Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 May 2008 1 Corinthians 1:10-11‏

21 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Corinthians 1:10-11    Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
 
But what a way I’m into Bruh Paul now eh Friends! (smile) Couldn’t stand him before. Considered him a bit too uppity and self-righteous, and his writing too high brow and wordy, difficult for the ordinary man to understand. Guess that was due to his higher level of education and social position than the other apostles. But like the Lord’s been quietly working on me and I’m beginning to appreciate him more. He’s certainly practical, and in his zeal, does not shy away from contentious matters, like Today’s Bit. He had heard from different sources, that the church at Corinth was being fractured by cliques. Now doesn’t that sound familiar? Of course. It’s happening today too, and on a much larger scale than back then. Oh people, it’s such a sad commentary on the body of Christ. The Church is supposed to be the true, unifying vehicle of Christ’s ministry, for spreading His Word to all ends of the earth. The Corinthians can be excused a bit for their dissension because they were new to the faith, which itself was new, and all the ramifications had not yet been ironed out. But Friends,what excuse do we have two thousand years later, with everything settled and in place? Why can’t we have a fairly unified Church eh? I said fairly, since human involvement always brings dissension, but certainly not to today’s extent. And I mean both inter and intra denominational. Within all spheres, there’s too much bickering, backbiting, distrust and anger, that’s boiling over into further divisions. We have not forsaken our selfish, egotistical ways to live in LOVE and unity as Christ asked. The desires of the flesh have conquered those of the spirit. Consequently, the Church has fallen into sad disrepute and neglect, both literally and figuratively. Like the Corinthians were forming cliques in the different apostle’s names, Paul, Apollos, Cephas, (1:12). But as Bruh Paul asks, (1:13) ‘Is Christ divided?’ And that’s the crux of the matter my people. The answer is a resounding, No! So why then are we dividing? Jesus himself said that a house divided cannot stand (Luke 11:17) In fact, anything that’s divided and fighting against itself, will not last. How then can we expect to do our duty and spread the word, when there’s no unity? How can we expect unbelievers to not only listen, but also joyfully embrace the word, if all they see is disunity amongst those claiming to be followers of this magnificent, loving, merciful, and forgiving Saviour, Jesus Christ? It’s highly unlikely. I keep stressing that it’s not what we say, but more so how we act, that wins hearts to Christ. Ah Friends, in these turbulent times, we need Christ more than ever, and unity should be paramount, though it won’t be easy, since we’re so deeply divided, but its our only hope for survival. So in Bruh Paul’s words, ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.’ Much LOVE!…remember…examples speak…plenty louder than words…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 May 2008 Romans 11:33-36‏

20 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Romans 11:33-36    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
 
And all God’s people said,’Wow!’ As Bruh Paul sings our Lord’s praises to the believers at Rome. ‘How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out?’ Exactly! If He is Almighty God, how can mere mortals, His creations to boot, question His judgement, or seek to find out His ways eh? If that were possible, then He’d be just like us, losing the awe and mystery that shrouds Him. Even the workings of great men are shrouded in mystery, much less a magnificent God like ours. The dictionary defines God, as a Superhuman Being, worshipped as having power over nature and human fortunes; A Deity of immense proportions. Yes Friends, that’s our God! Mighty in every imaginable way! As Bruh Paul asks, ‘For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor?’ Job (36:22) Isaiah (40:13) and Jeremiah (23:18) three men highly connected to God, asked that same basic question centuries before Paul, and could find no answer. Even His Son, Jesus, during His earthly sojourn said that some things were only known to the Father. ‘Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?’ Now that’s certainly an interesting question? Where did God get His start? Who bankrolled Him? To whom does He owe a debt? Hn! We’ll probably never know, nor be able to comprehend it either, and it’s not really important. What’s important is that He is: He’s real: He exists in all His power and majesty, regardless of His beginnings. We got our start from Him, and it’s our duty to faithfully worship, serve and obey Him. That’s our immediate concern. So although disbelievers try to downplay our God’s greatness through logical arguments, we must realize that faith has nothing to do with logics. It has to do with belief. None of the countless other gods worshipped during mankind’s existence, fulfilled their promises. Yet people still worshipped them. Our God has done all He’s promised. He even sent His Son, Jesus to earth to experience our frailties and die to cleanse our sins. No one else can say that. Ah Friends, please don’t be misled by the iniquity workers. Our God’s real; we have experienced His reality, and His son Jesus, espouses the greatest philosophy of all time: LOVE! He showed it by dying for us. So let’s pose this bit of logic to the doubters: If there’s no God and no life after our bodily death, then fine, although living this life based on LOVE is still better than one based on evil. However people, and this is the multi-million dollar question, if, as we believe, there is a God, and life after death, and you haven’t received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, what happens then eh? Crapaud smoke yuh pipe Friends! So as the ole people say, ‘better be safe than sorry yes.’ Accept the Lord today, ‘For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…we’ll follow the Lord…right through eternity…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 May 2008 Romans 10:8-10‏

