Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?
Oh Friends, I know that you all know it’s Monday, and you’re not too thrilled because it means going back to work and all the hardship and inconvenience contained therein. But there is a good side to it all; you’ll make a few dollars to help keep life and limb together, and if you’re all dressed up in your spiritual armour, then you’ll have the wherewithal to repel Lucifer’s evil attacks. And for that gracious benefit, we can all declare: ‘Praise the Lord! For His grace and mercy endures forever!’ Here’s a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux, the Saint of the Society of the Little Flower. She reputedly said: ‘I will spend my heaven doing good on earth…I will let fall a shower of roses.’ But Friends, my question is why wait till we get to heaven to do good on earth? Let’s distribute that shower of roses NOW! If there’s ever been a time when our world very badly needs to see, hear of and also experience good deeds, it’s NOW! In spite of all the plenty, the humongous abundance of our world, the majority are still suffering; can’t get sufficient food, clean water, medical care, accommodation and jobs. When so few have so much and so many so little, it only breeds negativity and negative situations. Our world today desperately needs hope through good deeds, and we believers, we followers of the Good Shepherd ought to be at the forefront of that movement. If we’re not, then we’re false, pseudo Christians, full of talk and bluster, but empty of the real Christian Spirit Jesus died to initiate. And that’s my rant for today. Oh my people, I was I was going to put a smile at the end of the last sentence, but decided not to, because our world is in such a dire negative state, that it’s nothing to smile about. I guess the sad condition of our world is closely akin to that of Jeremiah’s Israel, when iniquity and ungodliness ruled the roost. A time when poor Jerry was bruised and battered, both literally and figuratively by his fellow Jews because he rebuked them for their ungodliness. He was even imprisoned by King Hezekiah when the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem and he prophesied that Jerusalem would fall and its people, including the king, would be taken captive to Babylon. But Friends, the promises, the power and actions of our God are so overwhelming that they befuddle the ordinary mind. While in prison, the Lord spoke to Jerry about buying his cousin Hanameel’s property, and would you believe, Hanameel did show up to sell it to him. He bought it, then gave the deed to Baruch to put in an earthen vessel that would last a long time. He did that as a symbolic action or gesture of the Lord’s promise: ‘For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.’ (Jer.32:15) Our Bit comes at the end of the section when Jerry thinks about what happened earlier; when he contemplates the Lord’s power and faithfulness in His promises. He had had some doubts, but the Lord challenged him: ‘Behold, I am the Lord; the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?’ Oh my people, it’s the same way our God challenges us every day. If, as we claim, He is the great Creator, Provider, Guide and Protector, then we should have no doubts whatsoever about Him being able to do anything that He puts in our hearts and minds. Right from the very start, when he approached Abraham and Sarah and promised them a child in their old age, which they doubted, He declared: ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.’ (Gen.18:14) And we all know that He fulfilled that promise, blessing them with Isaac. And what did He tell Moses when He instructed him in the appointment of judges for Israel? ‘Ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgement is God’s: and the cause (case) that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.’ (Deut.1:17) Yes my people, that command still stands. Anything we find too difficult for us to do, we need to take it straight to God. Why? Because Jeremiah said it in his prayer: ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.’ (Jer.32:17) And whenever possible Friends, we like to end on an authoritative word from Jesus. After disappointing a rich, young ruler; re the way to get eternal life, telling him to go and sell all his possessions then take up his cross and follow Him, the ruler went away sad because he was quite wealthy. Jesus then made the profound statement that it was easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter heaven. This shocked all His listeners and had them wondering who could be saved. But in His usual unflappable manner, Jesus simple replied: ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’ (Mark 10:27) And that my Friends is the gospel truth! Please remember that; let’s write it deep in our souls, hearts and minds for it’s one of the foundation pillars of our faith. We worship an omnipotent God who can do ANYTHING. A God to whom NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! So when times get rough and everything seems difficult, let’s not worry and complain too much, for we’ll always be able to stand strong and steadfast in faith, knowing that with our God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Much LOVE!…all things are possible…only believe…
