon formed against us will prosper, omnipotent help, only God alone knows, positive results, riot, rocket science, salt of the earth, serious setbacks, shall not stand, sinful world, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, street protests, strife, summertime, systemic racism, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, Thank God is Friday, unexpected storm, virus pandemic, wake up and smell the coffee, win this thing for Jesus, wise guidance
Matthew 12:25. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
It’s late, it’s late, it’s late! But, with the Lord’s help, it’ll be great, it’ll be great, it’ll be great! (smile) Morning mih bredrin! How goes it this Friday morning in early July eh? I know some people are singing: ‘Summertime, summertime, summertime!’ enjoying the constant warm weather at last. However, many others are more concerned about all the unprecedented problems that have recently raised up their ugly heads in our society.
But not to worry, our great God is still in control, and He has promised that no weapon formed against His children will prosper. And Jesus’ two most famous words were: ‘FEAR NOT!’ So let’s do just that nuh; don’t be afraid, but work within the parameters of which we are capable and do our li’l part to help remedy the situation, if it’s only being responsible in a positive manner. And the sermon done right there! (smile)
Now let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! Yeah! And the Canada Day holiday broke up the work week nicely! That day of rest in between was wonderful! This is the best I’ve felt after the few weeks that we’ve gone back to work! Glory be! But the sad part is that the same problems we had last weekend, we still have them! Nothing seems to be getting better in either the virus pandemic or the strife and protests!
And with the 4th of July celebrations this weekend down in the U.S, yuh could imagine the bacchanal that going to happen down there with all the confusion that already taking place! Ah Lord eh! Good thing ah living in Canada yes, where we a li’l more law abiding and responsible. But when will we ever get back to normal eh, and when this systemic racism thing going to get fixed eh? Only God alone seems to know yes!
But ah certainly hope we see some positive results in either case sometime soon oui. Ah tired with it now. Ah can’t go out as ah want to, and when I do go out, is always somebody marching in the streets or causing some riot somewhere! Steups! Yes, ah know people have problems, and have rights and want rights and all that, but what about my rights eh? Nobody not concerned about them! Nobody concerned that their rights impinging on mine!
What a world we live in eh Dr. Jack! Ah only hope mih children don’t have to grow up in that sorta mishmash, unruly, divided and irresponsible world nuh! But all I could do right now yes is simply shake mih head and say thank the Lord is Friday, and ah have some time to sit down and contemplate the situation!’
Yes friends, we all need to take some time and contemplate the situation; both as individuals, as well as members of the overall society, and see how we can best put our gifts and talents to work to help improve it. It’s our citizenship responsibility. We won’t always agree, but as they say, we can agree to disagree, and thus get rid of the many small, petty and unimportant things that cause the division amongst us. Jesus said it very clearly: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.’
That’s not rocket science my people, but simple common sense. I’m forgetting though, that common sense is in very short supply these days. (smile) And we’re so foolish, that we seem to prefer to destroy our society, rather than come to some workable agreement. Anyway, as saints of Christ, the first thing we ought to do in any given situation is turn to our heavenly Father and pray, ask for wisdom and guidance to handle the prevailing situation. So let’s do that right now nuh; let’s cry out to Him in humble confidence through our Friday Chant, our prayer for mercy and grace, wisdom and understanding.
As one loud and sincere voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. And now, on top of all that, we have racial riots and protests to put up with. Oh Lord, yuh know we can’t handle it on our own and desperately need Your help.
Yes, heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Yes friends, the Lord heard our prayer, and as we spoke, He was already putting His plans into action to help us. Now it’s our turn to satisfy our part of the covenant, the partnership we have with Him, time to be responsible and show the true colours of Christianity with which we will conquer this evil world! The Lord is counting on us friends, so please, let’s not disappoint Him nuh! Much LOVE!
