Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 October 2007 John 8: 29‏

21 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

John 8: 29.    And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
 
Jesus was teaching in the treasury of the temple when He spoke those words. As usual the upper class Jews were hurling questions at Him, trying to have Him make some detrimental or blasphemous statement that they could use against Him later on. His following was growing daily and that impacted negatively on their authority and well-being. But little did they know that they were dealing with the ultimate wordsmith, the one who gave new meaning to the word parable, and if He did not want them to, they could never trip Him up. They obviously could not understand what He was talking about because they did not believe His claim of being the Son of God. Consequently they could not comprehend the existence of the world’s most powerful triumvirate: The Father, Son and Holy Sprit. And that is what J.C was referring to. His Heavenly Father had not set Him adrift, but had sent the third member, The Holy Spirit, the Helper, to dwell within Him, to give Him the much needed strength to do the job assigned to His earthly, human form. Friends, that’s exactly what happens with us too when we become believers and accept J.C as our Saviour. The Father sends the Holy Spirit to live in us, to strengthen and guide us, to give us the wherewithal we need to live a Christian life. And though, unlike J.C, we can’t make that bold statement that we always do the Father’s will, that Helper, that Comforter, that Nurturing Spirit never leaves us. It’s always there working in us, even when we don’t follow it’s guidance, because the Father and His Son have promised that once we accept Them into our lives, They will never leave us or forsake us. And we know that They never break a promise. So let’s go out there, to all the highways and byways, with the inner strength of that Holy Spirit and spread His word and do the things that please Him. Much LOVE!
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 September 2007 Psalm 18:30-32.‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 18:30-32    As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he’s a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock, save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
 
‘And all God’s people said…Wow!’ as Dr. Schuller of the Chrystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California would exclaim. I can now understand why David, in spite of all his imperfections was still considered God’s Friend. No one else has ever written such beautiful, expansive, evocative, powerful words of adulation and adoration in The Most High’s honour. And he’s done it so extensively, in so many Psalms that it just boggles the imagination Where did he find time to write it all? What with hisconstant warring, womanizing and Kingly duties. Anyway, in Today’s Bit, David emphatically states that our Creator’s way; His behaviour, His manner of doing things is perfect. No wishy washy Being, Our God. His word; His edicts, His pronouncements, His promises, are all tried and true; have all been tested and proven correct and above board over many generations. The same thing goes for His powers of protection: He’s a shield and comfort to those who faithfully put their trust, their lives, in His hands. As I noted the other day, He’s like All State; He has safe hands. With all that power and authority going for Him, David could rightly ask, ‘For who is God, save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?’ In terms of human comprehension, that’s exactly what He is; A ROCK! Strong, Firm, Steadfast, Unmoveable, Unchanging! The same yesterday, today and forevermore! Ever faithful! All Powerful! Wow! What a resume! And as David also noted, it’s that same Supreme Being that lovingly and generously bestows strength upon us. Not only the physical attribute, but also wisdom, knowledge, understanding, perseverance, courage and fortitude, so that we can overcome the evil machinations of our enemies and withstand great adversity, all the while following the right path; the straight and narrow one that leads right back to Him. Friends, in light of all His majesty and power, plus His ever flowing largesse towards us sinful, undeserving souls, how can we help but LOVE, Worship, Praise, Thank and Glorify The Magnificent  One, who, of His own accord, breathe beautiful, bountiful life into us eh? Much LOVE..in His Holy Name!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 September 2007 John 4:32-34‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

John 4:32-34.    But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath anyone brought him ought to eat?   Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 
 
At one point through their travels in Samaria, just after He had spoken to the woman at the well about those who drank His water should never thirst, J.C’s disciples encouraged Him to eat. But in His usual, roundabout, ‘parablic’ manner (smile) He seriously informed them that He had food they didn’t know about. This drove them to wondering and questioning amongst themselves  if anybody else had brought Him food. Again, in His characteristic ‘puzzle-type’  way of speaking, He simply told them that His food was to do the will of The One who sent Him, and to complete His work. Friends, that’s also our meat, our job in a nutshell. If  J.C. figured that the most important thing for Him to do was what His Heavenly Father wanted, and to also finish the job with which He was entrusted, namely dying for our sins, then how can we, who claim to be believers and His staunch followers do any less eh? We’ve got to do the work we were placed on the earth to do. Everyone has a special job, a different assignment to accomplish…Hn,hn! Guess mine is to ramble on and try to keep us focused on The Most High through my ramblings. But the humour aside, as Paul said somewhere, the Church is like a human body with many different parts and we all have a part to play in building and maintaining it. Consequently, like anything with moving parts, it only runs smoothly if all the parts play their part and work together as one. Friends, let’s all have a look at ourselves, decide what part we were created to play, then go out there and play it with great gusto. Let’s show them that the Lord’s team is indeed a winner! Much LOVE…and plenty buckling down to do what He created us to do.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 September 2007 Isaiah 55:6-7.‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 55: 6-7    Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
 
