23 Jan 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a very present help in trouble, be of good cheer, beloved of God, change matters on the big stage, cling to God in uncertain times, compassion, crying in pain, faith, fear, fear hath torment, fear not, God is our refuge and strength, holy spirit, hurry, i have overcome the world, I will fear no evil, I will help thee saith the Lord, in god's eyes, In Touch Devotional, Jesus Christ, lessen the tension at the grass roots level, LOVE, loving-kindness, mercy, perfect love casteth out fear, pray for clarity, Selah, share His love with my neighbours, so much noise in the world, the pleas of the hurting, the veil of anger, there is no fear in love, therefore will not we fear, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, times of uncertainty, to hear through all the commotion, to recognize suffering, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, voices shouting in anger, wisdom, worry
Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help (an abundantly available help) in trouble.
And may the grace and mercy of our wonderful God be on all of us this snowy winter’s Tuesday, my Scrip-Bit friends and family! And do we all ever need His LOVING-kindness and compassion in these troubled and frenzied times. For, instead of getting better as the days go by, our world seems to be getting more angry, violent, hateful and strife filled. Who knows why? Some of the players may have even forgotten why they got involved, and are just acting out for acting out sake. But for sure, it’s not a good scene we’re currently witnessing.
And though most of us cannot do anything to change matters on the big stage but pray for godly wisdom and guidance for our leaders, on the smaller stage of our individual lives we can certainly do our best to show the LOVE and compassion of Christ in our own neighbourhoods, and thus lessen the tension at the grass roots level. So to help us do that, let’s turn to our biggest privilege and our number one source of help, PRAYER, as we go to our heavenly Father with these words of prayer from the January In Touch Devotional.
Please pray with me: ‘Father, there is so much noise in the world: voices shouting in anger, crying in pain at one another and at You. We pray for clarity, to hear through all the commotion the pleas of the hurting, to recognize suffering underneath the veil of anger in each other and in ourselves. Lord, soften our hearts. Let compassion and gentleness be our first instinct. May You be near to every aching person, and may every aching person feel heard. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’
Oh friends, the sentiments in that prayer are ever so necessary and needful in these uncertain times. And yuh know what? It’s the times of uncertainty that cause us the most worrying concerns. At least that’s the way it is with me. If I am certain about something, then, although the outcome might be unpleasant and hurtful, I don’t worry about it nearly as much as if I am not sure of the outcome. I believe the devil nags and niggles us a li’l more in those times of uncertainty to get us to lose our cool and not trust our Lord and Saviour the way we ought to.
But if our faith is strong enough, we can successfully run him off with some overruling scriptures like these powerful verses of faith from Psalm 46, where the Sons of Korah write: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help (an abundantly available help) in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst (heart) of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.’ (Ps. 46:1-3)
Yes my faithful brethren, that’s a good example of strong faith with which to deter the devil’s evil lies and deceptions. We won’t be afraid even though the world is falling down around us, because our omnipotent God has promised to protect us in each and every situation. He is always present in our lives. And as the saying so truly goes: ‘When uncertainty abounds – cling to God.’ There can be no greater truth than that my people! Now, I’m chuckling here because I just got the bright idea to make today’s Bit one chocked full with scripture verses that talk about handling fear and anxiety.
And why not eh, since our world is currently filled with so many of those negative emotions? So let’s continue with this magnificent verse from the first epistle of John, which exhorts: ‘There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear: because fear hath (involves) torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in LOVE.’ (1 John 4:18) And that says so much about God’s LOVE, how strong and potent it is, that it can even sustain us in our darkest times, and drive away our fear and anxiety.
Then we have these verses from Isaiah, where our God ascertains His help in times of trouble. ‘For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.’ (Is. 41:13-14) Oh my bredrin, isn’t that wonderful? It surely is! Just imagine Almighty God promising to help us nuh. As this commentary so rightly says: ‘God’s promise is to comfort and help us amid our worry. This Bible verse about fear holds the power to give us peace during the most uncertain of times. The Lord will take your hand and journey with you through the storm.’
How true that is! For with Christ as our Pilot and Guide, there’s no storm that conquer us! And we all know this next verse that drives away fear. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Now that’s a verse we all should have indelibly written in our hearts, souls and minds. For as this commentary reminds us: ‘We know we will face troubles in this life, but one of the Bible verses about fear that can sometimes be the most comforting is John 16:33. When you consider all Jesus faced — His torture and death — and how He overcame, it offers us profound comfort. Remember this among the Bible verses about fear and worry when you reflect on difficult times.’
Yes friends, we definitely need to remember that our Lord and Saviour has already overcome the world and all the evil therein, it’s just for us to faithfully live out the days till He returns in victory and takes us home. And with that promise uppermost in our minds, we can do it without fear of Satan and his evil doing consorts. And although there are many more notable verses of scripture that tone down fear, unfortunately, we only have time and space for one more. And it’s this marvellous one from Bruh David’s most famous writing. ‘Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4)
Now that’s a certain fact my faithful brethren. And I like how this commentary explains it. ‘God will not abandon you. Bible verses about anxiety remind us that we do not need to fear evil or uncertain events, because God will walk with us through these valleys. He LOVES us and wants the best for us. The Psalmist knew that the peace of God would be with him wherever he went and whatever situations he encountered. Know that God is right beside you during those difficult times.’
Yes my fellow saints, let’s go home with that comforting thought as we declare (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. As one voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it time to go out and do just that; share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…FAITH…the only thing that can successfully drive out…FEAR…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
16 Jan 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: an inheritance incorruptible, disobedience, earthly treasures only last a lifetime, eternal separation from God, faith, feed his flock like a shepherd, gather the lambs with his arm, gently lead those that are with young, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, heavenly treasures last for eternity, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I am the vine ye are the branches, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, LOVE, my God shall supply all your needs, neck of the woods, rebellion, salvation, seek ye first the kingdom of God, share His love with my neighbours, the Lord God will come with strong hand, the Lord's hand is not shortened, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, where your treasure is there will be your heart also, wisdom, without me ye can do nothing, worry
Matthew 6:21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Oh friends, it’s a cold, snowy Tuesday in my neck of the woods. That means we probably won’t see any of the bright sunshine we experienced over the last two days. Chuh! It’s so nice seeing the sunshine reflect off the white snow. If we must have snow, then we do need sunshine to brighten it up. The sun can shine even while the snow is falling. That’s not too difficult for the Lord to do eh? (smile) Absolutely not! For nothing is impossible with our great God! As Isaiah says: ‘Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear.’ (Is. 59:1) That means there is no limitation or weakness in God’s ability to save anyone or do anything!
