Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 April 2008 Ezekiel 18:21-23‏

30 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Ezekiel 18:21-23.   But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord: and not that he should return from his ways, and live.
 
Oh Friends, what a most magnanimous, merciful and forgiving God we serve! Is there any other like Him? Certainly not! What a promise for us sinful disobedient children! Even the most evil of us, if we forsake our evil ways and turn to the Lord, be obedient to His rules, and live right, then we won’t suffer eternal death. And just to make sure we heard and understood, He repeats it in Vs.27. The next part is even better. ‘All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him:’ Wow! Can you believe it? And just in case you don’t, He says it again in Vs. 24 and 33:16. Yes Friends, our wicked deeds won’t even be brought up. Unlike humans, who forgive, but keep bringing up wrongs, anytime others displease us. Once our God forgives us, it’s forgotten. Oh merciful day! Instead, it’s our righteousness He considers. Oh people, how can we not LOVE and worship such a merciful Being eh? How can we ever find it our hearts to forsake Him? Mercy is something we don’t deserve, but the Lord’s LOVE is so bountiful, He lavishes it on us anyway. But remember, Mercy, as most of His blessings, contains three parts: First, asking for it, then receiving it, then being merciful to someone else. Very seldom does God give us anything for just ourselves. He expects us to share any blessing He provides. That’s why He usually gives us more than we need. But a big stumbling block for lots of us, is receiving. Note, we can receive nothing, until we make a conscious effort and reach out for whatever is offered. Many of us find it difficult to accept anything at all, much less God’s forgiveness and mercy, because we feel we’re not deserving. Now that might be true, but it’s not the point. The Lord knows all our faults, being merciful is just His way of showing His unconditional LOVE for us. So Friends, if you’ve asked for mercy and forgiveness, then they’ve been granted. You now have to let go of any sinful pride and graciously accept them, then offer mercy and forgiveness to someone else. Ah my People, I don’t understand how we can turn away from such a wonderful God, who’s so loving and forgiving to us. ‘Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die…and not that he should return from his ways, and live.’ He sadly asks. No. None whatsoever! And just to make sure we heard, He repeats it in Vs.32. The Lord’s greatest pleasure would be to lose not a single child to eternal death and damnation. Friends, let’s work with Him towards that goal nuh. Much LOVE!…only the true Creator of all…can afford to be so merciful and forgiving…
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Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 April 2008 Proverbs 15:16-17‏

29 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 15:16-17    Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
 
Golden words of wisdom indeed Friends! What’s better than revering and respecting the Lord eh? Nothing! Solomon’s simply saying that peace and quietness in a man’s soul with little material wealth, is much better than lots of material stuff with a vexed and troubled spirit. It points back to what his father, Bruh David says in Psalm 37:16. ‘A little that a righteous man hath is better the riches of many wicked.’ Meaning, spiritual riches are way better than material treasure. And have you ever noticed the anomaly of worldly possessions, whenever your material wealth increases, so do your problems: you have more to look after, more people ask more of you, and also more opportunity for theft and fraud. Hn! Only this afternoon I said that to the wife of my youth, referring to Oprah Winfrey. She’s so big now, and getting bigger daily, that it must be increasingly difficult to keep a proper eye on everything. Although you may have good people overseeing each entity, the wider you spread yourself, the greater opportunity there is for wrongdoing. And remember, regardless of who does the actual wrong, if your name is in the public’s eye, your reputation and integrity will eventually suffer. But that’s a personal choice everyone’s got to make. My personal dislike of great material wealth, is that you spend so much time overseeing, protecting or increasing it, that you don’t really enjoy the things it’s supposed to allow you to enjoy. I don’t have that much, but yet it’s difficult for me to find the time to read everything, or listen to all the music I get, because I’m too busy making a living. And it’s getting worse too, what with the sudden escalation of prices for the basics. It means spending more time, making more, just to stay in the same position. That’s exactly why Solo says it’s better to have a dinner of cheap herbs and vegetables, if there is LOVE at the table, than to kill the fatted calf, have the expensive, many course meal, where there’s only strife, no LOVE. Now people, please don’t get the idea it’s wrong to be rich and right to be poor, because that’s not true. Neither are all rich people evil, and all poor ones good. The problem is that focusing too much on the accumulation of material wealth, tends to turn us away from God. The green eyed monsters of greed and envy invade our souls and lead us to disobey God. Friends it is very possible to amass great material wealth being obedient to God’s principles. We have two of the best examples right here; Bruh David and his son Solomon. They didn’t seek material wealth as such, but had their hearts set on God. The Lord took Bruh David from being a lowly shepherd and made him a mighty King. When Solomon asked for wisdom, He not only made him the wisest man ever, but also the richest. Wow! But that’s the way our God works. If we sincerely seek and revere Him, follow His dictates of living in peace and harmony with each other, then He’ll give us the desires of our hearts, and much much more. As always my People, Much LOVE!…wherever peace and true love abound…there will the Lord’s favour…always be found…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 April 2008 Deuteronomy 33:12‏