…as true salt of the earth…and lights of the world…we can win this thing for Jesus…
05 Jun 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith, a whole new flock, be responsible, beat one thing to death, blown up in our faces, bring backsliders back to your fold, bury our heads in the sand, by word or our epistle, comfort your hearts, common sense, confusion, Covid-19 virus, defeat the virus and unrest, equality, establish you, fairness, Friday chant, from Almighty God Himself, given us everlasting consolation, glad to see the weekend, good hope through grace, havoc, hold the traditions ye have been taught, in every good word and work, in the name of Jesus, let cooler and more sensible heads prevail, live in peace and dignity, not accustomed to the hard labour, off the shop floor, omnipotent help, one foolish policeman, our sinful world, overtime, picking me up, protests, riots, rocket science, serious setbacks, stand fast, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, sure and wise guidance, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the best place to seek help, the glaring truth, the news media, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee
2 Thessalonians 2:15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle (acknowledge the totality of the apostolic doctrine).
And it seems another glorious day is in the offing… a hot one too! So please put on your A/C and get ready for it. I know the duchess and I will disagree, (smile) but I simply can’t stand another hot air day in our bedroom, while she languishes cool and comfortable in the family room. I don’t understand the sizable temperature difference between downstairs and upstairs either. I could not even sleep properly when I went to bed in the early hours of this morning because of the heat. But we’ll see how it plays out… (smile)
And since it’s Friday…another one in the long line, let’s see what the ordinary workingman has to say for himself nuh. As usual, he declares, though not with a whole lot of enthusiasm: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! And ah really glad to see the weekend oui, because mih ole bod real tired, it still not accustomed to the hard labour I put it through, and it just dying for some rest and respite from it. And ah have to chuckle because before this pandemic thing, I use to work the regular hours plus overtime and never feel as tired as I do now.
Don’t even mention overtime to me now nuh, else you might just end up picking me up off the shop floor. That is what some two months of no work will do to you. But on more serious matters… whatever happening in we world today eh? On top of this pandemic business, all over the world, we now have riots and protest and what have you because of one foolish policeman. Well I guess you could call it the straw that break the camel’s back because the racism thing still going on strong all over the world, and apparently getting more blatant than ever. Steups!
The protests so hot and in yuh face that people even forget about the pandemic that was just killing we in droves…and in fact still killing we, although the news media now focusing more on the riots and protests. That’s their style…beat one thing to death, until something else comes along, then move on and beat that to death. Ah Lord, ah not able nuh. Ah just want to spend a quiet weekend with mih family and rest and recuperate so I can go back out on Monday and earn a living. Thank God for Fridays and weekends oui!’
And friends, I know that many of us feel like the ordinary workingman, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand and hope that our problems will go away. That’s what we’ve been doing for too long now, and why the situation has reached this point of apparently no return. Oh, very few of us can make the systemic changes that are needed, but we can all make the changes needed in our small communities and individual lives. And the glaring truth is that if we had done it before like we ought to, it would not have blown up in our faces now!
And many of us are trying to still sweep it under the rug or pretend that it doesn’t exist and doesn’t matter, but it does exist, and it does matter! And if we don’t deal with it seriously now, it will just get worse in our children and grandchildren’s lives. Is that what we want for them? I certainly hope not. So please, let cooler and more sensible heads prevail nuh and let’s sincerely work towards some more equality and fairness in our world. It’s just simple common sense, not rocket science, that is if you want to live in peace and dignity, and in the long run will benefit us all.
But yuh know what? The one thing ALL of us can do is pray. And that’s certainly one of the reasons the Good Lord is allowing all this disaster to rain down on us right now…He wants to hear more often and more sincerely from more of us. So let’s invoke our Friday Chant nuh. in strong voice, with sincere hearts.
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. And now, on top of all that, we have riots and protests to put up with. Oh Lord, yuh know we can’t handle it on our own and desperately need Your help.
Yes, heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
What more can I say eh friends? Not a whole lot. And we’re going to end with these reassuring and comforting words of Bruh Paul to the Thessalonians. ‘Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle (acknowledge the totality of the apostolic doctrine). Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath LOVED us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thess. 2:15-17) Much LOVE!
