SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 84:12    O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
 
Oh Friends the summer is fast finishing and I feel like I’ve not really done any summer things! We’re already into the first week of August, and right after Labour Day the chilly September winds will start to blow. But that should not be cause for believers to worry because life goes on whether it’s spring, summer, winter or fall, and those who sincerely trust in the Lord God Jehovah will be protected no matter the weather or situations they face. Praise the Lord! But before we get into the Bit, let me share an interesting quote from Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) the Danish Fairy Tale writer, who says that ‘Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.’ And if anyone should know, he should. But it’s true mih people, since real life throws up such combinations of good and evil, joy and pain and all the other human emotions and experiences that no fairy tale can match. That’s why they say truth is stranger than fiction. And it surely is, because when you hear some true stories they just boggle your mind, the way no fictitious tale can. That’s because the imagination of man can never combat the reality of real life that our God overseers, since His mind and ways are that much higher than ours. Consequently, we’ve got to enjoy and fully participate in life, wherever we’re physically stationed, and whatever our emotional and spiritual states. And yuh know the wonderful thing Friends; when we put our total trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we open ourselves and our lives up to a whole new theatre of experiences, some of course troublesome and painful, but others so exceedingly powerful and fulfilling that we just have to sit and wonder in disbelief and astonishment. That’s where life proves itself better than any fairy tale we can concoct. Oh my people, if we truly want to live life to its fullest and richest, there’s only one way to do so, and that’s to put our total trust in Almighty God. As the psalmist confidently says: ‘O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ And my brethren, I’m here today to testify to the absolute truth of that statement. I wouldn’t be where I am now, doing what I’m doing, enjoying a fairly comfortable lifestyle, if I had not put my sole trust, surrendered my all to Yahweh. Now it hasn’t all been easy or fun, but it’s certainly been interesting! And I know that many of you can testify to the same thing. If we had not given our souls to God, we would probably be having a rougher time of it than we currently are. Why? Because ‘The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate (condemned).’ (Ps.34:22) Now what I want to remind us of, and enlighten others about is that putting your trust in God doesn’t mean that everything in your life will always be hunky dory. Certainly not, since Jesus promised that His followers will face trials and tribulations in this world, but we shouldn’t be worried cause He’s already overcome the world. (John 18:33) However, what trust and faith in the Lord does is give us the courage, energy, discipline and fortitude to see and fight through our problems, with the certain knowledge that the Lord will bring us out safely on the other side of those problems, often more mature and Christ-like than before, which is His eventual goal. Hear this passage from Psalm 2 about why the heathen are raging. ‘Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son (an act of homage and submission), lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.’ (Ps.2:11-12) Oh Friends, we need to submit ourselves in reverence, honour and worship to the Lord, so that His anger does not bubble up against us, if and when we stray from the right path. It’s only in trusting Him unconditionally that we’re blessed and guided along the straight and narrow. Now listen to how Bruh David declares it in Psalm 5, a prayer for protection. ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest (protecteth) them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘All praise and thanks be to the Lord of Hosts, our God, King, Guide and Protector, who blesses us with new and abundant mercies each and every day!’ Yes my people, that’s the beauty of putting your trust in the Lord; you always know where you stand, without a doubt. He’s laid out all His conditions and promises in His Word, the Good Book, so there’s nothing hidden or underhanded about it. We have oodles of evidence, both personal and from other believers that He’s true to those promises. We’ve also experienced His great unconditional LOVE for us, His unworthy and undeserving children, in the awesome fact that He sacrificed His only Son Jesus so that we could be reconciled to Him out of our sinful nature, and promises salvation and eternal life if we believe in and follow in the footsteps of His Son. Wow! What more can we ask or imagine eh mih breddren? Not much! And to cement it all, we’ll let Bruh David take us home with some true and encouraging words from Psalm 40; Praise for answered prayer. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps). And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up (recounted) in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’ (Ps. 40:1-5) Wow mih people! That’s the way our God works! And there’s no better way either! So let’s put our energies into trusting Him while we tell others about His goodness and mercy, and live a life that will unequivocally glorify Him and further His kingdom. That’s our bounden duty as Christians. Much LOVE!…it’s high time…to LOVE our God… Spread His Word…And Live our Faith…in a bigger and brighter way…to incite a LOVE Revolution…