28 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Deuteronomy 33:12.    And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
 
Ah Friends, this life is oftimes difficult, fraught with pain and sadness, that leads us to wonder if God is really real. And if He is, then where is He when we’re undergoing much sorrow and tribulation? But fear not, most worthy child of God, for He is real, still in control, and always with us. Remember though, that His ways are not our ways. His are much more cerebral than our mortal minds can comprehend, so a lot of things will happen that we don’t understand, and seem at odds with His word, but I assure you, there’s method to His madness. Everything He does has a purpose, just more intricate than we can imagine. Look at how long they were prophesying the coming of the Messiah; hundreds of years, and His second coming has been in the works for two thousand years now. So try not to fret unnecessarily when you feel sad and alone, or find yourself in the midst of some critical problem that you can’t handle. The Lord has it under control. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and has never broken a promise yet, neither will He ever. We’ve just got to try and stay in faith, hard as it may be. Today’s Bit is one of the many promises of the Most High that we find scattered throughout the Good Book. Here Moses is blessing the various tribes of Israel before his death. Referring to the tribe of Benjamin, he said, ‘The blessed of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.’ He’s apparently referring to the warrior traits of the Benjaminites. But it’s a wonderful promise for a warrior; he’ll dwell in safety, the Lord shall cover and shelter him all day long from his enemies, whether it be through physical camouflage, good hiding places, or just His protective Spirit hovering over him. The Lord will also dwell between his shoulders, reside at the source of our upper body strength, from whence the might and power of our arms and chest arise. And since we are all warriors in the Lord’s army my Friends, that excellent promise of safety and protection also applies to us. So you see we really have no need to be sore afraid when the enemy comes against us. And though it’s not easy, we can withstand the enemy’s attacks if we stand strong in the Word; study, believe and live it. Remember Bruh Paul says we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us. And that’s the gospel truth Friends! So let’s put on our fighting spirit and move forward to battle. Much LOVE!…stand up,stand for Jesus…the trumpet sounds obey…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 April 2008 Romans 8:38-39‏

27 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Romans 8:38-39.    For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. 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.
 
