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!
 

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.

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.

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.

Jeremiah 30:9.    But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I shall raise up unto them.
 
Aye mih Friends, it’s Friday, and ah hear all yuh shouting ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ from way down the road. (smile) Ah guess plenty of us just dying for the day to finish so we could go home and catch up on the rest that we missed over the Christmas season. But please note that the day has just begun and we got to work first, so let’s get some strength and an adrenaline rush from our Friday Chant nuh. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And remember too, that all the long weekends done now, so is a full five-day week we have to put it, which I know is anathema to many of us. But if we constantly hang with the Lord, we will always make it through, no doubt about that mih people. And ah sure too that most of you never noticed that in three of the first six days of the new year I wrote 2010 at the top of the Bit. Well neither did I, until just now when I went to check something on yesterday’s and happened to notice it, then decided to check the others and found two more. Steups! Meanwhile I’m here praising myself for not making any date mistakes so far. Hn, hn! Anyway Friends, let’s turn to our Bit and finish checking out the fulfillment of its wonderful promise. ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I shall raise up unto them.’ And so said, so done my people! The Lord God Almighty raised up our Saviour Jesus Christ, His Son, in human form, and also from the travesty of death so that He could lead and guide us as promised. Yesterday we heard John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, foretelling his son’s heralding of Christ to the nation. Now there was also a devout man, Simeon, in whom the Holy ghost dwelt: ‘And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten (to bring revelation to) the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.’ (Luke 2:26-32) There was also Anna, a prophetess; ‘a widow of fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.’ (Luke 2:37-38) Yuh see Friends, though no serious prophet had appeared in Israel for some four hundred years, God was still busy behind the scenes, working in individual lives, so that when the big moment arrived, there would be people to herald it. Think of the three wise men that came from far away for His birth, the angels proclaiming the moment to the shepherds, and they spreading it roundabout. And we all know that John the Baptist was the prime spokesperson for Jesus’ introduction to ministry. And here is Peter at Pentecost, talking about Bruh David: ‘Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, wherefore we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.’ (Acts 2:30-33) And that’s the gospel truth Friends! The Lord raised up Jesus in appreciation for His selfless sacrifice on our behalf, having Him sit at His right hand, and to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is indeed Lord and God. Wow! Now let’s hear from Bruh Paul in Antioch with Barnabas. He also was referring to the root of it all, Bruh David, when he was made king: ‘He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man’s seed (descendants) hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet (sandals) I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children (sons) of the stock (family) of Abraham, and whosever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.’ (Acts 13:22-26) Yes my brethren, this salvation of Christ, reconciling us to our God and Maker is the fulfillment of that great promise He made long ago. Jesus is the King, Saviour, Shepherd, Guide and Advocate whose sacrificial blood allows us to boldly stand in the presence of Almighty God. There is no other way to come before God, but through Him. I therefore implore us to be wise and embrace His salvation wholeheartedly, for it’s the only means to avoid eternal separation from God and achieve everlasting life. Much LOVE!…only those who accept Jesus…here on earth…will dwell with Him in glory…

Jeremiah 30:9.    But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I shall raise up unto them.
 