…in EVERY situation…the first and best place to seek help…is from our Creator…Almighty God Himself…
29 May 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a spirit of fear, absentee ruler, be responsible, bring backsliders back to your fold, casting of blame, compassion, confused world, Covid-19 virus, crapaud smoke we pipe, desperately needed stability, differences of opinion, disagreement, disciplined mind, divine plan, Friday chant, God hath not given us, gospel truth, heightened calamity, his thoughts higher than ours, lockdown restrictions lifted, LOVE, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God, pandemonium, physical distancing, physically harder, power, resentment, resoring faith, rhetoric, sound mind, stand strong, stay safe, steadfast action, talk is cheap, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the error of their ways, the reins of his universe, trusting faith, very present on His throne, wake up and smell the coffee, weak-kneed ruler, what a crazy world we live in, wise guidance
2 Timothy 1:7. For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power (His Holy Spirit), and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.
And then it was Friday, the last day of the normal workweek; a week of heightened calamity and tension, hatred and overflowing resentment around the world… all of that within the current upheaval caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Oh friends, our world is now in a state ripe for exploding, and if we don’t lessen the tension soon, it will certainly explode. At one stage the pandemic seemed to be bringing us together, but with all the divisive rhetoric spouted on it, highlighting differences of opinion on what it is and where it came from and how to cure it, the obvious and nasty casting of blame and if it’s even true, the stage is set for a lot of national and international disagreement.
But faithful saints of Christ, please let us remember who created this universe; our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God! And let’s not forget that He is still in complete control of it and whatever goes on therein, and He is not an absentee or weak-kneed ruler, but He’s very present on His throne and has the reins of His universe well in hand. And that means He knows what is happening and why He’s allowing it. It’s all happening according to His divine plan. Remember His thoughts and ways are higher than ours so we’ll not understand all that happens.
Therefore we must not let fear, worry, anxiety and all the other negative emotions bury us under their heavy yoke and cause us to lose faith, for faith in Almighty God is the only thing that will successfully see us through all the current problems we’re facing. Remember that majestic and most assuring verse of scripture from Bruh Paul to Timothy and now to us: ‘For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power (His Holy Spirit), and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’
Well NOW IS THE TIME for us to put that verse into steadfast action; to stand strong and faithful in the reverence, assurance, wisdom and LOVE of our great and faithful God! Remember, in His Word, He also says that he who survives to end will receive a crown of glory. So please let’s fight the good fight, run whatever race we have to run with diligence and excellence and the utmost faithfulness, so that we can prevail in the end. And no, I haven’t forgotten that today being Friday, many of you are looking forward to what the ordinary workingman has to say.
And as always, he opens – though somewhat less energetically than usual – with this proclamation: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! And thank God the weekend is here at last too. It’s the second week of work since some of the lockdown restrictions lifted…the first full one, since last week Monday was Queen Vic holiday. And am I ever glad to see the weekend, because after such a long time off work, the body’s gotten soft and flabby and thus the work’s become physically harder. And I still need to get back accustomed to waking up so early in the morning.
But what a crazy world we live in eh Dr. Jack? Like they let some of us out from the zoo, the way we behaving like wild animals with no responsible physical distancing and such, although we still in the throes of the pandemic! Steups! Mankind is something else yes! That’s why they say we’re our own worst enemy…and that’s the gospel truth! No other animal quick to destroy themselves as we humans are. And sadly my views doh make any difference to anybody nuh. All I could do is my best yes…and hope and pray that people soon wake up and realize how bad the situation is oui… Otherwise crapaud certainly smoke we pipe!’
And there’s no doubt whatsoever about it friends, if we don’t wake up very soon, there will be pure pandemonium around our world; pandemonium like we’ve never seen before, or might ever see again! And as individuals, there’s not much we can do about the situation, but together, as the Church, as Christ’s body in this confused world, we can stand together and make our voices heard, and behave in a right and responsible manner, and hope and pray! So let’s start with the praying part right now nuh, our Friday Chant.
