27 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abide in me and I in you, accumulation of wealth, backsliding, bear much fruit, celebrity status, Christ's power, cypress, divine plan, dress for success, evil world, faith stimulates success, faithfulness, forgiveness, gentleness, glory hallelujah, goodness, gospel truth, green fir, holy spirit, hope sustains success, Hosea, I am the vine, idols, Jesus as our guiding light, Jesus as our partner, Jesus Christ, Jesus' word as our guidebook, joy, kindness, long-suffering, LOVE, love sanctifies success, meekness, mercy, mid-week Wednesday, my father glorified, our sufficency is of God, peace, power, Prayer for Success, prudent, riding shotgun, righteousness., saving grace, saviour jesus, self-control, showing by example, strength, strife, success, success as the world sees it, temperance, the fruit of the spirit, the number one ingredient for true success, the transgressors shall stumble, the warm and loving presence of jesus in our hearts, the ways of the Lord are right, true believers, ungodly times, what I am is more important than what I do, wild wild west, wisdom, wise, worthy ambassadors of Jesus, ye are the branches, ye can do nothing without me
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Aye Friends, is mid-week Wednesday! That means we’re halfway through the workweek. Only a couple more days to go before some freedom time…
And all God’s people prayerfully declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank You Saviour Jesus! Thank You for all you’ve done, all you’re presently doing, and all that you’ve promised to do in the future! Right now we need some more of your LOVE, mercy, saving grace and strength to keep persevering and walking worthy of You.
Please enable us to be worthy ambassadors of your kingdom as we face the evil world that surrounds us. Help us to be in it, but not of it, as You desire. This we pray in Your glorious name! Amen.‘
Now here is what we can do to help ourselves. Here is a prayer for success from Dr. Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional. I believe I’ve shared it already, but that was probably a year ago, and no prayer is ever too trite or unimportant not to be prayed again. And I believe we need this one right now.
Please pray with me: ‘As I become a success with your help, Lord, let me never forget that what I am is more important than what I do. Faith stimulates success. Hope sustains success. LOVE sanctifies success. So I cannot and I dare not succeed without your power, peace and pressure in my life, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Yes Friends, in a nutshell, we need all those things to be successful, but remember the Number One ingredient for true success, is the warm and LOVING presence of Jesus in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds.
Regardless of what the world advocates, without Jesus as our guiding light and His Word our principal guidebook, we’ll never obtain true success.
That’s why Jesus drilled it into the disciples’ heads: ‘Now ye are clean through (because of) the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:3-5)
And that’s the gospel, gospel truth my people! Without Jesus in our lives, we can’t do much at all. That’s why it’s so necessary to stay close to Him, to consult with Him through the Holy Spirit that indwells us, as to how to go forward successfully with the divine plan He has for each of our lives.
And we’re not talking about success as the world sees it, with the physical accumulation of wealth, power and celebrity status, but as Jesus sees it, with righteousness, LOVE, mercy and forgiveness, because that’s the only real, true and lasting success there is; everything else fades away eventually.
Bruh Paul describes our helplessness thus to the Corinthians. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor.3:5)
And no truer word has ever been spoken my brethren! That’s the gospel truth in another nutshell! (smile)
And Jesus went on to warn: ‘If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’ (John 15:6-8)
And we all know that the fruit Jesus is talking about here, is what Bruh Paul so vividly describes to the Galatians: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith (faithfulness), Meekness, temperance (self-control); against such there is no law.’ (Gal.5:22-23)
And we shall end with some wise and choice words from Hosea when he entreats Israel to return to the Lord, as we very much need to return to Him today, in these sad, strife-filled, ungodly times.
Thus says the Lord: ‘I will heal their backsliding, I will LOVE them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots in Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the scent (remembrance) thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir (cypress) tree. From (In) me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall (stumble) there in.’ (Hos.14:4-9)
Yes Friends, the only way to bear good fruit is to have Jesus as our riding partner, have Him riding shotgun for us, as they did on the stagecoaches in the days of the wild, wild West, where a man with a big shotgun rode upfront, beside the driver as protection from marauders.
In fact, life today certainly resembles the days of the Wild West, where law and order was very difficult to keep, where everybody taught it right to do their own thing.
So my people, let’s get out there and show them what true believers are really like nuh, by living with Jesus in our hearts, and showing by example, the fruit of the Spirit that we’re successfully bearing. That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!
…to dress for success…you must have Jesus residing in you…
26 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a star out of Jacob, All praise honour and glory to Jesus, allow your faith to fail, almighty god, awesome truth, Balaam, Bruh David, clouds of life, conquest of Christ, contemplation, Controller, Creator of the universe, dark and evil world, dominion, don't despair, don't ever despair of god's presence in your life, don't ever doubt, earthly walk of faith, Edom, encouragement, eternally grateful to Jesus, forgiving, gentle reminder, glorify your father in heaven, glory, God is right beside us, God shall tread down our enemies, God's omnipotence, God's promised never to leave nor forsake us, gospel truth, guiding, guidng light, hallmark of a true believer, happiness of Israel, helping, in the darkest hours, indisputable truth, Israel, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, judgement, justice, Let your light so shine before men, light is stronger than darkness, light of the world, living a godly and righteous life, LOVE, mea culpa, merciful, Moab, never let a cloudy day ruin your sunshine, omnipotent god, our Lord and Saviour, Psalm 60, reconciled to the Father, salt of the earth, Samuel, scepter shall rise out of Israel, selflessly sacrificed, showing our true colours through examples, surrender, that may see your good works, the light of the Sun and of the Son, the Lord preserved David, the power of the Holy spirit, through God we shall do valiantly, triumphant Tuesday, trust, tumult, wisdom, wisdom from the mouths of babes
Psalm 60:12. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Oh Friends, it’s triumphant Tuesday! Meaning we have triumphed over Monday, and are setting out to do the same to Tuesday under the ever-watchful and mighty presence of our omnipotent and LOVING Deity, Jehovah God!