Oh Friends, I know that you all know it’s Monday, and you’re not too thrilled because it means going back to work and all the hardship and inconvenience contained therein. But there is a good side to it all; you’ll make a few dollars to help keep life and limb together, and if you’re all dressed up in your spiritual armour, then you’ll have the wherewithal to repel Lucifer’s evil attacks. And for that gracious benefit, we can all declare: ‘Praise the Lord! For His grace and mercy endures forever!’ Here’s a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux, the Saint of the Society of the Little Flower. She reputedly said: ‘I will spend my heaven doing good on earth…I will let fall a shower of roses.’ But Friends, my question is why wait till we get to heaven to do good on earth? Let’s distribute that shower of roses NOW! If there’s ever been a time when our world very badly needs to see, hear of and also experience good deeds, it’s NOW! In spite of all the plenty, the humongous abundance of our world, the majority are still suffering; can’t get sufficient food, clean water, medical care, accommodation and jobs. When so few have so much and so many so little, it only breeds negativity and negative situations. Our world today desperately needs hope through good deeds, and we believers, we followers of the Good Shepherd ought to be at the forefront of that movement. If we’re not, then we’re false, pseudo Christians, full of talk and bluster, but empty of the real Christian Spirit Jesus died to initiate. And that’s my rant for today. Oh my people, I was I was going to put a smile at the end of the last sentence, but decided not to, because our world is in such a dire negative state, that it’s nothing to smile about. I guess the sad condition of our world is closely akin to that of Jeremiah’s Israel, when iniquity and ungodliness ruled the roost. A time when poor Jerry was bruised and battered, both literally and figuratively by his fellow Jews because he rebuked them for their ungodliness. He was even imprisoned by King Hezekiah when the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem and he prophesied that Jerusalem would fall and its people, including the king, would be taken captive to Babylon. But Friends, the promises, the power and actions of our God are so overwhelming that they befuddle the ordinary mind. While in prison, the Lord spoke to Jerry about buying his cousin Hanameel’s property, and would you believe, Hanameel did show up to sell it to him. He bought it, then gave the deed to Baruch to put in an earthen vessel that would last a long time. He did that as a symbolic action or gesture of the Lord’s promise: ‘For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.’ (Jer.32:15) Our Bit comes at the end of the section when Jerry thinks about what happened earlier; when he contemplates the Lord’s power and faithfulness in His promises. He had had some doubts, but the Lord challenged him: ‘Behold, I am the Lord; the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?’ Oh my people, it’s the same way our God challenges us every day. If, as we claim, He is the great Creator, Provider, Guide and Protector, then we should have no doubts whatsoever about Him being able to do anything that He puts in our hearts and minds. Right from the very start, when he approached Abraham and Sarah and promised them a child in their old age, which they doubted, He declared: ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.’ (Gen.18:14) And we all know that He fulfilled that promise, blessing them with Isaac. And what did He tell Moses when He instructed him in the appointment of judges for Israel? ‘Ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgement is God’s: and the cause (case) that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.’ (Deut.1:17) Yes my people, that command still stands. Anything we find too difficult for us to do, we need to take it straight to God. Why? Because Jeremiah said it in his prayer: ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.’ (Jer.32:17) And whenever possible Friends, we like to end on an authoritative word from Jesus. After disappointing a rich, young ruler; re the way to get eternal life, telling him to go and sell all his possessions then take up his cross and follow Him, the ruler went away sad because he was quite wealthy. Jesus then made the profound statement that it was easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter heaven. This shocked all His listeners and had them wondering who could be saved. But in His usual unflappable manner, Jesus simple replied: ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’ (Mark 10:27) And that my Friends is the gospel truth! Please remember that; let’s write it deep in our souls, hearts and minds for it’s one of the foundation pillars of our faith. We worship an omnipotent God who can do ANYTHING. A God to whom NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! So when times get rough and everything seems difficult, let’s not worry and complain too much, for we’ll always be able to stand strong and steadfast in faith, knowing that with our God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Much LOVE!…all things are possible…only believe…
SCRIP-BITS 