As one now, in strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…some of it from work, as many of us are now back to work in varied ways, but most of our anxiety still comes from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus still causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. But with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat this virus.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who have to go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Yes friends, we’ve fulfilled the praying part of the solution, let’s now turn our attention to the hope and responsible behaviour that must be done if we’re to be successful in defeating this virus and bringing some desperately needed stability to our world! Much LOVE!
…talk is cheap…especially when action is what’s needed…
08 May 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: another day of inactivity, anxiety, anxious time, before men, boredom, bring mankind to their senses, Coid-19 virus, divided leadership, false, fighting for medical supplies, fretting, Friday chant, glorify your father in heaven, hid under a bushel, illiminate darkness, lack of income, let your light so shine, light shining through darkness, making me feel old, misssleading, omnipotent help, our earthly purpose, pandemic, protesters, reflect Christ, restoring faith, saints in Christ, scads of information, sensible and safe solution, staunch the flow of death, stop the bloody virus, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, they may see your good works, trodden underfoot, uncertainty, wake up and smell the coffee
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Welcome to Friday friends and another weekend off for the relatively small number of us who have been working all week. For others, it’s just another passing day of inactivity, lack of income, anxiety, fretting and boredom. Uncertainty is still in the air and it seems like there is no unity in how to handle this uncertain situation. Leadership is divided, and nations and states and provinces and cities are doing things differently, fighting for the medical supplies they all need to staunch the flow of death that’s currently happening.
Now what does all of that say about mankind eh? If we can’t get together for the greater good of all in a pandemic time such as this, what hope is there for us to get together in times of no pandemic eh? Ah Lord eh? I don’t know what it will take to bring us together as our great God desires nuh! I guess nothing but Jesus’ Second Coming will ever bring mankind to their senses! Anyway, it’s Friday, so let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say for himself nuh.
And he begins with a rather lacklustre: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! Although nothing seems different to me…and it isn’t, since I’m not working, so there’s no weekend to look forward to. I’m simply lazing about, doing a few odd chores around the house, getting under mih wife’s foot and skin. Even playing with the children getting tiring now, because they have more energy than me. I just hope they fix this thing soon yes, because this inactivity slowly driving me mad.
And as every day pass by without me doing anything substantial, I have to sadly chuckle about how I missing the slave master work! Hn! Never thought that would ever happen. But as they say, after one time is two oui! Steups! Sometimes I even want to go and join the protesters who want the place to open back up. But that is not too smart until we have a safe way to do it.
And yuh know, is not even the money ah losing that bothering me so much nuh, because we mostly staying home, we getting by with the few dollars from the government. But is the whole uncertainty surrounding everything and the scads of information yuh getting, plenty of it false and misleading, that not really telling yuh anything yuh really want to hear; something solid and concrete they doing to stop the bloody virus! Chuh man! This thing making me feel older than mih years yes! Just hope and pray they find a sensible and safe solution soon yes!’
Oh friends, all of us are hoping and praying for the same thing; a safe and sensible solution to this pandemic situation! But who knows how long and what form it’s going to take eh? In the meanwhile, all we can do is hope and pray and do the sensible things like social distancing and washing of hands as often as possible and encouraging each other in whatever sensible ways we can. So let’s do the first thing we ought always to do nuh in uncertain situations; pray! Let’s chant our Friday Chant, that’s been reworked for this uncertain and anxious time.
As one strong and confident voice, but with humility of heart: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. It’s been pretty rough…though not from work, but from all the confusion and havoc that the Covid -19 virus causing. We not accustomed to that Lord, and it really telling on us. But with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat this virus. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, and also introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And having prayed that prayer my people, we’ve now got to ask ourselves if we’re doing the things, behaving the way that will cause others to want to come to Christ? Can the fruit of these awesome words of Jesus be seen in us? ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: Ye are the light of the world.’ (Matt. 5:13-14) Oh my people, unless others can feel our saltiness and see our bright light shining through their darkness, like a city set on a hill, then we’re not doing what Jesus desires of us. Instead we’re being like salt that’s lost its flavour and is thus no good but to be trodden underfoot. And also we’re hiding whatever light we may have under a bushel or a basket.