And all God’s children declared a loud and joyful shout: ‘All praise and glory be to Almighty God for bringing us safely through another dark night into the bright and scintillating light of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Everlasting thanks to the One who selflessly sacrificed His sinless life so that we could be reconciled to the Father!’
Yes my fellow believers, we shall be eternally grateful to Jesus for that! So on this triumphant Tuesday in the last week of August 2014, where it’s somewhat cloudy in my area, let’s go out and show our appreciation by living a godly and righteous life nuh, showing our true colours through examples, not merely words. A life that will bring glory to our merciful and forgiving God.
Let’s do as Jesus desires; be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As He humbly requested: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16)
Yes my people, we can do no better than that, in this dark and evil world. Now here’s a gentle reminder and appropriate encouragement for a cloudy day like today. I’ve shared it before, but it’s always helpful to bear it in mind.
‘So never let a cloudy day ruin your sunshine, for even if you can’t see it, the sunshine is still there, inside of you, ready to shine when you will let it.’
What an awesome truth my brethren! Those are words from a poem of Amy Michelle Pitzele, written when she was nine years old. Wisdom indeed from the mouths of babes!
So just remember that even if there is some darkness or cloudiness in our personal lives today, and we can’t see any light, please don’t despair, because the light of both the Sun and the Son are ALWAYS with us, though the clouds of life might hide them for a brief moment.
We have to learn to see the light through the eyes of faith. And our Bit today, taken from Psalm 60, a contemplation of Bruh David when he was embattled, surrounded by foes on all sides, also reminds us of the omnipotence of our most wonderful God.
Bruh David was absolutely sure of these words when he wrote them. ‘Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.’
That’s indisputable, gospel truth my believing brethren! A truth that we should keep ALWAYS before us, as a guiding light to our earthly walk of faith and LOVE!
And in the words of the false, or wishy-washy prophet Balaam, foretelling the happiness of Israel, which he saw in a God-induced trance, though with open eyes: ‘I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners (shatter the forehead) of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth (sons of tumult).
And Edom shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly (mightily). Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion (shall rule), and shall destroy him that remaineth in the city.’ (Num.24:17-19)
And the scholars tell us: ‘Primarily these oracles (of Balaam) refer to the royal triumphs in the period of the early monarchy, but these victories prefigure the greater conquest of Christ at His first and second advents (comings).
A Star: this can be used metaphorically for a king (Rev.22:16). That a king is meant is confirmed by a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, a scepter being part of the royal insignia (Gen.49:10; Ps.45:6; Amos 1:5,8).
Shall smite the corners of Moab: The word ‘corners’ is best understood as “the head” or “skull” (Jer.48:45 and Samaritan Pentateuch). The king of Israel would conquer the neighbouring countries, Moab, Sheth (most likely Shut), Edom, Seir, Amalek, and the Kenites (vv.20-21).’
Likewise, the prophet Samuel saw it fulfilled when he wrote: ‘And David gat him (made himself) a name when he returned from smiting of (killing) the Syrians (Edomites) in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants.
And the Lord preserved David withersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgement and justice unto all his people.’ (2 Sam.8:13-15)
And the scholars give us an interesting note here. ‘8:13. Because in Hebrew the ‘d’ (dalet) and the ‘r’ (resh) looked very much alike, they were often mistaken for one another. Probably Edomites rather than Syrians (i.e. Edom rather than Aram) should be read here, as in 1 Chronicles 18:12 and the title of Psalm 60.’
That does seem to make sense, since in the verses following, it’s Edom and Edomites that Samuel refers to. Anyway my people, please note and deeply believe that we serve a just, upright and faithful God, in whom we can place ALL our trust, and surrender ourselves completely to Him, because He IS the Creator and Controller of the universe.
Please don’t ever doubt it and thus allow your faith to fail you, for even in the darkest hours, He is ALWAYS right beside us… even better, dwelling inside of us, guiding and helping us through the power of His Holy Spirit.
So child of God, DON’T EVER despair of God’s presence in your life, for He has promised NEVER to leave or forsake you, and He who has promised is indeed FAITHFULL!
So please walk bold and strong in the awesome power of His LOVING-kindness this fateful Tuesday morning. That’s the hallmark of a true and faithful believer! Much LOVE!
…darkness foolishly tries to overpower light…but if it ever does…it’s only for a fleeting moment…because light is stronger than darkness…and will always overpower it eventually…
P.S. Ah Friends, it was just one of those late nights that turned into a late morning. (smile) Please accept my many mea culpas. Much LOVE!
25 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A for effort, aura of love, bah humbug, blessings, confidence, disgruntled tone, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, falsehood, fellowship, friends, give ear to my words, God's day, heavenly wisdom, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, LOVE, LOVE to hate, Lucifer's world, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, opportunities, our heart overflows with love for Jesus, peace, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, rest, reverential awe, righteousness., spiritual armour, steadfast faith, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, thankful mentality, true believers in Jesus, unfaithful, ungodly world, ungrateful flunkies, wisdom, workers of iniquity
Psalm 119:147. I prevented (rose before the dawning) of the morning, and cried (cried out for help): I hoped in thy word.
Oh Friends, it’s that wonderful day, Monday…the day so many of us LOVE to hate!
But yuh know what, instead of moaning and groaning and treating Monday like an irritation to our souls, a drawback to our sedentary aspirations, (smile) like a bah humbug day, we ought to rejoice and be glad in it. Yes my people, we should be shouting, ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday!’
No, I haven’t gone crazy, at least not yet. (smile). And why should we do such an unheard of thing, you ask?
First of all, because it means we have been granted the wonderful blessing of seeing another day on God’s great earth. Secondly, and even more importantly, we would be acting like true believers in Jesus Christ; being grateful for our many blessings and opportunities, standing strong despite our many problems, and not behaving like the unfaithful, ungrateful flunkies of Lucifer’s world.