What a powerful statement of faith from Bruh Paul, my Friends! There’s no doubting his strong commitment to Christ. Not many of us can claim that level of faith, but it’s a goal to which we can all aspire. But remember that Bruh Paul was an extraordinary man in an extraordinary time, whose passion for Christ, after his conversion, verged on the insatiable, the fanatical. Very few of us will ever attain his level of faith, for the Lord gave us all different levels of intensity, but it’s a perfect example to hold, and look to for inspiration when our own faith is taxed, and we feel it slowly ebbing away, like the tide on the seashore. Then it can work as a good pick me up, solid encouragement. How can we not be encouraged eh, after considering all the negative stuff Bruh Paul experienced in his walk of faith; the beatings, imprisonment, shipwreck etc.  And yet his enthusiasm, his passion and LOVE for Christ never waned. Instead, it seems to have waxed stronger with every tribulation he faced. In Vs.35, he gutsily asks. ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’ And confidently answers in Vs.37. ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.’ Wow! What a belief in Christ, especially for a man who spent his early years rabidly persecuting believers. It shows the power our God commands, when he touches someone’s life. We all can’t be brave and steadfast, like Bruh Paul, in the face of what I term ‘adverse adversity’, but we can all be a bit stronger than we are. The soft life we now live; no cutting wood, toting water, working the garden, milking the cows, feeding the other animals, walking to and from school, all these things that instilled some sense of responsibility and commitment, that built grit, perseverance and backbone in us, have sadly disappeared from our increasingly lazy, technological world. Oh people, this soft living has stolen our gumption and ‘stick-to-itiveness.’ We’ve lost  our belly, have no backbone, and usually give up at the first sign of adversity. But Friends, we’re not supposed to quit so quickly, even if there are good grounds to do so. Jesus had plenty good grounds to quit, but He didn’t. And hear what Bruh Paul says: neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present or future things, height, depth, or any creature at all, should separate us from God. Granted, not all of us have been endowed with that martyr’s mindset, but all of us can do much better than we’re currently doing. Oh Friends, instead of always looking for the easy way, let’s commit ourselves to standing a bit stronger each day for Christ nuh. He died an ugly death on a wooden cross to redeem our sinful souls. The first Christians also suffered much, so that the message, the Word, could live, breathe and survive for us. It’s now our turn to do the same; stand strong and ensure the survival of the Word. Please, I implore us to let nothing ‘separate us from the LOVE of  God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Much LOVE!…for the Word to survive… we must fight the good fight of faith…clothed in our spiritual armour…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 April 2008 Psalm 68:4,19.‏

26 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 68:4,19.    Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
 
Oh that’s for sure Friends! We’ve always got to sing praises and extol His Holy name, because He gives us blessings everyday. And today, the ole fella has a very good reason to praise and thank Him even more than normal. Recently, I’ve been undergoing a negative situation. I asked Him what to do, and He gave me some pointers which I followed. My actions seemed to be on the right track, but nothing was happening. It seemed to be taking forever to resolve the situation. But as I keep saying, patience is oh so necessary when dealing with the Lord, because our time frame or constraints aren’t necessarily His. And I’ve been waiting, fairly patiently, (smile) although as each day passed, the situation became a bit more stressful. However, today, out of the blue, I got some good news; the situation has been resolved, even better than I had asked for or imagined. Wow! That’s the mercy and generosity of our God that we’re continually talking about people. So there we go. For those who don’t believe He keeps His promises and rewards those who try to do right, and in faith ask for what they need, then wait patiently, that’s a living example. We don’t always get what we want, or when we want it, but rest assured, whenever He grants our requests, the rewards are usually much better than we’ve asked for or expected. However, one note of caution Friends. When the Most High grants us more than we’ve asked for, all of it is not for us. He’s given us more than we need so we can share it with others less fortunate. Thus it behoves me now, to go out and share some of my good fortune with others, in some form or fashion that will bring glory to His name. So people, let’s just keep working for Him nuh. I’m sure many of you have had some good fortune at some time or other when things looked rather bleak. That was the Lord working on your behalf. And we need to give back something from our blessings. The best way to do that is to keep studying His word, talking to Him, in prayer, praise and thanksgiving, and doing the things He’s called us to do. It’s little enough, since He proves His faithfulness every day to those who seek Him in truth and uprightness of heart. Now, we also got to be careful that we don’t get too uppity or carried away with those blessings, because if we do, most likely we’ll soon be called on to deal with some other negative situation again, just to prove our faithfulness. Yes my people, I’ll say it once more: For the wonderful benefits and blessings our God daily bestows on us, it’s only fitting that we show our overwhelming gratitude by rejoicing, singing His praises and extolling His Holy and Mighty Name of JAH! Selah. As always; Much LOVE!…the master of timing…knows exactly when we need uplifting…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2008 Colossians 1:10-12‏

25 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Colossians 1:10-12    That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
 
