11 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, all about the money, blase, blatant, corruption, deliverance, depravity, don't give up, eyes fixed straight ahead, feelings of greed, frame of mind, glad to be alive, halfway home, hands on the plough, highly contagious, hopeful prayer, knowledge, not looking back, not turning back, please hang in there, said in his heart, seek God, snow, spawn, thank God, the atheist, the breath of life, the children of men, the fool, the human race, the Lord looked down, the opportunity, there is no god, to get wealth, unbelievably foolish, understand, wanty wanty nuh get it, Wednesday Wail, workers of iniquity
Psalm 14:1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.
Oh my people, let me begin by apologizing for the lateness of the Bit. But I was really abed rather late this morning and thus my rising was also rather late. The devil got in my spirit! Chuh! I looked at the clock and thought I saw eight, but it was really nine. (smile) And to upset the apple cart even further, remember yesterday I spoke about missing seeing the snow on the housetops? Well who says there isn’t a dusting of snow on the housetops and the ground this Wednesday morning eh!
As the ole people would warn, be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it, but then realize it’s not what you really wanted. And I guess that can be a warning for many of us this Christmas season, where we tend to desire so much stuff, half of which we don’t really need, but the season just seems to spawn our feelings of want and greed. Remember too, the old Jamaican saying: ‘wanty wanty nuh get it.’ (smile) I guess the ole fella is in an ole people frame of mind this morning. (smile)
And keeping all that stuff in mind, the Lord has led me to this rather potent scripture for us to check out this morning; something dealing with the foolishness of men. Oh my people, has mankind ever gotten unbelievably foolish in these trying times! It seems like the more worldly knowledge he acquires, the more foolish he becomes. Listen to Bruh David’s opening statement in his contemplation on the subject. ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.’
And if Bruh David thought that things were bad in his time, he should see them now. He would hold his head and bawl like crazy, such is the ungodliness and sinfulness of man. As I said earlier, it seems like the more prosperous and knowledgeable the Lord allows him to become, the more evil and ungodly he becomes. Yeah, because he thinks that all that increase is his doing. How foolish and short sighted can we be eh my people? How can we ever forget that it’s the Lord God Almighty who created us in the first place and now allows us the opportunity to get wealth and knowledge?
As Bruh David continues: ‘The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.’ (Ps.14:2) Oh friends, don’t you think the Lord is doing the same thing today? Most definitely! And what do you think He’s finding eh? The very same thing Bruh David found in his time; a whole set of ungodliness and unrighteousness, and in greater numbers too. ‘They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no not one.’ (Ps. 14:3)
And you don’t have to be a seer, or overflowing with wisdom to know and see the indescribable level of corruption that’s present in our current world. And what makes it even worse, is the blatant, blase, don’t care, ‘unfearing’ way in which it’s been promoted and promulgated! The question God asked through Bruh David back then is also very apropos to our time. ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.’ (Ps. 14:4) Oh my faithful brethren, I guess the answer to that is a loud ‘NO!’
Now check out this info from the scholars. ‘Psalm 14. This psalm could be dedicated to the atheist. With the denial of God’s existence comes the moral decay described in verses 1-6, and which was used by Paul to prove the universal depravity of the human race (Rom. 3:10-12). While the fool may deny that God is, the righteous finds in Him the object of hopeful prayer for deliverance (vs.7).’ And I had to chuckle when I read about the psalm being a possible dedication to the atheist.
And yuh wouldn’t believe how bold face the atheist and them could be nuh? Recently I heard something about them fighting to be called a church! Steups! If you don’t believe in the existence of any god, how can you have a church eh? But it seems like what they really want is the ability to become a non-profit or charitable organization, so they can reap the tax and other monetary benefits. As usual; it’s all about the money!
And I don’t know why, but the same psalm is also found in the Psalter as Psalm 53. According to the scholars, it’s been slightly revised. ‘Two major differences are apparent: this psalm (53) substitutes the generic word for God, Elohim, for the personal name of God used in Psalm 14, Yahweh. This was done evidently to give the psalm a wider appeal. Second, verse 5 has been rewritten and has become an encouraging affirmation of God’s protection.’
So let’s hear it nuh: ‘There they were in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.’ (Ps. 53:5) Oh my fellow believers, our great, powerful and ever-faithful God will do the same thing for us, because He still despises the workers of iniquity and has promised to eradicate them and send them into the realms of eternal darkness, just in His own time. So please hang in there and don’t give up!
Now let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail letting the heathen, the atheist, the workers of iniquity know right well our strong and potent position in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And please be reassured that if we keep that up, we will be rewarded with a future so glorious that our puny, finite minds won’t be able to comprehend it. (smile) That’s how great and wonderful our God is! Much LOVE!
…foolishness is highly contagious…so please stay away from it…
04 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: artificial insemination, be prepared, blessed art thou among women, challenging God, Christian faith, compassions, eyes fixed straight ahead, hail, halfway home, hump day, largesse, LOVE, make a woman conceive, man-made traditions, mercies, momentous opportunity, nice to our enemies, not turning back, rejoice, salvation, season of Christmas, Thank You Lord, the angel came in unto her, the breath of life, the Holy Ghost, the Lord is with thee, the reason for the season, thou that art highly favoured, Triune God, troubled at his saying, virgin birth of Christ, Wednesday Wail, without knowing a man, Yahweh
Luke 1:28. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail (rejoice), thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Give it to me one time: ‘Wednesday!’ Give it to me two times: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday!’ Give it to me three times: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday!’ Give it to me four times: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday!’