And I’m having the faith for all of us, that one day, in the not too distant future, we’ll all begin preparing for Monday on God’s Day, Sunday, getting peaceful in our souls from then, and also acquiring the thankful mentality we spoke of above.
And all the workers of iniquity gave out a loud unappreciative sigh and declared in a disgruntled tone: ‘Chuh… stupidness!’
Anyway Friends, till that time comes, let’s continue singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with as much moxie as we can muster.
As one magnificent choir now, let’s sing: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good singing Friends! Heaven was clapping and singing along with us. And what we just sang there reminded me of our Bit… or is it the other way around?
This morning in church, while thumbing through the Psalms, waiting for the service to begin, my eye fell on that verse, and I had a small Eureka moment, saying to myself, that sounds like a good Bit for our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. And please note that wasn’t simply my doing, but was a gentle nudge, a bit of guidance from the Holy Spirit.
The psalmist unashamedly declares: ‘I prevented (rose before) the dawning of the morning, and cried (cried out for help): I hoped in thy word.’
Yes Friends, that’s something like what we’ve just done. We’ve gotten up early, possibly not as early as the psalmist, and we’ve cried out for help to the Lord, to lead and guide and strengthen us so that we can handle this day in a manner worthy of His Holy Name.
And since we are true and faithful believers, we are indeed hoping and believing that He will do as He’s promised in His Word, and lead us safely through this thoroughly bizarre and crazy world. And that’s as it ought to be my people. Every day that we open our eyes to greet a new day, we ought to send much thanks and praise up to heaven.
Now hear how Bruh David appeals with heartfelt emotion in Psalm 5, a prayer for protection. ‘Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation (groaning). Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell (sojourn) with thee. The foolish (boastful) shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing (falsehood): the Lord will abhor the bloody (bloodthirsty) and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear (reverential awe) will I worship toward thy holy temple.’ (Ps.5:1-7)
Yes Friends, thankful, grateful, faithful and reverential words like those ought to escape from our lips each and every morning when we awake. That’s heavenly wisdom!
Now my brethren, in light of all that’s gone before, let’s go out and walk worthy of Jesus today in the evil and ungodly world that surrounds us. Let’s go out and at least earn an ‘A’ for effort. That’s all He asks of us. Much LOVE!
…when we truly know Jesus…our heart just overflows with LOVE for Him…and we try very hard not to let Him down…
23 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a thorn in the flesh, Achilles heel, alignment with God's Word, blow your own horn, boasting, Bruh Paul, commendation, compare ourselves with ourselves, Corinthians, exalted, expert, for men to seek their own glory is not glory, glorifies God, glory in my infirmities, glory in the Lord, gospel truth, hard experience, innate ability, it is well with my soul, it's not good to eat much honey, jehovah god, keep on keeping on, let another man praise thee, majesty, measuring ourselves by others, messenger of Satan, my glory will I not give to another, my grace is sufficent for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness, neither my praise to graven images, pedestal, persevere, Proverbs, rough times, self-promotion, stand strong, suffering, superstar, Sydney Smith, take life with a grain of salt, trials and tribualtions, when I am weak then I am strong, wisdom, workings of almighty God
Proverbs 25:27. It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search (seek) their own glory is not glory.
Oh Friends, life’s definitely interesting and amusing yes! And sometimes we need to laugh at it and also take it with a grain of salt. What sparked my enthusiasm today was a quote from one of my daily devotionals. This quote is attributed to one Sydney Smith, but when I tried to find out about him, I discovered that there were several people by that name, including a couple of women.
Anyway, I believe they are referring to an English clergyman, wit and writer who lived between 1771 and 1845. The quote states: ‘I have gout, asthma and seven other maladies, but am otherwise well.’
That had me laughing because it reminded me of myself. I have numerous maladies myself, but other than that, I’m very well. Hn, hn! It’s like sometimes when I’m asked, ‘How are you?’ I reply, ‘My body’s a mess, but my soul’s in beautiful shape!’ And that’s often the truth.
At those times I’m reminded of the old hymn: ‘When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.’
Yes my people, that’s how we need to be, regardless of the trials and tribulations we’re going through. No, it’s not always easy, but as true believers in Jesus, we are required to stand strong and persevere.
That reminds me of Bruh Paul’s situation. ‘And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet (beat) me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought (pleaded with) the Lord thrice (three times), that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses) that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, than am I strong.’ (2 Cor.12:7-10)
Yes my brethren, in our weakness, God’s strength and majesty are magnified! So much so, that nowadays when some malady, old or new bothers me, I ask the Lord to help me with them, but I don’t keep harping on it, because I’ve learned from hard experience that some things you just need to go through, and in His own time, He will solve the problem(s) one way or another.
Now I merely ask Him for the strength to keep on keeping on, while I’m undergoing whatever ailment is then affecting me. It glorifies God when we continue doing what we ought, while undergoing suffering and rough times.
That brings us to our Bit, which is tied up to a certain extent with what we’ve already been talking about. ‘It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search (seek) their own glory is not glory.’
Rather true and wise words from Cousin Sol! Too much honey, or today we’d say sugar, is definitely not good for us, neither is too much boasting or self-promotion. As the old people would say; we’re not supposed to blow our own horn.
And as Bruh Paul wrote to the Corinthians, re his spiritual authority: ‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ (2 Cor. 10:12)
Yeh Friends, we’re not supposed to measure and compare ourselves to and by others, for that will only get us in serious trouble. In fact we should not boast of our accomplishments at all!
Listen to Cousin Sol as he opens Proverbs 27 by staunchly declaring: ‘Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.’ (Prov.27:1-2)
Unfortunately though my fellow believers, our current world is one that glorifies boasting. And the sad fact is that our standards are set so low now, that any run of the mill, mediocre accomplishment a few decades ago, are now seen as great stuff. Everybody is an expert, a superstar, or some high flying personality… that is until their Achilles heel is exposed, and they are unseemingly toppled from their haughty pedestal.