19 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Romans 10:8-10    But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 
Yes Friends, Bruh Paul is at his ‘speechifying ‘ best today, talking about the heart and mouth, two very important parts of any animal God created. In humans however, besides being a life generating pump, the heart also controls our spirit, our soul, while the mouth communicates what the heart feels. Now that’s only theoretically speaking, (smile) since some of us are so glib and talented, we can let the mouth say what the heart doesn’t feel. But remember people, the Lord doesn’t only listen to the words of our mouth, in fact, He pays more attention to those of our heart. And if the two don’t jive, then we’re liable to incur his displeasure. Anyway, Bruh Paul is talking to the believers at Rome about faith. In Chap. 9:30-32, he claims the Israelites were unsuccessful in their search for righteousness, because they tried to achieve it through the works of law and not faith; they ignored Jesus and remained trapped in the Old Testament ideas of salvation through works. The Gentiles though, who weren’t thus preoccupied, found righteousness through faith. In Chap.10, he sincerely desires that the Jews be saved, but declares that they won’t, until they stopped trying to establish their own righteousness and submitted to the righteousness of God. ‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’ (10:4)  And he’s preaching the word of faith, faith in Jesus Christ, because it’s the true base of righteousness. ‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.’ Wow! Oh Friends, Bruh Paul gets an A++, not only for the strength of his conviction, but also for diligently and unashamedly communicating it to others. What he felt in his heart, he declared through his mouth. ‘For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed.’  (10:11)  But many of us believers today, seem to lack  a strong conviction, that’s why we’re not doing more to raise the profile of our faith. Why is that? Are we ashamed, not truly convinced? What? Unselfish people have a natural urge to share good things with others. Just look at the workers of iniquity; how they’re busy spreading their story. What’s wrong with us Friends? Why aren’t we being more proactive and diligent? We claim a wonderful saviour in Jesus, well then, let’s joyfully spread it all over the world, as He asked us to do. ‘For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’ We don’t have to force our faith on others, but we must talk about it, and most importantly, live it sincerely. ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.’ (10:13) Friends, having called upon His Name, let’s work diligently to get others to do likewise. That’s our earthly purpose. Much LOVE!…faith in Jesus…is the foundation of salvation…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 May 2008 Psalm 148:1-6‏

18 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 148:1-6     Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
 
