SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 19:10.    More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
 
Ah Friends, I guess I was either mislead, or I read the weather symbols wrong yesterday when I declared it would be another beautiful day, because it certainly was not. It was cloudy, overcast and drizzly, though warm. And today promises to be more of the same. Right now it’s fairly foggy outside. That just goes to show how careful we have to be when reading, watching or trying to decipher and interpret stuff, because there’s so much false information and purveyors of false information out there in our wicked, ungodly world. Please be never too busy to ponder and contemplate for yourself, whatever your eyes and ears communicate to your heart and mind. Anyway, here’s a quote attributed to Thomas Alva Edison, (1847-1931) the prolific inventor, of amongst other things, the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb by which I’m now writing this sermon (smile). Edison claims that ‘Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.’ And that’s gospel my brethren! Many are the times we give up when we’re ever so close to being successful. It brings to mind the cliché, that the darkest hour is the one just before the dawn. Usually our worst and most difficult moments are those just before the answers burst through in a riotous brilliance of sunlight. (smile) Now Tommy Edison could certainly testify to that because he apparently made hundreds of attempts to perfect the light bulb before he was successful. The same goes for Henry Ford, the father of the motorcar, as we know it. He was totally ridiculed about his invention, I believe even Edison ignored him, but he had the last laugh because he had a dream, a desire placed in his heart from God and he knew that to be successful he had to persevere in faith. The same goes for us Friends. That means we can’t give up on whatever God ‘s placed in our hearts. Neither can we give up on the LOVE Revolution He’s called us to foment, to get our world back on track. We just have to hang on to the faith and courage we get from God’s Word. Why? Because as Bruh David declares in our Bit: ‘More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the (drippings of the) honeycomb.’ Wow! What a definitive statement! But it’s the awesome truth Friends! Hear how he leads up to that fact. ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear (reverence) of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’ (Ps.19:7-9) Yes Friends, all those who LOVE the Lord, know and faithfully believe those things. Then Bruh David continues: ‘Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.’ (Ps.19:11)Of a truth my brethren, the Lord’s law, testimony, statutes, commandments and judgements are all precious and desirable, much more so than earthly wealth. It’s even sweeter than honey to the believer’s heart, plus it gives us good guidance on how to live this life, then it also brings us great rewards from a faithful and magnanimous God.. What could be better than that eh people? Nothing really! Now listen to some testimony on that indisputable truth from some other men of great faith. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119: ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.’ (Ps.119:71-72) Later on he again declares the supremacy of God’s Word: ‘It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law (regarded it as void). Therefore I LOVE thy commandments above gold; yea above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.’ (Ps.119:126-128) And finally, from the wisest man ever, Cousin Sol, when he proclaims that wisdom is everlasting: ‘All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward (crooked) or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies: and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.’ (Prov.8:8-11) Yes Friends, if Cousin Sol says it’s so, then it is so. For wisdom and understanding comes from knowing and following the Lord’s law. Therefore, let us, as true believers in, and followers of Jesus, do our very best to adhere to that law nuh, so that we might truly live in wisdom and understanding and get the most benefit from all our wonderful God has to offer. Much LOVE!…the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…but fools despise wisdom and instruction… (Prov.1:7)
 

