Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 September 2009 John 12:37‏

20 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

John 12:37      But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.
 
And isn’t that the living truth my Friends? Jesus did numerous miracles amongst the people, yet, in comparison to the number who witnessed them, only a small percentage actually believed that He was the Messiah. How sad. But there were very good reasons for it. Before we get into them though, let me do some stage setting. Today’s Bit comes right after yesterday’s, where Jesus spoke about walking in darkness and light, believing in the light while they had it, and being children of light. After that He went into seclusion. Now yesterday, when I first read the verses which follow that scene, I found them rather interesting and intriguing and couldn’t help but write on them today. The Bit states; ‘But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.’ And since I said there were good reasons for that seemingly unnatural state of affairs, let’s look at them. Verse 38 gives us some indication of why disbelief was so rampant. ‘That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ (John 12:38) This all goes back to Isaiah’s magnificent and dynamic prophecy of Jesus’ coming, in particular from Isaiah 53:1, where the prophet states that the Messiah’s message will be rejected. And if we read the rest of the chapter we’ll see many things he mentioned that came through. For example; He has no stately form or splendour, ‘there is no beauty (in His appearance) that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (blows that cut in) we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’  (Isa.53:2-6) That’s only a sampling Friends. You can read the other six verses and see for yourself. But we can see that this resistance to Jesus was also prophesied long before the event occurred. Why? Obviously it was all a part of the Lord’s grand scheme. ‘Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; That they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory, and spake of him.’ (John 12:39-41) Ike said that stuff right at the start of his commission, when God asked whom He should send with His missive to the people, and Ike volunteered. ‘Then said I, Here I am; send me.’ (Isa.6:8) And the words that John later quoted are found right after that in verses 9-10. As a writer, what intrigues me most about the scriptures is the way that they are so tied together and interwoven. You can find stuff in Genesis relating to Revelation and vice versa. Valuable insights are also provided between many other books. I’m amazed at how it just reads like one story, though it was written over many centuries by many different people. But Friends, it’s the story of our God; His interaction with us, as told by His prophets and spokespeople. And the stories are so vivid and cohesive, though put forth by various persons over a long period of time because they all came from the very same source; the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We can certainly see that Jesus’ coming was no fluke, neither was the rejection and all the other negative stuff. Look at it from this perspective: If the people had believed and been converted, what would have happened? There would have been no crucifixion, resurrection and ascension and consequently no blanket payment for sins and eternal life. We’d probably not have the opportunity for a right relationship with the Father that we now have. We’d also most likely still be held accountable for all our sins, with no advocate to plead for us. The whole scene might just have remained like it was in the Old Testament with the severe Judaic Laws, scapegoats, animal sacrifices and burnt offerings etc. But luckily for us my people, and most thankfully too, the Good Lord in His immense wisdom and uncanny foresight saw the greater picture. He did not lose sight of the forest for the trees, but took one giant step so all mankind could be free. Ah my Friends, time and type have run out on me, but there’s still a lot more to say on this topic. I haven’t gotten to the real meat on the bone as yet, (smile) so I guess we’ll just have to continue this discourse tomorrow. Till then, if our All-knowing, All-seeing Father in heaven decides that we should meet again: Much LOVE!…and in the category for the best planned and thought out book…the most original story…the most controversial events…the best do it yourself tome…the one that offers the greatest life changing and life saving advice…the winner is…THE GOOD BOOK…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 September 2009 John 12:35‏