‘Civilization is in ruins! Fear stalks the land! War is everywhere!!!’ Now doesn’t that sound like a fitting description of our current world? And would you believe I got that quote from the Hagar The Horrible comic strip of a couple days ago. That was the report the lookout gave Hagar. He must have been very astute, although I don’t think it needs too much brain work to see that we are heading downhill, like a tumbling tumbleweed, picking up speed as we go. I guess it must have been the same with Isaiah’s world; sin, fear, greed, cruelty, oppression, extreme poverty, idolatry and war, all the negative stuff was rampant, that’s why he called for his people to turn back to God. I find it interesting, though very puzzling, why throughout most of the Old Testament, the prophets were constantly calling for the people to return to God. Why did they turn from Him in the first place? Wasn’t it Him who had provided for them throughout all their wanderings, captivity etc? It seems to be just the nature of the human animal; ungrateful; know you in rough times, then forget you in good ones. It’s no different in modern times either. Every so often we have a big God revival, especially in times of great upheaval and disaster, where, for a short period, He’s at the forefront, with His name on the tip of everyone’s tongue, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent. But then, as soon as things settle down and prosperity returns, we conveniently forget The One who caused all our good fortune and revert to our wicked, idolatrous ways. Friends, what’s wrong with us? Are we brain dead, or just plain stupid? Can’t we realize that a prosperous, sharing, peaceful world is only possible if we consistently live by God’s rules, not only when it suits our selfish purposes. Or is it that we don’t really want a peaceful, prosperous world, but rather prefer the destructive, war like manner in which we currently abide. Whatever the answer is though Friends, I’d strongly suggest that we do as Isaiah said: Let’s seek the Most High while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near. This also means that the wicked and unrighteous will have to change their ways and thoughts. O People! Let’s have a God Revival now nuh! We need one badly. We desperately need showers of His mercy to rain down on us and experience His abundant pardon for our numerous sins!  Much LOVE!

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 September 2007 Lamentations 3:39-41.‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Lamentations 3:39-41.   Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
 
I can understand Jeremiah’s pain as he lamented over the sinful nature of his people Israel, because our society today is also a sinful, wicked, cruel, evil, Godless entity, possibly the most sinful there’s ever been, seeing that we have lots more things to provoke us to sin than any previous society. His question, re men complaining about the punishment of their sins, just shows how far the Israelites had moved away from God. Apparently they had reached a stage where they did not expect any punishment for their sins, so it came as a shock when they realized what was happening. But how can one knowingly do wrong over a long period of time and not expect to be punished, or complain about the punishment eh? The same thing applies to us today. We’ve strayed so far from God, that it takes us totally by surprise when he jolts us back to reality. Friends, as Jeremiah beseeched his people back then, I’m doing the same today: Let us search our hearts; do some serious soul searching. Let’s check out our behaviour; analyze it down to the nitty gritty and discover where we’ve gone, or are going wrong, because all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, just some more than others. And when we have examined our hearts and our behaviour, let’s change for the better; let’s turn again to Our God, the one and only true Supreme Being. Let’s seek His face once more, so that we can live in peace and prosperity, for it’s through Him alone, that that can come to pass. Friends, let’s do it for our children’s children. Let’s try and give them a better world to live in, so that when future generations look back on our time, they won’t say, like the Israelites, that their forefathers committed horrible abominations before the Lord, that’s why they were punished. As Jeremiah encouraged, ‘Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto the God in the heavens.’  Much LOVE…along with plenty soul searching and making The Most High the focus of our lives.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 September 2007 Psalm 16:8-9‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 16:8-9    I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth, my flesh also shall rest in hope.
 