Jeremiah 42:21.    And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
 
Oh Friends, another beautiful fall day is expected in my area! For this pleasure, we can all say a grateful ‘Thank You Lord!’ It’s been a delightful autumn so far; much more sunshine and temps in the teens than cold winds and rain. But like all earthly things, it’s not going to last forever, so let’s be thankful and enjoy it now, because as soon as the first snow flies, we’ll all be moaning and groaning. (smile) And today I have a quote to share from the Covenant House Calendar, attributed to George Bernard Shaw, the noted Irish playwright (1856-1950). He claims that ‘Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.’ I guess as a playwright, which means creating plays, that would be his natural feeling, but I tend to think it’s more like half and half. In the sense that in our early years we’re young and inexperienced and we’re constantly seeking direction, plus the excitement and whatever else life has to offer. We’re looking for answers to questions we sometimes don’t even know. This could prove to be quite confusing and frustrating. However, by the time we reach adulthood, hopefully we’ve seen enough of life to know how it operates, and above all, we’ve found God’s purpose for our lives. Oh Friends, that is definitely the most important thing for us to seek and find! Now it’s not always an easy task, and we don’t always find it at an early age, but if with patience we persevere, we’ll find it, God will guide us to it eventually. And once we’ve found God’s purpose for us, then the creating seriously begins! Regardless of God’s earthly purpose, we must try to create ourselves in the image that God desires, that of Jesus. Note that there are two separate actions involved here, purpose and desire. All the purposes, (read careers and the like) may differ and vary substantially, since it takes all types to make the world go round, but the desire is always the same; to remake us in the perfect image of Christ. Our Bit though highlights the problem between finding and creating ourselves. ‘And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.’ Now what’s wrong with this picture eh? The Israelites, in one of their many times of trouble, had asked Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for guidance. They wanted to flee to Egypt to escape their enemies, but the Lord’s message said stay put. If they did as He asked, He would build them up and not tear them down. (Jer.32:7-12) Unfortunately, God’s will conflicted with the Israelites’ plans. And though we righteously proclaim that we trust God and want to know His will, when we receive it and it differs from ours, we get right royally upset. This is what happened to the Israelites, and unfortunately it’s also happening to us today. God’s will is for us to turn to and stay close to Him, but we seem to prefer the licentiousness of Lucifer, the ruler of darkness. As the scholars so rightly claim, much too often believers ask to hear only what pleases them. That is borne out by Bruh Paul’s charge to Timothy. ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim.4:3-4) Consequently, these believers pray on false grounds, as James notes: ‘Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (pleasures).’ (James 4:3) And isn’t that the living truth Friends! This happens because we foolishly and selfishly expect God to merely validate whatever we desire. But my people that’s never going to happen, unless our desires fall into line with God’s plans. Again sadly, on an even greater scale than in Jeremiah’s time, that is a source of much worry, contention and disbelief in this confused society of ours. A majority of the world is trumpeting Lucifer’s unfortunate rise to glory, therefore many of us, falsely believing it, pray to God to give us the earthly trappings of wealth and power so that we can use it to enjoy the fleshly lusts that Lucifer promotes. But please remember Friends, the most important thing to our God, is the state of our hearts, our motives. If those aren’t right, don’t truly reflect God’s Word and Will, then all our prayers are doomed to failure. Now nothing is wrong with having the trappings of wealth and power, many Christians have them, but they must be earned through right motives and doing God’s will, not merely for the purpose of enjoying the fleshly pleasures they can provide. Remember too that no one can out give God. Just look at Cousin Sol, who asked for wisdom and understanding and became the poster boy for the Lord’s generosity even to this day. And we’ll close to day with some words on the futility of relying on anyone or anything else other than Jehovah God. Hear Isaiah tell it like it is: ‘Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering (devise plans, weave a web), but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.’ (Is.30:1) Oh Friends, please, let’s allow God to be the supreme ruler and arbiter in our lives. It’s the only way to live wisely in this our earthly pilgrimage. Much LOVE!…now unto him…that is able to do exceeding abundantly…above all that we ask or think…according to the power that worketh in us…unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus…throughout all ages…world without end…Amen… (Eph.3:20-21)
 

Psalm 18:32.     It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Psalm 85:4.    Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Psalm 22:28.   For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

