SCRIP-BITS

Daniel 9:8.     O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteouesnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Daniel 9:18.     O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Oh Friends, here comes another day filled with new blessings and mercies from our great and generous God! Unfortunately though, the blessing and mercies don’t all fall into our laps automatically, we also have to make an effort to acquire them. But sometimes that’s difficult because our spirits are awash in confusion, broken, or simply at a rather low ebb, our faith has hit rock-bottom, and in many cases we’ve lost hope. That brings me to a definition of Hope that I read in a devotional by Robert Schuller of the Hour of Power T.V programme. Dr. Schuller describes it thus: ‘Hope: It is a scientific experience of the presence of God operating in your personality. The presence of a God of LOVE coming into your mind, your spirit, your body, your personality. This is God. This is Hope.’ Dr. Schuller does have a way with words, but the essence of what he says is true. Hope is a non- physical experience of a LOVING God coming into our lives, which consequently raises the level of our faith and belief in Him. Why do you think Daniel prayed the long, gut-wrenching prayer for his people found in Chapter 9 eh?  Because though the situation in Babylon for God’s chosen people looked bleak and helpless, the burning presence of Jehovah God in Daniel gave him hope, and thus boosted his faith. He knew that if God wanted to fix matters, He could, but it would undoubtedly involve some effort on his people’s part. First Daniel confessed the sins of his people, the reason why they were in captivity in Babylon. (Dan.9:4-14) Then he prayed for the negativity of God’s anger to cease against them: ‘O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from the city of Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.’ (Dan.9:16) Finally, he moves into a positive vein of prayer, which includes our Bit: ‘Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and (be gracious) cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary (the temple) that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do (listen and act); defer (delay) not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.’ (Dan.9:17-19) Oh Friends, what a powerful appeal to Almighty God! We desperately need the same sort of thing today because Jerusalem is till a mess, a veritable war zone, and God’s people are still being ill-treated and persecuted by the descendants of Babylon, mainly because of their faith in Almighty God. But I believe we need more than one person to offer up such heartfelt prayers. We need many men and women of great faith, with a close connection to God to cry out to Him for our sakes, because we’re possibly even in a worse situation that Israel was back then. The evil, spiritual world powers are relentlessly trying to eradicate Jehovah and His followers. Remember though Friends, we can do anything in Christ’s name, but we have to come to Him in hope and with great faith, otherwise nothing’s going to happen, Just look at how Daniel and some of the people persisted in being true to their faith. It wasn’t easy for them, but in God’s good time, He softened the hearts of the same kings of Babylon who had enslaved them and allowed them, under Ezra and Nehemiah, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. That means Friends, if God can do it for them, He can also do it for us. But like them we have to repent of our sinful lifestyle and refrain from following the ungodly lusts of the world, which isn’t easy, but Daniel and his associates found a way by refusing to partake of Babylon’s food that was offered up to idols, and continuous worship of the God of their fathers, regardless of the persecution they faced. Likewise my brethren, each of us can find some way to stop buying in to Lucifer’s lust programme and stick with Jesus on the tried and true path. If enough of us do that for a lengthy period, our God will eventually relent and allow us to prosper again. As I keep saying Friends, following God is not rocket science, but simple common sense. Our fathers did it God’s way and prospered. But we, in our arrogant pride, decided to do it our own way, and just look at the disastrous results. The obvious solution is for us to turn back to God. It’s as simple as that my people. Much LOVE!…if your way isn’t working…then wake up and try God’s…