19 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

John 12:35    Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
 
Those are very true words my Friends, spoken by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday. Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast of the Passover tell Philip they want to meet Jesus. Philip tells Andrew, then they both go and tell Jesus. And what’s His response? ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.’ (John 12:23) He knew that both His suffering and glory were imminent and began talking to the crowd about seeds having to die before they could bear fruit; and those who like the life of this world shall lose it, while those who hate it shall keep it eternally; and if any man serves Him, he must follow where He leads, and who ever does so will be honoured by the Father. Jesus also acknowledges that His spirit is troubled by the upcoming events, but He couldn’t very well ask the Father for a reprieve since to suffer, die, rise and ascend were the express purposes for which He came to earth. Then He asked the Father to glorify His name, and a voice from heaven did so. Some of the people said it was thunder, others said an angel spoke to Him. Jesus though told them that the voice came for their sake not His, so that they might remember and believe when the things He spoke about happened. (John 12:24-32) But the people were confused by His words, and said to Him: ‘We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?’ (John 12:34) The people, many with little or no education, were suffering from information overload; stuff coming at them from all sides, supposedly on the same topic, the Messiah, but none of it meshing. The Old Testament law taught them one thing, now Jesus was telling them something entirely different, which sounded outlandish and rather far out. That’s because the Messiah was originally touted as a great warrior king who would come and free them physically from their oppressors. No one expected a lowly carpenter’s son to be their saviour, and at that only a spiritual saviour, not one to improve their physical plight. Understandably, with the rough times they were suffering, the people were more concerned with their physical plight than the spiritual, just like many of us are today. But Friends, we now know better. We know that our spiritual life is every bit as, if not more important than our earthly lives. Sadly though, many of us are still confused about Jesus, and the information overload in this Information Age doesn’t help matters either. It’s at that point Jesus told them; ‘Yet a little while is the light with you.’ Many didn’t understand that Jesus was the light John the Baptist was sent to bear witness of. ‘That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him; and the world knew him not.’ (John 1:9-10) So true. Earlier on Jesus had told them; ‘Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.’ (John 7:33-34) The Jews took to wondering where He would go so that they couldn’t find Him, if it was amongst the Gentiles. Then He ‘confuffled’ them even more by saying; ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) Now, on this Palm Sunday, with His crucifixion upcoming, He’s telling them that the light was only with them for a short time, so they should ‘Walk while ye have light, lest darkness come upon you.’ Now we all know that’s very true. It only makes sense to walk when we have light in the physical sense. But Jesus’ listeners didn’t understand that he was referring to light in the spiritual realm: To walk with Him; with His Spirit and His teaching leading their lives. As Bruh Paul said to the Ephesians: ‘For ye were sometimes (once) darkness,but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.’ (Eph.5:8) And Friends, that’s exactly what we need to do in these dark, evil, ungodly times: all God’s children need to walk in the light, have the light of Jesus’ Spirit shining brightly, in, through and out of us, so that the ungodly will see that we are indeed different, special, and want what we have. We can only make others believe by our constant and steadfast behaviour, which should be a total reflection of Jesus. For ‘He that walketh in darkness knoweth not wither he goeth.’ More truth my people. When we walk in darkness, whether physical or spiritual, we lose our way, our sense of direction, then trip, stumble and fall. That’s what happens when we walk with Lucifer, the prince of darkness. He doesn’t know where he’s going, so how can he lead us successfully. It’s like Jesus said, the blind leading the blind. But Jesus is the light, who cares for us all. He ends up this bit of teaching by telling the people: ‘While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be children of light.’ (John 12:36) Of course not too many of those people back then understood or believed. But Friends today we know better, with the Spirit of Jesus, that light, coming to dwell in all believers. The problem though is that until we believe and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, that light doesn’t shine in us, which means we’re still walking in darkness. And sadly, my Friends, there are still too many people today, who don’t know Jesus and consequently are still walking with Beelzebub in darkness, tripping, stumbling and falling, and doing untold damage to their eternal lives. That’s why our world is such an evil, violent place, and it’s our duty to convince as many as possible that Jesus is indeed the way, the truth and the light, that he only has our best interests at heart, and until they too accept Him and get that brilliant light of His Spirit shining in them, they’ll continue walking fooled and blindfolded by the enemy until they fall into the abyss of eternal death and damnation. And Friends, please let them know that walking with Jesus doesn’t only pertain to their spiritual lives in the hereafter, but also enhances their physical lives in the here and now, because when we walk with the light of Jesus guiding us, instead of leading lives of evil, greed and violence, we live lives of LOVE. Walking with Jesus makes our lives better all around. So let’s continue doing our duty diligently; LOVING our God, SPREADING His Word and LIVING our Faith with the light of Jesus brilliantly shining forth. Much LOVE!…walking with Jesus…is like walking with your best friend…in a beautiful park…on a sunny day…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 September 2009 1 Peter 4:14‏

18 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Peter 4:14     If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
 