‘It’s five o’clock in the morning, As I rise to greet a new day, I wish everyone could feel the way I do today. Just to hear the birds a singing, and the joy that they are bringing. This is Jah’s gift to everyone. Give thanks and praise. Give thanks and praise. Give thanks and praise to Jah, for his ever-loving ways.’ My sentiments exactly Friends. Those words from the old reggae song, ‘Give Thanks and Praise’ touched me from the very first time I heard them. They are an apt description of a new day, and the birds singing in the background, just makes it more realistic. I used them as background music on my answering machine for many years. I think it’s by a group called the Uniques, but since I could find neither the record or a tape with it, I had to do it from memory. It’s not word perfect, but close enough to bear out the idea of Thanks and Praise, which I felt we badly needed to do today. So many people around the world don’t have the luxury of such a start to their day, but instead are experiencing such monumental suffering, that it seems shameful for us lucky few to just take our good luck for granted, and not really appreciate how blessed we are. The few inconveniences we have are miniscule compared to the plight of say, the people in the recent earthquake in China, the cyclone in Burma, the wars and strife in Africa, the numerous refugee camps all over the world, with new ones being set up daily, the millions of poor and destitute even in rich, peaceful countries. Not to mention the recent financial crisis that hit closer to home, but also spread worldwide because of greed and ineptitude. And the sad part is that the ones who caused it aren’t really paying for it, neither in cash nor kind. Friends, our world should not be in such dire straits with all the wealth and technology we have, and when everyone’s spouting the new mantra re ‘the global economy.’ But that’s only a ploy for the wealthy to move their money around the globe to wherever they can get the most for the least, without any thought to the loss of jobs and socio-economic decline left in their wake, or the unreasonably high expectations being created in the new lands of promise, which they’ll leave just as unceremoniously and unconscionably when it suits their greedy purposes. The only things that seem to be truly going global are negative; like poverty, suffering, oppression, terrorism, fear and crime. Ah People, who knows where it’s all going to end eh? Only the Most High. And regardless of how bad it looks, we know He’s still in control. So please, let’s all stand strong in our faith, work conscientiously in our little corner, walk obediently, give much thanks and praise for whatever we have, and pray, pray constantly, for the numerous unfortunate beings around the world, that their lives, as well as ours, will improve in the near future. Much LOVE!…when in doubt or fear…give thanks and pray…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 May 2008 Jeremiah 33:2-3‏

17 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Jeremiah 33:2-3    Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
 
Jeremiah was locked up by Zedekiah, King of Judah,  for prophesying about the fall of Jerusalem to the Chaldeans. And while in prison, the Lord spoke to him twice. Today’s Bit is the start of the second conversation. Note how he sets the stage, by first acknowledging, ‘…the Lord, the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name.’  In times past, believers always opened with an acknowledgement of God; His greatness, goodness or mercy, but something respectful. Our modern society though, emphasizes speed and short attention spans, which leaves no time for such niceties. But Friends, whenever we approach God, it’s important to give Him His due; pay some sort of homage, or simply recognize His Deity, like Jeremiah did. It’s just to show that we’re not only interested in what He can do for us, but we appreciate all that He is. So although Jeremiah is relaying God’s message, he still prefaces it with words of reverence and respect. And what did the Lord say? ‘Call unto me, and I will answer thee…’ It’s a directive, a promise that still holds true today people. Yes, sometimes it doesn’t seem so, for we’ve all called, often desperately, and got no answer. But Jeremiah forgot to mention the time frame for the answer, and the patience required when dealing with the Most High. Everything’s a priority to us, but the Lord sees the big picture and knows how and when best to react. So when we call on Him, don’t think that He hasn’t heard , or is ignoring us. That’s definitely not the case. He always hears and always pays attention. It just might not be the right time. And Friends, He’s the master of timing, which He reminded me of today. (smile) I’ve been asking for guidance on a particularly persistent problem for a bit, with no response from on high, only my constant vacillating  from one solution to the other, with time fast running out for a final decision. But today, unexpectedly, I got an answer, and luckily it was the one I was hoping for; the one with the least problems. That’s not always the case, but the Lord always has our best interest at heart, even when it doesn’t seem so, and through our faith and trust in Him, we need to move ahead in the direction He guides us. He’s not going to lead us astray, for Jeremiah’s praises weren’t only respectful, but also true; He is ‘the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it.’ He’s the Creator of the universe, so who knows better than Him, how it works eh? We go to man made experts for problems with man made things, so for problems with life, it’s only logical that we turn to the one who created it all. Yes Friends, there’s only one real expert in this world, the one in whom we’ve placed our utmost faith and trust; the Most High God Jehovah, is His Name. Call on Him, ask for His expert guidance, He’ll provide all our earthly needs, and those thereafter too, when we come to Him in glory. Much LOVE! …whatever the problem…first…take it to the Lord in prayer…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 May 2008 2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 4‏

16 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2.Chronicles 15:1-2,4    And the spirit of God came upon Azariah, the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; the Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel and sought him, he was found of them.
 