And now we sing: ‘Thank You Lord for this new day, even though it looks cloudy and dark! Thank You Lord for your new mercies, your compassions, that are new every morning! Thank You Lord for Jesus; Your wonderful Son, our Lord and Saviour, who lights up our lives with His LOVE and Goodness! Thank you Lord for Your own amazing LOVE and faithfulness, that’s taken away the fearful thoughts of hell, and given us the glorious hope of heaven! We LOVE You and praise Your Holy Name! Now and forever more! Amen!’
Ah mih people, those are only a few of the things that we have to be thankful for this hump day – this Wednesday morning early in Advent, as we prepare for Christ’s second coming and celebrate His first in the upcoming season of Christmas. Yes, we’re all about celebrations and gifts and food and drink, and the numerous other things we do at this time of year. We’re even nice to our enemies, (smile) wishing them ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays’ etc. etc. The sad part though is that so many of us forget the real reason for the celebrations; the birth of Christ!
We’re quick to accept and honour the man-made traditions, but the real spirit, the real importance of what happened some two thousand years ago doesn’t really concern us as much as it ought to. Where would we be if Christ hadn’t been born in that manger on that fateful day eh? Dead and dying, eternally separated from the Father, only fit to associate with the evil one. And where would our Christian faith be but for that miraculous happening? Non-existent, to say the least! That means we wouldn’t have all the blessings and promises that we currently have because of the Father’s LOVE and largesse.
Unfortunately, not enough supposed believers contemplate these kinds of things; we don’t plumb the depths of our faith to find out why it is what is. We just get caught up in all the rigmarole of the world; the commerce, the bright lights, and what have you. That’s not good enough friends, we ought to be taking the Christmas season a li’l more seriously, trying to delve into the scriptures concerning it, and learning how important it is for the very essence of our beings. And one of the most important things we ought to consider and truly believe is the virgin birth of Christ, because if it isn’t true, then our whole faith is lies and utter foolishness.
For if Christ wasn’t supernaturally planted by the Holy Ghost in the womb of his Mother Mary, then He could not be God, but a mere man like us, and consequently could not redeem us from our sins and all the other stuff He’s done. And all of that calls for a large measure of faith, not by seeing things as they seem with the normal eyes, but of knowing and acknowledging the might and miraculous power of our heavenly Father, who can do any and everything, even make a woman conceive without knowing a man. (smile)
And why should that be such a big thing these days eh, when we do almost the same thing through artificial insemination? Many woman have children now without knowing the physical aspect of a man by having his sperm injected into their wombs. But don’t get carried away, (smile) we still need the man to get the sperm! That leads to this: to deny Christ’s virgin birth is to deny His deity, and thus question the integrity of the scriptures. But thankfully, we faithful Christians don’t do that. We know that Christ had the human nature of His mother and the divine, godly nature of His Father!
And all God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Glory Hallelujah! Give thanks to God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Ghost; our triune God!’ And so we should!
Now let’s look at some of the scripture associated with Christ’s incarnation nuh. The Good Book says: ‘And in the sixth month (of Elisabeth’s pregnancy – John the Baptist’s mother) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused (betrothed, engaged) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail (rejoice), thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast her mind (considered) what manner of salutation (greeting) this should be.’ (Luke 1:26-29)
Oh, it’s certainly reasonable for a teenaged girl in a backwater town to be somewhat confused by such and exalted greeting. But our God is a gentle and understanding deity. ‘And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus (Yahweh Is Salvation). He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest (Most High): and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ (Luke 1:30-33)
Ah my fellow believers, who but our great God could come up with such a plan eh? So let’s ponder that scripture today nuh, and contemplate on our possible reaction to such a momentous opportunity. Obviously we won’t be offered that one now, (smile) but with our very imaginative and challenging God, there’s no telling what miraculous opportunity He will still pitch to us. So we’ve got to be prepared.
Now let’s go home declaring (chuh!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. All together now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ Now believe it, and you’ll certainly see it! Much LOVE!
…let’s keep Christ where He belongs…in Christmas…
27 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a doer of the word, a forgetful hearer, a law of liberty, a rainy morning, believing in Christ Jesus, cut down like grass, do good, envious, evildoers, eyes fixed straight ahead, feed on his faithfulness, freedom, fret not thyself, God of Jacob, gospel truth, grin and bear it, halfway home, hands on the plough, immaterial issues of life, in His heart, interpersonal relationships, Judaizers, laws of nature, lead sinners to Christ, maintenance work, moral law, my chariot, none of his steps shall slide, not turning back, paid for our sins, pay me later, pay me now, perfect law of liberty, physical law of God, principles of sin, sacrificial death, saving grace, social law, sovereignty of God, stand strong and steadfast, the Boss, the breath of life, the law of God, the royal law, the workers of iniquity, to a glorious future with Jesus, trust in the Lord, Tuesday Mantra, Wednesday Wail
Psalm 37:31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide (slip).
It’s a rainy Wednesday morning… And to make matters even worse, I just got up, and the first thing I heard was that my chariot needs a whole lot of maintenance work, which means a whole lot of money! Chuh! But I guess that’s to be expected since I’ve had the chariot for over a year now and haven’t spent any money on it. And as the repair man in the old Maytag ad would say: ‘Pay me now, or pay me later.’ Hn, hn! Guess I’m paying him later. So I’ll just have to grin and bear it.
And let me apologize for not including our Tuesday Mantra in yesterday’s Bit. Don’t suppose many of you noticed that eh? (smile) I had it at the bottom of my rough copy, just forgot to include it in the finished product. Oh, let me go and get our Wednesday Wail, before I forget that too. (smile) Good! I have it now and made sure it’s not too far down the page, so I won’t forget to include it. Age certainly has a way of playing games with the mind yes! And having said all of that, what shall we talk about today?