As Isaiah also said earlier on: ‘Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand (in strength), and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’ (Is. 40:10-11) Wow! What a powerful scripture my brethren, speaking of Christ’s coming and gathering His people like a shepherd gathers his flock. It shows us both the Lord’s strength and His never ending LOVE and compassion for His sinful creation called human beings.
And I like how this commentary puts it. ‘When the Bible talks about God’s right arm, it refers to His powerful, ruling arm—His justice, His holiness, and His strength. God is like that. He is all that and more.’ No doubt about it my fellow believers! In His omnipotence, omniscience and omni-presence, our majestic and magnificent God embodies ALL that there is, and can ever be! That’s why it’s so foolish and unwise for us frail, fickle and finite human beings to turn away from Almighty God our Creator, Controller and Protector.
For as Jesus so rightly said: ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same shall bring forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) And that’s gospel truth my people, for without Jesus in our lives, our ability to do much of anything productive is severely limited. Remember that God gave us free will so that we could choose His Will, not the will of Beelzebub or any of the many other false gods existing in our evil world. And when we don’t choose God’s will, then we suffer the negative consequences of disobedience and rebellion. It’s as simple as that.
As Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) liked to say: ‘You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.’ And that’s an indisputable fact! It’s just the way the Lord’s kingdom is set up. Meaning that if you sow evil, you will eventually reap evil, and if you sow good seed, you will eventually reap good fruit. And the best way to ensure that we are sowing good seed is by accepting and living by these momentous and oh so true words of Jesus. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33)
Yes my brethren, that’s the basic root of our faith: keeping God first place in our lives, making sure that all, or most of what we do and say falls into the realm of His godly will! Then, all that we need to live this earthly life will be added to us. As Bruh Paul so confidently said to the Philippians: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) Yuh see how it all falls into place my fellow believers? We acknowledge God as El Numero Uno, or Number One, and He looks after all our basic needs through His wonderful Son, Christ Jesus! It couldn’t get any better than that.
But some of us mistakenly and foolishly have decided to follow the will of the evil Satan, to whom we sell our souls to get the same earthly stuff that we can quite easily get from Almighty God. The big difference is that when you follow Satan all your earthly treasure will be left behind when you descend into hellfire and damnation, and eventually eternal separation from God, which is the worst predicament in which a human soul can find itself. However, when you sincerely seek Christ and His kingdom, though your earthly treasure is still left behind, you are able to store up treasures in heaven that you can enjoy while spending eternity with our Triune God!
Now isn’t that a much better scenario? It certainly is! And if you don’t believe me, (smile) then listen to Jesus explain it. ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ (Matt. 6:19-21) And that’s the indisputable truth friends! Wherever our treasures are stored, that’s indeed where our hearts and most of our attention will be focused.
And we’ll just add these two verses from 1 Peter as extra fodder for our souls. (smile) Peter writes these words of encouragement to the Christian diaspora, those spread abroad from their homeland, and undergoing tough lives with a lot of undeserved persecution. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.’ (1 Pet. 1:3-4) Please be reassured my fellow saints, that if we sincerely live for Christ, then there will be rewards awaiting us in heaven.
Now, for those of us who believe it and are trying our best to live for Christ, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that declaration (yesss!!!) we must now go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too may come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…earthly treasure only lasts a lifetime…while heavenly treasure lasts for eternity…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
09 Jan 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, be as a tree planted by the waters, bounden duty, cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils, cursed be the man that trusteth in man, economic deprivation, eternal separation from Almighty God, giveth food to the hungry, God is the only one who can guide us safely, happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, he preserveth the strangers, he shall be like a heath in the desert, her leaf shall be green, his spirit departs, in god's eyes, in that very day his thoughts perish, in the son of man, in whom there is no help, inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, Jesus Christ, LOVE, natural disasters, neither shall cease from yielding fruit, openeth the eyes of the blind, put not your trust in princes, relieveth the fatherless and widow, salvation, shall not be careful in the year of drought, shall not see when heat comes, share His love with my neighbours, spreadeth out her roots by the river, the beloved of God, the indisputable truth, the way of the wicked he maketh crooked, there's none like our God Jehovah, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, vain is the help of man, whose heart departeth from the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord his God, wisdom, worry
Psalm 146:5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord God.
Now, how crazy can this weather scene get eh? Right now we’re having snow filter down from the heavens, but this afternoon we’re expected to have rain. Please explain that to me. Isn’t it usually the opposite way? Oh, who knows what’s happening in our world these days but our One True God! With all the violence, inhumanity, greed, natural disasters, economic deprivation and unusual weather patterns that are currently dominating our world, ONLY Jehovah God truly knows and understands what’s going on!
And because our puny, finite minds cannot comprehend the reality of our society, the Lord expects us to surrender our all to Him, to put our sincere trust, our whole lives in His strong and faithful hands! Why? Because He is the ONLY ONE who can guide us safely through all the commotion and confusion that’s occurring. And if we’re wise, that’s exactly what we’ll all do, for as Psalm 146 wisely warns us: ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (a human being), in whom there is no help (salvation). His breath goeth forth (his spirit departs), he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.’ (Ps. 146:3-4)
Yes friends, that’s the gospel truth. It’s not wise to trust influential people, because they cannot truly help you, since they are mere mortals like yourself. It’s also unwise to put your trust in human leaders; for no human being can save you. So what am I to do then, you ask? Who can save me if mankind can’t? That’s a very good question, and we also have a very good answer for it! As the psalmist wisely proclaims: ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord God.’ (Ps. 146:5) Now that’s the indisputable truth my people!