Psalm 22:28.    For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday… But it’s obvious you already know that from the cries of ‘TGIF!’ and ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’ that I hear, along with the rocking riddim of the riddim section. The difference between a Friday and Monday morning is truly amazing, showing the highs and lows of which the human spirit is capable. Anyway, it’s the end of the workweek, and we’re all glad for the short respite from worldly toil, so let’s chant our Friday Chant, so that we can keep the important things in proper perspective. All together now: ‘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.’ Now Friends, turning to our Bit, which, though simple, is of the utmost importance to our Christian faith. We can’t be true believers unless we accept Bruh David’s words from his contradictory psalm, a cry of anguish and song of praise. ‘For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.’ That my brethren is the basis of all Christianity! It’s one indisputable proclamation which all believers acknowledge as the ultimate truth! Our faith declares that the Lord God Jehovah, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, created the universe and all therein ages ago, and He still runs it. It’s His personal fiefdom, to do with as he pleases. And once we sincerely believe that, then we’re on our way to righteousness and eventually salvation and eternal life in heaven with the Holy Trinity. Wow! What a wonderful feeling that brings to our souls, hearts and minds my people! The most awesome feeling we can ever experience is that engendered by the unconditional LOVE that the Creator of the universe bears for us, and so graciously showed by sacrificing His Son Jesus to pay for our sins. And all God’s people, prayerfully declared, with much gratitude: ‘Thank you Lord. There’s none other like you!’ And that’s another undisputable fact! Oh Friends, if there’s one thing I admire about Bruh David, is that he definitely knew on which side his bread was buttered, for throughout all the shenanigans in his life, from the time he was anointed the future king at a tender age, till his death, he never wavered or strayed from worshipping and following the God of his fathers. Now let’s end today with some of his immortal words, as he offers thanksgiving and prayer to his heavenly Father. ‘Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.’ (1 Chron.29:10-13) And yuh know Friends, the Lord blessed Bruh David eternally for his immense faith. It’s the same way He will bless us if we truly believe that He is Lord and God over all creation, and adhere as best we can to His will. Much LOVE!…there’s nothing more pleasing to God…than His children sincerely trying to please Him… P.S. Brother! I can’t believe it’s so short today. There must be many smiles and thank you Lord from the readers. (smile) Much LOVE!
 

Proverbs 17:9.    He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
 
Oh Friends, you need to show the ole fella some true Christianity, some real LOVE this morning. I got caught up in catching up with some overdue paperwork until a late hour last night. Then faithfully, I attempted to write the Bit, but found it wasn’t going according to my satisfaction because I was mentally tired. So I decided to get into relaxation mode, which caused me to go to bed in the wee hours of the morning. And like it does so often, my frail human body betrayed me; (smile) I didn’t get up until past the appointed time. Anyway, the mind seems fresh right now, just like the many new mercies and blessings the Lord rains down on us every day. So without further preamble, let’s delve right into our Bit, which conveys an absolute imperative for all true believers. ‘He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (the best of) friends.’ And isn’t that both the awesome and awful truth! In short, when we forgive transgressions against us, we’re being truly Christ-like, showing His true dimension of LOVE. However, when we behave like chatterboxes, continually running off our mouths, especially about things we don’t really know, we tend to kill good relationships. Please, please remember my people, that nothing in this world destroys friendships like idle gossip. Cousin Sol was quite aware of this, and earlier on in Proverbs said it this way: ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.’ (Prov.10:12) And that’s an indisputable truth that all believers need to write indelibly in our hearts, souls and minds so that most of the time we can be covering sins, rather than stirring up strife. Because of our naturally fallen condition, we’ll never be perfect, and strife will occasionally come into our lives, but we must be very careful to eradicate it as soon as possible, and not let it linger in our spirits and eventually become firmly embedded there. And in the immortal words of James, re saving an erring brother: ‘Brethren, if any of you do err (wander) from the truth, and one convert him (turns him back); Let him know, that he which converteth (turns) the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide (cover) a multitude of sins.’ (James 5:19-20) Yes Friends, when we help someone to overcome their shortcomings with LOVE, we’re doing a wonderful work for Jesus. That’s as opposed to Sol’s contention: ‘A froward (perverse) man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief (the best of) friends.’ (Prov.16:28) And believe me, we certainly have too many busybodies and gossips in the church today. It’s one of the major causes of strife, dissension and divisiveness that’s currently wracking apart the Body of Christ. Instead of helping others to overcome their deficiencies, too many of us go around spreading tales about those deficiencies. And sadly, by the time the gossip makes the rounds, it’s been changed so much that it bears very little resemblance to how it began. That’s the major problem in gossip Friends; every teller adds their own take on it, so that it’s totally distorted and even further removed from any truth it originally contained. Now that kind of behaviour should never be numbered amongst believers. We should always walk in the way of LOVE. And what’s that you ask? I’ll let Bruh Paul tell us: ‘Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; LOVE envieth not; LOVE vaunteth not itself (does not brag or boast), is not puffed up (arrogant). Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil (keeps no account of evil); Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.’ (1 Cor.13:4-7) That’s how believers walk in LOVE my brethren! It’s a dying to self like Jesus did. Unfortunately that sort of LOVE walk is not as prevalent in churches and Christian circles as it ought to be. Oh Friends, we all know that LOVE, the very essence of God’s Being, is the only thing that can bring and keep us sinful humans together under Christ’s wonderful banner. So why are we so reluctant to embrace and share it eh? Please, let’s try and change our gossipy tendencies nuh, and replace them with ones of LOVE, so that we aren’t inviting strife and all the other negative emotions it entails, into our lives. That’s the only way Christ’s Church will become strong and grow. Remember, that’s our great commission. Much LOVE!…and now abideth…faith…hope…LOVE…these three…but the greatest of these…is LOVE…(1 Cor.13:13)
 