Well the Good Book opened today at Psalm 37, and as I perused it, I saw this interesting verse: ‘The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide (slip).’ Yes friends, if the God of Jacob is our God, then that’s gospel truth. For as Bruh David continues: ‘The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.’ (Ps. 37:32-33) We just have to believe that, live by faith and not by sight.
Consequently, we need to ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.’ (Ps. 37:34) That’s the Lord’s faithful promise! Remember how Bruh David opened the psalm? ‘Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on his faithfulness).’ (Ps. 37:1-3)
Now we’re supposed to already know all of that, but we need to be reminded of it every so often, so we can actually live by it. (smile) So let’s get back to our Bit. What is this law of God eh? Hear the scholars: ‘37:31. The law of God is the extension of God’s nature and expression of God’s will in His creation. God’s law is expressed in different forms, relating to different areas of His creation.
The physical law of God includes the laws of nature which govern the continuous physical existence of this world (Gen. 8:22; Col.1:17). The moral law, also called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), governs the immaterial issues of life (2 Tim. 3:17). The social law of God affects interpersonal relationships and can be summarized by “the royal law” (James 2:8). The spiritual law deals with a man’s relationship with God. It is summarized in “the first and great commandment” (Matt. 22:37-38).
Illustration: The purpose of the law is to reveal the sovereignty of God (Ex. 20:2), to place a restraint on the sinner (68:7-8), to show the greatness and reality of sin (Rom. 3:19-20), and to lead the sinner to Christ (Gal. 3:24). The purpose of the law did not change with the gospel. When the Judaizers in Galatia sought to teach their erroneous views of the law, they failed to realize that the law has never been able to save anyone. Application: As Christians, we should be concerned to live decently and orderly. (First. Ref. Gen.2:17; Primary Ref. Rom. 7:7-14; cf. Ex. 3:13.)’
Yes my people, the law of God is a valid instrument in our lives, teaching us how God desires us to live, but we need to remember that it cannot save us. Saving grace only comes from believing in Christ Jesus; acknowledging that His sacrificial death on the cross paid for our sins, and receiving Him into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour!
And since we have a li’l time and space, I’ll spoon feed us with a few of those scriptures. (smile) Re the physical existence: ‘While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’ (Ex. 8:22) ‘And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.’ (Col. 1:17) Christ holds together and preserves ALL the things He’s made in creation.
Re the moral law: ‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed (what he does).’ (James 1:25) The scholars tell us: ‘1:25. The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law. (cf. Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 10:4). It is a law of liberty because it frees from the principles of sin and death (Rom. 8:2-3; Gal. 5:1-8). And James also describes it as the royal law (James 2:8) for it is the law of the messianic King (cf. Gal. 6:2).’
And what is the royal law? ‘If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.’ (James 2:8) And we all know the spiritual law is that we LOVE God first and foremost, with all our being! So let’s go home now, declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our position in Christ Jesus.
All together now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And it will indeed be glorious, if we stand strong and steadfast! Much LOVE!
…if God created the universe and all therein…then it stands to reason…that He is the undisputed BOSS of it all…
20 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, acknowledge God's power, Advocate, amazing strenght, art a shield for me, be joyful in thee, belief, Christ is the one, christ jesus, compassion, did not sin, Enabler, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faithfulness, faults, favour, foibles, goodness, grace, grin and bear it, Guide, hands on the plough, help us do all things, high priest, in our own strength, invest, leader, looking forward to, mercy, motives of our hearts, my glory, my heart trusted in him, not looking back, our everything, our wants satisfied, outward actions, perilous times, Scrip-Bit Friends, shout for joy, steadfast and true, step out of, surrender, take a radical step, tender mercies, thank God, the breaht of life, the lifter up of my head, the seven seals, thou O Lord, Wednesday Wail, worthy to open, your comfort zone
Psalm 3:3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.
Top o’ the day my Scrip-Bit friends and family! Sorry, but it looks like another wet and cloudy day in my area. Chuh! That’s three in a row! But what to do eh? Not much but grin and bear it and open our hearts, minds, bodies and souls even more to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, because He is the One who can help us do all things through His amazing strength and goodness, mercy, grace and compassion! Glory be mih people! How blessed we are to have such a wonderful Leader, Guide and Enabler!
And all God’s people declared in a loud and grateful voice: ‘Bless His holy name! Bless the Lamb that was slain for us; our High Priest and Advocate at the Father’s right hand, who understands our problems because He faced them too, but yet did not sin. Consequently, the only one found worthy to open the seven seals!’ Yes friends, whatever we need, we can find it in Jesus…our EVERYTHING!
And as Bruh David so rightly declared long ago in Psalm 3 – his prayer of confidence in God: ‘Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.’ (Ps. 3:2-3) Ah mih breddren, today the infidel is still doubting the power and LOVE of our great God, but ever so wisely, we are still rocking and rolling in His utmost faithfulness and tender mercies for those who come sincerely seeking Him!
Bruh David in his day had numerous problems and enemies, but he was able to confront them all because of his amazing trust in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And regardless of why he was crying out to God, he always made sure to declare his ultimate trust in God. For example, in Psalm 28 – a prayer for God’s help, he 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.’ (Ps.28:7)
And I’m sadly chuckling here, because in these troubled and perilous times, I don’t think many of us take the time to acknowledge God’s power and majesty when we cry out to Him for help, we just want His help immediately. But the Lord likes it when, even in rough times, we take a moment to sincerely acknowledge His might and power, because then we truly show our trust in His everlasting faithfulness and LOVE, we’re not just out to get our wants satisfied. Remember, the true motives of our hearts are more important to God, than our outward actions.
Now hear the kind of absolute declaration we can make when that absolute trust in our God permeates our entire being: ‘I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps.3:4-6) Oh my fellow believers, if we put our whole faith and trust in the Lord God of Israel, it’s the same way He will sustain us when we cry out to Him, because that’s His faithful promise.