Nehemiah 9:3.     And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! But it’s obvious you don’t need me to tell you that, as the band of revellers chipping down the street with a heavy beat pulsing from the accompanying riddim section already attest to it, with shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! Sing the chorus nuh! TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ Now Friends, please let’s not get too carried away, for it’s only a brief respite from our earthly labours. And to help us rein in our bubbling enthusiasm, let’s chant our Friday Chant, like we really mean it. ‘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.’ Yeh mih people, is only two measly days off, but it’s certainly better than nothing, so please, with God’s help, let’s use them wisely. Now Friends, here’s a very interesting scenario as described by our Bit: ‘And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part of the day they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.’ Wow! What a spectacular event that must have been! Just imagine all Israel, in fasting mode, dressed in sackcloth, with dust on their heads, having confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers, standing before the priests and elders who read from the long lost book of God’s law, for a quarter of a day (3 daylight hours), then spending another quarter day worshipping and praising God! Can you conjure up the reactions of the many who had never heard or understood the true Word before? Oh Friends, it’s a miraculous event like that, with repentance, confession, healing, praise and worship that we need today to quell all the evil turmoil and confusion that’s besetting our world. But are there enough people with the faith of Ezra and Nehemiah, who also have the backing of powerful rulers, plus the guts and devotion to do something like that? And even if there are people with those requirements, would the powers that be, who’ve recently focused on getting rid of God from our society, allow it? Unfortunately though Friends, it’s a godly revival of such great magnitude that we need today to make any real inroads into the evil empire that’s currently in power and who are hell bent on persecuting God’s children. But though there might not be any capable or willing people to put on such a big revival, there’s no reason to lose hope and forego our faith in our great and wonderful God. We can still chip away at Lucifer’s evil empire in small groups and individuals, for remember for every sinner brought to repentance, there’s oodles of joy in heaven. The Father will gladly take them one by one, if that’s the only way He can get them. Remember ‘one one cocoa full basket,’ and ‘the cents add up to the dollars.’ Now let’s go home with a description of the first day of the Israelite revival and the Feast of the Tabernacles restored. The leaders, after reading the Word to the people and making great efforts for them to understand it, said to them: ‘This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, not weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he (Nehemiah, the Governor) said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace (be still), for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth (rejoicing), because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.’ (Neh.8:9-12) Oh my people, let’s dream and pray for a day of cleansing and thanksgiving like that to happen soon in our society nuh! It would be so refreshing and revitalizing and bring untold glory to our magnificent and most deserving God! Much LOVE!…dreams only come true…after they’ve been sincerely worked on…
 

Hosea 8:2.    Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
 
Oh Friends, as I sat here contemplating how to begin, the Spirit nudged me into saying that today, unlike yesterday, I have overcome the vicissitudes of life. (smile) Through my heavenly Father’s help and good grace, they have not overwhelmed me today. And since there are no words to truly convey the gratitude we owe our magnanimous God, all I can say is a simple, ‘Thank you Lord.’ And yuh know what Friends, as far as the Lord’s concerned, that’s quite sufficient. He doesn’t require any highfalutin, elaborate prayers, full of empty pomp and ceremony. He just needs to know that we acknowledge His help and dominion over our lives. Plenty words, spouted with much bowing and scraping don’t mean anything, for it’s not the amount of words we use, or the manner in which we use them, but the rightness of our hearts and motives towards Him that are matter. Thus the importance of our Bit: ‘Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.’ Yes Friends, the words do sound good and right, but they did not register that way in their hearts, it was a false cry. In a season of prosperity, Israel had turned from worshipping the God of their fathers to man made idols, conveniently forgetting where their strength and power really came from. (Deut.8:18) Therefore the Lord declared: ‘Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. Thy calf (golden calf image), O Samaria, hath cast thee off (is rejected); mine anger is kindled (aroused) against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.’ (Hos.8:3-6) Apparently Samaria was the heart of idolatrous worship, specifically in the form of a golden calf. Unfortunately though people, like Israel, we have cast away the good things of God, and replaced them with worthless idols; the pursuit of wealth, money, power, celebrity status, etc. That’s why so many enemies, both known and unknown, surround us. Have you noticed how easily and over what petty matters both individuals and nations nowadays can change from being friends to enemies? That’s because there’s no truly LOVING Spirit of God within us, neither as individuals or nations. For we have erred and strayed from the law of God. As the opening verse of the chapter so ominously declares: ‘Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed (rebelled) against my law.’ (Hos.8:1) Consequently, judgement will be forthcoming. ‘For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk (the stalk has no bud): the bud shall yield no meal (it shall never produce meal): if so be it yield (if it does happen to produce), the strangers (foreigners, aliens), shall swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.’ (Hos.8:7-8) Please note my people, that that judgement did fall on Israel. So if we are behaving like them, and we are actually behaving worse than them, why should our consequences be any different eh? And both literally and figuratively we have sown small winds, but we are already reaping whirlwinds, in the form of powerful hurricanes and tornadoes, with all their attendant devastation. Now also, just like Israel in their time of punishment, some of us are turning to God, but it’s not really true conviction and repentance. As the psalmist Asaph says in Psalm 78, a reminder of God’s goodness to Israel: ‘For all this they sinned still, and believed not his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity (futility), and their years in trouble (sudden terror). When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early (sought diligently) after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right (steadfast) with him, neither were they steadfast (faithful) in his covenant.’ (Ps.78:32-37) Oh Friends, that’s exactly what’s happening in our confused and sinful world today! Many of us talk God, but don’t really follow Him. We’re still too taken up with the things of the world, and the Lord knows it, for He inspects out hearts, not our words. As Bruh Paul told Titus: ‘They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (disqualified).’ (Tit.1:16) Please people, let’s all consider our true nature and make sure that we’re not like those spoken of in the scripture, else we’ll all suffer the same fate that they did. Much LOVE!…if we truly know and LOVE God…then our works and actions will show it… 
 