Friends, light is not meant to be hidden, that’s the purpose of darkness. Light is meant to be shone brightly forth, to illuminate darkness. So please, let’s get ourselves together as true believers and do what Jesus desires of us nuh. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ That’s our earthly purpose my fellow saints in Christ, so let’s get to it nuh! Much LOVE!
…only when we truly reflect Christ…will others want to come to Him…
P.S. Hope yuh notice how short and early it is today! (smile) Much LOVE!
27 Mar 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: bring back a lot of backsliders, called thee by thy name, Controller of the universe, Coronavirus, Covid-19 virus, defeat this virus, eventual redemption, fea not, forefathers sinned, Friday chant, get on everybody's nerves, give thanks, gone stir crazy, have his his face from you, have separated you from God, he will not hear, help others, here we go again, I am the Lord thy God, I gave Egypt for thy ransom, I have redeemed thee, I will be with thee, in the name of, iniquitiy, Jesus Christ, lockdown, monumental storm, our Lord and Saviour, pass through the waters, people panicking, pray without ceasing, prayer, put our faith into action, Ray Charles, rejected the Lord, sinful cesspit, stand strong and steadfast, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the Holy One of Israel, the Lord's wrath, they shall not overflow thee, thou art mine, thou shalt not be burned, through the rivers, wake up and smell the coffee, walkest through the fire, weekends, your hands are defiled with blood, your iniquities, your lips have spoken lies, your sins
Isaiah 59:2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
As the Genius – Ray Charles, would sing: ‘Here we go again. Another day of Coronavirus lockdown again… Wonder when this live play, this serious tragedy, will end? Oh, by the minute, it just seems to be getting worse…No light at the end of the tunnel yet!’ Ah friends, it is indeed a pretty rough and serious situation, but please remember that we worship the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator and Controller of the universe! And He has promised us that we should not fear, for anything that comes against us, He will be right there to guide, lead and accompany us through it.
Remember these awesome words of promise declared through His prophet, Isaiah. ‘But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon (scorch) thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.’ (Is.43:1-3)
Yes friends, though Israel deliberately rejected the Lord as their king, He yet reassured them of His eventual redemption from earthly spiritual and physical bondage, as well as that to come in eternity. And He has kept His promise to one and all, including we, the Gentiles, by sending His one and only Son Jesus to die for our sins and redeem us. But as it was from the day our forefathers sinned in the Garden of Eden and listened to the voice of the evil serpent, sin has separated us from our Holy God. And sometimes, when we get so sinful and corrupt on a national, and like now, a worldwide basis, the Lord has to remind us of our very unbecoming behaviour, which He won’t tolerate forever.
Listen to His words to Israel, through Isaiah again. ‘Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood (bloodshed), and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity (empty words), and speak lies; they conceive mischief (trouble or evil), and bring forth iniquity.’ (Is.59:1-4)
Oh my people, just like the Israelites sins separated them from God, so do ours right now! And there’s no one around, and in their right mind who can truthfully say that our world is currently not a sinful cesspit; possibly the most sinful it’s ever been! And I don’t know why we think that other sinful societies suffered the Lord’s wrath, but we will not. And it’s amazing how the Lord could point out our iniquity through such a small and yet very dangerous germ. His ways of working are indeed very mysterious…but also very productive! (smile)
And it’s good to see that people are taking it seriously and are remembering that God is still on His throne, still controlling things, and at least trying to turn back to Him. Enough preaching for the day though. (smile) It’s Friday, so let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! Thank God for the Coronavirus yes…! Well not really, except for the fact that it’s my second week off work with pay, and that’s nice. But you can only take your family being always around you for just so long, then everybody begins to get on everybody else’s nerves. And you can only go around the block so often in a day.