As I keep saying, despite all Bruh David’s faults and foibles, he knew on which side his bread was buttered, and the Lord certainly rewarded him for that sincere trust. And He will do the same for us if we come to Him in all sincerity? But unfortunately, too many of us supposed believers don’t put our whole and absolute faith and trust in Christ Jesus, we still try to do too much in our own strength, that’s why our lives are not as steady and forthright as they ought to be. And yes, I know that putting our last ounce of faith in Christ can sometimes be difficult, but that’s what faith is all about, and you won’t grow or learn until you step out of your comfort zone and take a radical step towards Him.
Oh, believe me, I can only spout this stuff because I’ve learned from personal experience, and hard personal experience too…and I’m still learning…from hard experience, because it’s a process. God is working a work of faith and trust in us, so that hopefully, everyday we can become more like His Son. That’s the long term plan. And remember His Son did not have it easy here on earth, so we should not complain if we occasionally have it rough.
Thus, we need to believe like Bruh David prayed: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) Ah friends, what a great God we serve and worship, but we can’t get ALL the benefits available unless we invest ALL the trust! It’s as simple as that.
Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our solid and uncompromising position in Christ. As one sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you stand steadfast and true, that future will be even more glorious than you can ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…it’s all about…trust…surrender…and belief…in Christ Jesus…
13 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a martyr, a testimony, Abraham, but daily they increase, deadness of Sarah's womb, did not waver, emotionally, faith, faith in action, faith is the substance, fully convinced, getting better, God doesn't give us, god moves in mysterious ways, great faith in action, halfway home, hands on the plough, heart problems, I can do all things, lack of exercise, like a mountain goat, looking straight ahead, more than we can handle, not turning back, of things hoped for, of things not seen, our daily walk with God, party and shovel, separates the sheep from the goats, shortness of breath, shovelling snow, South Africa, spiritually, staggered not, strong in faith, stronger physically, Table Mountain, talk a good talk, thank God, the breath of life, the evidence, the father of our faith, the promise of God, through Christ who strengthens me, to a glorious future, unbelief, Wednesday Wail, with Jesus, wonders never cease
Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Well, well, well, the old saying, ‘wonders never cease, but daily they increase,’ is certainly true. Yes friends, the ole fella had a wonder in his life yesterday; he actually shovelled the snow from his driveway! Glory be! It’s something I haven’t done for at least, five years, possibly more, but yesterday the Good Lord and I got out there and we shovelled like it was playtime! (smile) Obviously I didn’t go all gung ho, but simply took my time and did what I had to do. And it actually wasn’t too bad, reminded me of the days when I did it all the time; would just get out there, turn up my car stereo loud, and party and shovel!
As the old people said again; after one time is two yes! Never thought I’d be back shovelling snow, but since we could not get anybody to do it for a reasonable price, it sort of fell back in my hands. Hope it doesn’t become the norm though, but who knows how the Lord will work there. And I guess that if He does have me do it, then it will mean that I am getting better and stronger physically, and hopefully emotionally and spiritually as well. (smile)
Ah mih people, our wonderful God does move in such mysterious ways, that you have to be on the lookout for anything. But having said that, we also must acknowledge that He doesn’t give us more than we can handle, or leave us to handle it all on our own. That’s why I wasn’t worried about shovelling the snow yesterday. He wouldn’t have allowed me to go out there if I couldn’t handle it, and then He was out there with me all the time, encouraging and advising.
That’s why we can use Bruh Paul’s words to the Philippians as a marvellous tool and yardstick for all of our endeavours. It’s a scripture we’re all familiar with, but do we ever really put it into serious action? ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ Yes my brethren, our ability to do what we need to do comes entirely from our God. No wonder I was able to go outside and shovel the snow without any ill effects yesterday. That certainly would not have been possible within the last three or four years because of my heart problems. But now that they seemed to have settled down, the whole world is my oyster! Yeah!
That reminds me of another recent incident which proves the truth of our Bit. That time a couple months ago when I was down in South Africa scrambling all over the top of Table Mountain like a mountain goat. (smile) A year ago, I certainly could not have done that without dropping like a swatted fly. But thanks to the strength of Christ, I was able to do that and so much more. Oh friends, I’m saying all this just to say that the Word of the Lord is true, but we need to not only have the faith, but even more importantly show it in our daily walk with the Lord. And you’ll notice that on many of the occasions Jesus healed people, He straightforwardly told them it was because of their faith.
One of the saddest aspects of Christianity these days is that we talk a good talk about faith, but we don’t walk it with the same enthusiasm and sincerity. But if we read Chapter 11 of Hebrews, that magnificent chapter on all the heroes of the Good Book, we’ll see that they ALL had to have great faith in action to accomplish whatever they did.
And hear how Bruh Paul says it in Romans of Abraham, the father of our faith, after the Lord promised him an heir in his old age. ‘And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb (90 years old): He staggered (wavered) not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong (strengthened) in faith; giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded (convinced) that, what he had promised, he was able to perform.’ (Rom. 4:19-21)
That’s the big difference between us and Abraham my people, he had great faith, he believed the things God promised even though they seemed impossible. That’s because ‘faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) And that’s what God is seeking from us all; strong faith and belief in His Word and His promises, especially when they seem impossible to us mere mortals. Even now, when it’s more medically possible than back then, we still would doubt that a hundred year old man and a ninety year old woman could reproduce. But if the Lord decrees it, it will happen!