But why is that, you doubtfully and hesitantly ask? Again the psalmist gives us the answer. For He is the God ‘Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgement (justice) for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth (gives freedom to) the prisoners: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord LOVETH the righteous. The Lord preserveth (watches over) the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down (makes crooked).’ (Ps. 146:6-9)
Now that, as far as I’m concerned, is sufficient reason to surrender my all, to put my entire trust in Almighty God! For no human being can do those things that the Almighty did and still does! And if you have some person or persons who can do better than the Lord does, then please show or tell me about Him or Her! But my faithful brethren, we all know that there’s NONE like our God Jehovah, so why beat about the bush eh? Stop wasting precious time and simply turn to Him; give your heart, mind, body and soul to Him, for He is trustworthy and faithful to keep them in good order for you down here on earth, then receive you to His glorious salvation when you depart this earthly life!
And there’s NO ONE else who can make that promise and keep it! For as the psalmist ends: ‘The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.’ (Ps. 146:10) Yes my fellow saints, our omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present God shall reign FOREVER! There’s absolutely no doubt about that, for there’s none strong, wise and all seeing like Him! So why not put your trust in Him today eh. Receive His wonderful self-sacrificing Son, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today, right now, before it’s too late.
For if Christ returns to earth or you die before receiving Him, then you’ll never see the pearly gates of heaven or speak to the Father face to face. Your sorry lot will be eternal separation from the One who created you, and that’s the worst thing that can ever happen to a human soul! So please, let’s get wise and acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour nuh, so that our names will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and eternal life assured. And just in case you are still doubtful about the psalmist’s claims, then listen to these other warnings on the subject from other righteous brethren.
Bruh David said it thus in Psalm 108 when he cried out to the Lord: ‘Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.’ (Ps. 108:12-13) And Bruh David knew what he was talking about, after his long experience with the Lord. And Isaiah, who also knew the power of the Lord, reasoned it thus: ‘Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of (why should he be esteemed)?’ (Is. 2:22)
And the prophet Jeremiah puts it as plainly as possible. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man (man’s strength), and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath (a shrub) in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer. 17:5-8)
That says it all my people; trust in the Lord and your life shall be blessed, regardless of the circumstances that come against you. And for those of us who have sincerely done that, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having proclaimed our wonderful heritage, it’s now our bounden duty to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…why trust in the created and not the Creator…that’s not wisdom…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
02 Jan 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: being misunderstood, chastening, disicipline, faith, financial ruin, God deasleth with you as sons, grow spiritually, hurry, I am the Lord thy God, I will be with thee, if ye endure chastening, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, lift up the hands which hang down, lock stock and barrel, loniliness, LOVE, make straight the paths for your feet, mercy, milking it to the last drop, no chastening for the present seems joyful, on a good footing, One Year Book of Bible promises, pain, pain is a byproduct of this evil world, refresh our perspective, rejection, share His love with my neighbours, test our faith, the beloved of God, the Holy One of Israel, the pain of a broken relationship, the pain of emotional trauma, the Pain of Growth, the peaceable fruit of righteousness, they will not overflow thee, thou shalt not be burned, through the rivers, thy judgements are right, thy merciful kindness, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, unfailing love, when thou passest through the waters, when thou walkest through the fire, worry, writings by Ruth Harms Calkin
Isaiah 43:2a. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee,
And then it was Tuesday; still a holiday for many, because the New Year’s holiday fell on a Monday, a regular work day. I do hope that we all have recovered from the numerous festivities of the last couple of days, although I know that some of us are still celebrating, milking it to the very last drop. (smile) But please ensure that you can go to work tomorrow in good health and spirits and so start the work year off on a good footing. Glory be! End of Sermon!
Now, on this second day of the year, the Lord has guided me to a most appropriate poem for these difficult times, from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s simply titled: ‘The Pain of Growth.’ I believe I have shared it before, but unfortunately, we all need to grow and mature in Christ and growth always involves some kind of pain, that’s just the way it is. We cannot grow without some discomfort to our souls, minds, bodies and circumstances. Therefore, every so often we need to refresh our perspective on the subject. (smile)
So, please read with me. ‘O God Growth is a painful process. I frankly confess I am a coward about pain. I don’t like it. Lord, I never pray for it Or get excited over it. In fact, I often resist it. The pain of emotional trauma So overwhelming So baffling and crushing. The deep-cutting pain Of a broken relationship. Physical pain that goes on and on Until my entire body screams. The pain of cruel cutting words. The pain of loneliness, rejection Of financial ruin. The pain of being misunderstood.
Lord, the very thought of pain Frightens and unnerves me. Yes it is true – Again and again it is true. My greatest spiritual growth Has come through pain. Through heartache and anguish. And very often in my suffering When I sadly thought You were doing absolutely nothing At that very moment You were doing more within me Than I ever dreamed or hoped.’
Yes mih bredrin! That’s the way our Lord works! Ofttimes when we think He’s doing nothing, or the devil is excessively on our case for no good reason, it’s actually the Lord working in us to move us along the continuum of maturity, allowing the devil to push us into temptation, so that He can test our faith. And when we refuse that temptation, no matter how tempting it might be, that’s when we grow spiritually. Ah mih people, there’s no shame in been afraid of pain, because it does traumatize us in many different ways. But it is necessary that we learn to bear it as best we can, be it physical, emotional or any other way that pain afflicts us.
Now, the good thing about pain is that every time we bear it, the next time it’s not so difficult to bear, and that signifies growth in whatever area of pain we’re enduring. And the Bible verses that correspond to that poem are also appropriate verses taken from Psalm 119. They read: ‘I know Lord, that thy judgements are right (righteous), and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness (unfailing LOVE) be for my comfort, according to thy word (promise) unto thy servant.’ (Ps. 119:75-76)
Oh friends, it’s never easy to bear pain, regardless of what kind it is, but with the Lord’s help we can always handle it. Remember His promise that He will never leave nor forsake us? (Heb. 13:5) And that great promise from Isaiah, ought also to enable us to bear our pain. ‘O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon (scorch) thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…’ (Is. 43:1-3)
And we know the Lord is faithful in His promises, as shown by the waters not overflowing the Israelites who walked through the Red Sea and the Jordan River on dry land, and the three Hebrews boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were thrown into the burning flames, made seven time hotter than usual, but still came out of it, not even smelling of smoke! Wow! That’s the mighty hand of our great God working His miraculous power. And if He could do that for others, He can also help us to bear our pain.