Yes my Friends, there’s much truth to those words. Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and knew right from wrong, we’ve had freedom of choice and the Lord has refused to meddle in our affairs, unless we invited Him to. In Deut.15, before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan into the promised land, Moses sternly warned them against disobeying God’s principles. They were God’s chosen people, so they needed to set a good example, and going astray would result in serious penalties. But they  never heeded the warning, and lapsed into disobedience several times over the years, and during those godless times the country was continually racked by misfortune, ‘..for God troubled them with every adversity.’ 2 Chron.15:5. After the death of Solomon, Israel fell into one of those godless times. The Egyptians invaded them, there was war between factions supporting Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, and Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, on account of Rehoboam’s’s evil ways and his ruthless suppression of the people. Finally, Abijah, Rehoboam’s ‘s son, became king of Judah and destroyed Jeroboam. But things really did not get better until Abijah died and his son, Asa, took over. For ‘Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.’ 2 Chron.14:2. He removed most of the altars and high places of the pagan gods, and instructed the people to return to the God of their fathers and observe His laws. And they prospered in peace, as Asa said, ‘..because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.’ (14:7) Ah Friends, why do we always have to learn the hard way eh? Then the Ethiopians invaded them, a million strong. And Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and He helped them rout the Ethiopians. Today’s Bit took place when Asa returned from defeating the Ethiopians. The Lord knew that Asa’s spirit needed strengthening, like we all do at some time, so He sent Azeriah out to greet and encourage him. ‘But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be well rewarded.’ (15:7) And Asa took courage from those words and finally eradicated all the abominations of the pagan gods from Judah, and the people rejoiced and swore an oath to seek the Lord continually. Friends, we are no better than the Israelites of old. We do the same things: turn away from God because we think His rules are too stringent, and the enemy’s are lax. But it’s all fool’s gold my people. The Lord is mightier than the forces of evil and has higher standards, which He will gladly help us attain. So why rebuff Him, then suffer serious consequences eh? That’s not wise. Remember, this life is based on standards, and those consistently with the highest, usually win the prize. And Friends, here we’re talking about the biggest prize ever; eternal salvation. Let’s not lose it because of irresponsibility and inattention to God’s word nuh. Much LOVE!…he who hears not…shall always feel…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 May 2008 1 Samuel 16:21-23‏

15 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Samuel 16:21-23    And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, let David I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
 
Just one more instance of our Lord’s mysterious workings. Who else could have conjured up such heart stopping drama, filled with so much intrigue, deceit and all the other things that make a good tale? The scene opens with the elders of of Israel asking Samuel for a king, cause his sons, whom he had appointed judges in his stead were all steeped in corruption. This hurt Samuel, but he took the Lord’s advice and anointed them a King: Saul, the tall handsome son of Kish, the Benjamite, ‘…and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he…’ 1Sam.9:2. Hn! Could that be the same Saul? Now Saul is sent on a wild goose chase looking for his father’s lost donkeys, where he meets Samuel on a feast day, how appropriate, and Samuel anoints him. Note that when Saul hears the news, he declares himself unworthy. ‘…A Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of the families.’ 1 Sam.9:21. Shows how power can cause drastic changes. Contrast that with his authoritarian behaviour later on. Anyway, Saul was officially appointed king of Israel, at Mizpeh. They even had to go and bring him out of hiding. And Saul did good for a while, then he disobeyed the Lord, and poor Samuel, who loved Saul, was sent to anoint another king. He had to use subterfuge to get to Bruh David’s family, claiming sacrificial duties, for Saul would have killed him if he knew his true purpose. Seven of Jesse’s sons were bypassed. Then Bruh David was brought in and became the anointed one, much to the surprise of his family. Note how the Lord chose unlikely men, as He is wont to do, to be the first kings of Israel. With Bruh David’s anointing, I guess everybody was wondering how he would become king, with Saul still going strong, and his son Jonathan, a warrior in his own right still alive. But Friends, they were reckoning without the greatest creative writer ever: our God. And the drama unfurls. ‘But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him:’  1Sam.16:14. Wow! The plot thickens, when Saul’s servants see he’s in rough shape and prescribe music for his illness. Saul agrees. He must have known that ‘where there’s music, there can be no evil,’ (Cervantes) And as luck would have it, one of Saul’s servants knew this son of Jesse ‘…that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.’ That description should have warned Saul. But he sent for Bruh David: ‘And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer.’ He even asked Jesse for permission to keep him, ‘…for he hath found favour in my sight.’ And whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, Bruh David plucked his harp ever so sweetly; ‘So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed form him.’ Ah Friends, who was to know that such a touching relationship would end so tragically? But it’s the Lord’s way. He’ll willingly raise us up, but if we don’t measure up, He’ll take us right back down without batting an eyelash. So the ball’s in our court. Be obedient, or we’ll end up like Saul. Much LOVE!…remember…the Lord giveth…and the Lord taketh…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 May 2008 Matthew 24:21‏