What an encouraging and uplifting greeting from Bruh Paul to the Colossians! He certainly knew how to raise the spirits of his associates. Today, I want to send those same sentiments to us all: That our walk of faith be pleasing to the Lord, that we make Him proud of us. Remember how our parents would speak proudly about our achievements. Well I want the Most High to be able to do the same thing. That means ‘being fruitful in every good work,’ which in turn implies that we go out there and do the things He’s called us to do; good works obviously, that will bear fruit, by bringing an unbeliever to Him, encouraging someone, boosting their faith, offering financial, emotional or physical help, or just being kind and friendly to all we meet. But whatever it is we do, it should be with the intention to improve someone else’s life. However, we can only do that properly by ‘increasing in the knowledge of God,’ becoming well grounded in His principles. That means, reading, studying and meditating on His Word. Please don’t let the Good Book grow dusty from lack of use. It needs to have a well used look. And when we’ve digested the Word, then we need to put it into action. I can’t stress often enough that the Word is above all, a template for action. Just reading and knowing it is not sufficient. We must also live it’s principles in our daily lives, which isn’t easy. That’s why Bruh Paul says, ‘strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.’ Now that’s a difficult thing to do, but it’s what the Lord requires of us, and we can only do it by studying His Word, and using the Holy Spirit within us, as our ally to fight the enemies of darkness. That’s how we get the capability to be patient and longsuffering with a joyful attitude. Now don’t get discouraged if it’s not happening as quickly as you expect. It doesn’t happen overnight, we’ve got to continually work at it, because humans are programmed to be impatient, miserable, strife mongers, so it takes time to reprogram ourselves. Just be patient, (smile) and keep working at it. In time, through prayer, perseverance, faith and the Spirit’s help, you’ll move from the darkness required to nurture a seed, and burst forth, blossom bright and beautiful, like a newborn flower, shining in the sunlight, claiming your new birthright, ‘Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.’ Friends, that’s my sincere wish for all of us today. So let’s put it into action right now, and bring a proud tear of joy to God’s eye. Much LOVE!…a believer’s life can be rough and rugged…so we’ve got to stay focused…on the wonderful prize ahead…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 April 2008 Jeremiah 6:16‏

24 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Jeremiah 6:16.    Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
 
Oh Friends, sometimes I think that mankind is either brainless or brain-dead, judging by the lack of respect we show for the Word of God. Our Lord doesn’t mince words. He says it like it is. Do this, and that will happen. Do the opposite and other consequences will follow. And He’s said the same thing so often too. Like, be obedient to me, and you’ll live a long, prosperous life. Be disobedient, then you’ll endure ‘sufferation’ and death. So why do we always seem to choose the path with dire consequences eh? Today’s Bit is just one of the many examples. The people of Judah had turned away from God, becoming greedy, immoral and worse yet, worshipping idols. Then they refused to listen to the prophets God sent to warn them. ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way.’ Jeremiah’s referring to the traditional way of their forefathers; walking in righteousness and trust with the Lord. That was the good way. When they did that, they prospered. ‘Walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ How much plainer could He make it eh? ‘But they said, We will not walk therein.’ Oh foolish, foolish people! Don’t laugh Friends, cause many of us are guilty of that same stubborn, unwise attitude, refusing to walk in the paths of Peace, LOVE, and Understanding that God has decreed from day one, as the way he wants us to live. How many times does He need to punish us, before we get it through our thick skulls, that He is, was, and always will be, both the Creator and Controller of All? In Verse 19, He declares: ‘Hear O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.’ Oh Friends, can’t we see, don’t we understand, that a lot of the stuff that’s traumatizing our world today is due to our disobedience to God’s will? I don’t know exactly how much is attributable to His removing His hand of blessing from us, but there have been too many unusual, and abnormal occurrences in the last decade or so, that should act as warnings, causing us to sit down and seriously ponder the situation. Look at the widespread increase of disease, drought, famine, hunger, poverty, strife and turmoil, heat waves, cold waves and other natural disasters happening in the most unlikely places, in the most scientific and technologically advanced stage of human existence. Isn’t something wrong somewhere? We’re advanced enough to conquer most of those negatives, instead, we’re falling prey to them. The only thing left that could be causing our slide into the dark abyss is our lifestyle; predominantly based on greed, selfishness, immorality, strife, vengeance, oppression and irreverence to the Most High God. Now if you consider the Word to be true, then it’s logical to expect Him to subject us to some form of punishment for our blatant disobedience? Oh Friends, let’s wake up and realize, before it’s too late, that there’s only One God and One Way; His. And not following it will cost us an enormous price, some of which we’re obviously already paying. Wake up nuh people and hear the truth! The Lord’s not happy with us. His actions, or lack thereof, plainly show it. Let’s turn back to Him, NOW! Much LOVE!…wise hearts listen…but the fool says in his heart…there is no God…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 April 2008 1 Corinthians 15:54,55,57.‏