However, there’s one proviso, (smile) yes, one li’l thing we need to remember, that’s the pain involved in the chastisement or discipline of God. And the author of Hebrews reminds us of it in very fine fashion. ‘If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastenenth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers (sinners deserving discipline), then are ye bastards (illegitimate) and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence (respect): shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure (as seemed best to them); but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby. Wherefore lift up (strengthen) the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way (dislocated), but let it rather be healed.’ (Heb. 12:7-13)
Yes friends that’s the truth of the matter. I know that none of us likes to experience any kind of pain, but sometimes it’s necessary, like in times of growth and the Lord administering discipline. Thus, we need to endure the chastening, the discipline of the Lord without much complaining for He’s only doing it for our benefit. Oh my fellow saints, until we realize and accept the fact that whatever the Lord does is ALWAYS for our benefit, then we’re ALWAYS going to have a very difficult time accepting His pronouncements.
Now, let’s wake up in this new year of 2024 and truly accept the Lord for who He is: our Creator, Controller and LOVING Father, who desires us to be the best version of His Son Jesus Christ, that we can be. Therefore, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it’s our bounden duty to go out and share that awesome LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…we cannot escape pain…for it’s a byproduct of this evil world…but thankfully…in the new life it will be absent…Glory to God…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
26 Dec 2023
by randyobrien50
in Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to his riches in glory, allow food to go to waste, be of good cheer, Black Friday, Boxing Day, come unto me all ye that labour, Cyber Monday, excessive litigation, greater is he that is in you, holy spirit, hurry, I am meek and lowly in heart, I am the beloved of god, I am the way the truth and the life, i have overcome the world, I will give you rest, in a time of serious hunger, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the answer to everything, let not your heart be troubled, LOVE, my God shall supply all your needs, my peace I give to you, neither let it be afraid, no man cometh to the Father, Peace i leave with you, seek ye first the kingdom of God, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ, share His love with my neighbours, take my yoke upon you, than he that's in the world, the absence of snow, the peace of God which passeth all understading, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, worry
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
And then it was Tuesday, the day after Monday, the day after Christmas day, making it Boxing day! Yes friends, the big day has now come and gone, and I hope that you all had a good time celebrating with your families and friends. I know I did with my family. And as always, the food was excellent, but too much for the few celebrants. And, unfortunately, in this Christmas season of lavish and extreme preparations, a lot of good food will be thrown away, despite the fact that there are many hungry people in our society.
However, in these days of excessive litigation, people are afraid to give away and also accept food, as those who receive the food can get sick and cause all sorts of problems. What a contentious, cantankerous and fearful society we’ve become, that allows so much good food to go to waste in a time of serious hunger, simply because of possible lawsuits. And another note, remember when Boxing Day was the big sales day? Well that’s no longer the case, the Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays, around the time of Thanksgiving are now the big sales days!
Ah Lord eh! We’ve taken every holy and/or religious day and made them so commercialized, that many don’t even remember the true reason behind all the activity. So, now, the Boxing Day sales are merely shadows of their earlier selves. And anyway, I don’t know how many of us would like to go shopping on a wet, drizzly, cloudy day like today. In fact, the whole Christmas weekend has been wet and dark, leaving many of the outdoor enthusiasts saddened by the absence of the white stuff (snow) for them to frolic in. I guess that’s just another effect of the climate change that’s currently bewildering our world.
But the most important thing to remember, especially in this Christmas season, is that we have Jesus; our End All and Be All – our answer to every problem – our Go to Guy! That’s why He came to earth as a man in this season; to eventually sacrifice His sinless life and save us from our sins and be the One we turn to when the storms of life batter and besiege us. And there’s no better example of that than Jesus’ Great Invitation, where He invites all and sundry to ‘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 and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
What a marvellous invitation my people, one that we refuse to our own detriment. But let’s make one thing perfectly clear, Jesus is not promising the easy life. No! He’s promising one that’s easier and more bearable than that offered by Satan and the world. Note that He also has a yoke, but that’s much easier to bear, and His burden is lighter that what you’ll find if you refuse His offer. This world is full of sin, trials and tribulations that we cannot escape, but with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we can mitigate the circumstances and handle them in much better fashion that without His help.
Jesus Himself said it; twice to boot. Listen up: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) Yes friends, Jesus’ peace is an entirely different kind to that which the world offers, and consequently we ought not to be afraid or worried. As Bruh Paul wrote about it to the Philippians. ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.’ (Phil. 4:7) That means when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour we will experience a peace, God’s peace, that surpasses all human understanding. And who wouldn’t want to have that kind of peace in these turbulent and evil times eh!
Now, here’s the next statement of Jesus that we should pay attention re peace and fear. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Ah mih people, what reassuring, encouraging and true words from our Lord and Master! And has He ever overcome the world, defeating Satan, hell, death and the grave when He rose triumphantly on that first Easter morning, showing that He is indeed the resurrection and the giver of eternal life!
As Bruh Paul says in Romans: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom. 8:37) For sure! That conquering Spirit of Jesus is indwelt by all His followers, and if we live the way He desires, we’ll overcome all that’s necessary to be overcome. And John adds his bit to the subject in his first epistle, when he truthfully informs us: ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4) And isn’t that the glorious truth my brethren! It certainly is! For Christ is indeed greater than the enemy, the evil fallen angel, Satan!
However, my fellow saints, to achieve all that Jesus offers we need to continuously keep Him first place, uppermost in our lives. As He so emphatically warned: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) Our omniscient God knows all that we need to live this life at a high standard and He will provide them if we revere and exalt Him the way we ought. It’s as Bruh Paul wrote to the Philippians: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19)
And for good measure, (smile) let’s just remind ourselves that we cannot get to the Father except through Jesus. And He said it loud and clear too: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Please friends, let’s keep that uppermost in our minds this Boxing Day, as we continue celebrating the birth of Christ. Now, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel.