14 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 24:21    For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
 
Jesus was referring to the very last days, but if it’s to be worse than now, then I certainly don’t want to be around for it. In the past week two more disasters of cataclysmic proportions struck our already troubled world: Cyclone Nargis hit Burma, then a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, hit the densely populated province of Sichuan in China. Both disasters have shocked an unbelieving world; as in astonished and surprised, as well as lack of belief in God. Both have also left inestimable damage, thousands dead and missing in their wake And it’s interesting to note that the two countries have recently been in the glare of the world spotlight for other reasons. Burma, for the oppressive military regime that has kept the country tightly controlled under it’s dictatorship for many years, with most living in poverty, for keeping the democratically elected leader under house arrest and having used excessive measures in the past year, to suppress peaceful demonstrations by a group of monks that eventually turned country wide. Then China, with it’s sudden rise to world power, becoming the new ad, the new pin up, for materialism, creating a veneer of openness, but underneath, still a tightly controlled, rigid, centralized society. And in the rush to become world class, greed, inefficiency and downright lies have taken hold of the country, leading to shoddy, tainted goods produced under dangerous, unsanitary, inhumane conditions. China has also been beset by political unrest in it’s outer regions, with problems intensifying as the Beijing Olympics draws near. It should not have been granted to them, because they were simply not ready to put on such a big show, and has now become the source of many of their problems. But that’s another story of the greed and evil permeating our troubled world. And like America before them, China now has it hands in every part of the world, seeking raw material to run their juggernaut, but causing conflict wherever they go. And Friends, whoever said that man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn, was quite right, for even with the disaster in Burma, the ruling military junta are still reluctant to allow international help into the country. Like their stranglehold on power is more important than their people’s relief. It’s sad too, that the first boat taking in supplies sank before it got there. Like they learned nothing from the Tsunami of 2004 that rolled through the area. Burma did not bear the brunt of that, but it was sufficiently hit to send signals for early warning systems and emergency procedures to be put in place. But none of that was done, so now that they’ve been savagely hit, everything’s a mess. Ah Friends, is the Lord sending a message by allowing such sudden devastation to two countries infiltrated by evil? Who knows? The world is already beset by so much strife and tribulation that our only hope lies in the Lord; through prayer, obedience and greater respect for each other. Please, let’s work toward increasing them nuh. Much LOVE!…as our prayers go…so go we..
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 May 2008 Psalm 37:1-3‏

13 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 37:1-3    Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
 