23 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Corinthians 15: 54,55,57.    So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                          
EULOGY FOR GODERICK FRANCIS.
The pain and anguish are finally over. No more embarrassing moments to endure. At last it’s time to go home and sit around the throne of grace and compare notes with those who’ve gone before. Ah Friends, another one has succumbed in life’s prime, to that dreaded scourge of human existence; Cancer. When will we conquer it eh? With all the resources thrown at it, unfortunately, it’s still holding us at bay. And this Eulogy thing is happening a bit too often; twice in the past two months. Anyway G, we’ve come to both bury and praise you, for you were a good man, and good people are hard to find. You’ll be sadly missed for so many things; your outspoken, loyal, enthusiastic demeanour; the passion you brought to everything you did; your humour and your welcoming smile, along with your generous but stubborn nature. Before going any further though Bruh, let me sincerely apologize for not coming to see you during the latter part of your illness. The poor winter weather and our different schedules just never permitted it. However, I always enquired about you, and for certain sure, you were always in my prayers, hoping that the Lord would see fit to bestow a miracle of healing on you. But if that wasn’t in the script, then He’d at least allow you to see your first grandchild before he took you home. That wish He granted. Sorry you won’t be around to see her blossom, as I’m sure she will, but she’ll hear lots about you, for you left a rich legacy of stories. I know the family will find your absence strange and somewhat unsettling, but don’t worry, they’ll survive. They’re strong and will grieve appropriately, then move on, for they know you’re in a better place now, and mourning is only for a time. Rest assured you’ll never be forgotten, for you’ve touched too many hearts with your life. But Bruh, yuh remember when we were young! Hn,hn! Sorry sir. I can just hear you saying with your contrary self, that you’re still young. (smile) And you always were young at heart. Thankfully that’s the way I’ll remember you, since I never saw you during your illness. But seriously G, we spent some good times together yes, starting in the Perivale area; the parties and picnics, not forgetting the Carnival get-togethers in the basement of the new house. Ah Bruh, our families have really shared a lot and developed a strong bond since we first met twenty something years ago, I believe through our young daughters at school. It’s a friendship that’s never faltered, and I value it quite highly. Right now I consider you family, cause that’s what family really means, not simply blood relations, but also people who go through a lot of life together on good terms. Yuh know G, you’re one of those people whom I’ll remember fondly, when I’m old and grey, sitting in my rocking chair on a porch on some high hill, close to the Almighty, hopefully on Crusoe’s paradise isle. Ah mih brother, there’s so much more I can say, but space and time won’t allow me. Yuh know the families always figured we talked too much anyway. (smile) Now they’re going to certainly miss hearing your voice though. But that’s just the nature of the beast; we never appreciate something when we have it. I’ll close now Bruh, by simply saying; thanks for all the good memories we made. But all good things must end sometime, so until we meet again in the great beyond, I’ll wish you God speed…and save a space at your table for me. (smile) I won’t say bye, but rather, Hasta manana…till tomorrow. Much LOVE!…the body moves on…but the spirit lingers forever…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 April 2008 Revelation 7:14,16-17.‏

22 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Revelation 7:14,16-17     And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. 
 