Isaiah 28:29.    This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
 
Oh Friends, we’ve got to put on our praying caps again today for those unlucky people on the north east coast of North America, who were hit by the untimely and unseasonable snowstorm last weekend. Unfortunately over a million of them are still without heat, light and power in these fast approaching days of winter. This tragedy, coming so soon after Hurricane Irene in August, surely must have some people wondering what’s happening. But there’s nothing to really wonder about Friends. It’s basically a warning sign for the sinful, ungodly, wasteful life that’s become the norm in our society. And unless we clean up our act, and fast too, these untimely, unexpected disasters will keep happening. Just look back in history nuh. When we were living a more godly life, when God was in our schools, churches, and public places, were there as many natural disasters, so often, and so deadly? I don’t think so. Between our senseless tampering with the earth’s atmosphere and God’s hand of warning, we’re seeing many more natural disasters taking place all over the world. And our Bit today is taken from Isaiah’s warning to the people of Jerusalem re their evil, godless ways, which would eventually bring the wrath of God upon them. Sadly, Friends, it’s no different today. In fact it’s worse, because we’re living a much more sinful and ungodly life than possibly any other society that’s gone before us. Our Bit though points out the foolishness in that lifestyle and guides us in the right direction. ‘This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working (guidance).’ Yes my people, it’s to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to whom we must look for help and succour, for assurance and right thinking. And until we do so in a big way, our world will continue to be struck by much calamity. Now why should we look to Jehovah God for guidance? Because He created the world and all therein, He’s the most powerful Being in existence, and He still runs things. In other words, He’s the big Sahib, the big Chief! Hear the palmist’s proclamation on that point. ‘O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish (senseless) man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.’ (Ps.92:5-6) Isaiah himself also spoke some immortal words on the subject. ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ (Is.9:6) We know that he was referring to the Messiah, Jesus; the One who would sacrifice Himself to pay for our disgusting sins. So why aren’t we paying more attention to Jesus and His wise ways eh Friends? Why is our world currently so enamoured of the dark side of life? In movies, music, books and social gatherings, the dark side prevails these days. So what else can we expect but dark, dangerous happenings in our lives? They say if you play with fire, it will burn you. The same goes for darkness my brethren. If you play with the dark, ugly, evil side of life, it will eventually suck you into its destructive vortex. Oh my people, it’s on the Lord God Jehovah, on Jesus, that bastion of light and power on whom our thoughts and activities should be focused. Beelzebub doesn’t create anything, he’s only into death and destruction, while our God, our Jesus, brings life and light to those who sincerely follow Him. Bruh David said it thus in praise for answered prayer: ‘Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee (recounted): if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’ (Ps.40:5) What has Beelzebub done for us to shower that kind of praise on him eh? NOTHING…NADA, my Friends! That’s why I can’t understand why we have turned to him in such droves, completely bypassing our true Creator, Protector and Provider. Now listen to Jeremiah’s prayer on the subject: ‘Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched our arm, and there is nothing too hard (difficult) for thee: Thou showest LOVING-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest (repay) the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name. Great in counsel, and mighty in work (deed): for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.’ (Jer.32:17-19) Oh Friends, I implore us to wake up and smell the roses, truly see on which side our bread is buttered; in praise and reverence to Almighty God, through Jesus, the Prince of Light and not through Beelzebub, the purveyor of darkness. It’s only through constant fellowship with Christ will our paltry human efforts bear any wise and righteous fruit. Let’s remember that, and write it deep and indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls. Much LOVE!…a word to the wise is sufficient…