Oh my brethren, we all do some things fairly well, but we also do other things poorly. So there’s no need to boast about our doings, especially when whatever we excel at is basically through the workings of Almighty God, through the skills with which He’s endowed and blessed us with.
That’s why Bruh Paul said to the Corinthians: ‘But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.’ (2 Cor.10:17-18) And that’s the gospel truth my people!
And we’ll end with some important info from the scholars on the subject. ’10:17-18. Lest the Corinthians interpret what Paul has to say as an expression of conceit, Paul shows that, in the final analysis, his commendation comes from Christ. Paul was always careful to show that any success he enjoyed in the ministry was not due to his own innate ability, but to Christ working in him.’ (cf. Rom. 15:17-18).’
That’s more gospel truth Friends! So please, in all our doings, let’s not try to take the praise and glory that truly belongs God, for remember these specific words out of the mouth of His servant Isaiah: ‘I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.’ (Is.42:8)
That says it all my fellow believers! So let’s ponder our own glorying today, and if necessary bring it into alignment with God’s Word, through His help obviously. That’s wisdom of the wisest kind! (smile) Much LOVE!
…to boast, to boast, and yet to boast…not of myself or of my doings…but of the majesty and glory of Jehovah God…
22 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a crown of glory, a double-minded man is unstable, a world of opportunity, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, almighty god, an ornament of grace, an untenable position, another week of work, ask in faith, ask of God, awe inspiring knowledge, Beelzebub, being tossed to and fro, blessings, cast into the lake of fire, Cousin Sol, crapaud smoke we pipe, double minded, doubting, eat drink and be merry, eternal separation from God, faith, fellowship, for all eternity, freedom, Friday chant, friends, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, gospel truth, grace, guided by our Lord and Saviour, heavenly wisdom, honour, idol worship, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, jesus name, Jesus' parable, joy, knowing God, knowledge of God, living God, LOVE, make excuses, one true God, peace, personal relationship with Almighty God, praise and thanks, Praise the Lord, Proverbs, pursuit of lust, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, reverential awe, ride out the storm, right perspective, single minded, strength, sunlight of Jesus Christ, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the human spirit, the knowledge of god, the principal thing, the rich fool, the right track, things of the world, trials, troubled world, understand the fear of God, understanding, unison and harmony, upcoming weekend, vacillate, wavering, wisdom, wishy-washy
Proverbs 2:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear (reverential awe) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
Well hello there you beautiful people, it’s Friday, our favourite day!
And all hard working people joyfully declared: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes! Don’t know if I could have handled another day nuh. Praise the Lord! Thank Him ever so much that it’s Friday!’
Yes Friends, we have to be ever so thankful to our wonderful God for bringing us through another dark night into the glorious sunlight of His Son Jesus Christ and showering us with the many blessings He has planned for us today.
And while we’re in the praise and thanks mood, (smile) let’s chant our Friday Chant to give us a right perspective for the upcoming weekend. As one now, in unison and harmony. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
And yuh know what Friends? Once we get on the right track, then a whole new world opens up to us. A world of opportunity, of peace, LOVE, joy, grace, strength and faith like we’ve never imagined! That’s what knowing God does for the human spirit.
Like our Bit so wisely says: ‘Then shalt thou understand the fear (reverential awe) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.’
And in today’s crazy, evil, ungodly, troubled world, do we ever need to hold Almighty God in reverential awe, and embrace His freedom releasing knowledge! For without that awe inspiring knowledge, we’d be just like a small boat being tossed to and fro on a big, stormy sea, that will eventually disintegrate and sink when we can no longer take the constant jamming and battering.
But my brethren, with the wisdom and knowledge of God circulating within us, we’ll instead stand steadfast and strong, like a big ship on those same stormy seas and successfully ride out the storm, ably guided by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Yes Friends, as Cousin Sol so eloquently says in Proverbs 4: ‘Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline (turn away) from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: LOVE her, and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.’ (Prov.4:4-9)
And isn’t that the gospel truth? It surely is!
And furthermore, re the subject of wisdom, James cautions us: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting).
For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
And the scholars have an interesting take on verse 5: ‘1:5. This verse is not a blanket promise of wisdom for any situation. In the context of life’s trials, it probably speaks of the believer being granted (1) wisdom as to the reason for his trials and (2) wisdom to endure them.’
But sadly my people, the truth is that nowadays too many of us are either double minded, wishy washy in our attitude towards God, and thus unstable. Or if not, then we’re single minded in the foolish pursuit of the lust and idol worship of the things of the world, and have little or no regard whatsoever for Jehovah God.
That my Friends is an untenable position, for eventually you will pay a whopping price for your gross disobedience and lack of reverence to your Creator, even to the point of facing eternal separation from Him…and that’s for all eternity. And believe me, that is the worst thing that can ever happen to a soul, since that means being eventually cast into the lake of fire with Beelzebub and all his other evil and foolish minions. (Rev.20:10)
Now I’m sure none of us wants that to happen to us or to anyone close to us. But the only way to avoid that judgement is by sincerely embracing the ONE TRUE and LIVING GOD; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as soon as possible, preferably RIGHT NOW, for none of us knows when we will be called to the other side.
And if we continue to put it off, to vacillate and make excuses, we could end up being like the rich fool in Jesus’ parable. ‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’ (Luke 12:19-21)
Therefore my brethren, on this crucial Friday morning in August 2014, I implore us to take a serious look at our personal relationship with Almighty God, and make sure that we are properly aligned in His court, otherwise crapaud smoke we pipe, we’ll end up eternally separated for Him.