O David, what beautiful words! How I wish I could pen such moving, appropriate words! That should be the believer’s motto. If we believe in the Most High God, then we should always be looking towards Him; have Him in our consciousness at all times; constantly talking and communicating with Him; have Him as our sounding board  in everything we do. And it naturally follows that if we are in alliance with the Most Mighty and Powerful Being in existence, who can do all, who controls all, then obviously we should not be afraid of anything that comes against us. He’s out right hand man; He has our back; He looks out for us. And again, as a direct consequence of this alliance with the Most Mighty, since I need not be afraid of anything, then my heart and soul are free to be joyful and effervescent in a disciplined manner. Note the ‘disciplined.’  Not only is our spirit buoyed by His constant concern, our physical being also is uplifted by it. His love and fatherly care gives us hope and expectations of a good future. That’s why a lot of non believers are turned off by so called Christians, because we don’t act the part. I saw a lot of this when I was growing up, and it sort of turned me off, made me a bit wary and leery about those who spouted too many words but never lived up to them. Also, too many of us claim to be believers, yet go around looking sour and miserable, as though we have such a great weight on our shoulders. There’s no joy or excitement in our souls or exterior demeanour. So why should anybody want to follow that type of life eh? That type of behaviour always confuses and disturbs me. If all our sins are forgiven and a place in Heaven is assured us when we believe, then we should be gloriously happy and show it too. That’s the attitude we need to display. Granted, life will not always be wonderful, but we’ve also got all the tools to stand strong during adversity. So please Friends, let’s do away with the sour, woe is me, I’ve got the whole weight of the world on my shoulders attitude, and live the good, happy prosperous, joyful life that J.C died for us to have. Otherwise, His death would have been all in vain, and we certainly don’t want that to be the case. Let the joy from our souls shine on our faces, so that non believers will come rushing to hear The Word, and be falling all over themselves to get what we have…Joy in J.C!  Much LOVE…with Joyful, Radiant Hearts and Faces (SMILE)

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 September 2007 2 Timothy 4: 16-18.‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Timothy 4:16-18.    At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Paul is telling his young protégé about the trials and tribulations he faced when he began his ministry. Not too many people supported him. However, and this is the most important part, the Most High stood by him and strengthened him. I know exactly how Paul felt. Whenever we step out to do something good for God, few people support us, whether through, fear, envy or whatever, but when the Lord stands with us, strengthens us and makes our project successful, then lots of people jump on the bandwagon. We should also notice that Paul was not spiteful or vindictive towards those who ignored and /or abused him, rather, he prayed that God would not hold their wicked deeds against them. This is a trait that we as believers need to develop badly. We need to be magnanimous in victory. It’s not easy, but if we’re to truly follow in J.C’s footsteps, we’ve got to give up the vindictive side of our nature. The Lord says that’s His territory; He’ll deal with it. Our success should be more than enough to quell that urge. Paul certainly had lots of faith, otherwise he could not have withstood the many beatings, jailings, and mental abuse he experienced. Most of us could not have withstood his hardships, but neither should we give up at the first sign of problems. We’ve got to exhibit a little belly, a little fortitude. A perfect example is when this Scrip-Bit thing first entered my consciousness. I was somewhat leery about it, doubting that my Scriptural knowledge was at a high enough level. But after several promptings from the Most High, yuh know how he can be unrelenting when He wants you to do something, I finally took the plunge and started it. Some people were sceptical, some laughed and wondered how come I’d suddenly gotten spiritual. But the fact is that I’ve always lived a fairly spiritual life, just never publicized it. And now, like the Fella on High figured that I should. Anyway, it’s been almost five months since we began, and many times I’ve questioned whether I was doing a good enough job. But yuh know, every time those doubts surfaced,  just in the nick of time, somebody would send me some word of encouragement, that would boost my spirits and give me the strength to continue. Don’t you just love Our God’s behind the scenes machinations! In times of doubt and trouble He never lets us down, never fails us. So please keep those encouraging words coming. I’m not a tower of power. So anytime anything touches you, please let me know. Scrip-Bit will only last as long as you support it. And I’m actually enjoying it too. Hn,hn! This is just more deviousness on The Most High’s part, because I never intended to write this stuff. Anyway, with your help and the Most High’s, we’ve lasted almost five months, so don’t stop. I don’t see why we can’t last another fifty…years that is (smile). Let’s get out there and spread The Word! Much LOVE, Faith and Support to each other!
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 September 2007 Galatians 6:3‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Galatians 6:3.    For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, , he deceiveth himself.
 
