SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 14:1.    The fool hath said in his heart; There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
 
Ah Friends, we finally got a little white powder, enough that we can call it snow. Hn, hn! Sorry for those who hoped for a white Christmas but were disappointed. Now we’re looking forward to the New Year, and as we’ve been wondering recently whether things will improve, I heard a very disturbing piece of news today, namely that Iran is threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the East, where about 40 percent of the world’s oil passes through. Hopefully that’s only a rattling of sabres, because if it ever happens, you can be assured that serious warfare will ensue, since oil is the defining factor in our society these days, and without it, we’ll be facing even more hardship than normal. So let’s pray that the world leaders don’t do any foolishness and further upset the already very fragile applecart of world peace. Now to try and counteract all the folly of both our leaders and ourselves, here’s a prayer prepared by the Life Study Fellowship of Noroton, Connecticut, apparently for the 2005 New year. I found it on a pamphlet in my mother’s Bible, and it seems very appropriate for 2012. Actually, it’s a continuation of one I shared with you earlier on, but kept this part for just before the New Year. It says: ‘Dear Lord, how grateful I am to be able to turn to You for guidance and comfort when troubles come my way! If any situation arises that makes me feel discouraged, You let me know I can lean on You for support! And because of Your LOVE for me, somehow I seem to find the strength to keep going – even through the most difficult of times! I’m grateful, too, for peaceful moments like these when I’m all alone with You in prayer! Talking with You never fails to reassure and uplift me! Nothing I say to You goes unheard. You listen with great concern to everything I confide in You! For you truly care about me! As I look to 2012, I pray that You will continue to watch over me – and grant me even more of Your wonderful blessings! And may I serve You well in my every word, my every deed! Be my Guide hour by hour, I pray! Amen.’ Yes Friends, we all need that kind of encouragement and comfort for the coming year. This past one was pretty scary, so let’s hope the next one isn’t as bad, although the writing on the wall doesn’t look too encouraging. As believers though we need to remember that our God, the Lord Jehovah, created the universe and all therein, and still controls everything that goes on within it. We might not always understand His reasoning, but since we know that His mental capacity is much greater than ours, we trust and have faith in His awesome promise to work out all things for good to those who LOVE Him and are called to do His bidding. That means we cannot follow the foolishness of men and do as our Bit indicates: ‘The fool hath said in his heart; There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.’ Ah mih people, you’d better believe there are many – too many – fools in this world, doing evil, abominable works instead of encouraging and uplifting ones. That’s why our world is in such a sad state, filled with all kinds of wickedness, violence and ungodliness. Too many people are saying that there is no God, therefore they see fit to behave sinful and ungodly. But listen to how Bruh David continues the psalm: ‘The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.’ (Ps.14:2-5) Yes my brethren, the wicked are very prominent throughout all the earth, but that last verse is oh so important, because they will end up in fear, but please take heart, be encouraged by the very last line: ‘for God is in the generation of the righteous.’ That’s us Friends! And all God’s people vociferously sang: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Our God is indeed a great God!’ So please remember Friends, that Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, is indeed with us, the righteous of the earth, therefore there is no need to fear, once we stay safely ensconced under the protective canopy of His mighty wings. Let’s write that indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls and look forward in faith to blessed times ahead. That’s why Jesus sacrificed His holy, innocent life for us. Much LOVE!…the fool says there is no God…but the righteous and wise…know differently…