And that’s definitely not heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…to have ears…and not listen to what God says…is the wisdom of a fool…
21 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a prayer for solutions, action, apply thine heart to understanding, commandments, commitment, communing with God, commute, confident in god, Cousin Sol, cry after knowledge, cut costs, destiny, devious ways, discerment, discretion, do our part, don't ever give up, downsizing, dr robert h schuller, emotionally, equitable pay, equity, eternal life, exercise the faith, expectation of bosses, faith, fear of the Lord, fearful for jobs, forgiveness, god is good fair and just, God's never-ending faithfulness, God-given plans, grace, have a blessed day, incline thine ear unto wisdom, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, joy, judgements, knowledge, knowledge is plesant unto thy soul, knowledge of God, leadership of my life, life isn't easy, lift up thy voice for understanding, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, make right decisions, meeting of the minds, mentally, mercy, parent's instructions, paths of justice, paths of uprightness, persevere right to the end, perverse things, perversity, physically, poor economic situation, preserves the way of saints, prospector, raise profit margins, refreshing, rejoice to do evil, rejuvenating, reverential awe, right conduct, righteous, righteousness., salvation, shield, silver, solve the problems, stand strong, stress, stressors, summer, take command over my destiny, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the way of the evil man, Thursday, tired Thursday, traffic jams, treasures, understanding, unforgiving world, ungodly world, walk uprightly, ways of darkness, weary, wisdom
Proverbs 2:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear (reverential awe) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
And then it was Thursday – tired Thursday – and a misty one in my area this morning. In fact it’s been misty since I was sitting out on my front porch around 1 a.m. this morning, enjoying the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, communing quietly with my Maker.
And I can’t begin to tell you my people, how nice and refreshing and rejuvenating that is. Consequently, I don’t get to my bed very early these days, and thus can’t get up very early either. (smile)
Please don’t begrudge the ole fella that particular joy; because it will soon be over, as the summer floats away and the cold days become the norm. (smile)
However, getting back to the tired Thursday theme. I call it that because by the fourth day of the workweek we’re all weary, physically, emotionally and mentally, from the many stressors of modern workday life. Stressors like getting up early to get the children ready for day care and/or school, when that begins in the next couple of weeks.
Then get ourselves off to work, which necessitates a long, arduous commute for so many, standing idly by in huge traffic jams, morning and evening, and finally having arrived at work tired, needing to put up with the high expectation of bosses, of much work for not always equitable pay.
And then with the strain of the poor economic situation, many of us are fearful of losing our jobs, in a time when everybody’s downsizing, ostensibly to cut costs, but more than likely to raise their profit margin.
Anyway my fellow believers, in spite of all the stress and strain to which we’re currently exposed, followers of Jesus are expected to persevere right to the end; to pursue their God-given plans without fail, for our wonderful God has promised to bring us safely through all that comes against us, though we will also have to do our part and stand strong.
And if there’s one thing we’re ever so confident in our great God for, is His never-ending faithfulness! Whatever he promises, He fulfills. So please hang in there, for life wasn’t meant to be easy, but our God is good and fair and just, and in His own time, He will bring us to a successful meeting of the minds with Him. (smile)
Above all, DON’T EVER GIVE UP! For giving up is not numbered amongst the things believers do. Now here’s an appropriate prayer from Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H Schuller), from his Hour of Power daily devotional, which is appropriately titled; ‘A Prayer for Solutions.’
Please pray with me. ‘Lord, thanks for assuring me that you’ll solve the problems if I’ll exercise the faith and make the right decisions! Forgive me for waiting for all difficulties, real or fanciful, to be resolved before deciding to make my commitment.
I confess I have too often allowed problems instead of possibilities to take over the leadership of my life – to make my decisions – and take command over my destiny. I know, now, what faith is, Lord! It’s making the right decisions before I see solutions to all the problems! Increase my faith! Amen.’
And now that we’ve prayed those faith raising and releasing words, my brethren let’s go out and faithfully put them into action nuh, for words without action are generally worthless.
And as the passage before our Bit, in the wise words of Cousin Sol tells us, re the reward of heeding wisdom: ‘My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide (treasure) my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge (discernment), and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear (reverential awe) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.’ (Prov.2:1-5)
Yes Friends, in these very crucial and critical times, wisdom and understanding are a MUST, if we’re to navigate this evil, ungodly world successfully. And true wisdom and understanding comes ONLY from Jehovah God my people!
As Cousin Sol continues: ‘For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up (stores up) sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler (shield) to them that walk uprightly.
He keepeth the paths of judgement (guards the paths of justice), and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement (justice), and equity; yea, every good path.’ (Prov.2:6-9)
Yes my people, without true wisdom and understanding which emanate from our magnificent God, we’d be entirely lost in this unforgiving world of ours.
Now hear some comments from the scholars. 2:1-22. The conditions for obtaining wisdom are given first: one must earnestly seek it, as a prospector would search for gold (vv.1-4). It is not an undirected search, however, since the parent’s instruction is the basis. The consequences of obtaining wisdom are then listed (vv.5-22): knowledge of God (vv.5-8) and right conduct (vv.9-22).’
And we’ll end with a few of those verses on right conduct. ‘When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul: Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward (perverse) things;
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness: Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness (perversity) of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward (are devious) in their paths.’ (Prov.2: 10-15)
There we have it Friends, some benefits of seeking after wisdom and understanding through the ONLY avenue through which they are really obtained and granted; i.e. through the Most High God Jehovah!
Now let’s have a blessed day as we walk in lockstep with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in wisdom and understanding! Much LOVE!
