SCRIP-BITS

Isaiah 54:10.     For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
 
Well Friends, July is ending in a heat wave, and another Caribana Saturday has passed without the ole fella going to the parade. Times certainly are a changing! That makes either two or three years that I’ve missed now, but if that’s the way the Good Lord wants it, who am I to argue eh? I heard that it was well attended, but unfortunately one person died and a couple others were injured from gunshot wounds. Ah Lord eh! We just giving the naysayers fodder to clamour louder for its shut down, but on the other hand, with the violent kind of society we’ve now become, it’s a miracle that only one major incident was provoked with many thousands of people congregating in a relatively small area, in a party atmosphere. Anyway, the celebrations continue apace, today and tomorrow, with numerous activities all over the city. I’m just planning to spend it quietly at home though, with my New York friend coming over for some ‘poor black people food,’ that’s West Indian food, the sweetest and best tasting food in the world. And we won’t argue over that because whoever’s tasted it, knows that’s the living truth! (smile) Oh Friends, the ole fella’s in a fine frame of mind this morning, though I woke up late, meaning the Bit will be late, because I have to go to church in a while and get some fellowship in my soul. I sincerely hope that most, if not all of us, have, or will have fellowshipped with other believers this weekend, regardless of which day we celebrate the Sabbath, because getting together and worshipping and praising Christ is the most important part of the event, not the particular day on which it’s celebrated. I’m sure some people will disagree because the dogma of their particular religion says a particular day, but that just highlights the petty stuff that keeps believers apart. Do you really think that our great and LOVING God is going to get His Spirit all tied up in knots whether we worship Him on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday? I doubt it. Once we put aside one day a week to celebrate Him, I think He’d be more than pleased. Listen to our Bit: ‘For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.’ Now does that sound like a Deity who’s going to get annoyed over which day we celebrate Him? Certainly not! For He’s a God bubbling over with joy and peace and kindness and mercy, all coming from a heart full of unconditional LOVE, just dying to show goodness to His children. But we, His foolish, rebellious children, find all kinds of ways to divide ourselves, rather than ways to come together. How sad! Imagine what a powerful moving and unifying force Christ’s Church could be, if the numerous petty differences between believers could be removed! But unfortunately, for our own selfish purposes and reasons, we are going in the opposite direction, finding more things to drive us apart, rather than bring us together. Oh Friends, the Lord offers salvation to both Jews and Gentiles, and we’re supposed to be made in His image, so why can’t we be big enough to embrace each other with the LOVE of God we ought to have, despite our differences eh? God’s promising kindness, peace and mercy to all who believe in Jesus, not to one particular group. So let’s take hold of this exceedingly wonderful promise and run with it as simply believers, and not as devotees of one religion or another. It’s the only wise and sensible thing to do if we’re truly interested in forwarding God’s kingdom here on earth. But enough of me, let’s listen to what a man of great faith, Ethan the Ezrahite has to say on the topic. This is taken from his Maschil (Contemplation) on God’s sure promises to Bruh David. ‘Nevertheless my LOVING-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail (to be false). My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing (change the word) that is gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven (the sky). Selah.’ (Ps.89:33-37) Wow Friends! I sure hope that reassures us, builds our confidence that we can stand on the promises of God without any fear of them being changed at some future date. But I’ve got to leave and go to church now, got to practice what I preach. (smile) Soon come back. (8.10) Okay Friends, we back now, (9.40). It was a good service, with about a dozen people. I like it because it seems more intimate and close to God, without all the pomp and ceremony of the later service. Anyway, time and space are against us, but for the sake of our children and our world, please, I humbly implore us to raise our level of awareness and maturity in our God, by standing firmly and faithfully on His promises, so that we can make things better. That’s our calling. Much LOVE!…remember…Jesus promises to never leave or forsake us…also…wherever two or three are gathered together in His Name…there shall He be…stand steadfastly on them…