Steups! I’m getting stir crazy! And ah have to laugh too, because I’m actually missing work and my buddies down there. Chuh! I can only drink so much by mihself too! And the wife has definitely gone stir crazy, since she’s not accustomed to having all of us underfoot the whole bloody day, every day! And to make matters worse, all you can hear on the radio and tv and social media is about the virus; how so many people have it, and how it killing so many people. And we still don’t have no real way to fight it. No wonder people panicking! But what can I say or do in my li’l corner eh? Nothing but thank God for Fridays and weekends yes, and hope they find a cure soon!’
Ah friends, I’m sure a lot of people feel useless like the ordinary workingman there, but we all are useful in these trying times. And the first and most important use we can put ourselves to is that of prayer. And then if we can help anybody else in whatever safe shape or form, then please do so. And since it’s Friday, let’s chant our rejigged Friday Chant in answer to the workingman’s song. All together now, with strong voices and sincere hearts:
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. As usual, it’s been kinda rough, but a different kind of roughness than normal. All this confusion with the Covid -19 virus and the monumental storm and the seemingly unending havoc it bringing…we not accustomed to that Lord. But with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat this virus.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, and also introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, let’s put our faith into action, as Jesus so desperately desires of us. Much LOVE!
…pray without ceasing…and remember…to give thanks too…
20 Mar 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a disciplined mind, a holy calling, a means of restoring faith, a partaker of the afflictions, a sound mind, according to God's purpose, back to your fold, backsliders, be not ashamed of, breaking mih back with work, church at Ephesus, compassion, Coronavirus, faith, find a cure soon, forgivenss, Friday chant, God hath not given us, God's great universe, grace, Holy ghost power, inclement weather, Jesus running our show, leader extraordinaire, LOVE, mercy, of power, pandemic, rise up, Scrip-Bit friends and family, seriousness of our predicament, social distancing, stand strong and steadfast, stir up our passion, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the ordinary workingman, the slave master, the spirit of fear, the testimony of Christ, this sinful world, Timothy, Top o' the morn, tough faithful lead the way, tough times, trust, wake up and smell the coffee, washing of hands, wet and windy, with God's help
2 Timothy 1:7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.
Well top o’ the morn to all you wonderful Scrip-Bit friends and family! And I mean that in a general sense because it’s already a tad late, due to my early morning bed time and consequently late rising. (smile) But all that’s a part of life, and we just have to take it and accept it with God’s good grace. Hn, hn, hn! It sounds like I’m making an excuse for something eh? Who knows? But the long and short of it is that in my area of the world it’s a wet and windy Friday morning. The rain has currently stopped, but the wind is certainly picking up, and according to the weather people, we’re going to have thunderstorms and all other kinds of inclement weather this exciting day in God’s great universe!
Yeh, as Job says, you can’t expect to get good stuff all the time and never experience some negative affairs. But the good thing about it all is that we have Jesus running our show, and He’s a Leader extraordinaire, so we don’t need to be worried about whatever happens if we’re walking under His awesome command. That’s why this Coronavirus, or whatever it’s called, that’s running rings around our world doesn’t trouble Christ’s believers as much as those who don’t believe!
We know that it’s dangerous, and we’re to take good and safe precautions, but we also know that our great God has faithfully promised to work everything out for our eventual good, so we don’t panic and get all wired and wound up, but show the world the true faith of Christ’s believers. And the ordinary workingman is pushing me aside so that he can have his say. (smile)
And as usual, he enthusiastically declares: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! But this is a different kind of Friday – I haven’t worked since Tuesday, because the government said the slave master should shut down the slave shop just in case we spread the virus further. And we going to get pay too… Hn! The government must be helping the slave master pay we for not working because He wouldn’t do that on his own. And as I sit here by mih window looking out on the grey and wet morning, glad that ah not in the slave master shop breaking mih back with work, I have to shake mih head and sadly chuckle.