As one sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that momentous declaration, (yesss!!!) we’re now obligated to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…Jesus is the Answer….Jesus is the answer…Yes…Jesus is the Answer to EVERYTHING…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
19 Dec 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: and share His love with the world, artificial intelligence, beloved of God, Christ - the reason for the season, Christ's Resurrection, draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you, faith, God commendeth his love for us, God is the strength of my heart, God sent His only begotten Son, God so loved the world, gossip, hurry, in god's eyes, it is good for me to draw near to God, Jesus Christ, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, nothing can separate us from God's love, redemption of sins, resist the devil and he will flee from you, salvation, slander, social media, speak not evil one of another, submit yourselves to God, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, the Birth of Christ, the breadth and depth of God's love, the light of God surrounds me, the love of God enfolds me, the power of God protects me, the presence of God watches over me, there is one lawgiver, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wherever I am God is there, while we were yet sinners christ died for us, wisdom, worry
Romans 5:8. But God commendeth (demonstrated His own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Oh friends, this Tuesday of Christmas week has turned out to be somewhat contrary. (smile) It’s windy and cold, with a sprinkling of snow on the ground, and a cloudy kind of sunshine overshadowing the whole thing. Apparently, we had a snow warning for last night, but thankfully it did not hit our neighbourhood. But who knows what today will bring weatherwise, so if you’re going out, please be prepared for anything. And also, as we go about our Christmas preparations, let’s remember to always have Christ in mind as being the true reason for the season. We’ve already had the greatest gifts ever; the birth of Christ and His redemption of our sins, now we just have to trust and obey, for there’s no better way, to be happy in this crazy, evil and ungodly world.
Now here’s a li’l prayer to remind us of all that our wonderful and ever magnanimous God does for us. Please pray with me: ‘The LIGHT of God surrounds me. The LOVE of God enfolds me. The POWER of God protects me. The PRESENCE of God watches over me. Where ever I am, God is there! And ALL is well! Yes ALL is well! Amen!’ And that ought to be a big, heartfelt, sincere ‘Amen’ because of the numerous ways in which Jehovah God surrounds and protects us. Just imagine nuh, we have His LIGHT surrounding us, His LOVE enfolding us, His POWER protecting us, and His PRESENCE constantly watching over us! Wow! We can’t ask for any more than that, because there’s nothing more to be had, that’s everything!
Ah mih people, if we truly knew and understood how our heavenly Father cares for us, the breadth and depth of His LOVE and compassion, towards us, His most important and favoured creation, we would never, or rather, we’d try our very best not to ever disobey or disappoint Him. And I don’t believe there’s anything bigger and better that He could have done after we fell into the bondage of sin and disobedience than send His ONLY Son to take our abominable sins on His sinless shoulders and sacrifice His life on the cross of Calvary, so that we could be redeemed, be reconciled to Him. How many of us would do anything like that for a bunch of worthless sinners eh? Very few of us, if any!
However, the Word tells us: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated His own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) And later on in that same letter to the church at Rome, Bruh Paul reiterated his convictions by writing: ‘( Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom. 8:39) In other words, nothing whatsoever can ever separate us from God’s LOVE that is to be found in Christ Jesus!
Meanwhile, Jesus Himself pointed out the great LOVE that the Father has for us, when He said to Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Him by night seeking answers to confusing questions. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17)
Now, that’s the kind of LOVE and compassion God has for us! But do we truly believe or appreciate it? No way! Otherwise our lives would not be in such a sad state of disarray, of willful sin and disobedience, and Christ’s church would not be the breeding ground it is, for all sorts of ungodly stuff. Neither would we forget and/or neglect to remember that this season of Christmas, when Christ was born, is the beginning of the story of our marvellous and miraculous redemption, that ends with Christ’s earth-shattering resurrection on that first Easter morn!
Instead of our current behaviour and lifestyle, we ought to be saying and believing like the psalmist Asaph did in his famous Psalm 73, after being deceived by the prosperity of the wicked, then going into the Lord’s sanctuary and realizing their eventual destruction: ‘My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart (my rock), and my portion for ever… But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps. 73:26 &28)
Oh my fellow believers, if we could only make those things true in our own lives, what a wonderful world we’d have! Drawing near to God, surrendering our all to Him, and faithfully declaring (steups!!!) His mighty works are the things we so badly need right now, so that we can fight the good fight of faith that’s staring us in the face, as Satan ramps up his offensive against the people of God. That’s why James warns and encourages us to: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted (lament), and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:7-10)
Yes friends, that’s where it all begins; by drawing nearer to God, humbling ourselves in His sight, and overall cleaning up our lives. Now, James ends that passage with a further warning and admonishment, but I’ve kept it separate, because it’s of ever so much importance in our current society. He concludes it thus: ‘Speak not evil one of another brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another.’ (James 4:11-12)
Ah mih people, evil speaking, lying, slandering, gossiping and the many other forms of verbal abuse are running rampant in our society because of the proliferation of social media and our technological revolution. And with the recent improvements of Artificial Intelligence, it’s slated to become even worse. The sad part of it all though is because of this technical revolution, we can spread bad and false news without risk of incurring the necessary consequences. Thus, too many of us talk and are judgemental about things we know absolutely nothing about, therefore breeding even more evil in our society.
And yes, we will all have opinions on all sorts of topics, but please, let’s try and restrict spreading them nuh, especially the ones we know nothing about. That would indeed be a valuable start to cleaning up our gossipy, lying world. Now, let’s go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel! As one voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, let’s go out and do just that nuh; trust our awesome friend Jesus and share His amazing LOVE with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…all talk and no action…gets us nowhere fast…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
12 Dec 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Advent season, be it unto me according to thy word, behold the handmaid of the Lord, bites the dust, burning incense in the temple, celebrate the incarnate birth of Christ, faith, fear fell upon him, fear not Zacharias, God knew his heart, he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, hurry, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make a ready people prepared for the Lord, many shall rejoice at his birth, set free form the bondage of sin, share His love with my neighbours, take away my reproach, the beloved of God, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, the propitiation for our sins, thou believest not my words, thou shalt be dumb, thou shalt call his name John, thy prayer is heard, thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, turn the children of Israel to the Lord, turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, use our free will, wisdom, worry, Zacharias was troubled
Luke 1:12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
And another Monday bites the dust, as we move along with joyful expectation in this Advent season, eagerly working our way to that bright and glorious time we call Christmas, when we celebrate the awesome incarnate birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And all of God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of Glory Hallelujah! All hail to Him who was born in a manger in Bethlehem to be the propitiation for our sins!