Oh, how rampant that trait is in our cult of the celebrity society today. Egos are so inflated, that it’s shameful when you see some of these people talking and carrying on as though they were the greatest thing since sliced bread, when, in reality they are nothing but empty sounding vessels with no real substance to them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not only the so called celebrities who behave this way. Not at all. Self adulation and self promotion are all pervasive in this modern world, what with the rapid spread of P.R firms and their ilk. We all seem to think we’re something that we’re not. It’s good to be positive, assertive and that kind of stuff, but it’s when we cross over that thin, red line that separates egotism from a healthy appreciation of one’s abilities and accomplishments that we encounter serious problems. Sadly, humility and its associated traits have fallen by the wayside, and we’ve morphed into a selfish, aggressive, egotistic, boastful, lying and embellishing society. Nowadays, everybody is a superstar. There are no just stars again. When we talk about stars now, it’s simply the pretty, twinkling lights in the heavens. Everything is power driven. Standards have fallen so low, that now the superlatives have become ordinary, everyday staples. An ordinary body is now called super. Unfortunately, and ironically, the same lightning speed with which we are catapulted to the top of the heap, feted and fawned over, it’s with that same speed -and even quicker if possible- that we are dragged back down, accompanied by unbelievable vitriol and back stabbing when a chink in our rosy armour is discovered. Friends, I’m here to tell you, that regardless of how brilliant, famous or accomplished we are, we’re all still simple, ordinary human beings created by Our Heavenly Father, with different gifts  to perform different tasks in His grand scheme of things. And nothing we achieve is without His active involvement. So let’s cease with the setta airs and graces nuh, and just be humble, appreciative believers. And most importantly, let me remind us all, as that excellent, Tobago born Calypsonian, Lord Nelson noted sometime ago in his song ‘Superstar’, there has only ever been ONE, and will ever only be ONE Superstar; ONE person worthy of that glowing, glorious designation. His name is J.C…JESUS CHRIST! Amen! As Always, Much LOVE …in the name of THE  SUPERSTAR!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 September 2007 Acts 19: 17 & 20‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Acts 19:17&20    ….and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
 
At one stage of his travels through Asia, the Apostle Paul touched down in Ephesus and began preaching J.C and baptizing in His name. He spent about two years there spreading the Word throughout all Asia. During this time, God also worked miracles through him; healing the sick and lame. This seemed to provoke certain renegade Jews though, who took it upon themselves to drive out evil spirits from the mentally ill by calling on the name of Jesus by whom Paul preached. The story goes that one man, Seeva, a chief priest, had seven sons, who tried that. However, unfortunately for them, the evil spirit they were trying to drive out, retorted that he knew J.C and Paul, but not them. Then the man with the evil spirit attacked them and they fled out of the house naked and wounded. Served them right. Obviously, that news soon spread all over Ephesus, scaring the inhabitants ‘…and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.’ How fitting! Although it seems that we can’t accept and believe until something happens that scares us. But the story does not end there. The scriptures claim that many people who believed came and confessed their sinful deeds. Also, many of them who dabbled in other forms of worship, brought their books and burnt them before their brethren, and when the price of the burnt stuff was added up, it came to a grand total of fifty thousand pieces of silver: a decent chunk of change anytime, anywhere. And ‘So, mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.’ What an intriguing story! Friends, most of us cannot perform miracles, and should certainly not try to drive out evil spirits, but each of us has some little gift given to us by Our Father, and in our small way, we can all say and do something to magnify Him, so that others will want to come to Him and accept the wonderful gift of salvation He so freely and generously offers. Let’s try to ramp up our efforts in this area please. Much LOVE, and hopefully, much spreading of The Word!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 September 2007 Hosea 6:1‏

20 Nov 2007 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Hosea 6:1   Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us.
 
Apparently in the days of the prophet Hosea, the Israelites had reached a Godless state, put Him on the backburner, gone their own way, doing their own thing. Consequently, the society was in an uproar, a state of instability. In Chapter 4, Hosea says, ‘The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there’s no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.’  Does that sound familiar to you? I’m sure it does, since it’s the very same thing that’s happening in our  individual societies and the world at large today. Our world’s in a mess, to put it nicely: Everywhere there’s too much greed, oppression, persecution, selfishness, wars, rumours of war, and the clincher, extreme, far flung poverty in the midst of so much affluence and prosperity. You name the negative stuff, and we have it in large quantities, while the positive stuff lingers by the wayside. And, like Hosea’s Israel, there’s not much truth and knowledge of God. To make matters worse, many of us are trying to tear down and destroy what little there is. But Friends, that’s foolish. It’s like cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. How can we stray from our Heavenly Father, Our Creator, and expect to live a good life eh? He’s the reason why we have a good life in the first place.  Without His loving kindness and guidance we’re nothing; nothing but lost, inept sheep. That’s why Hosea was imploring and beseeching his people to return to God; because He’s the author of everything. And you know, even after a long spell of disobedience, if we turn to Him with a right heart, He is so merciful, loving and forgiving, that He’ll gladly embrace us, welcome us back with a father’s joy on the return of his prodigal child. Friends, I’m asking us, beseeching, imploring, whatever word it takes, to do the same thing today. Let’s cut out the confusion and strife. Let’s return to faithfully worshipping, praising and being obedient to The Most High, so that our lives can become whole and fruitful once again. As always, Plenty, Plenty LOVE!

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