Oh Friends, it was another beautiful summer day, minus the trying heat, and one more is forecasted for tomorrow. The Lord is certainly smiling down on us with this wonderful weather in mid-September. And we’ll take it without grumbling, cause the next movement will bring harsh, cold winds roaring across the land and the pretty white stuff drifting down to make life even more miserable than it already is. However, like the good pioneer stock from which we’re descended, we’ll handle it with great aplomb. (smile) Yes we will, for believers are the type of people James Corbett is talking about when he encourages others to, ‘Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired you have to shuffle back to the centre of the ring, fight one more round.’ Yes, my people, though it’s a boxing analogy, it’s oh so appropriate to our Christian lives and endeavours. It falls into the same category as the quote yesterday; though ‘made weak by time and faith, but strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ They both point out the necessity of trying just one more time, of never giving up, of having hope once there’s breath in our bodies, of having the utmost faith when we call ourselves believers and followers of Jesus Christ. That’s the mark of a true believer, what sets us apart from the ungodly; that unquenchable faith, that undying belief, the total trust and surrender to the promises of the Most High God Jehovah. Friends, the wonderful, exciting news is that ‘sufferation’ doesn’t quench our Christian fire and fervour! And why is that? Because, ‘If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth on you.’ Praise His Holy Name, my people! To unbelievers that might sound strange, crazy, or even foolish, but to us who know Jesus, it’s simply what our Saviour is about, and how He expects us to react to the hardships of this ungodly world; with joy, with rejoicing. Peter said it best earlier on. ‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.’ (1 Pet.4:12-13) If we suffer in Christ’s name today, we’ll be entitled to enjoy the benefits He’ll provide when He returns in all His splendour and glory, as King and everlasting Lord. Just as it was the nature of Jesus to bear untold burdens and be sacrificed, so must the Spirit of His followers be strong and steadfast to bear the trials and tribulations we will suffer in this ungodly world. When we suffer the slings and arrows of this world without too much complaining and grumbling, God’s Spirit and glory will keep us safe, strong and true; ‘on their part he is evil spoken of, (blasphemed) but on your part he is glorified.’ Yes Friends, the person who does us wrong because we stand up for our beliefs is considered guilty of blasphemy against God, while in His sight, we are glorifying Him. And there’s nothing better we can do on this earth my Friends, than glorify our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! That’s the ultimate purpose of every believer. Oh my people, with every thought that flows through our minds, with every step we take, and with every beat of our sinful hearts, glorification of the Lord should always be uppermost in our consciousness. That’s our raison d’etre: to LOVE and SERVE Him! And now Friends, per the Spirit’s instructions, let’s listen to Peter, re the example of Christ’s suffering. ‘Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (harsh). For this is thankworthy (commendable), if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.’ (1 Pet.2:18-23) Wow! What a hard act to follow. But follow it we must my people. We’re to withstand our calamity like true soldiers and also pursue Jesus’ desires and instructions. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Mat.5:16) Those are our orders my brethren, so please, like dutiful followers, let’s carry them out with vim, vigour, great enthusiasm and plenty rejoicing. Much LOVE!…a believers motto…though buffeted…to stand strong, to fight…to look to Jesus…and never…never to surrender…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 September 2009 1 Peter 4:14‏

17 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Peter 4:14     If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth on you: on their part is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
 
Oh Friends, the weather has just been glorious these last few days, all bright, sparkling sunshine with not even a hint of precipitation, but I couldn’t believe that we’ve already passed the midway point of September. Didn’t it just start the other day? (smile) The days are certainly rollicking along, and so is the ole fella. (smile) And today, in my readings, I found a beautiful quote that epitomizes the attributes of a believer; a sure follower of Christ. It comes from the poem ‘Ulysses’ by the renowned British poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson. All the old fogies will remember this particular passage because it was drilled into us during our early schooldays. And it says: ‘Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ Oh mih people, doesn’t that sound just like us, isn’t it a perfect description of a follower of Christ; a Christian? It sure does! It’s what we Christians are about! As Bruh Paul proudly declares: ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.’ (2 Cor.4:8-10) When I saw the quote, I just knew I had to share it with you. But then I had to find a Bit to match it. And surely, as the Lord would have it, I found the perfect scripture in Peter’s writings. ‘If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;’ Wow! That sure says a whole lot about us Friends! For if we’re insulted or abused for Christ’s sake, then we are blessed. A perfect example of that is the imprisonment of the apostles in Jerusalem. They were tried, beaten and then set free with the express command to stop preaching in Jesus’ name. But what happened? Luke tells us in the Book of Acts: ‘And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’ (Acts 5:41) And all God’s people boldly sang: ‘Glory Hallelujah! All thanks and praise to the Lamb, for He is indeed worthy to be praised!’ Oh Friends, the ole fella’s chuckling because he’s so excited about this Bit. The thoughts are coming faster than my pen can write. The Spirit’s really working in me this morning, with everything coming together smoothly. We might even have to continue this tomorrow. It’s sad though that I can’t write all the Bits as easily as this one. But there again, that brings up our tenacity and strength of purpose; ‘strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ Oh mih breddren, those are certainly the distinguishing hallmarks of a true follower of Christ. For remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount as He put forth the Beatitudes. ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.’ (Mat.5:11-12) Yes my people, that’s the attitude our Lord, Saviour, Master and Leader brought to the show, and it’s our bounden duty to follow suit. Oh Friends, even if we don’t have anything else, a true Christian must at least possess belly and backbone, because it’s what keeps us going, especially when we feel, abused and downtrodden, like we’re fighting a losing battle. Just remember though that whatsoever happens, we’re to continue the struggle, continue to fight, and never, never, never give up. Christ suffered too much on our behalf for us to give up as easily as some of us are wont to do. As we keep reminding, the Christian life is not an easy one, and anybody who says differently is no Christian. How can it be easy with all the forgiveness, righteousness and the many other good deeds we need to do and the wrongs we’re supposed to bear with great fortitude eh? Jesus said that we’d suffer trials and tribulation just for talking about Him. But oh my wonderful Friends in Jesus, there’s no better life than when we live for Him. Yes, we might suffer lots of reproaches and experience plenty hard times on this earth, but just remember to keep focussing on those rewards that we’re piling up in heaven, when we do His will down here. That’s the important point. The earthly rewards are nice, if we get them, but they will all rust and crumble at some time, while the rewards we store in heaven…oh my people, those will never tarnish or crumble. So let’s just keep on keeping on, like the good, strong, true and stalwart soldiers of Christ that we are. Let’s arm ourselves with all the accoutrements, all the armour the Lord provides, then step out enthusiastic and strong and engage the evil enemy, fight the good fight, show him that the forces of darkness and wickedness are no match for, can never defeat those of goodness and light. The latter shall always prevail! Oh Friends, I sure hope this Bit lights a fire in all our souls, as the Spirit desires, and gives us all renewed strength, courage, power and confidence to face the enemy when we step out to do God’s will today. Much LOVE!…stand up, stand up for Jesus…the trumpet call obey…till every foe is vanquished…and Christ is Lord indeed… To be continued.
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 September 2009 1 Kings 8:58‏

