SCRIP-BITS

Aye Friends, is Monday, that very special day in our lives! (chuckle) Now don’t shoot the messenger. I’m only telling you the real reality of the situation. We can’t do anything about it, so we might as well just learn to grin and bear it. And to help us do that, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle hymn, with much gusto now. ‘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 allows us now 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 you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the 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!’And yuh know what Friends? That blends exceedingly well with our Bit today; that haunting cry of Jonah’s, for mercy and forgiveness: ‘And said, I cried by reason (because) of mine (my) affliction unto the Lord, and he heard (answered) me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.’ Wow! What an awesome God we worship my people! Out of the large fish’s body, which seemed like hell to Jonah, he cried out in despair and repentance to our God, and that mighty Being heard him. That means He’ll certainly hear us when we cry out to Him in true repentance from this hell on earth that we’re now experiencing? And no doubt Friends, we in North America definitely cried out for mercy in the last few days with hurricane Irene beating down on us, because that’s when most of us remember and /or find time for God. But He’s such a wonderful God and Father, still filled with LOVE for us, He heard our heart rending cries and took pity on us, his sinful, rebellious children. That’s why Irene didn’t do as much damage as expected. I sincerely hope that all of us offered heartfelt thanks and gratitude for our timely reprieve. Yes my brethren, when we call to the Lord with sincere hearts, He hears us and responds. As the psalmist says: ‘I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.’ (Ps.120:1) I also hope that this life threatening experience will draw many of us back to the ONE and ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD, and we won’t return to the same idolatrous and lustful behaviour we were involved in before Irene shook us up. But knowing our penchant for sin, once the danger has passed and the memory begins to fade from our minds, I’m sure many of us will slowly gravitate back to our old ungodly habits, until the next time disaster comes a courting. But Friends, though our God is a most merciful and forgiving God, He’s also a God of justice and truth and He won’t allow us to keep on being rebellious indefinitely, the next time He might just turn a blind eye to our unfaithful entreaties. Bruh David truthfully said: ‘O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.’ (Ps.65:1) But that doesn’t mean we must only pray and call expectantly on God in the rough times. Our heavenly Father expects us to be constantly in touch with Him, not only when the heifer dust hits the fan and we want Him to bail us out. Oh my people, we’re like deaf ears ‘pickney’; we only listen when the roof caves in on us, but then it’s often too late. Please, let’s not go back to our sinful, ungodly ways. Remember I said yesterday that Irene was a wakeup call for our evil world, especially North America. I therefore implore us to take this whole thing seriously and let’s begin making much needed, good and godly changes to our lives, for if we don’t, we might not be as lucky the next time. Much LOVE!…he who hath ears to hear…let him hear…else he’s going to surely feel…