Oh Friends, it’s one of those days when I can’t come up with an attention-grabbing intro. I obviously asked the Most High for inspiration and guidance at the start, but it’s not yet forthcoming. Oh, I’m not worried because I know that as soon as the Lord considers it time, my pen will flow on the paper like white on rice. (smile) Couldn’t think of a better comparison on such short notice. Anyway, we’ve been talking about promises the last few days, in particular the gigantic promise that the Lord made so long ago. But before we get into that, I think it’s important that we consider the state of promises in our modern, fast paced, technological society. The current attitude is well reflected in the old song: ‘Promises, Promises…that’s all they are…Promises…’ Those might not be the exact lyrics, but they do give the gist. And it’s quite true, for from our leaders right down to our poverty stricken members, we all seem addicted to promises, and false ones at that. We vote for those who roll out the most amazing promises, although deep down we know that they either can’t or won’t keep them. We also fall for those who promise to do the most, but unfortunately too often end up doing the least. In fact, the statement that ‘promises are made to be broken,’ very well describes our attitude towards promises today. No longer is a person’s word, their handshake or promise very meaningful, nor will they do their level best to uphold it. That’s why the psalmist so strenuously declares: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’ (Ps.118: 8-9) Yuh see Friends, it doesn’t matter what estate that man might be of, high or low, because he is man, he is naturally not trustworthy. And that’s exactly what has brought our world to its knees in the last couple years; the broken, fraudulent promises of those in power and wealth, seeking to fulfill their greedy lust for more earthly power and wealth, they made promises they could not keep, so when the promise bucket bottom drop out, everything had to crash. However my people, the Lord God Jehovah does not operate in such an unfaithful manner. Every promise He’s ever made has been fulfilled at the appointed right time. That includes our current Bit: ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I shall raise up unto them.’ Praise the Lord my people for His never-ending goodness to the undeserving children of men! We’ve seen how several prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Hosea, prophesied of better days to come for Israel. Then we saw how the captives returning from Babylon, through the Lord’s grace, to rebuild Jerusalem and the Promised Land, accomplished that. But Friends that was only the first part of the promise, for in the second the Lord promised to raise up from the line of Bruh David, a king, a shepherd, a godly guide to look after His people. And though it took roughly four hundred years, the promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ, of Bruh David’s line, was born in his city of Bethlehem, to a virgin as long prophesied, in the season of Christmas we’ve just been celebrating. Wow! And it’s amazing how our God moves, for at John the Baptist’s christening, the one who would herald the immediacy of the Messiah’s coming, his father Zechariah, hitherto dumb because he doubted the Lord’s promise of a child to his barren wife, regained his voice, and then filled with the Holy Ghost, powerfully prophesied: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began (from the ages): That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring (the Messiah) from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:68-79) Yes Friends, our God so cared for us that after a four century period of silence, when the time was ripe for the Messiah, He sent a harbinger, a messenger, John the Baptist, to remind His people of the promise, to awaken and stir them up to the imminent message of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Oh mih people, I implore us to remember that our God doesn’t operate like man, but on a much higher level, therefore we can absolutely trust Him to keep all His Promises. More on this topic tomorrow, God willing of course. Till then, please go safely with the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Much LOVE!…in God’s kingly, righteous and just character…a promise made…is a promise to be always fulfilled… 

Jeremiah 30:9.    But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
 
Oh Friends, I read an interesting quote today, which I just had to share. It’s attributed to Faith Baldwin (1893-1978) the famous American romance writer. It says: ‘Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.’ I found it amusing, insightful and true, since time does keep changing us, remodelling our perspectives and circumstances. We seldom get something completely new, but mostly alterations; a little change here, a slightly bigger one there, an in-between one somewhere else, and oftimes that’s better than big, upheaval-like changes. And the message there is that it’s time to look at ourselves, our total lives, and seriously consider what changes, what alterations we need to make in our current situations, so that we will be better set for serving the Lord. I guess it’s doing like Jesus says, pruning the branches of the vine so that it can bear fruit more abundantly. We also need to realize that we can’t change others, and stop trying to do it. Unfortunately, many of us waste our time and energy trying to change those around us, and when we don’t make any headway, or as much as we desire, we get frustrated and miserable. Oh Friends, only the individuals involved can make changes to their lives, and as many of us have found out from hard experience, even when we seriously need and want to change, we need God’s help to do it. This brings us to our Bit, and the great promise contained therein. ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I shall raise up unto them.’ Now over the last two days we’ve seen how this promise began to be fulfilled with the return of God’s people from Babylon to Israel, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the rest of the Promised Land, through God’s intervention in the heart of Cyrus, the Babylonian king. We’ve also looked at some scriptures that highlighted the Lord’s promise. And I’m chuckling here Friends, because yesterday I planned to put in a certain passage that dealt with the first half of the promise, but it would have made the Bit way too long, so I didn’t, and today I decided to ignore it altogether and move on to the second half of the promise, only to have the Spirit invoke it’s veto powers. So here’s Ezekiel’s take on the situation as he talks about the Lord’s care for His flock: ‘Therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle (sheep and sheep). And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil (wild) beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.’ (Ezek.34:22-26) Yes mih people, the Lord promised peace, showers of blessing, and a most worthy, guide, king and shepherd to watch over His people. And they all shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Ezekiel was so sure of this promise that he basically repeats it in Chapter 37, when he speaks of the restoration of a united Israel. ‘And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen (nations), whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgements, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezek.37:24) Yes Friends, it’s obvious from all the scriptures we’ve looked at, that the Lord had a most viable long-term plan for His people. And tomorrow, God willing, we shall look at the second half of that great promise and see how it was fulfilled. Till then, please walk safely in LOVING fellowship with the Lord God Almighty, our Creator, Provider and Safe Keeper. Much LOVE! …first comes the promise…then the faith to accept and wait for it…then the joyful fulfillment… 
 