16 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Kings 8:58     That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgements, which he commanded our fathers.
 
Oh my most esteemed Friends in Christ, today we’ll continue to look at walking with the Lord. As we said yesterday, it’s not a mere suggestion, but a vital command to all believers. We can’t call ourselves true believers unless we’re trying our very best to walk a path worthy of the Most High God Jehovah. And we noted too, that from the very beginning, all God’s associations with man carried specific instructions on how to behave. From Adam not eating of the forbidden fruit, right down to the giving of the Ten Commandments. But why is walking in God’s law so important? In the first place it’s God’s will for us. He is our Leader, and that’s what leaders do; map a path for their followers. Secondly, it’s for our protection, so that we don’t get lost, confused and caught up in the mockery, idol worship and lusts of the world and go astray. Friends, the Lord knows better than us the evil ways and wiles of the enemy, that’s why He wants us to always walk close to Him. He knows that without Him there to protect us, we’re easy, willing prey for Lucifer and his henchmen. Bruh David understood this when he cried out; ‘Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes: and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.’  (Ps.119:33-36) Walking with the Lord is not easy my people, as we can see from Bruh David’s passionate plea, but it’s doable, if we set our hearts and minds to it. And it’s no joke to the Lord. He takes it very seriously. Listen to His command to Jeremiah re the punishment of Judah for their sinful rebellion. ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination (stubbornness) of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.’ (Jer.7:21-24) And the Lord was quite right. He never told them anything about burnt offerings and sacrifices in the Ten Commandments. However, He wasn’t minimizing or trivializing the Old Testament sacrifices, but drawing attention to the absolute necessity of believers to live an obedient life, totally devoted to God. And throughout the Good Book, we read that religious observances without spiritual involvement are meaningless. It’s like us being always in Church and talking up a storm about God in public, but in private, enjoying, luxuriating in the fleshly lusts of the enemy. The two don’t mix or jive at all my people. And what price did Judah pay? ‘Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.’ (Jer.7:34) Ah my Friends, we have to pay close attention to those words, because our land, in fact the whole world is becoming a more desolate place daily. Where once lush breadbaskets existed, now drought and famine and pestilence rule. Mirth and gladness are increasingly scarce with the fear and tension of the economic catastrophe, the real or imagined terrorist threat, the increased gang violence, where now we’re not even safe in our homes. A man’s home is no longer his castle, with a surrounding moat and drawbridge, because the enemy violates them through the latest crime tactic aptly labelled ‘home invasion,’ thereby robbing us of that safety factor. Nowadays it’s not even wise to open your door to strangers. And in spite of all the sophisticated, high-tech gadgetry; alarms, video cameras, cell phones etc. people are being assaulted and killed in ever increasing frequency. This only proves the adage that whatever man makes, man will find a way to break or overcome. My Friends, that’s why we need to walk ever so closely on the path of life with our God, who’s also our Guide and Protector. He’s the only one both willing and able to protect us from harm, from the lure of the evil one. Micah put it in a nutshell: ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’ (Mic.6:8) But really Friends, ONE commandment covers it all; ‘And this is LOVE, that we walk after (according to) his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.’ (2 John 6) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! If we walk in LOVE, then we’ll be in full obedience to God’s will, for ‘LOVE worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore Love is the fulfilling of the law.’ (Rom.13:10) So Friends, it’s essential that we concentrate on our LOVE walk, if we desire to walk with God and enjoy His many blessings. Any other kind of walk is useless and will only bring further calamity to our already messed up lives. So let’s continue to LOVE our God and faithfully LIVE His Word. Much LOVE!…though our LOVE walk is sometimes hard…if we pray for help…help, the Father will provide…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 September 2009 1 Kings 8:58‏

15 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Kings 8:58     That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgements which he commanded our fathers.
 