And that’s why a lot of us believers, are in the tough situations we’re in, we don’t believe as strongly as we should in our God and His awesome promises. The level of our faith in action doesn’t truly reflect the faith we talk. And yes, I know it’s not always easy to walk the faith we talk, but do you think it was easy for me to go outside yesterday and shovel the double car driveway knowing all the heart problems I’ve recently experienced. No, it definitely wasn’t, but I had no other choice at the time, and decided to put my faith into action. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t planning on being a martyr, (smile) at the first sense of unease, I was ready to drop shovel and get back inside to the warmth of house. Fortunately, that sense of unease never came, just a few moments of shortness of breath, more from lack of exercise than heart problems.
And I’m chuckling here at how the Lord manipulated me into making the snow shovelling a testimony, when I hadn’t intended to do that. But He knows best. So let’s go home now declaring (chuh!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ.
All together now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And if our faith is as strong as it ought to be, then we know for certain, that that future will be even more glorious than our puny minds can ask or even imagine! Much LOVE!
…faith in action…is what separates the sheep from the goats…
06 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, an unholy stink, arise, bear witness, became flesh, begotten f the Father, born not of blood, calves of the stall, can't help rejoicing, children of God, darkness, Daylight Savings Time, eyes fixed straight ahead, fat like stall fed calves, fear my name, figurative description of Christ, foraging for food, forerunner of the Messiah, grow fat, halfway home, have seen a great light, healing in his wings, in the world, Jehovah's plan, John the Baptist, light, like stall fed calves, LOVE, messianic deliverance, more than we can ask or imagine, not looking back, sleep patterns, thank God, the beauty of the situation, the breath of life, the darkness of sin, the light of God's love, the Messiah, the Sun of righteousness, the will of man, the will of the flesh, the Word, the world knew him not, walked in darkness, Wednesday Wail, ye shall go forth
Malachi 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves).
It’s sunshine…It’s sunshine…! Yes friends and Scrip-Bit family, the sun’s shining high and bright in a clear blue sky at 8 o’clock this Wednesday morning! Glory be! And I guess it’s already so high because of the Daylight Saving’s Time change we had over the weekend, where the clocks were rolled back one hour. I don’t know why they don’t stop the foolishness nuh, because nobody likes it. There are always complaints, especially about screwed up sleep patterns, and you have to readjust all your time situations. And I really don’t know who it benefits either nuh.
Now we’re five hours behind Europe, when last week we were four; possibly the same time as Trinidad and Tobago now, but and hour or something behind Jamaica… It just screws up everything, even between the provinces of Canada! What’s wrong with staying with ONE time eh? Not many other countries engage in the nonsense. But unless we make an unholy stink about it, the powers that be won’t see fit to change it.
However, the beauty of the situation is that whatever time line we use, or whatever the weather might be, we still have the awesome presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour constantly dwelling within us through the auspices of the Holy Ghost! And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful ‘Wow!’
Yeh friends, when we consider how marvellous that situation is, the only word that can sometimes come to mind is ‘Wow!’ That’s because its ‘marvellousness’ transcends the capacity of our mortal minds. (smile) But it all ties in miraculously with Jehovah’s plan for His people; re His Messiah, His Saviour coming to save them from eternal damnation. Hear how the prophet Malachi puts it: ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves).’ Oh my people, no uncertain foraging for food for the Lord’s people because ‘the Sun of righteousness,’ the figurative description of Jesus Christ, our Messiah shall come and heal and feed and comfort us. Glory Hallelujah!
And that promise wasn’t new to the Israelites at that time, because Isaiah had already promised long before: ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’ (Is. 9:2) And that prophecy was built upon by John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, when he declared at John’s birth: ‘And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring (Dawn, Messiah) from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 2:76-79).
And the scholars explain that passage thus: ‘1:78. Dayspring means “dawn” and figuratively refers to the coming of the Messiah. The clause should be translated, “Dawn from heaven will visit us.” That is, the Messiah from heaven will come to help us. God’s messianic deliverance is often expressed as the bursting forth of a great light.’ And so it should be because it brought out us of the darkness of sin into the light of God’s LOVE! And what I admire about God’s Word is that He left no empty spaces in it, meaning that each prophecy was rolled right into another one that led the story forth.
For just as Zechariah prophesied that his son, John the Baptist would be a forerunner of the Messiah, the Good Book tells us: ‘In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Matt. 3:1-3) So even Isaiah had prophesied about John’s role in the coming of Jesus. (Is .40:3)
And it was all corroborated in John the disciple’s gospel: ‘There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (the Baptist). The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name. which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:6-14)
Oh my people, what a life-saving and light emitting event the coming of Jesus was! It made God’s salvation universally available to all who believed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Gave them the authority to become children of God! Glory Hallelujah! The sad part though is that people in general, and in particular, His own people, the Jews, rejected him. But mih bredden, yuh see the Lord’s faithfulness. After promising the Messiah, the Saviour of His people, down through the ages, He finally fulfilled it by the coming of Jesus! Please let us never deny His everlasting faithfulness, or that of the Good Book, His Holy Word. It will just happen in His own time.
And for all of us who have accepted the Light of the World as our own, let’s go home telling all and sundry our wonderful position in His marvellous union. As one now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And as always, we can’t help rejoicing when we consider how truly great and glorious that future will be…more than we can ask or ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…the light shines in the darkness…and the darkness repels it not…
30 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: about your life, all these things, and the body, At the Cross Live, concentrate on today, Corville Peters, do not be anxious, do not worry, halfway home, hands fixed on the plough, He provides, hypothetical problems of tomorrow, I say unto you, inner mental stability, is not life, is the evil thereof, let us rejoice and be glad in it, looking forward, more than food, more than raiment, nor yet for your body, not turning back, one day at a time, outward physical provisions, seek ye first, spiritual priority, sufficent unto the day, take no thought, take sorrow out of tomorrow, takes the joy out of today, thank God, the breath of life, the devil's life school, the hump day, the kingdom of God, the Lord has made, the spirit of a man, the spiritual blessings of God, this is the day, to a glorious future with Jesus, trouble, Wednesday, Wednesday Wail, what ye sahll drink, what ye shall eat, what ye shall put on, where God guides, will be added unto you, worry
Matthew 6:25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for (do not worry about) your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body than raiment (clothing)?