Yes Friends and neighbours, more wise, encouraging words from Bruh David. But what’s fretting eh? I recently read it being compared to a food blender. Our innards resemble food tumbling around in a blender, being crushed and mushed, when we’re worried and fretful; just one big jumble of confusion. We lose our peace, become nervous wrecks; fearful, unsure, insecure, unable to make sensible decisions. And why do we Fret? For lots of reasons; some beyond our control, which do create cause for genuine concern. But, using the blender analogy, being too worried or fretful over anything, only turns us into a bundle of helpless, useless nerves, unable to fix anything. However Friends, there are two areas in which we have total control, but oftimes neglect to reign in; jealousy and greed. That’s why Bruh David warns us: ‘Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.’ We see others who appear to be always having fun, living the life, with lots of material wealth and possessions, and doing nowhere near the amount of work such a lifestyle requires. But you’re in the trenches every day, trying to make bread by the sweat of thy brow, and can barely make ends meet, even with two salaries. And though this will obviously cause us some discomfort, we’re not supposed to give in to it, since we don’t know what others are really doing to afford their lifestyles. As the words Charlie Rich immortalized in song, so eloquently explain, ‘No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.’ Everyday we hear or read of a supposedly respectable person or family been involved in some disreputable, illegal, immoral or downright evil activity. No people, it’s never worth building the good life on a platform of wrong and evil. That’s like building a castle on sand; it will soon crumble for lack of a strong, solid foundation. ‘For they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb.’ Hn,hn! We who live in the promised land will be very familiar with the grass analogy, where it’s almost a crime to have your lawn grass too high. Ahh! I just shuddered with disgust on realizing that that stupid season is now upon us; the season of lawn mowers incessantly chugging away at all hours of the day. Chuh! But I guess that’s one of the crosses we have to bear, if we want well manicured lawns. Even when it disrupts your quiet prayer time, Bruh David says we’ve got to ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good;’ although you just want to go outside and throttle your neighbour. (smile) Friends, as I keep stressing, living an obedient, faith filled life is not easy, especially when we see great prosperity amongst others who aren’t. Please don’t envy them. They might have sold their soul to the enemy, and a few earthly trinkets that rot, are certainly not worth losing our promise of eternal salvation. So let the wicked do their thing, and we’ll  do ours; ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.’ Much LOVE!…standing faithfully on the promises of God…always brings the right kind of victory…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 May 2008 Jeremiah 24:6-7‏

12 May 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Jeremiah 24: 6-7    For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
 
Our God’s a very thoughtful, caring, merciful, forgiving Being. Sometimes though His actions seem eccentric and back to front. Guess that’s because His ways are different to and higher than ours. Take Today’s Bit: The people He promised to look upon for good, are those He caused to be taken captive to Babylon, while Zedekiah, king of Judah, his cohorts and the rest of Jerusalem, would either be scattered far and wide, cursed forever, or consumed by the sword, famine and pestilence and eradicated from the promised land.. Most of us would have done it the other way; keep the ones we intend to save, and let the ones marked for destruction be taken captive. But that’s why He’s God. Unlike us, He lays very intricate plans that aren’t always what they seem to be, and usually take oodles of time to come to fruition. The people taken away captive must have bemoaned their fate, but in fact, they were the lucky ones. Later, the Lord showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one ripe and edible, the other rotten, and said; ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place unto the land of the Chaldeans for their good.’ Wow! The Lord actually meant it for their good, though I doubt any would have accepted that reasoning at the time, since logically, being taken away from your home as a captive can never be considered a good thing. But that’s the way the Lord operates; what others might mean for our harm, He causes to turn out for our good. And we need to understand this principle so that when evil, wrong or unlucky things happen to us, we don’t look upon them as being the end of the world, and weep and moan the ‘why me’ song. Why would He bring evil against us if we’re sincerely trying to be faithful and obedient eh, especially since He’s said  that the thoughts He has towards us are for good and not evil? (Jer.29:11) So even if circumstances look real bleak Friends, that’s no reason to lose faith or give up on God. Rather, that’s the time to shore it up, raise your hopes and strengthen your  belief mechanism. Clichés like, the darkest hour is the one before the dawn, and every dark cloud has a silver lining have stood the test of time because they’re true. Friends, God always has a good reason for whatever He allows in our lives. We’ve just got to trust Him. It’s not always easy, but always beneficial. So please take heart and remember there’s no problem so overwhelming that the Lord can’t solve. No pain so acute that He can’t quell. And no situation; none whatsoever, where He’s not with us, for He’s promised never to leave or forsake us once we stay obedient to His Word. Much LOVE!…when we stand strong during adversity…we’ll encourage others to do likewise…
 

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