Oh my most worthy Friends and fellow believers in the One and Only True God, He of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who rained down mercies and blessings on His chosen people, Israel, when they walked according to His dictates, may He do the same for us, as we attempt to walk in the footsteps of His Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Wow! That sentence would surely make Bruh Paul smile. Anyway my people, Today’s Bit comes from Solomon’s moving speech to the Israelites on the day the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple that Sol built for it. The Bit basically deals with the way we live our lives; ‘That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgements which he commanded our fathers.’ Now Friends, there are two things to note. The first is that walking with God is a very important part of a believer’s life. And the second is like unto it, (smile) that it’s a command of the Lord, not a suggestion or a consideration, dependent on our whims or fancies. From the very beginning of God’s association with man, with Adam our first father, obedience to His rules was of the utmost importance. He gave him specific instructions; ‘Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ (Gen.2:16-17) Oh Friends we all know what happened after; our forefathers ate of the tree against God’s specific command, and sin came into the world. And we became so sinful that the Lord got fed up: ‘And it repented the Lord (he was sorry) that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.’ (Gen.6:6) And He pledged to destroy the earth and all therein. ‘But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ (Gen.6:8) He told Noah to build an ark and to fill it with a male and female of all living things. And Noah was obedient. Please note the difference Friends: Adam and Eve were disobedient and suffered God’s punishment, whereas Noah obeyed and was saved from destruction. But even after our new beginning with Noah, sin was so ingrained in us that eventually we went right back to it. Then the Lord decided to try a different tactic; raise up one group of people, a chosen, a special group, that would live the way He wanted and become a wonderful example to the rest of the sinful world. So He approached old Abram, and His first words were words of caution and warning. ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.’ (Gen.17:1) And what were the words of Abraham’s servant that was sent back to the old country to get a wife for Isaac? ‘And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and of my father’s house.’ (Gen.24:39-40) Also, when Israel, (Jacob) blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he emphasized walking with God. ‘And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who fed me all my life long unto this day. The angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’ (Gen.48:15-16) And what were the Lord’s instructions to Moses when He called him up to Mt. Sinai the first time? ‘Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar (special) treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.’ (Ex.19:3-5) The next time the Lord came down on Mt. Sinai in thunder, smoke, brimstone and fire and spoke to Moses in front of the people, then gave them the Ten Commandments; the basic rules He wanted them to live by. Now tell me my people, why would our God put Himself to all that trouble if He didn’t consider His commandments and covenant of extreme importance? All through their journey to the Promised Land, and thereafter, the prophets kept reminding the Israelites of the importance of walking in the Lord’s Word, of keeping His commandments, of living by His covenant. But since we’re the children of sin, born and raised in it, and sadly given freedom of choice too, from then, till this day, we’ve been continually backsliding. Many times the children of Israel paid a hefty price of punishment for their turning away from God’s designated path and instead following that laid out by the prince of evil. However, when they felt the wrath of God, they always came running back. Oh my Friends, likewise today, I believe we’re suffering the wrath of God. Too many unusual happenings are happening. Our sins have finally caught up with us. But I also believe that there’s hope. Just like the Israelites ran back to God and repented and were forgiven, the same thing can happen with us if we repent and return to living the way the Lord desires. Consequently my people, as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ, living in a terribly sinful and ungodly  world, we need to be extremely strong to stay true to His Word, to walk the path that He directs us, that straight and narrow way, and not the false, wide, but pot-holed filled highway to destruction that Lucifer tries to entice us on to. It’s not easy my Friends, but with sincerity and determination, praying to the Lord ‘That he may incline our hearts unto him,’ and guided by the Spirit of Jesus that dwells with us, we can surely do it. Remember Jesus said His followers would face tribulation in this ungodly world, but He gave us the strength, faith and courage to persevere by also letting us know that He’d overcome this wicked world through His death, resurrection and ascension, and we have nothing to fear if we walk with Him along the path He chooses to guide us. Oh Friends, with the enemy currently in ascendance, to have a successful walk with Christ, it’s becoming more important every day that we stick to God, like white on rice, (smile) and avidly, hungrily keep ingesting His Word, the way the bees tirelessly work at getting the nectar from the flowers. Till tomorrow then, our God willing: Much LOVE!...to do our Saviour’s will…and walk as He desires…should be the ultimate goal of our lives…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 September 2009 Isaiah 44:22‏

14 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 44:22    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
 
