SCRIP-BITS

Ah Friends, it’s Monday, the dreariest and most dreaded day in many of our lives. It’s the day when we have to leave the warm, comfortable cocoons of our homes and go out to battle the forces of iniquity so that we can earn a tolerable living. But all equations have two sides, and here’s the other side to this one: Instead of going out to work, would you rather be one of the thousands in impoverished, unfortunate, disaster prone, corrupt Haiti suffering from the recent outbreak of cholera, an illness supposedly eradicated from most of the known world? And today’s your lucky day; you get three choices: The third is being one of almost fifty million refugees around the world; people uprooted from their ancestral homes through war, famine or natural disaster, and now have no place to really call home? Oh Friends, there’s no need to respond, because I already know the answer. The questions were merely rhetorical; to stir up the realization and remind us of the good lives we live. Therefore, with fire and passion blazing in our hearts and souls, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with even more gusto than normal nuh. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of spirit which now allows us to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But Heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective, spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that your Holy Spirit lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now let’s go out and do as promised, and as our Bit today declares. ‘Before I formed thee in the belly (womb) I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee (set thee apart), and I ordained (appointed) thee a prophet unto the nations’ Oh my people, that was the Lord’s call to Jeremiah to take up his duties as the Lord’s spokesman, and though most of us will say that we’re not prophets, and rightly so, however, the Lord has appointed, ordained, called each one of Christ’s followers to perform some task in His name. So trying to wiggle out of whatever the Lord has set as your earthly endeavour will be of no use. All it will do is disappoint the Saviour, lessen any rewards you might receive for doing your assigned task, and generally speaking, help to further Lucifer’s kingdom instead of the Lords. The Most High will still LOVE you, but pain and sadness will burden His heart for your sake. My brethren, please don’t let us be like Jeremiah, who at first was afraid and felt incompetent and consequently replied: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak: for I am a child (youth). But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down (tear down), to build, and to plant’ (Jer.1:6-10) Oh Friends, that’s the way our magnificent God operates. He won’t give us a task to do without giving us the tools to do it. And I’m chuckling here because it reminds me of when the Lord first broached the idea of the Bit, my response was somewhat like Jerry’s, only mine had some laughter in it. ‘Oh Lord I don’t know the scriptures well enough to do that!’ But Friends, here I am, over three years later, doing what he asked me to do, fairly successfully too. It just goes to show that when the Lord comes a calling, we ought to listen carefully, with an open mind, and simply say; ‘Yes Lord, I’ll do anything you ask, because I know you won’t let me do it alone. You’ll be right there to lead and guide me.’ Ah Friends, the task might not be easy, it might also be long, but rest assured, if we do it in the right spirit, the right attitude and frame of mind, we’ll be successful. That’s because the Lord has a plan for all of us that He’s established even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. In my particular case, I guess He knew, had planned that nearing my three score years, He would call me to work more seriously for Him. And though writing was in my nature, seemed to be one of my callings, I had no inkling whatsoever that writing on the Good Book would one day be my role. But that’s how it’s ended up…because that’s how the Most High planned it long, long ago. Anyway Friends, time’s up for today, but tomorrow, God willing, we’ll continue with this topic, for we’ve only scratched the surface so far. (smile) Till then walk safely with the Lord. Much LOVE! …whenever the Lord says, jump…don’t resist…don’t hesitate…simply say…how high Lord…