Psalm 107:8.    Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
 
Oh Friends, sorry that this is a tad late, but it’s just been one of those days when the vicissitudes of life simply overwhelmed me. (smile) Anyway, another glorious day is in the offing for all those who LOVE and serve the Most High God Jehovah. So with humble hearts and minds, let’s gratefully offer up a prayer of thanks and praise. ‘Dear Lord, You are so good to me! And I thank you sincerely for the many blessings You send me! I’m very glad to have You in my life day in and day out – whatever I do and wherever I go! You are the One who always does what is best for my happiness.’ And all God’s people said a loud, heart-filled ‘Amen!’ because that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Now that prayer you just read was taken from a pamphlet I found in my mother’s Bible, prepared by the Life Study Fellowship in Noroton, Connecticut, sometime in 2004. And it’s amusing, but very gratifying that every time I open her Bible, I come upon some interesting tidbit of prayer or scripture, which gives me a better insight into her spiritual character. Let’s hope that when we all pass on to the golden fields in the sky, that our children can also open our Bibles and find spiritual gems that helped define us. And as usual, our great and most wonderful God, in His mysterious wisdom has chosen to use that prayer with a rather appropriate Bit. ‘Oh that the men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men!’ Oh Friends, how can we ever make known the utmost importance of those words to mankind eh? The psalmist thought it so important that he used that verse four times, yes mih people, four times in the same psalm. (vs. 8,15,21,31) Oh my breddren, our steadfast refusal to praise and thank the Lord in sufficient numbers for His goodness to us, is one of the major reasons why our world is in such an appalling state, it’s filled with so much horrible negativity. The children of men simply are not praising and glorifying our God, our Maker, Provider and Protector enough. As usual, the little success we’ve made in the arts, science and technology has gone to our heads, and with the gleeful aid of the enemy, is fooling us into thinking that we’ve done it all in our own strength, thereby sadly invoking the prophecy declared by Moses ages ago. ‘Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgements, and his statutes, which I command thee this day. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full (satisfied), and hast built goodly (beautiful) houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and gold is multiplied (increased), and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up (becomes proud), and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove (test) thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish (confirm) his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.’ (Deut.8:11-20) Nuff said Friends! That’s the Good Book talking, showing us where we’ve taken the wrong path, and are thus suffering the repercussions for our many grave and deadly sins. It could not be put any plainer and simpler than that, and it is my sincere desire that we all seriously take those words to heart, truly meditate on them, learn the worthy lessons they teach, then share them with others, so that they too can turn from their wicked ways and remember that our Lord God Jehovah is the One who made us and keeps us going. Much LOVE!…to turn away from our Provider…is utter stupidity…and surely shows how prideful and arrogant we’ve become…