Well, well, well! Look what we great world come to eh! Hn! Ah li’l stupid looking virus finally bring we to we knees! Who’d ever have thunked it eh? Brother! The whole world just shut down just so! I wouldn’t believe such a thing could happen if I didn’t see it with mih own two eyes. Leh we just hope that all this social distancing and washing hands and staying home together brings families back together instead of driving them further apart yes, because the family situation was really getting bad there before all this happen.
Ah Lord eh! What we going to do eh? Just hope that they find a cure soon and too many people doh die from it first, and the economy doh get so bad that it take a long long time to recover! And we keep on thanking God for Fridays and weekends, even though some of us not working and not getting pay!’
Yeh friends, even the ordinary workingman has realized the seriousness of our predicament and the urgency for prayer! So what shall we believers do eh? First off, we shall chant our Friday Chant…and I’ve rejigged it somewhat to serve this unusual situation. So let’s chant up a serious and sincere storm nuh, for the safety and survival of our world depends on it. All together in strong voice, with sincere hearts:
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. As usual, it’s been kinda rough, but a different kind of roughness than normal. All this confusion with the Covid -19 virus and the monumental storm and the seemingly unending havoc it bringing…we not accustomed to that Lord. But with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat this virus.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible, but even more importantly, bringing a lot of backsliders back to your fold, and also a whole new flock who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Ah mih people, let’s hope that when the Lord hears our prayer and looks at our hearts to see our motivation, that He will see sincerity written all over them, and thus will unleash His awesome LOVE, compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness, to help us resolve this situation in the best way possible, that will bring glory and honour and exaltation to his name. Oh friends, I can’t stress enough the importance of prayer and our salt and light leadership of faith in this panic stricken situation.
We, the believers in Christ are the ones now required to stand strong and show the unbelievers why we have such faith and trust in our Lord and Saviour. We can’t afford to be weak, wishy-washy and insincere in this abnormal time, for this is the time we were born for; the time to show the world the true and powerful attributes of our faith. And this puts me in mind of Bruh Paul’s second letter to Timothy, when the problems in the church at Ephesus were discouraging him.
‘Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting (laying) on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of (share with me) the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.’ (2 Tim.1:6-9)
Yes friends, our God has not given us the spirit of fear, but that of power; the Holy Ghost power; His awesome power of LOVE, and of a sound and disciplined mind. Let us not be therefore weak and ashamed of His gospel, but this is the time to stir up our passion, rise up from our discouragement and do God’s work! We all know what we ought to do, so with God’s help, let’s rise up and do it nuh! Much LOVE!
…in tough times like these… it’s the tough faithful who lead the way…
11 Feb 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Agag, Amalekites, annihilated, benefit, bounden duty, burnt offerings, but sinners to repentance, charles stanley, crapaud smoke we pipe, desired mercy, devoid of spiritual reality, divination, do god's work, doing the Lord a favour, fear the Lord, for thy good, he hath showed thee, hurry, I am not come, idolatry, in an excellent and diligent manner, in god's eyes, keep the commandments, loving kindness, my friend Jesus, not sacrifice, partial obedience, pledge, rebellion, rejected the word of God, religious ritual, Samuel, Saul, serve the Lord, share His friendship, share His love, stubbornness, the beloved of God, the detritus of time, the dustbin of history, the knowledge of god, to call the righteous, to do justly, to love Him, to love mercy, to obey is better than sacrifice, total allegiance to God, trust Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, utterly destroy, wake up and smell the coffee, walk humbly with thy God, walk in all his ways, welfare, what doth the Lord require, what is good, witchcraft, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, worry
Micah 6:8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and to walk humbly with thy God?
Well, well, well, we’ve gotten rid of Monday; overcome its fear and dread, and sent it to the dustbin of history, to cavort uselessly in the detritus of time! (smile) Now it’s time for us to eagerly embrace Tuesday’s purpose, which by the way, was, and is the same as Monday – to do God’s work in a diligent and excellent manner! Yes friends, the days, the months, the years might change, but our job, our earthly function is always to do the will of God, to do His bidding in a joyful, faithful and compassionate manner!