Ah Friends, how I wish that were true right now. So much unnecessary suffering is taking place in our world. Two headlines caught my eye in the Sunday paper. One trumpeted, ‘A vicious circle of misery,’ then went on to talk about soaring food prices that have recently triggered food protests in places like Mexico City, Haiti, Africa, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, with violent clashes in the long lines for subsidized bread in Egypt. The prices for basic staples such as rice, corn, wheat, and soya have increased enormously over the last year, and consequently for all the products in which they’re used, sadly leading to more people going hungry around the world. The problem seems to stem from a combination of less food production, more farmland being turned into urban centres, with what is farmed beset by unusual climatic conditions, higher consumption of meat and dairy products in emerging economies, escalating energy costs, profiteering and increased production of biofuels that feed vehicles rather than people. Definitely not a pretty picture. But the second headline is the one that really tore me up. That said, ‘Let them eat dirt.’ Hn! And it seems to be factual, for the article claims that in Haiti, which already has the unenviable distinction of being the poorest country in the West, ‘a destitute population is turning increasingly to mud patties made of dirt, oil and sugar, which at least quieten the stomach.’ Oh Friends, how can that be eh? Humans reduced to eating dirt! It’s a disgrace! But who’s to blame? How can we fix it? What’s next? Where will it end? All questions with no easy or certain answers. And Friends, don’t think we’re insulated from it, because we’re not. Just like the latest catch all phrase is the global economy, well this is global hunger and poverty. The so called first class nations are having their problems too. It’s really a vicious circle, for though we’re growing stuff for biofuels, which increases the price of everything connected, the price of oil and gas is still skyrocketing. So where’s the benefit? What shall become of us all? Are the last days upon us? Shall we soon become a part of that uncountable multitude of all nations and tongues that John saw, clothed in white robes, standing before the throne of grace, praising God? (Vs.9-10) Those who had come out of great tribulation, but had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and would never hunger or thirst again? Oh Friends, a believer’s life is not easy. It’s hard for a man to believe in spiritual things when he’s hungry and in need. But that’s when we need to the most. And though we must all pay our earthly dues, lots of benefits are still available: LOVE, Trust, Honour, Forgiveness, Mercy, Grace, Glory, Joy, Peace. And they’re all free. So I’m asking us today, not to give up. The journey might be somewhat rough, but look towards the destination and it’s glorious promise: When the Lamb on the throne shall feed us, and lead us to living fountains of waters, and the Most High God himself, shall wipe away all the tears from our eyes. What an awesome homecoming to look forward to! Much LOVE!…heaven’s benefits…more than make up for earth’s difficulties…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 April 2008 Nehemiah 8:8-10‏

21 Apr 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Nehemiah 8:8-10.    So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people. This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
 
It’s amazing, but the people asked for it. (Vs.1) Can you imagine that happening nowadays? Hn! But what a scene it must have been eh: Ezra, in the middle of the street before the water gate, above the masses, on a pulpit of wood, specially made for the occasion, reading from the Book of the Law of Moses, from morning until midday, ‘and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.’ (Vs.3) Wow! People tend to fall asleep now when the Word is read. At the same time, the Levites and others went amongst the crowd translating and explaining the words, since they were written in Hebrew and most of them only spoke Amharic. And remember, there was nothing to amplify Ezra’s words, so his voice had to be powerful enough for those around him to hear and others to pass it on to those outside of earshot. This celebration took place on the first day of the seventh month, after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt under the governorship of Nehemiah, and many of the Jews had returned from exile in Babylon. Many of them born in Babylon, had never heard the laws God gave their forefathers, for most of the time restrictions had been placed on their faith, so they wept openly when they first heard them. Oh Friends, I wish we could react with such emotion when we hear the Word. Many of us show no emotion whatsoever when we hear it, but it’s supposed to stir us up, one way or the other, preferably with joy. Then, after the reading, Ezra told them to go and celebrate, ‘eat the fat and drink the sweet.’ But note, he also instructed them to ‘send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared.’ That meant the poor and the strangers, in keeping with Deuteronomy 26:11-13, where they were instructed to rejoice in every good thing that the Lord had given them, but after they had paid their tithes in the third year, they should also give of their increase ‘unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled.’ To mark the occasion, Ezra also declared, ‘For this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ Oh people what insight and wisdom! For it’s a fact that our strength comes from being joyful in the Lord. When we place our trust and faith in Him, we don’t have to worry about anything, that means we should be happy. Likewise, if we’re joyful, that means we’re positive and confident, and we don’t have to go around like wet fowls, looking sad and miserable. Friends, that’s the whole point of becoming a believer, so that we can live a renewed life of joy and privilege through the comforting words and Spirit of Jesus. If we’re true believers, we should have an air of joy and prosperity, cause that’s what we’re trying to sell the unbelievers. And you cannot sell something successfully unless you show enthusiasm for it. So let’s cut out the poor me one, hang dog, look nuh, and put on the bright, cheerful, enthusiastic air like we’re supposed to. Much LOVE!…our walk of faith must be clothed in an aura of… joy, peace, strength, confidence and LOVE…

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