…oh, our world would be such a much better place…if the inhabitants would only turn to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…for wisdom and understanding…which would bring them oodles of peace, LOVE, joy, mercy, grace, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life…oh what blessings…
18 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenalin, aura of love, blessed to see another day, Christ-like character, Christians, come to know Jesus, confidence, earth shattering, enthusiasm, eternal life, fellow believers, fellowship, friends, further God's glorious kingdom, further Jesus' cause, generous help, give thanks and praise, guidance, heathen, heavy load, holy spirit, honest man, humble servants, hypocrites, I am come to fulfill, I am not come to destroy, indisputable fact, infidel, invincible, Jesus Christ, Law of Moses, legalism, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, man-made laws, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, neighbours, New Testament, Oh Lord God Almighty, Old Testament, one body in Jesus, one harmonious body, outward show, Pharisees, rejuvenation of spirit, religion, religiosity, reveille, righteous, righteousness., roof of heaven, rules and regulations, scribes, show boaters, small mercies, smile, spiritual armour, spiritual intention of the law, spiritual principles, splendiferous, steadfast faith, superficial religious behaviour, superiority of Jesus' message, the Beatitudes, the clock is ticking, the kingdom of heaven, trust, truth, ungodly world, walk obediently, wisdom
Matthew 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Arise oh Friends… arise oh Neighbours… arise oh Fellow Believers… the clock is ticking… Hear ye, hear ye, the bugler’s blowing reveille! That means it’s time to rise and greet this beautiful Monday morn! And remember, before rolling out of bed to give a li’l individual thanks and praise for being blessed to see another day, and ask for guidance to walk obediently on your way.
Now before the whining and complaining begin, (smile) let’s raise the roof of heaven with a miraculous and highly motivated rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. In full voice, as one harmonious body:
‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Splendiferous my brethren! Splendiferous! That rendition was certainly earth shattering, and so powerful that it also raised heaven’s roof, like a hurricane attacking those of our earthly houses. The angels had to be quite quick too and grab it before it blew away. (smile) Yes my brethren, that’s what’s possible when believers get together and act as one true body in Jesus.
Now let’s take all that adrenalin and enthusiasm and energy and get out there and actively use it to further Jesus’ cause; His LOVE Revolution, so that the heathen, the infidel, may see and experience our Christ-like character and desire to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour too.
And our Bit today certainly amplifies that directive: ‘For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case (by no means) enter into the kingdom of heaven.’
And that’s an indisputable fact Friends! That’s Jesus, during His commenting on the Law of Moses, where he first explained: ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ (Matt.5:17)
And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘5:17. Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statements of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the law of Moses. He makes it clear that He had not …come to destroy the law. That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law.
Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.’
Oh Friends, unfortunately the same situation still exists today. Religion has built a set of rules and regulations that’s impossible for any human being to follow to the letter. And there are way too many of us making a big outward show of our supposed religiosity, like the Pharisees of old, when inside we’re big time hypocrites.
We don’t do half of what we say or pretend to do. Our actions are based more on superficial religious behaviour than true godly spiritual principles. Too many of us Christians are religious show boaters!
Oh Friends, there’s much more to be said on this topic, but we will leave that for another day, since I don’t want to weary us with too heavy a load today. (smile) But please, in the meantime, let’s ponder all that we’ve said, and try to figure out where we’re at individually, then wisely ask the Lord for His generous help to improve, to become more Christ-like. That’s one request He will NEVER refuse! Much LOVE!
…just like an honest man doesn’t need barriers…fences and doors…to stop him from stealing…likewise, the heart of a righteous man…doesn’t need numerous man-made laws to keep him righteous…
P.S. Does it ever seem short today! (smile) I had to check it twice to see if that was really all. But that’s really all! So please be thankful for small mercies. Much LOVE!
17 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Abraham, ambassadors, and not unto men, as to the Lord, ask for the old paths, celebrate, come unto me, comforted, do it heartily, economic situation, energy, enthusiasm. witnesses, eternal life, evil, Father Abraham, giving thanks, gladden our hearts, go off like a dream, godly ways of our forefathers, good news of Jesus, great invitation, Hades, hate, heathen, heavy laden, I am meek, I will give you rest, injustice, Jesus, joy, labour, Lazarus, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, lowly in heart, Lucifer, Moses, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, parable of the rich man and beggar, peace, prosperity. the ways of God, refuse to walk with God, rejuvenate our spirits, repent, resurrection, reward. inheritance, search the scriptures, singing, stand in the ways and see, standard of living, strife, Sunday, take my yoke upon you, that ye might have life, the Lord's Day, the ways of death, tormented, ungodly world, where is the good way, wisdom, worshipping, you shall find rest for your souls
Jeremiah 16:6. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Oh Friends, neighbours and fellow believers, it’s the best day of the week – Sunday, the Lord’s Day! So let’s celebrate appropriately by going to His sanctuary and worshipping, singing praises and giving thanks with other believers!
Wow! What a blessed day! And if you are too sick or frail to get out, then turn on the tube or the radio and celebrate with others that way. And if by chance you can’t do any of those things, then simply get your Bible out and read it and sing whatever hymns you know and worship with the Holy Spirit and Jesus as your companions.
The important thing is to get some celebratory face time with the Father on this restful day. (smile) But please don’t let the joy and singing and pleasure disappear when you come out of the sanctuary or turn off the TV and radio, because that is when our real work for Christ ought to begin.
Going to the sanctuary, in fact worshipping is also a means to rejuvenate our spirits, gladden our hearts, so that we can spread the joy and good news of Jesus to others. That’s where we’re supposed to get the energy, enthusiasm and whatever else we need to be good witnesses, good ambassadors for Christ.
And as we’ve been saying, it’s also the best way to prepare for that awesome first day of the workweek, Monday. Once you do right, make good preparations on Sunday, Monday will go off like a dream. (smile) And if you don’t believe me, then just try it nuh.
Now let’s continue with our Bit of the last couple days: ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.’
Ah Friends, that is such an important scripture that we do ourselves a great injustice by not paying proper attention to it. History is littered with nations and individuals who refused to pay it the attention it deserved. Please don’t let us and our society be numbered amongst that unfortunate lot nuh.
We all know that when Western society truly had God at the forefront of their lives, it prospered like never before. But now that we’ve foolishly removed God from so many parts of Western life, everything is now on the downslide.
There’s very little peace and LOVE, but lots of hate and strife, while the economic situation is terrible and the standard of living is continually falling. But yet we refuse to return to the godly ways of our forefathers.