And all God’s people declared a loud and thankful shout of: ‘Praise the Lord! Bless His holy name, fear and reverence Him forever, for He is indeed worthy to be praised and exalted! Amen!’
And my fellow believers (yeah!) you ask, what is the will of God? Well hear it is, in God’s own words. Moses said it on His behalf, like this: ‘And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to LOVE him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good (benefit, welfare).’ (Deut.10:12-13)
And yes it is important to keep the commandments of God and all those other things, but possibly the most important part of Moses speech is the last part – ‘for thy good.’ Yes friends, all we’re asked to do is not because the Lord needs it, but because WE need it! It’s all for OUR benefit, OUR welfare. So if we’re too foolish, or not wise enough to appreciate that fact, then crapaud smoke we pipe! That’s the mistake so many humans have made, and are still making; thinking that we’re doing the Lord a favour when we do His bidding or keep His commandments.
Steups! Look friends…Let’s wake up and smell the coffee yes! God doesn’t really need anything from us, cause He’s sitting quite comfortably in high heaven on His glorious throne running things, but we need EVERYTHING from Him, starting with His breath of life, His daily provision, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, LOVE…etc. etc…! Without any of those things, we’re all goners!
Unfortunately though, we are behaving just like the Israelites did when the Lord admonished them through the prophet Hosea. ‘For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men (like Adam) have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.’ (Hos. 6:6-7)
And believe me friends, when you transgress the Lord’s covenant, you WILL pay the price eventually. He might forgive us and all that, but please remember that sin and disobedience ALWAYS bear a hefty price tag! Just look at Israel’s first King, Saul. The Lord commanded him to destroy the Amalekites completely. ‘Now go and smite (attack) Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.’ (1 Sam.15:3)
That means they were to be totally annihilated! But what did Saul do? He saved the king Agag, and the best of the Amalekites animals and worldly possessions. And when Samuel asked why he hadn’t followed the Lord’s instructions to the letter, Saul made excuses, as we always do, blaming the people for taking the plunder to sacrifice to the Lord. Thus Samuel admonished him with words that we all know, but still refuse to follow:
‘Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken (listen) than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (divination), and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.’ (1 Sam.15:22-23) Yuh see friends, Saul lost his crown because he did not completely obey the Lord. And like Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) likes to say, partial obedience is still rebellion against God. (smile)
And the scholars tell us: ‘15:22-23. These verses reinforce the Old testament viewpoint that religious ritual devoid of spiritual reality and of a life of total allegiance to a sovereign Lord is worthless (cf. Ps. 40:6-8; Is. 1:10-20; Mic. 6:8).’ What more can I say eh? Except to quote the age old passage from Micah, which is also our Bit for today. ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and to walk humbly with thy God?’
Oh my people, those are the basic requirements of our great and awesome, but EVER-LOVING God! Even Jesus referred to the words of Samuel, Hosea and Micah, twice to boot! The first is when the Pharisees complained about Him eating with publicans (tax-collectors) and sinners. ‘But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole (are well) need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Matt. 9:12-13)
And again, when the disciples plucked some corn from the field to eat on the Sabbath and the Pharisees complained that that was not lawful, Jesus, after telling them how Bruh David and his men, when they were terribly hungry, ate bread which was supposed to be for priests only, and how the law shows that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profaned (made common) the sabbath, and yet are blameless. (Matt.12:1-5)
‘But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have (desire) mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.’ (Matt.12:6-8) Yeh friends, ours is not to just condemn, but rather to show justice and mercy!
So let’s go home now having writ all of that indelibly in our hearts minds, bodies and souls, declaring (yeah!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know who and whose we are. As one, in strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Mama Mia! What blessed people we are! Now let’s go out and share that wonderful friendship and amazing LOVE of Jesus with the less fortunate nuh, for it’s His heartfelt desire! Much LOVE!
…to be obedient to the Lord…is the believer’s unending pledge…and bounden duty…
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