What a way we’ve reached Wednesday, the hump day of our work week, rather quickly! (smile) And I know that many spirits are now relaxed and looking forward to the weekend. But friends, let’s not look too far ahead, for many things, both good and bad, can happen in the interim time. So please, let’s concentrate on today, and do like Bruh David said: ‘This is the day, the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:24)
That’s the best way to live people, taking one day at a time, and enjoying it too, because God has made the wise decision to only give us one day at a time to live. That’s hard enough to handle, so why bother ourselves too much with the upcoming days eh? As Jesus said: ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow (therefore do not worry about tomorrow); for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt.6:34)
Yeh mih people, as the scholars explain: ‘When our priority is spiritual, God will take care of the material, for where God guides, He provides. We need not even worry about tomorrow, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’
And that brings us to some truths about worry from Pastor Corville Peters of the ‘At the Cross Live’ Television Programme. He says: ‘Worry doesn’t take sorrow out of tomorrow, but it does take the joy out of today. Worry pulls tomorrow’s clouds over today’s sunshine. Worry doesn’t help us get ready for tomorrow because God only gives us strength for today.’
Wow! What words of indisputable truth my fellow saints in Christ! Worry doesn’t help us at all, it just drags us further down into the mire of life. But unfortunately a whole heap of us nowadays, Christians included, go to the devil’s life school of worry, and worry about everything, resulting in no peace and joy in our lives.
It’s true that our world has become a rather formidable place to live securely and without worry, but if you’re a true believer in Jesus Christ, then your worries should be at a minimum after hearing this awesome advice from our Lord and Saviour. ‘Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for (do not worry about) your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body than raiment (clothing)?’ And it is indeed my people!
And I like how the scholars explain that verse. ‘6:25. Jesus now deals with the equally dangerous tendency of those who have few possessions: worry! Take no thought (Gr. me merimnao) means “Do not be anxious.” This word means to be so disturbed about material needs that we distrust God and are distracted from faithfully doing His will.
Anxious care is the direct opposite of faith. Therefore, even the poor are not to worry needlessly about what they should eat, drink, or wear. The question Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? indicates that inner mental stability must come from the spirit of a man and not from outward physical provisions. To set one’s heart on material possessions or to worry about the lack of them is to live in perpetual insecurity and to deprive oneself of the spiritual blessings of God.’
Mama Mia! What words of awesome truth my brethren! Yes, I know it’s hard to not have, and yet to be comfortable and satisfied, but that’s the way it is in Christ’s kingdom. Remember how after our Bit, He points out all the wonderful aspects of nature and its mindless creatures; how they grow and thrive through God’s help, and that we’re much more important to God than them, so why would He not look after us just as well eh? He knows what we need better than we do. (Matt. 6:26-32)
The problem though is that we have to stop worrying about our material needs and possessions, and instead: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) Yeh friends, if we make God our Number One Priority, put Him FIRST in our lives, then all that we need will be given unto us. Note, it doesn’t say all that we WANT, but all that we NEED! Remember what we said above? ‘Where God guides, He provides.’
So please, let’s stop all the needless worrying that’s killing our spiritual selves, holding back our maturity in Christ, and instead, concentrate on seeking God and His righteousness, for He’s also promised, that if we seek Him diligently, we will find Him. Now let’s go home declaring (yeh!) our Wednesday Wail, which let’s the world know of our steadfast and faithful position in Christ Jesus.
As one now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we stick steadfastly with Jesus, then that future will indeed be glorious, more glorious than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…in Christ’s kingdom…all needs will be met…
23 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a legitimate cry, a secret Christian, an errand boy, and a hard place, be not far from me, between a rock, breath of life, confess me before men, continue steadfastly, deny me before men, develops endurance, eyes fixed straight ahead, from the lion's mouth, gald to be alive, halfway home, hands on the plough, haste to help me, hedged in on every side, hurry a little, I am your child, if you love Jesus, kicking and screaming, LOVE, not ashamed, not confounded, not looking back, O Lord my strength, Ruth Harms Calkin, save me, shout it from the moutaintops, snap of my finger, sovereign God, strengthens my faith, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the praises of Israel, trusted in thee, wait patiently, waiting, Wednesday Wail, you delivered them
Psalm 22:19. But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Well it looks like it’s going to be a sunshiny day! Thank the Lord for that, as well as for life and LOVE in this crazy, disturbed world. Oh, and we must also thank the Lord for a new desktop computer, no more fighting to get the old one logged in. But I can’t really complain too much, because ole trusty gave me yeoman service over the more than ten years I used it. But I guess it’s time to move on now, move from the 18th to the 21st century. But I’m not going easily; I’m kicking and screaming in opposition! (smile)
And in keeping with our theme yesterday of waiting on God’s timing, here is this somewhat contradictory poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s appropriately titled: ‘Could You Hurry A Little?’ Please pray with me: ‘Lord, I know there are countless times When I must wait patiently for You. Waiting develops endurance. It strengthens my faith And deepens my dependence on You. I know You are Sovereign God – Not an errand boy Responding to the snap of my finger. I know Your timing is neatly wrapped In Your incomparable wisdom. But, Lord You have appointed prayer To obtain answers! Even David the Psalmist cried With confident boldness: “It is time, O Lord, for you to act.” God, on this silent sunless morning when I am hedged in on every side I too cry boldly. You are my Father, and I am Your child. So, Lord, could You hurry a little?’