Isaiah 44:6.    Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
 
Oh Friends, the Lord God Jehovah, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed us to see another beautiful day here on planet earth. All praise, thanks, and glory be unto Him! Yes Friends, He has a purpose for allowing that, so please, let’s figure out that purpose, then pursue it relentlessly. And we can only do that by consistently reading His Word and talking to Him in truth, faith and LOVE. Now here’s an interesting quote attributed to Kenneth Blanchard, American author, management expert and motivational speaker, which simply says: ‘The best way to teach people is by telling a story.’ And there certainly is a whole bundle of truth wrapped up in that short statement my brethren! For that’s the way the greatest teacher who ever lived, taught. Jesus’ main teaching tool was the parable; stories created around the truths He wanted to impart to His listeners. So it stands to reason that if Jesus used story telling as a major tool in His ministry, then there must be great worth in the practice. Ponder that for a while. (smile) But yuh know what Friends, everything in this world, good, bad and indifferent, comes right back down to our Bit. ‘Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.’ And though we’ve said it numerous times before, it’s certainly worth saying again, because many people still don’t get it. The Lord God Jehovah is the ONE and ONLY GOD in existence! Why can’t mankind get that through their thick heads eh, and stop running behind all the useless, foolish, inanimate idols and things we adore and worship today? Isaiah declared it earlier on when talking about the restoration of Israel: ‘Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.’ (Is.41:4) Then, re the Lord, our only redeemer, he says: ‘I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed (proclaimed), when there was no strange (foreign) god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let (reverse) it?’ (Is.43:11-13) Yes Friends, the prophets have been saying that for thousands of years, and even though there’s plenty irrefutable evidence, mankind still refuses to take it to heart and believe it, especially in these exceedingly wicked, sinful, ungodly times. It’s certainly strange and paradoxical that in our most enlightened time, when our mental faculties are at their zenith, the highest level ever, our true wisdom, re faith in God Almighty, is at the nadir, the lowest level. How sad Friends. That’s essentially why our world is in such confusion and turmoil. We’re trying to do everything in our own strength, without the help of our Creator and God, which is totally foolish and futile. Now listen to what the scholars say about our Bit, and hopefully you’ll see the big, beautiful picture. (smile) ‘In verse 6, the prophet emphasizes the oneness of God by stating that ‘beside me there is no God.’ Yet, at the same time, the prophet distinguishes between ‘the Lord the King of Israel’ and ‘his redeemer the Lord of hosts. The personal name Yahweh is used of both the King and His Redeemer, the one referring to God the Father and the other referring to God the Son.’ Oh my people, isn’t it a blessed thing to have and worship such a mighty Deity, one who is at the same time ONE, but also THREE, when we include the Holy Spirit, which dwells within us to teach and guide us in the ways of our magnificent God the Father, and His most august Son, Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, the Prince of Peace, Mr. Wonderful, All-Wise Counsellor, Sacrificial Lamb, Holy Redeemer, etc. etc? Hn, hn, hn! So I went overboard there just a little, but nonetheless, it’s all true. And I can see Bruh Paul up in heaven chuckling at that involved sentence, so reminiscent of some of his. Anyway mih breddren, the long and short of the story is that the Lord God Jehovah, Yahweh, Infinitely Everything, is the ONLY God in existence, no ifs, ands and buts about it. And in closing, listen to what Jesus said to John in Revelation. ‘And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be (take place) hereafter.’ (Rev.1:17-19) Oh Friends, if you’re still filled with doubt, I’m truly sorry for you, but all I can do now is commend you to Jesus, asking, for your sakes, that He come into your hearts and show you the truth. Much LOVE!…if we don’t know and LOVE Jesus…then our future is one of eternal death and damnation…

Isaiah 44:6.     Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Psalm 84:4.    Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.

Psalm 84:4.     Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
 
Oh Friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! By the way, it’s also Friday… ‘Oh jeezanages!’ is the surprised reaction. ‘Yuh really mean to say is Friday already?’ Yes. ‘Well then, leh we sing the chorus nuh. TGIF! Thank God is Friday! TGIF! Thank God is Friday.’ And the resident riddim section kicks up in a scintillating riddim. Well Friends, since we have the riddim section going full tilt, we might as well chant our Friday Chant too, to get us in the proper frame of mind for the weekend. Altogether now, in one, loud, proud, harmonious voice: ‘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 now that we’ve been reminded of the proper uses for the weekend, let’s also remember that today is a special day in more respects than one. First of all, it’s the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year twenty eleven (11/11/2011). That kind of thing doesn’t happen very often, and please don’t get caught up in any old wives tales you hear about it. I’m sure we’ll come up with all sorts of nonsense. More importantly, today is also Remembrance Day in the British Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the U.S. It’s the day we remember all those brave souls who gave their lives in the great wars, so that we could live in the semi-freedom that we now have. And I say semi-freedom since many of those hard fought freedoms have now been eroded because of the supposed terrorist activity. We’re gradually inching towards a police state as more freedoms are being curtailed one by one, with the greedy, wicked, powerful elite using fear tactics to empower themselves and their cronies even further. Anyway, enough of the world and its sinful doings, let’s hear a word from our God. And the psalmist passionately declares in our Bit today: ‘Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will still be praising thee. Selah.’ And that’s a sure fact my people! All those who dwell in and around God’s house will surely be blessed! According to the scholars, Psalm 84 expresses the rejoicing of a pilgrim who finally arrives at the temple in Jerusalem. That means it’s a good and necessary thing for all of us to make our way to the Lord’s house, as often as possible, hopefully at least once a week, so we can get a special dose of His mercy and LOVING-kindness. There’s just something about God’s house that gives it a serene, peaceful atmosphere, where we also can find peace and contentment, release our fears, worries and anxieties, and feel His Holy Spirit just fill us up with hope, faith and LOVE. Yes my people, being around the Lord’s house is always beneficial to us, in some form and fashion. Now you don’t have to go to His house to experience Him, but when you do, there’s always an exceptional feeling that permeates the place; one of awe, reverence and oneness with Him. Hear how Bruh David puts it: ‘Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.’ (Ps.65:4) Yes Friends, our God has LOVINGLY chosen us as His people, so let’s go to His house this weekend to meet and greet each other, as well as to honour Him with praise and worship, and be honoured in return with His peace and abundant blessings that overtake us when we come before Him under those circumstances. It’s the wise and honourable thing to do. Much LOVE!…wherever His people are gathered together in His Name…be it only two or three…the Lord’s present…and He blesses them… P.S. Smile and give thanks mih people, the Bit’s short and sweet today. Hn, hn, hn! Much LOVE!
 