Jeremiah 30:9.    But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
 
Oh Friends, can you believe it’s already January 4? The celebrations are winding down, and by next week we’ll have forgotten about Christmas and a Happy New Year, and moved on to the next big thing in the shopping calendar, Valentine’s Day. How sad it is that our lives are governed and ruled by one money-spending event after another, making the monetary aspect of our society its driving force and guiding light, rather than the adoration, worship and reverence of Almighty God! However faithful Friends, there’s no need to worry, for our God is still in control, and we don’t have to do everything or follow every worldly lust that the evil, ungodly proponents in our world put before us. That’s the beauty of being a believer; we live in this world, can enjoy its comforts and God-given blessings, without being a part of its ungodly aspects. Praise the Lord! That’s because we have great promises like our Bit, made to us by a faithful, omnipotent, omniscient, ever-LOVING God! ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.’ Now yesterday we saw the beginning of that promise come true, where by decree of Cyrus, the Persian king of Babylon, those Israelites who desired to go back to Jerusalem and the land of their fathers were given permission to do so. And thus, under Ezra, Nehemiah and other volunteers, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and consequently Israel, began. But what of the scriptures surrounding this promise? Let’s check out some, starting with the free offer of mercy to all, advertised so splendidly and courageously by Isaiah. ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight in fatness (abundance). Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.’ (Is.55:1-7) Oh Friends, what more can we ask eh? The free gift of salvation, so generously bestowed by our God, is free to all and sundry; all we have to do is receive it. If you are spiritually hungry and thirsty, you can come and eat and drink for free. Included in all of that freeness is an eternal covenant with the Gentiles, just like the one He made with His chosen people, Israel. And, as the scholars so rightly declare; His invitation to all men is clearly stated by the appeal to ‘seek ye the Lord,’ and ‘call ye upon him.’ Wow! What a mighty and majestic, but also kind and LOVING Being is our God! And it just boggles my imagination that so many people turn down this great offer. I guess it’s partly because the offer is so overwhelming, and also free, that it scares us into thinking there must be something wrong somewhere. For something so good could not also be free. This comes from our man-made fear and caution that big and good things should be expensive, and if they’re ever offered for free, a warning sign immediately rises up, saying that it’s too good to be true, for nobody in their right mind gives away expensive, worthwhile things. And that’s usually true in man’s world my Friends, but here we’re dealing with the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven, earth and all therein. He doesn’t need anything from us, except our obedience and worship, cause He made us, and everything in the world, including us, already belongs to Him. We have to get out of the mindset of dealing with immortal, Almighty God in the same manner in which we deal with mortal man, because they are two entirely different situations. Now hear Hosea: ‘Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.’ (Hos.3:5) Yes my brethren, when Israel finally comes to her sense, she will turn from her idols back to the God of her fathers, truly reverence and worship Him, and enjoy His many blessings. Oh people, I believe that that prophesy can surely be applied to our present, evil, cruel, violent, idolatrous, ungodly times. We need to come to our senses and turn back to the One, True God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because it’s the ONLY WAY that our world will escape the certain destruction we’re headed for in our mad rush for earthly wealth, power and glory. Ah friends, let’s stop being so stupid and stubborn nuh, trying to fight the omnipotent One who created us and LOVES us so much, He sacrificed His only Son so that we wouldn’t be eternally separated from Him. Now God willing, we’ll continue this topic tomorrow. Till then, take care, and live to LOVE and serve your God. Much LOVE!…it’s a fool’s wisdom…to fight against Almighty God…
 

Jeremiah 30:9.    But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Proverbs 30:14.     There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.