Ah friends, that’s what most of us would like the Lord to do in the trying situations of our lives. But as the poet said, the Lord’s not our errand boy to jump to our rescue when we snap our fingers. He is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and our times are in His hands, we must wait until He is ready to move. And yes, that’s often difficult to do when we are facing danger or serious life problems. But then again, as the poet says, the Lord has given us prayer so we can get answers, so there’s nothing wrong in crying out to Him for help, like Bruh David so often did.
And today’s Bit is the Bible promise for our poem, taken from Psalm 22 – Bruh David’s cry of anguish and song of praise. ‘But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.’ It’s a very legitimate cry, and many times, when the Lord thinks it’s necessary, He will jump right in and help us. But at other times, in His incomparable wisdom, He allows us to go through some stuff, oftentimes to test us, or to build our faith, since it’s only in times of affliction that we can truly build our faith.
And don’t feel badly if you don’t get an answer to your cry for help right away, because even Jesus on the cross, when He cried out in serious affliction, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt.27:46) You’ll notice He did not get an answer. So if Christ can cry out for an answer in such a serious situation and get none, who are we to complain when we don’t get any, especially when many of our cries are really petty, selfish outbursts. And it’s interesting to note, that the same cry that Jesus used on the cross is the same one that Bruh David began this psalm with: ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring (groaning).’ (Ps.22:1)
There again, if Bruh David, God’s friend and a man after His own heart can cry out for help and receive no answer, who are we to make a fuss eh? Yeh people, Bruh David was certainly between a rock and a hard place with enemies all around, and obviously felt forsaken by God, when he wrote: ‘O my God. I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.’ (Ps.22:2) Many of us can identify with that, but here’s why Bruh David earned the Lord’s mercy and friendship. ‘But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded (ashamed).’ (Ps.22:3-5))
Yeh friends, Bruh David never forgot the goodness of God to his forefathers, and rightly reasoned that if He helped them, He would also help him. So much so that later on in the psalm, he sincerely declares: ‘Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me (answered me) from the horns of the unicorns (from the horns of the wild oxen). I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.’ (Ps.22:21-22) Oh my people, can we make such a bold declaration based on the many good things the Lord has already done for us?
Unfortunately, many of us are still ashamed of the Lord and refuse to acknowledge Him in public, but please remember Jesus’ words: ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.10:32-33) As always, Jesus puts it plainly and to the point. If you can’t acknowledge Him in public, He won’t acknowledge you before his Father. That means you can’t be a secret Christian in our free religious society!
So for those of us who are not ashamed to acknowledge Jesus in public, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Him. In strong, sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And if we continue steadfastly in that role, then the future will indeed be glorious; much more than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…if you truly LOVE Jesus…then you must shout it…from the mountain tops…
16 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a lamp unto my feet, a light, acclamations, bind them, boost our spirits, Chinese food, christ jesus, empty, enlightening the eyes, eyes fixed straight ahead, fear, glad to be alive, God will supply all my needs, hands on the plough, his riches in glory, judgments of the Lord, keep our faith strong, keep thee, lack of fuel, me and my house, middle frame, more desirable than gold, not looking back, perfect, rejoices the heart, rejoicing the heart, restoring the soul, reverential awe, reward, running low, saints in Christ, stalling, sweeter than honey, tak with thee, Thanksgiving celebrations, the breath of life, the hump, the law of the Lord, this the day the Lord has made, thy word, unto my path, warned, we will follow the Lord, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail
Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
So it’s the middle frame of the week, or what you call the hump – and I’m still in J.A, enjoying some warmth and sunshine. (smile) I didn’t do much yesterday, mostly rest. A couple of friends dropped by, then we went out in the evening and had some Chinese food. But I know that some of you in chilly Canada are still recovering from all of the hectic Thanksgiving celebrations, and are just dying for Friday to come. But hang in there, it will be here much sooner than you know.
In the meantime, keep giving thanks and acknowledging the Lord’s goodness in acclamations, like: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.’ ‘God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.’ ‘As for me and my house, we WILL follow the Lord.’ ‘Something good is going to happen TO me today. Something good is going to happen THROUGH me today!’
Yes friends, acclamations of scripture keep our faith strong, keep us going, especially when we don’t have time to get into serious prayer. Those li’l reminders of God’s everlasting goodness and mercy boost our spirits when our spiritual fuel is running low, and keep us from getting down to empty and stalling for lack of fuel. How wonderful is the Lord’s Word! The psalmist said it best: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’
How marvellous! The Lord’s Word shines a light on the path we ought to tread and guides our feet therein! Give Him some thanks and praise my people, for being such a wonderful God and Father to us rebellious children of men! How could we believe anything else but that He LOVES us eh? It’s only LOVE that causes Him to care for and consider our frail bodies and souls the way He does.
And re the Lord’s Word, I like how Cousin Sol talks about it in his warning against adultery. ‘My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart (mind), and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ (Prov.6:20-23)
Oh my precious saints in Christ, isn’t that just wonderful? The Word of God is all powerful! It leads you on your life journey, keeps you when you’re asleep, and talks with you when you awaken! Mama Yo! It’s so full of everything that we need to do life in a righteous and godly manner; like a lamp giving light to show the way, as well as the instructions and consequences of staying on the path on which it leads us.
And if that doesn’t convince you, then listen to Bruh David from Psalm 19 – The creation and covenants of God. ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and (the drippings of) the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.’ (Ps.19:7-11)
Ah friends, I ask again, how wonderful is the Lord’s Word eh? It is perfect, restores the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, it’s clean and endures forever. But yuh know what? It’s also more desirable than gold, and even sweeter than honey! Brother! Then it warns you and gets you rewards for keeping it! How then can there be anything better in the universe than the Word of the Law then eh mih breddren? Impossible! Because the Lord’s Word is a one-stop shop; there you can get EVERYTHING you need for living this earthly life in a righteous and godly manner. So please, let’s go shop there nuh, for that’s wisdom of the highest order!