Ah friends, that just shows the great LOVE our wonderful God has for us, sending His sinless Son, born of a woman to intercede on our behalf, to bear all our sins, so that we could have the option of coming back to Him from our sinful ways. Please note, it’s only an option, we still have to use our free will to choose it, and if we don’t, we’ll just continue along our sinful path down to the fires of hell and damnation with Satan and his other evil cronies.
So please, we urge you to accept that once in a lifetime option of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour RIGHT NOW, so that you would be set free from the bondage of sin that Satan has us in, and spend eternity with Jesus in heavenly places. Believe me, that’s the wisest decision you’ll ever make in this earthly life! End of sermon! (smile)
And today, we want to look at the very different reactions of two people whom the Lord spoke to back in olden times. We’ve already seen the positive reaction of Mary to the angel Gabriel’s news that she would bare the Son of God. Without a whole lot of questions and doubt, she simply responded: ‘Behold the hand maid (handmaiden) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ (Luke 1:38)
Now, before the angel went to Mary, he had gone to an elderly priest named Zacharias. The Bible tells us that as he was doing his duty, burning incense in the temple, with a whole lot of people praying outside: ‘And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.’ (Luke 1:11-12)
Right there friends, we have the first big difference between Zacharias and Mary’s angelic visit. Mary was troubled, but the Bible didn’t say that fear came upon her, like it does with Zacharias, and one would expect the elderly priest to be much more in tune with the godly aspects of life. ‘But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ (Luke 1:13-17)
Now that was also a big godly promise, but not as big as Mary’s where she would become pregnant without knowing a man. So what was Zacharias response to all that eh? The Good Library tells us: ‘And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man and my wife well stricken (advanced) in age.’ (Luke 1:18)
There I think we have Zacharias’ mistake; doubting the possibility of him and old wife having a child through the auspices of the Lord. As a priest in the Lord’s employ, Zacharias ought to have known the story of Abraham and Sarah having Isaac at the respective ages of one hundred and ninety, so there shouldn’t have been any doubt of it being possible for him and his wife Elisabeth, neither of whom were as old as Abraham and Sarah.
Thus this unfortunate happening. ‘And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and am sent unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings (this good news). And, behold, thou shalt be dumb (mute), and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season (own time).’ (Luke 1:19-20)
Yes mih bredrin, there is a price we all pay for doubt and disbelief, especially if we are fairly mature believers. I guess we could cut Zacharias some slack because of the surprise factor and his advanced age, but he was supposed to be an experienced man of God, while Mary was just a young child. But there we have the two different reactions to supposedly good news. So what happens after that eh?
The Bible continues: ‘And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried (delayed) so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.’ (Luke 1:21-22) Can you imagine the confusion amongst the people when their hitherto very vocal priest suddenly couldn’t speak to them?
But what of Zacharias? God’s Word informs us thus: ‘And it came to pass that, as soon as the days of his ministration (service) were accomplished (completed), he departed to his own house.’ (Luke 1:23) Apparently on the day his duties ceased, that’s the offering of incense in the temple, he was free to return home. And according to the scholars the offering of incense in the temple would be a sacred moment in Zacharias’ life, for no priest could offer incense more than once in his lifetime, and many never even got the chance at all, since there was an estimated 18,000 priests at that point in Jewish history. So, most likely, this was a God-inspired occasion, so that the good news could be shared with Zacharias.
The scholars further tell us that ‘Zacharias’ speechlessness serves to chasten him for his apparent skepticism. One may think it a harsh measure, but God who dispensed this judgement knew his heart. And the promise remained secure. Zacharias was merely prevented from easily spreading the news around.’ But however we look at the decision, it was God’s doing and has to be accepted as such.
The Bible then says: ‘And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.’ (Luke 1:24-25) And as the scholars remind us: ‘Jewish women regarded childlessness as a severe reproach. Elisabeth may have hid herself out of a sense of consternation before God and man. She came to be thankful, but the initial shock of the unexpected (and in human terms quite impossible) must have been considerable.’
No doubt it was my brethren. But it all shows us how our great and wonderful God moves in ways we don’t understand, and therefore we need to submit to His plans without doubt and fear. And No, as we keep saying, that’s not always easy to do, even when we consider ourselves to be very mature believers. But we just have to keep on trying and learning and asking for God’s help to understand what He needs of us; it’s all a lifelong process.
Now, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel! As one sincere voice! ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, it behooves us to go out and share that LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…belief doesn’t stop doubt and fear from coming…but we have to be strong enough to refute them…
P.S. Yes, it’s long, but oh so good! (smile) Much LOVE!
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
05 Dec 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a secular time instead of a religious occasion, a token action, amplify our needs, be obedient even to death, by the things he suffered, Christmas Season, create more waste than ever, excessive celebrations, faith, he spake a parable unto them, hurry, I came not to judge the world but to save the world, Jesus Christ, like there was no tomorrow, LOVE, men ought always to pray and not faint, mercy, no help to be had except in Jesus, salvation, share His love with my neighbour, that which was lost, the beloved of God, the Son of man, the son of man is come to seek and to save, though he were a Son, to salve our consciences, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, worry, yet learned he obedience
Luke 18:1. And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).
And then it was Tuesday…another Monday has gone flying into the annals of History; a day which most of us will forget as the excitement of Christmas Season overtakes us. But a strange and confusing thought just entered my head: most of our world is in sad and disastrous conflict, but nonetheless, we’re still able to celebrate Christmas with gifts, food, joy and all the other things that are associated with the season. And it doesn’t seem to matter either that a large portion of our world is finding it difficult to find shelter and food, in fact many are homeless and starving, but yet still we amplify our needs and create more waste than ever during this period.
