SCRIP-BITS

John 3:3.    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
 
Oh Friends, our winter freeze continues, but it’s nowhere near as calamitous as the numerous inches of snow that the western province of Alberta received on the weekend, or the severe storms that lashed the U.S. Southwest. We’re just freezing, but they’ve been bruised and battered. However my people, as that favourite song of faith declares: ‘though the storm rages around me, though my sails are torn and tattered, and I’m flailing on bended knees, in the midst of it all, the anchor holds.’ Yes Friends, the solid anchor that’s Jesus, holds us steady in any and every storm. ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ But we still need to pray for all those who have been recently, or are currently being battered by some storm of life, be it literally or figuratively. Sadly, many times that’s all we can do. And Friends, our God is also wonderful at generating ideas, some of which just pop up out of the blue and make me chuckle. Today’s source of chuckling is a half sheet of printed paper I just unearthed from some other stuff on my desk. It’s something I cut out of my local church bulletin, titled: ‘Some Ponderings at the New Year,’ written by my pastor, the Rev. Cannon Ann Smith. What’s even more amusing is that I’m not sure if these ponderings were for 2010 or 2011. I have the funny feeling though that they were from 2010, and if so, it means they’ve sat on my desk for a year and not been perused. However, they are beneficial for any year, and the Spirit, in His enduring wisdom, has guided me to put one of those nine ponderings on our plate for the next nine days. And today’s pondering is: ‘This year I will listen. I will quiet my mind and take in what other people are saying as they tell their story. I will listen to their words and their heart. I will listen to their body language. I will seek to understand before I seek to answer or contribute.’ Yes Friends, listening mode is a very good place to begin the New Year. So let’s think on what it entails and try to come up better than we’ve done so far. And now, turning to our exciting, controversy generating Bit: ‘Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Oh my brethren, every time I read that I feel sad because of the millions of people around the world who will be eternally separated from God, if Jesus came back anytime soon. This makes it very imperative that we believers increase our efforts to bring others to Christ; to be born again through His Holy Spirit. We have to do as Peter advises: ‘Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (sincere) LOVE of the brethren, see that ye LOVE one another with a pure heart fervently. Being born again, not of corruptible (perishable) seed, but of incorruptible (imperishable), by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of Grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.’ (1 Pet.1:22-25) Yes my people, the Word of God lasts forever, and the Good News of the gospel is the best thing that’s ever happened to mankind; whereby Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in human form and was sacrificed for our sins. We were redeemed through the spilling of His holy, innocent blood. However, that redemption and reconciliation with the Father is only possible if we believe in Jesus, accept His sacrificial efforts and be born again through His Spirit. But that’s enough stuff for us to think on today my wonderful Friends in Christ. So till tomorrow, our God willing, cause He’s always able, let’s go safely in His LOVE, and pay attention, sincerely listen to the words, hearts and body language of those we come into contact with. Much LOVE!…the standards of Jesus are high…but they are indeed attainable…through constant practice…  P.S. Oh Friends, the Bits are so short these days that they scare me. (smile) Sometimes I have to wonder if they are adequate. But deep down I know that they are, since it’s the leading of the Spirit, and besides, long doesn’t always mean better, or short inferior. It’s all about the value of the content, and I know that ours is real valuable. Much LOVE!