Oh my brethren, in the ways of God there’s peace and prosperity, and rest for your souls. Listen to Jesus’ great invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (gentle) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh my people, how could we ever turn down such a wonderful invitation eh? It’s the epitome of foolishness! But unfortunately, there is a very large number of fools in this evil, ungodly world who refuse to walk with God and accept Jesus’ most awesome invitation. I’m sorry for them, but they’ve made their choice.
This brings us to a scripture in Luke 16, where Jesus is telling the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus covered with sores that the dogs licked as he sat at the rich man’s gate, eating the crumbs from the rich man’s table, where a sumptuous meal was laid out every day.
But as the Lord would have it, the rich man died and went to sojourn with Lucifer in Hades, while Lazarus was transported to heaven where he enjoyed Abraham’s company in a messianic feast. We all know the story, where the rich man in severe torment, lifts up his eyes to heaven, sees Lazarus hanging with Abraham.
‘And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’ (Luke 16:24-31)
Ah mih people, yuh see how life turns around on the other side, and how those in the nether parts of the world are suffering severe torment? That alone should be enough to make us serious believers. But sadly it doesn’t. As Abraham says, if we won’t listen to Moses and the prophets and Jesus, as I’ll show you in a moment, why would we listen to one coming from the dead eh?
In fact Jesus came from the dead and told us both before and after His resurrection, yet we didn’t believe and refused to walk in the godly paths. Now hear Jesus while talking about His relationship with the Father. ‘Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And (but) ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.’ (John 5:39-40)
Ah mih people, two thousand years later, mankind is still stupidly refusing to come to Jesus so that they might have life! But we believers are still expected to work at bringing the heathen to our wonderful Lord and Saviour, so let’s not get weary and tired, though the task seems difficult:
‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ.’ (Col.3:23-24)
That’s wisdom of the highest order my brethren! So please let’s practice it nuh. Much LOVE!
…there is a way which seemeth right unto a man…but the end thereof are the ways of death… (Prov.14:12)
15 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool's wisdom, almighty god, ancient paths, another week of work, bounden duty, burned incense to vanity, calamity, death, destruction, disobedience, earthly pleasures, Elijah, evil, faith conquers fear, fellowship, find rest for your souls, focus on Almighty God, Friday chant, fun, further God's glorious kingdom, generous help, God's warnings, God-centred, godly focus, godly wisdom, Horeb, Israel, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, Jesus Love Revolution, judgements, Law of Moses, less wise, lethargy, lightens stress, lighter in the head, LOVE, love conquers hate, LOVE Revolution, Malachi, man-made attitudes, old paths, playing with fire, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, relaxed atmosphere, rest, smite us with a curse, stand in the ways and see, statutes, tensions, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, the day of the Lord, the good way, the Great tribulation, the Lord never changes, the ways and paths of God, the Word of god, theatre of strife, turn our hearts back to God, turning away from God, ungodly path, weekend, wisdom, worldly lust, worthless idols
Jeremiah 6:16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
And this time the joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ hit the roofs of numerous workplaces. You can literally feel the tensions ease as workers turn their minds to the weekend, away from whatever work that might then be frustrating them.
It’s always interesting and amusing to see the relaxed atmosphere in the work place on a Friday. I guess that’s a natural human reaction, looking forward to a day of no work and all the other strenuous activities it brings, lightens the stress.
Anyway, regardless of the reason or reasons for our lighter Friday attitude, let’s chant our Friday Chant so that we don’t gravitate to the other extreme and spend the weekend in total lethargy on the couch, in front of the tube, or unlimited earthly pleasures that distract our focus from Almighty God. (smile)
As one body in Christ, let’s chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Yes mih people, we need to take a more God-centred than worldly lust attitude towards the weekend, because it’s not there simply for pleasure but even more importantly for the rejuvenation of our spirits.
And on turning to our Bit, we see that godly focus being reiterated and strengthened. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein.’
Yes Friends, the paths and ways that our great and wonderful God has laid down for us from the very beginning of time are the ones we ought to follow, not the man-made ones that are steadily leading us down an evil and ungodly path to death and destruction!
Humans these days seem to be getting lighter and lighter in the head, becoming sillier and less wise every day. We insist on trying man-made attitudes and ways that obviously don’t work, given the terrible mess our world is currently in.
But do you think, in light of that, we’ll even consider going back to the ways and paths of God which worked for our forefathers? Hn! Not on yuh life! Instead we foolishly continue to plod further along the unproductive, ungodly man-made paths that will eventually lead to death and total destruction.
Oh Friends, when are going to wake up and see the serious error of our ways eh? Everyday a new theatre of strife seems to open up in our already seriously troubled world, unfortunately without the ending of any of the previous ones, which we conveniently forget, as our focus is trained on the new ones.
Ah mih breddren, there are so many scriptures that warn about turning away from God, let’s look at a couple. The prophet Malachi in talking about the coming day of the Lord (the Great Tribulation), wisely warns us: ‘Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgements.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.’ (Mal.4:4-6)
Oh my people, what are we waiting for to turn our hearts back to God eh, for Him to come and smite us with a curse? Now that isn’t too bright is it?
And hear the Lord again, this time through Jeremiah: ‘Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity (worthless idols), and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up (and not on a highway);
To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and wag (shake) his head. I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the (my) back, and not the (my) face, in the day of their calamity.’ (Jer.18:15-17)
Oh my fellow believers, why do we insist on treating God’s warnings as jokes eh, when we’ve seen them come to pass all throughout history? Why do we think we’re different eh?
Remember the Lord NEVER CHANGES; He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. So whatever He said yesterday still stands as gospel truth today! And if he says He’ll destroy nations for disobedience, then in His own time and manner, He will certainly do it.
My Friends, we’re playing with serious fire here, by so blatantly disobeying the Word of God, even to the point of mocking Him, and trying to remove Him from our society that was founded on His sacred Word. It’s a fool’s wisdom my people!