And for those of us who already favour that establishment, let’s go home now declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our steadfast position in Christ Jesus. As one now, in all sincerity: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
So let’s keep that up nuh, for if we do, the future will be even more glorious than we can ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…the Lord’s Word…all we ever need in this life…
09 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, celebrate birthday, computer mouse, consequences, done evil, drunk or sober, enticing, giving much thanks, glad to be alive, God forbid, God's children, halfway home, hands on the plough, hidden sin, I acknowledge my transgressions, in thy sight, is ever before me, justfied, LOVE, made him to be sin, magnanimous, memorabillia, merciful, mind yuh business, my sin, new memories, overly sinful, perish the thought, reminesced, rocking chairs, sensitivity, serve God, sin, taketh away the sin of the world, tender mercies, the breath of life, the Lamb of God, the righteousness of God, we are dust, Wednesday Wail, who knew no sin
Psalm 51:3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Ah mih people, who says that life isn’t something else eh? Remember yesterday I couldn’t get the mouse for my computer to work, bought new batteries, but still no dice? Today I had intended to go and buy a new mouse. But lo and behold, half an hour ago I decided to turn on the computer and try my best with the Bit…and who says that the mouse not working like a superstar now eh! Chuh! I don’t know if God or the enemy sent that to test mih spirit nuh, but it surely did a small number on me. Now though, I’m certainly giving much thanks as I can get the Bit done before I go out the street later. Glory be!
So what’s happening out here in J.A? Well nothing much so far nuh. Had a quiet day yesterday resting and fighting up with the mouse scene, then in the evening a few people came over to help celebrate the duchess’ birthday. Ate some food…good J.A. food, reminisced some, partied a li’l – at least I partied to the sweet live strains of the small local band and the female singer, especially when she got into some old reggae music from my time. So we made some new memories to chuckle over when we sit in our rocking chairs somewhere down the line, unable to do much of anything for ourselves. (smile)
Today we’re going up to the campus to register and get some memorabilia, then it’s free time to do whatever I like! Who knows what the duchess and I will get up to eh? We’re in J.A, so any number can play! But we still have to be cognizant of Auntie’s warning; drunk or sober, please mind yuh business, for one can get into all sorts of no no’s while on vacation, falsely thinking that one wrong thing won’t lead to another. But we all know that’s not true, for sin looks so enticing when it’s sweetly beckoning to you to partake of its delights. But hidden underneath all of that are the serious, often life changing and lifetime consequences.
And there’s no better example of that than Bruh David’s illegal liaison with Bathsheba and his consequent problems and troubles. As he says in Psalm 51, when Nathan drapes him over the hidden sin: ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified (found just) when thou speakest, and be clear (blameless) when thou judgest.’ (Ps.51:1-4)
Yeh friends, the Lord forgave him, but he paid a high price for his sin through numerous family and kingdom problems afterwards. And as the scholars explain: ‘Ps.51: The psalm gives expression to why David was “a man after God’s own heart”: he was not perfect, but he had a sensitivity to sin that few know about.’ Ah my precious people, we will sin, and we will ofttimes pray a price for it, but like Bruh David, once we sincerely repent, we will be forgiven.
And as Bruh David says in Psalm 103 – Thanksgiving for God’s mercy. ‘He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (LOVING-kindness) toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remebereth that we are dust.’ (Ps.103:10-14)
And all God’s children shouted out in sincere gratitude: ‘Praise the Lord! Give Him thanks for His wonderful grace and mercy towards the sinful children of men!’ Yeh friends, so we ought to be giving the Lord continual thanks and praise, for there is no other supposed god who treats his people like our magnanimous and merciful God treats us! As Isaiah also reminds us, although we have not done right by the Lord, just like Israel did not do back then, nonetheless, the Lord says: ‘I, even I, am he that blotteth out transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ (Is.43:25) Glory Hallelujah!
And in keeping with that promise, listen to John as he writes: ‘The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ (John 1:29) That’s why Bruh Paul could later write to the Corinthians: ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor.5:21) Mama Mia! How our heavenly Father must have LOVED us, and still does, to break His own heart and give His only Son to be a blood sacrifice for us poor, disgusting sinners!
And having said all of that, we now have to look at the other side of the coin. Hear Bruh Paul to the church at Rome, re freedom from sin’s power. ‘What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid (certainly not). How shall we that are dead (who died) to sin, live any longer therein?’ (Rom.6:1-2) That’s true my saintly brethren, if we died with Jesus to sin, (vs.3) and thus are resurrected with Him (vs.5), then we can’t serve sin any longer.
Hear the scholars. ‘6:1. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? If sin generates grace, should we encourage sin in order to cause more grace to be granted?.’ ‘6:2. God forbid. Perish the thought, may it never be, don’t even think that way. This expression of unthinkable horror occurs in Paul’s epistles more than 60 times. He uses it whenever the thought suggested is too repugnant to entertain. Sin is singular in this verse and throughout this chapter. It refers to the sin nature.’
Yes friends, we will sin…occasionally…because we are a part of this fallen world. However, once we have received Christ as our Lord and Saviour, that sin nature ought to be repressed through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Godliness should then be our continued outlook. Now let’s go home declaring (yeh!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our serious and wonderful position in Christ Jesus. All together now, in strong voice and sincere sincerity (smile)
‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And we all though that’s exactly how it will be! Much LOVE!
…we can’t be overly sinful…and yet serve God…
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