Well Friends and fellow believers, our God was kind and generous enough to allow us to witness another sparkling sunrise, for which we’re all eternally grateful. But on the other hand, who knows if His mercy will extend to today’s fiery sunset?  That is why we have to turn to Him a.s.a.p… Sorry, not a.s.a.p nuh Friends, but RIGHT NOW, so we can set our house in order with Him, just in case He decides to call us home sometime today. In this crazy life, that’s always a distinct possibility. As noted in Today’s Bit, The Lord’s already done His part. ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.’ And what a wonderful feeling that is my brethren to know that our God has put us out of everlasting misery, even though we didn’t deserve it. As we saw yesterday, He LOVED us, but wanted to reclaim the glory of His Name that we had so blatantly and disgustingly profaned. What I admire about His process, is that He not only blotted out our sins by throwing a thick, cloud-like blanket over them, but having done that, He then turns around and invites us to come back home; ‘return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.’ What a magnificent and magnanimous God we serve my people! He blots our sins by taking them to Himself, placing them all on the shoulders of His Only Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Isaiah was certainly right on in his prophecy, but so should he be, since it was the Lord speaking through him. ‘But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name; thou art mine…Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, (honoured) and I have LOVED thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.’ (Isa.43:1,4) What a most wonderful promise and act of LOVE my people! Let’s give the Lord a big, rousing, all together now, ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ for His great goodness to the undeserving children of men. Despite Israel’s rejection of Him, He still reassures them that they’ve been redeemed, from physical and spiritual bondage, as well as the great and terrible judgement yet to come. And through Jesus Christ all those promises have been fulfilled. He paid a most expensive ransom so that we could be made clean, faithfully delivering on the promises His Father made so long before. As Peter so aptly puts it: ‘Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible (perishable) things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (aimless conduct) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.’ (1Pet.1:18-21) Yes my people, that’s the awesome plan the Lord devised, and the high price it cost to purchase our freedom from everlasting sin and make it possible to regain a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Sadly though, we continue to lead lives that don’t honour and glorify the Lord. Oh Friends, that’s not very wise, since none of knows how much time we have left on this earth, and if our physical body dies before we set things right with Him, then our spirits are in for a long, sad, unhappy existence in eternity with Lucifer as our taskmaster. And none of us really wants to live eternity like that. So please mih breddren, let’s smarten up and begin living a life that brings honour and glory to our great God nuh. That’s all He’s asking in return for cleansing us of our sins: LOVING Him, LIVING as His Word directs, and telling others about Him and the wonderful opportunities and benefits He offers. That’s not so hard to do my people if we truly believe that Jesus died for us, and is preparing a place that wherever He is, we too shall be. And we’ll close with a most appropriate quote from Bruh Paul. ‘For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God’s.’ (1 Cor.6:20) Better advice was never given my Friends. So, till tomorrow, go with God. Much LOVE!…examples work more forcibly than words…so let’s live our lives as examples of God’s Word…  P.S. Smiles should blossom today since it’s so short. (smile)
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 September 2009 Isaiah 44:22‏

13 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 44:22     I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
 
Oh my wonderful Friends in Christ, on this beautiful Sunday September morn, that’s something we should be truly grateful for and show it by giving ecstatic thanks and everlasting praise! As the Good Book declares: ‘Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.’ (Isa.44:23) Yes my people, such was the monumental cleansing task our God promised that the prophet was moved to tell the inanimate objects of the universe to cry out in joy to their Creator. And Friends, so should we too, cause it was a masterful plan the Lord devised so that we weren’t lost to the enemy for all time. Yes Friends, the Lord’s our Redeemer! He promised to redeem Israel: ‘Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.’ (Isa.44:21) Wow! What a wonderful promise my people! We are the descendants of Jacob and Israel, which means He formed us too; we are His servants, and He shall not forget us. Oh give much praise and thanks to His Holy Name my brethren, for there’s none like Him! Furthermore, He says: ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions.’ And all God’s people joyfully sang; ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ What a relief to know that our sins have been blotted out. That brings to mind the old days of ink and blotting paper. Only the ole fogies though would know about that. Those were the days when a piece of blotting paper was sometimes more valuable that gold, cause it could suck up the excess ink from the writings of our fountain or common pens, and make our work look fairly presentable. Also, when we spilled the ink on the paper, the blotting paper would absorb it without leaving a mess; like the paper towel companies now proclaim of their products. Sadly though people, all those things have gone the way of the dodo bird; extinct. Remember when a Parker fountain pen was to die for? You’d protect it with your life, if you were lucky enough to own one. Unfortunately, nowadays everything is the computer, the computer. Chuh! It annoys me. Children can no longer physically write, cause penmanship isn’t taught any more, and neither can they write proper English since everything is shortened or amended to fit the technology. This week I saw a headline in the newspaper: ‘Back to School: No more pencils, lots more fun.’ Steups! What happens when the computer breaks down eh? The whole world comes to a sudden stop and everybody immediately begins griping because they can’t do anything since their entire lives are now built around a man-made machine, loaded with flaws, which other men break into quite easily and further disrupt their lives. Yet we still sing the praises of a paper-less society and the realm of virtual reality. That’s why this generation has such a poor grasp of real reality; they have been so brainwashed with the virtual type that only takes one simple error to make it meaningless and useless. That’s why the saying, garbage in, garbage out, was coined. The computer has no sense of it’s own, only what we programme into it, and therefore escalates or increases our mistakes. Anyway, enough of my rant on the unwise, almost total dependability on the computer that we’re building for ourselves. (smile) Now where was I before you all got me off track? Hn, hn! Oh yes, we were talking about God blotting out our horrendous sins, just throwing a cloud, like a blanket over them, and obliterating them. Gone! And as He said earlier on; ‘I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ (Isa.43:25) Oh my Friends, how can we not LOVE, worship, adore and revere such a merciful, forgiving Being eh? But note people, He didn’t do it just for us, because we didn’t deserve it, but for His own sake. As He later instructed Ezekiel: ‘Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do this not for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified (hallowed) in you before their eyes.’ (Eze.36:22-23) Oh Friends, how angry and disappointed our God must have been by our continual transgressions amongst the unbelievers, making a mockery of all He stood for. But true to His promise, with His awesome might, power and perspicacity, He was able to rectify the two wrongs, our sinfulness and the regretful tarnishing of His Holy Name with one fell stroke; sacrificing the life of His only Son Jesus Christ, cleansing us, and also reclaiming the glory of His Name. Oh mih people, I’ve run out of time and paper, so we’ll just have to continue this fascinating conversation tomorrow. (smile) Till then, our God willing, let’s promise ourselves to sincerely do our part nuh, which is to LOVE our God, and LIVE by His Word. Much LOVE!…oh what a Friend we have in Jesus…our hopes and sins to bear…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 September 2009 Psalm 139:23-24‏