But sadly, we believers are the ones entrusted with the unenviable and mighty task of turning this foolish, selfish, greedy and evil world back to the paths and ways of Jehovah God. The heathen and the ungodly won’t do it because they are foolishly enthralled with the works and idols of man.
So for our children’s sake, and the sake of all our descendants, I’m pleading with us to get serious about our bounden duty, and start working diligently on Jesus’ LOVE Revolution, which is the only thing that will save our world from total destruction, either through our own self-inflicted efforts, or those of Almighty God.
Please let godly wisdom prevail. Much LOVE!
…only LOVE can conquer hate…only faith can conquer fear…only true believers can turn our evil world around…
14 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: act wisely, actions speak louder than words, ask for the old paths, be strong and of a good courage, bones crying out, break free from a limited mindset, bring me out better on the other side, caring, characteristics of Jesus, Christ-like actions, Christian brethren, conquerors, created me to be uncontainable, Creator of the universe, death and destruction, destined to be a barrier breaker, disobedience, do according to all the law, doing good, eternal life, evil and ungodly times, example of our everyday lives, experience god's favour, fellow believers, find rest for your souls, friends, frightful times, glory hallelujah, God's children, God's promise, God's purpose for my life, God's Word, good news, I won't bear more than I can handle, inheritance, Jeremiah, Jesus Christ, Joel Osteen, keep keeping on, living God, Lord God Jehovah, LOVE, meditate on God's Word, Moses, my destiny, never to leave or forsake me, obedience, one of those days, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, persecuted, potential, Praise the Lord, problems, prosperity, salvation, seeds of greatness in me, sharing, sight of faith, significant lesson, stand in the ways and see, success, successful living, suffering, talent, thanks and praise, the gospel in action, the head and not the tail, Today is my day, trampled in the dust, victors not victimes, way ahead of the game, where is the good way, wisdom, with God's help
Jeremiah 6:16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Oh Friends, neighbours and fellow believers, it’s just one of those days… I went to bed late, got up early, feeling foggy, with all the ole arthritic bones crying out!
And to make matters worse, a tooth in my lower right jaw has suddenly begun acting up, which might necessitate a trip to the friendly dentist. (smile) Oh, my dentist is truly friendly. I’ve been going to him for over thirty years.
And what’s my response? A great ‘Glory Hallelujah!’
Yes Friends, I’m giving thanks and praise, because if those are my biggest worries, then I’m way ahead of the game! Those are minor problems compared to those so many others are suffering, especially our unjustly persecuted Christian brethren in other parts of the world. Hope you are continually praying for them.
And my problems most likely won’t do me in, so I’m just going to keep on keeping on, in the holy name of our magnificent Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has faithfully promised never to leave or forsake me.
Now He never promised that I wouldn’t have problems, in fact He assured us that we would by simply believing in Him, but promised that He would not allow me to bear more than I can handle, and even then to help me go through them and bring me out better on the other side.
Wow! That’s why I can confidently say, like my Bubba Joel, (Joel Osteen): ‘TODAY IS MY DAY!
Yes my brethren, today is our day, so please affirm with me: ‘God has destined me to be a barrier breaker! He created me to be uncontainable. I have talent and potential given to me by the Creator of the universe. There are seeds of greatness inside of me.
Today, I choose to break free from a limited mindset and enlarge my vision. Today, God is taking me places that I’ve never even dreamed of before. Today, God is fulfilling His purpose and destiny in my life. Today, I will experience His favour like never before in every area of my life.’
And all of God’s children gave out a mighty shout of, ‘Praise the Lord!’
And now that we’ve affirmed all that, let’s go out and through sight of faith, make it happen…with God’s help obviously. Because through our great and wonderful God, we’re all conquerors, victors and not victims, the head and not the tail!
So please let’s behave in a suitable manner, one that embodies all those fine characteristics of Jesus; also doing good, caring and sharing, both emotionally and physically, like He wants us to do.
Oh my fellow believers, the best way to speak of Jesus is through the example of our everyday lives! For remember that actions speak much louder than words, and others are liable to come to Jesus much more through our Christ-like actions, than our good news words.
As they say, the gospel in action is a most remarkable tool, and so very hard to ignore. And that’s my little spiel for today! (smile).
Now let’s see what our Bit has to offer. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.’
Oh Friends, that is such a powerful and meaningful scripture, especially in these rather evil and ungodly times! It was very apropos in Jeremiah’s time, and even more so in ours now. I heard Uncle John (John Hagee) preach on it last night, and though we’ve used it as a Bit before, it’s so relevant to our frightful times, that I was guided to use it again.
Ah mih people, those old ways and paths of our forefathers were so blessed by obedience to God’s Word that prosperity was a given!
My brethren, let’s listen to this most potent passage of scripture, and as we do so, let’s also embed it deep in our hearts, souls, minds and bodies, for it’s the quintessential, the purest and most perfect direction for success and successful living.
‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance (you shall give as a possession) the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper (have success, act wisely) whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of (shall constantly be in) thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein in day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’ (Josh. 1:5-8)
Oh Friends, that says it all! The numerous new-fangled books on prosperity and success are totally unnecessary since we have God’s own direction for successful living.
Those are the old paths and way that we ought to tread and embrace if we want to be truly successful and prosperous! They have been proven over and over by numerous societies, who rose to greatness by following them.
But by the same token, when they have turned away from, forsaken the Lord God Jehovah, like we are currently doing, then their success and prosperity have been sadly trampled in the dust.
Please my fellow believers, I plead with us to learn that significant lesson today, and to put it into practice, for it is the wisdom of Almighty God Himself! And if we foolishly continue to not adhere to His commands, disobey His imperial dictates, then eventually, possibly sooner than later, our society will also crumble into dust and ashes.
Is that what we want to happen? I very much doubt it. Well then, let’s wake up and smell the awful stench of our disobedience nuh! Much LOVE!
…when new ways and new paths lead to death and destruction…the wise turn back to the old ways and paths…those of the living God…which lead to success and prosperity…salvation and eternal life…
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