And I can’t help but wonder if this is the way to celebrate Christ’s birth with excessive celebrations when so many have nowhere to rest their weary heads and can’t put a nourishing bite of food in their mouths. Under those situations, I ask, would this be the way that Jesus wants us to celebrate His incarnate birth? Remember He came to serve, to serve the poor, the sick and the downtrodden, and to save the lost. ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ (Luke 19:10)
In light of all that, how would He feel if He came to earth now and saw the many unfortunates that so dreadfully blot or darken our world, even in the supposed first world economies, but we who have more than enough are celebrating His birth like crazy? Truly I don’t know. And please note, I’m not casting aspersions or being judgemental or anything of the sort, I’m just throwing out a question that happened to fill my thoughts. (smile) And then again, would Jesus be thrilled with all the worldly things we do to celebrate His birth; the way it’s become a secular time instead of a religious occasion? Possibly not.
All I’m saying here is that with so much sadness and misery in our world, many of us are still going over the top in celebrations, when we should be paying more attention to the poor, downtrodden and sick, the way that Jesus desires us to do. Oh yes, at this time of year, we make a fuss, a token action to salve our consciences, by trying to get gifts and food for some of the unfortunate ones, but what happens to then the rest of the year eh? Doesn’t our consciences bother us for the other eleven months? Apparently not.
Ah mih people, I guess the ole fella is just in a philosophical mood this morning, considering the chaotic state of our world with both numerous man-made and natural disasters ripping through it, like there was no tomorrow. And as I opened the Good Book just now, it opened up unto an interesting scripture. ‘And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).’ (Luke 18:1)
And I guess that’s exactly what we are called upon to do right now in these turbulent and calamitous times; pray, and not lose heart, don’t be discouraged, hold on steadily and strongly to our faith in Christ Jesus, because that’s the ONLY thing that will get us safely and securely through these raging storms of life! Yes friends, without strong and sincere faith in Christ we’ll be lost. Tossed to and fro in the stormy sea of life, and eventually sink to the bottom in desperate agony, for there is no help to be had except in the company of Jesus.
And He said it as simply and plainly as possible. ‘He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself (of my own authority); but the Father which sent me; he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so speak I.’ (John 12:44-50)
Yuh see my fellow saints, Jesus wasn’t even acting on His own authority, but on the Father’s, who gave Him a commandment, a job to do, which He did with obedience and excellence, although it was a very tough row to hoe. The author of Hebrews tells us of Jesus: ‘Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, (in the Garden of Gethsemane) and was heard in that he feared (because of His godly fear); Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’ (Heb. 5:7-9)
Oh my people, yuh see that! Although Jesus was the Son of God, in His fleshly state He still had to learn obedience and did so from the things He suffered. The same thing goes for us; to be His follower, we need to obey Him, be obedient even to death, if necessary. Thankfully, He won’t ask many of us to give up our lives for Him, but theoretically we should be prepared to do so.
Now, for those of us who are sincerely trying to be obedient to Christ’s word, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having made that proclamation, we must now go out and share the awesome LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…the three basic actions of a believer…obedience…obedience…obedience…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
28 Nov 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a gorgeous sight to behold, behold I make all things new, faith, first taste of snow, he that sat upon the throne said, hurry, I am the beloved of god, I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, I'm not afraid of tomorrow for God is already there, in god's eyes, into the glory of God's tomorrow, Jesus Christ, Jesus gave the big K.O to Satan, LOVE, no more pain, one of the bonuses of being a Christian, share His love with my neighbour, sufficient unto the day, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, take therefore no thought for tomorrow, the former things are passed away, the glorious hope that extends beyond the grave, the One who holds tomorrow, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, where I am there ye may be also, wisdom, worry, write for these words are true and faithful
Revelation 21:5a. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
Oh friends, how interesting it was to wake up this morning and see the neighbourhood all clothed in white! Then to see the bright sunlight shining beautifully on it! Yes, we had our first real taste of snow sometime in the early morning hours. I went to bed around 4. A.m. and it wasn’t there, so sometime between when I went to bed and when I arose around nine it happened. But it surely was a gorgeous sight to behold! (smile)
Oh, I don’t favour snow, but you can’t deny its beauty when it’s fresh and clean. And anyway, this wasn’t much, just enough to cover the ground and the roof tops, and present a dazzling white picture as the sunshine framed it. Since we’ve had such ideal weather these last few months, I guess it was a wakeup call, letting us know the realities that lie ahead. And as they say, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. So I do hope we are going to make all the necessary preparations and be ready for when the big snow hits.
Enough talk about snow though, let’s see what the Lord wants us to seriously and sincerely consider this last Tuesday in November 2023, when our world is just covered in chaos and disaster, with tragedy after tragedy happening, as though there was to be no sane and secure tomorrow. And yes, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ warned us about worrying, and in particular worrying about tomorrow: ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34)
But as true believers in Christ, we know that there will be a tomorrow, even when this evil world is all dead and gone, for Jesus has promised it, and He is ever faithful to His promises! The tomorrow might not be in this world but certainly in eternity with Him. As Billy Graham reputedly said: “One of the bonuses of being a Christian is the glorious hope that extends out beyond the grave into the glory of God’s tomorrow.” And as Sister Joyce, (Joyce Meyer) likes to say: “You don’t need to know what tomorrow holds; all you need to know is the One who holds tomorrow.” And Jesus surely holds all the tomorrows in His hands, just like He holds all the yesterdays and todays!
And as someone else so wisely said: “I’m not afraid of tomorrow because I know God is already there!” And He certainly is! So although tomorrow seems to be a somewhat nebulous, vague, hazy, cloudy indistinct, unsure situation and place, we don’t have to worry about it because our great God already inhabits it, and He’s promised that wherever He is, we will be with Him.
Jesus said it thus: ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions (dwellings): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ ( John 14:1-3)
Oh mih bredrin, what a joyful promise that is! What a wonderful time to look forward to with Jesus. Wherever He is, we will be also! And we know that won’t be in hell, eternally separated from the Father, because Jesus has already defeated hell, death and the grave! Yes, on that first Easter morn when He rose triumphantly from Hades, He gave the big K.O to Satan, and there’s no going back there! That means wherever He is will be pleasant and peaceful, so we have a pleasant and peaceful eternity to look forward to.
As John wrote in Revelation: ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev. 21:1-5)
Oh my people, I don’t know about you, but I’m living for that day when there are no more negative things like, pain, sorrow, crying and death; when all of that has been abolished and only positive things like peace, LOVE and joy finally abound! What a time that will be; dwelling in perpetual peace with Jesus and the Father, worshipping and praising them and doing whatever they require of us. And no, we won’t be just sitting on our fat fannies doing nothing. There will be work to do. Can’t say exactly what kind of work, but be sure it won’t be just a life of luxury and laziness!