12 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 139:23-24     Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
 
Yes Friends, I couldn’t just walk away from the beautiful, inspirational Psalm 139 without using another Bit from it. (smile) And these verses today are soul searching ones which had Bruh David crying out to his God for answers to some serious questions that only the Lord could answer. But before we get into that, here are some more interesting words attributed to Renier Giustina Michiel: ‘The world improves people according to the disposition they bring to it.’ And that’s an awesome truth we all should be aware of my brethren! Whatever attitude or disposition we take into or show the world, it will just accentuate it. For example, if we go out with a sour attitude, rest assured that it’s not going to become sweet, but rather more sour. We all know the type who seem as though sucking lemons is their past time; always negative, griping, grumbling, complaining and expecting the worse. But if we face the world with an open, positive, strong, expecting the best attitude, it surely tends to get better, though we also have this other extreme personality; the one that’s just too sweet and treacly. Both extremes turn us off because life is neither all sour nor all sweet, but more a middle way, hopefully leaning towards the sweet, positive side. And Friends, everyday before we go out to face the big, wide, fearful, confusing, violent, back stabbing world, we need to check our inner self to see what’s happening in there, to ensure that we have the right attitude or disposition that will enable us to handle whatever comes our way, in a manner that will please the Lord. That’s what Bruh David was basically doing when he cried out; ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts.’ He wanted the Lord to do only what He could do; look deep inside him, read his heart, check out his anxious thoughts. To do like we do nowadays with our computers; use a virus scan to search for any unwanted, dangerous or detrimental bugs that would prevent them from working properly. Job expressed the same sentiment: ‘Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, (falsehood) or if my foot hath hasted to deceive; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.’ (Job 31:4-6) Yes my people, Job is very concerned about his integrity, as we should be about ours. He felt that he was walking worthy of the Lord, and only asked that a well-balanced scale be used to judge him. Friends, do we feel the same way; that we’re walking worthy of the Lord, or at least trying to do that? I hope we do, because it’s the number one point on which we’re judged, both by society and our God. A Christian needs to ensure that his or her integrity is up to scratch, above board. It follows from the saying; ‘look after your character and your reputation will look after itself.’ My people, is our character worthwhile? Have we cried out to the Lord, as the Psalmist; ‘Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.’ (Ps.26:2) We need to do that every so often my people, to ensure that we’re walking in step with, and on the same path as Jesus. ‘And see if there be any wicked way in me.’ Don’t worry my Friends, if Jesus discovers any wicked or unwanted ways in you when He does that internal scan, He’ll find a way to let you know. And then, provided you’re really interested in improving your Christian ethic and walk, you can plead; ‘and lead me in the way everlasting.’ Bruh David pleaded for this several times. In Psalm 5, a prayer for protection, he cried out: ‘ Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For their is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.’ (Ps.5:8-9) Oh Friends, we all know people of that ilk, for we haven’t changed since Bruh David’s time, possibly become worse. That’s why we need to cry out to God once in a while for guidance and direction, to be able to avoid the integrity killing traps the enemy continually sets up for us. Bruh David wasn’t ashamed to do it, even though he was a powerful earthly king. The important thing is that he knew his shortcomings, also who could fix them, and wasn’t afraid or bashful to cry out for help. My people, in this stressful, wicked world of ours, none of us can lay claim to not being unnerved at some time or other, therefore we need to make it a habit to regularly call on our God to do a virus scan within us, and weed out any destructive, wicked or detrimental thoughts, desires or attitudes we may be harbouring. There’s no need to be ashamed or afraid to ask with a sincere and penitent heart: ‘Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness sake, bring my soul out of trouble.’ (Ps.143:10-11) And Friends, if He reads our hearts and sees we’re serious, then He’ll certainly grant our pleas. Much LOVE!…a heart that’s sincere and true…is what the Lord’s seeking…in me and you…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 September 2009 Psalm 139:7‏