Jeremiah 7:26.    Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
 
Oh Friends, last night a wicked windstorm passed through my area just before midnight. Just wind alone, no rain, lightning or thunder. You should have seen the trees, even the leafless ones, dancing crazily in the strong wind, while their fallen leaves were whipped around, cyclone style. Now who or what brought that on? Only God in His wisdom knows. But here’s some wisdom that we ought to know and follow. It’s a quote from my ‘I LOVE YOU’ Poster, which says: ‘Carrying a grudge is like a run in a stocking – it can only get worse. Forgiveness is the answer.’ Oh Friends, who ever wrote that certainly knew what they were talking about! It is an awful truth that the longer a grudge is held, the worse it gets, until finally bitterness and it’s negative cohorts permeate the entire soul, heart, body and mind. It’s also true that forgiveness is the only antidote to grudges and its ilk. Turning to our Bit: ‘Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened (stiffened) their neck: they did worse than their fathers.’ Oh my people, unfortunately that’s another awful truth! For this generation has disobeyed God way more than our fathers ever did. And if we leave it as is, without valiantly trying to improve it, to turn it around, the next generation will be even more ungodly and sinful than us. That’s certainly not a nice legacy to leave our offspring. As the Lord said to Jeremiah, re Israel’s broken covenant: ‘For I earnestly protested (exhorted) unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting (exhorting), saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked everyone in the imagination (stubbornness) of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.’ (Jer.11:7-8) Does that sound familiar my people? It should, for sadly that stern denunciation also applies to us today, even more than then, since we’ve become even more individualistic, idolatrous and stubborn. Talking about stubborn and stiffnecked, listen to how Nehemiah puts it in his prayer when the Israelites were preparing to rebuild Jerusalem and belatedly decided to repent and turn back to the God of their fathers. (Neh.9:1-15) The Lord had magnanimously given them succour in the wilderness, only to have them complain and rebel. ‘But they and our fathers dealt proudly (acted presumptuously, insolently), and hardened (stiffened) their necks, and hearkened not to (did not heed) thy commandments. And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.’ (Neh.9:16-17) Now that’s true forgiveness Friends! If the Lord had kept that grudge in His heart, His anger would have been great and most likely he would have totally destroyed His chosen people, thus bringing all His well-laid plans to naught. Ah mih breddren, these are indeed crucial and critical times in the annals of man, possibly the closest we’ve come to annihilation, what with our wonderful weapons of mass destruction, and the evil, ungodly spirit that currently holds our world in a tight, vice-like grip. It hearkens back to the Lord’s warning to Jeremiah, re signs of Israel’s coming captivity. (Jer.16:1-9) ‘And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt show this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil (disaster) against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God? Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law. And you have done worse then your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination (stubbornness) of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me. Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not show you favour.’ (Jer.16:10-13) Oh my people, we are guilty of the very same offences. The only difference is that we most likely won’t be sent into captivity, we’ll be totally destroyed, annihilated, if we continue down the God forsaken path we’re currently treading. Please note one thing, our God doesn’t make idle threats, and though He often forgives, stubborn, prideful disobedience will eventually be punished. You can bet your bottom dollar on that! So please, let’s smarten up and change our evil ways before it’s too late nuh, so that these words of utter damnation from Jesus won’t apply to our generation. ‘Wherefore ye be witnesses unto (against) yourselves, that ye are the children (sons) of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure (of guilt) of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation (brood or offspring) of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?’ (Matt.23:31-33) Oh Friends, a word to the wise is sufficient. Much LOVE!…if you don’t hear…you’ll certainly feel…