No sir! That’s not the way the Father drew it up. But the important thing is that it will be much more pleasant, peaceful, joyful and LOVING, than our current world! And that’s more than sufficient to put your trust in Jesus! So, for those of us who have already done that, let’s go home declaring (yesss!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel!
As one sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And now that we’ve made our position known, we need to go out and share that wonderful LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…tomorrow never seems to come in this fallen world…but in the new world with Jesus…a beautiful tomorrow will come…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
21 Nov 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, a little light uncovers much darkness, Christian light, come the judgement day, faith, glorify your Father which is in heaven, have seen a great light, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, it giveth light unto all that are in the house, Jesus at the helm of our lives, Jesus Christ, Jesus our Master Pilot, Let your light so shine before men, light a candle and put it under a bushel, LOVE, on a candle stick, rainy day Tuesday, share His love with my neighbour, the blind leading the blind, the hump day of Monday, the people that walked in darkness, the precipice of hell and eternal damnation, they may see your good works, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, upon them hath the light shined, use our talents to the best of our ability, using our blessings wisely, we are put on earth to work, wisdom, worry, Ye are the light of the world
Matthew 5:15. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket) but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
And then it was a rainy day Tuesday, with even some snow promised in the forecast. But for most of us, when we’ve gotten over the problem day of Monday, we can handle things much more comfortably during the remainder of the week. It’s just that hump day of Monday that tends to trip us up. (smile) Anyway, it’s Tuesday, and we’re moving along well with our Master Pilot, Jesus at the helm of our lives, taking exceptional care of the difficult waters we sometimes traverse. And all of Christ’s church shouted a loud and grateful ‘Thank You Jesus for taking care of us! Don’t know what we’d do without You!’
And isn’t that the gospel truth? We have no idea how we’d manage without Jesus at the forefront of out lives. We’d be ever so lost and trapped in the darkness of this evil and ungodly world, that we’d be like the blind leading the blind, unfailingly headed toward the precipice of hell and eternal damnation. But thanks ever so much to the sacrificial death of Jesus, we have the marvellous option of walking in the light, His marvellous light, headed straight for the beautiful environs of heaven!
Wow! As the Good Library so faithfully prophesied in the Book of Isaiah: ‘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 wasn’t that a most grateful and wonderful day when the light of Jesus shined upon the earth, upon the sinful and ungodly children of men? It surely was! And likewise, what a glorious day it will be, when we encounter Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the pearly gates of that everlasting retreat called heaven! Can’t wait to experience it….although I’m not quite ready, since I have stuff to complete down here before I go there! (smile)
But seriously though friends, I believe that the darkness of our world right now is so overwhelming that the populace don’t know whether they’re coming or going. The terrible chaos that’s currently consuming our world, leading to so much hatred, war, anger and all the negative things that Satan perpetrates, is blinding many of us to the light of Christ. And we true believers are not doing enough to try and reduce the darkness by shining our light into the shadow of death that’s right now in control of our world.
And remember, that light doesn’t have to be a big, all-embracing light to blind the world, but if each one of us simply shone our li’l light into the darkness that’s right around us, just in our neighbourhood or workplace, you’d be surprised at the huge results that will accrue. Why? Because just a li’l light covers, or rather uncovers a whole lot of darkness. For argument sake, let’s say that one whatever of light can uncover at least ten times that amount of darkness. It’s like when you shine a small pencil torch into a darkened area, the small plume of light, brightens up much more than it’s size would suggest.
It’s as Jesus said: ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket) but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt. 5:14-15) Yes mih bredrin. A small candle or lamp lights up much more darkness than its size would lead you to expect. Likewise, our small lights, if we allowed them to shine in the dark areas around us, we’d do much more good than we can ever imagine. Thus Jesus continued: ‘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)
That simply means we’ve got to get out there and be our true selves, act like true believers, so that the unbeliever will see the good things in our lives brought about by our strong and secure faith in Christ and come to Him, as they desire to have the strength and security that we posses. And no, it’s not always easy to shine like a bright and sparkling Christian light, but on average, we ought to do more shining than not. None of us are perfect, and we all have good and bad days, we just keep on hoping and praying that the good days totally outnumber the bad ones, so we can do Christ’s work with fervour and excellence.
And yuh know what friends, Christ doesn’t expect us all to be zealots and/or miracle workers nuh, but He does expect us to use the talents we’ve been granted to the best of our ability. It’s like the parable of the talents that Jesus told, found in Matthew 25, where this master was heading out into a far country, but before he went, called his servants and gave them his goods. To one servant he gave five talents, to another two, and to the last, one. Then he went away for a long time.
When he returned, he called the servants to account. The one who was given five talents had produced through his work, another five. The one given two, also produced two more. However, the servant given only one talent produced the same talent and no more, saying to his master. ‘Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed (scattered seed). And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.’ (Matt. 25:24-25)
Oh friends, the moral of the story can be found in these two commentaries that follow. ‘First and foremost, the Parable of the Talents teaches us that we are put on Earth to work. This is evident not only in this particular parable, but in several other Bible stories. God rewards those who put considerable effort into bettering their lives and the lives of those in their community.’ Yes friends, believe it or not, work is indeed a large part of our earthly journey. (smile)
And the next commentary tells us: ‘The parable of the talents is much more than a financial tale. In this story, we see the importance of using our blessings wisely and sharing with others. This doesn’t just refer to monetary possessions or physical belongings, but to the time and talents that God gives all of us.’ And that’s the indisputable truth my people. We’d better remember it, because come the judgement day, when the Lord questions us on what we’ve done with the talents, the gifts, He so generously bestowed on us, we won’t want to tell him we were afraid and just hid them. No sir! That will only get us into a heap of trouble.
So, please, let’s wake up right now and begin using the gifts God has given us nuh, for our benefit as well as for those of others around us. That’s the only wise way to live. And now, for those of us who are sincerely endeavouring to live that way, let’s go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
It’s now our duty to go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…this li’l light of mine…let it shine…let it shine…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
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