11 Sep 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 139:7    Whither shall I flee from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
 
Ah my Friends and fellow followers of Christ, there’s a very good purpose and interesting reason why I chose a Bit from Psalm 139 today. However, it took me almost fifteen minutes to decide which verse to use. Verse 7 was always the most appropriate for today’s purpose, but since I’d used it already, I was wary of doing so again. Only when I checked the archives and saw that it was way back in January of 2008, that I decided to use it. In the big scheme of things it doesn’t really matter cause it’s all the Lord’s Word, but the ole fella’s a bit picky and likes to use something new each day, keep yuh on yuh toes, (smile) unless it can’t be helped, like today. And why was Psalm 139 so important? Remember, yesterday we talked about my friend who was so angry and disillusioned that she couldn’t read the Good Book, but I eventually got her to promise to open it and stare at Luke 23. Well I spoke to her today, and she did keep her promise. Unbeknownst to me, she knew what Luke 23 dealt with, but faithfully read it, while quietly cursing me, (smile) because she couldn’t see how it would help her. But Friends, our God, our Heavenly Father, our Creator, is such a powerful and wonderful Being that He misses nothing. According to my Friend, a bizarre thing happened while she was reading and stewing. She can’t explain it, but like the Good Book jumped out of her hands, and because it was an old one she’d had from childhood, she was afraid that if it fell to the ground, numerous pages would shake loose from the old binding. So she made a desperate, successful lunge to prevent that mishap from occurring. Wonder of wonders though, on regaining her composure, she discovered that the Good Book was now opened at Psalm 139. She proceeded to read it; at first still with a heart full of anger, but the more she read, the calmer she became, until most of the negative emotions had disappeared. Today she was able to laugh and talk with me, well on the way to recovering her former spiritual health. She was even spiritual enough to claim that it was most likely the hand of God that made the Good Book fall, then open at Psalm 139. And all God’s people sang: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name, for one of His children was sick, but now He hath made her whole! Amen!’ Oh my Friends, such is the might, the majesty and the caring heart of our God! He knows when we’re not right, and always finds a way to correct it. He caused me to dial the wrong number yesterday, then had me LOVINGLY, but adamantly talk her into picking up the Good Book, then He did the rest. If I hadn’t made that call yesterday, who knows what state she might have been in today eh? But through our Lord’s care, concern and machinations, she’s back on the path to glory today. Thank you, most LOVING Father! Oh Friends, the Spirit just decreed that the rest of the Bit will be taken up with some of the magnificent words and thoughts of Bruh David from Psalm 139. And who am I to say the spirit nay eh? (smile) Oh mih people, the Psalm’s so beautiful that the scholars term it one of the grandest in the entire Psalter. They also consider it one of the richest in theology, combining an exposition of the greatness of God’s character with the reality of human experience. Even the title is awe-inspiring: ‘The Everlasting Presence and Power of God!’ Yes my people, that says it all. Now let’s set the stage: Imagine Bruh David nuh, after the Lord has brought peace to his affairs, sitting quietly, in a meditative state of mind, someplace with no disturbances, so that he could concentrate at his leisure, on the wondrous works of his God. And since He’s a man of music, he possibly has a dulcimer, harp or some other musical instrument resting in his lap, quietly plucking away, while he intones these beautiful words to his Creator: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compasseth (comprehendeth) my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset (hedged) me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.’ (Ps.139:1-10) Oh mih people, those expressive words are chock-full of, crammed with truth and reason! Our God knows us inside and out; knows our every thought, word and feeling before we even express them, and closely follows our every footstep. We can’t run nor hide from Him, like my friend was trying to do, because His radar is on night and day, and we’re always, yes we’re constantly showing on His screen. Not a single move of ours escapes Him; be it night or day, in heaven or hell. Like a hound dog, He’s always hot on our trail, and try as we might, we can never shake or lose Him. And that’s such a refreshing, uplifting and encouraging situation my Friends, that we need to grasp it tightly and write it safely in our innermost parts, so that when the enemy comes slyly creeping, or like a roaring bully, we’ll be ever ready, with the unerring power of God’s Spirit to command him; ‘Get thee behind me Lucifer!’ Much LOVE Friends!…the Lord sees all…knows all…and will rectify all our problems……….according to His timetable…
 

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries