Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 March 2012 Numbers 23:19‏

21 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Numbers 23:19.    God is not man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 
 
Ah Friends, the Lord’s generosity is again upon us, with a new day dawning, new manna, new blessings and new mercies all being poured down from heaven for our earthly delight. Wow! What a wonderful and ever-LOVING God we serve! And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Oh Lord, our God, we praise and magnify Your Holy Name! And we give you abundant thanks for all the amazing things You’ve done and are doing for us! Help us to walk righteously in the footsteps of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In His Name we pray. Amen!’ Yes mih people, our God is indeed a great God; the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD in the entire universe; its Creator, our Provider and our Protector! Please let us write that indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls, and NEVER forget it, for that certain knowledge is what keeps us keeping on in faith, hope, trust and surrender, through all the misfortunes and calamities of this earthly life. And the basis for all that is found in our Bit: ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’ The answers to those questions are available in one word: Absolutely! Now some of us might not know the context of our Bit, so let me briefly enlighten us. It stems from the Israelites journey through the wilderness, en route to the Promised Land, at a point where they were approaching the land of Moab, and Balak, the Moab king and his people were terribly afraid, for they had heard of Israel’s might and prowess. Balak therefore sent for Balaam, a false prophet to come and curse the children of Israel. But throughout all their doings; building altars and offering sacrifices, the Lord kept talking to Balaam and he kept telling Balak that the Lord had blessed Israel, therefore he could not curse or cause them harm. ‘How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?’ (Num.23:8) Finally, he tells him our Bit. And before we get into the meat and spuds of our Bit, (smile) here’s what the scholars have to say about it: ‘The immutability of God is stated. The word repent is parallel to lie and is coloured in tone by this very association. Here his repenting is related to falsehood. The concept of the truth of Yahweh is related to immutability. Since God is truth, He does not lie; in fact, He cannot lie. He is unchanging. God is utterly different from man. Something that comes far too easily for many men is impossible for Almighty God: He cannot lie.’ And isn’t that the living truth Friends! Our God cannot lie, but we have made it an art. Lies roll off our tongues, like water off a duck’s back; with no problems whatsoever! So what we’re dealing with here Friends, is the unchanging aspect of our God – He’s the same from everlasting to everlasting; His substantial difference to man, in that He is unable to lie; and His faithfulness. He will not renege on His promises. Now let’s look at the first part of our Bit in a little more detail, check out some scriptures that enhance it. ‘God is not man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent…’  Basically it means that God is not like His creation, man; unworthy of trust, truth and faithfulness. He is of a more sterling character, and there’s no need for Him to lie or lead us astray, and then have to admit that He was at fault. And the first scripture we’ll look at comes from 1st Samuel, where the prophet informs Saul that he’s lost the kingship of Israel. And our God is such a wonderful scriptwriter, that as Samuel is walking away from Saul, ‘he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle (seized the edge of his robe), and it rent (tore). And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent (torn) the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent (relent): for he is not a man, that he should repent.’ (1 Sam.15:27-29) Oh Friends, yuh see the immaculate timing of the word ‘rent’ (tore, torn). As a budding writer, these little things truly amaze me about our God. And you know that lack of amazement of believers in the small actions of our God is one of my pet peeves. How can we be passionate about God and His acts if we only seek big miracles, which are few and far between eh? Meanwhile, He’s working plenty small ones in our lives everyday and it’s those that we need to appreciate if we want to become and remain passionate, otherwise we’ll go through life ‘unawed’ by our great God, and thus live a most pitiful and unmoved existence, which is not what Jesus died so horribly to accomplish. Anyway people, it seems like time and space have run out, but we’ll revisit this Bit tomorrow, provided we’re granted grace and mercy to see another blessed day on planet earth. Till then, as always, let’s truly LOVE our God, sincerely LIVE our Faith, and faithfully SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…without a doubt…our God is truly the GREATEST Being in the universe… 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 March 2012 Romans 15:5

20 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Romans 15:5.     Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.

Oh Friends, it’s another beautiful summer’s day, (smile) and we’re alive and kicking! Glory Hallelujah! Though this is officially the first day of spring, it’s really been like summer this past week, and looks to continue. Our wonderful God, in His great LOVE and mercy, has granted us another day on planet! And all God’s people declared in a loud and grateful voice: ‘Thank you God!’ And let’s not only mouth that thanks, but also show it in action by going out into the evil and ungodly world in which we now live and doing stuff that fits into God’s will. Let’s be obedient, LOVING, kind, generous, merciful, and forgiving – all the things that God is; for to be truly considered His followers, we must also have those attributes and then put them into action. As I keep reminding us, Christianity is an action based movement. All talk and no action is a waste of Jesus’ time. Now here are some of the things Jesus does in a little more detail, from Anne Graham Lotz’s book, My Jesus is…Everything: ‘MY JESUS – He supplies strength to the weary. He increases power to the faint. He offers escape to the tempted. He sympathizes with the hurting. He saves the hopeless. He shields the helpless. He sustains the homeless. He gives purpose to the aimless. He gives reason to the meaningless. He gives fulfillment to our emptiness. He gives light in the darkness. He gives comfort in our loneliness. He gives fruit in our barrenness. He gives heaven to the hopeless. He gives life to the lifeless! MY JESUS…is EVERYTHING!’ Oh Friends, isn’t that the gospel truth of all gospel truths! Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ is truly EVERYTHING we can ever need or desire! That’s why I can\t understand how we can turn away from Him. But something is obviously wrong somewhere, for too many of us are still behaving like lost sheep, with no shepherd or master. Bruh Paul obviously knew our penchant for stubbornness and waywardness, and thus pleaded with us in our Bit: ‘Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one to another according to Christ Jesus.’ But I’m sure he’s groaning mightily and turning over in his grave right now, having seen how badly we’ve strayed from his plea. Oh my brethren, I don’t believe that any organization, large or small is as divided and divisive as Christ’s Church. It’s a sad but unfortunately true commentary. And the hurtful part is that it’s mostly small-minded, selfish, unimportant stuff that’s separating us. And though we can’t expect to agree on everything, the body of Christ should NEVER be as divided and confrontational as it is, pervading the entire organization, from top to bottom, from local to international. Then it’s also between different religions, who all profess to have Christ as their leader. Nor is Christianity the only faith that has these problems. All the other major faiths also have a lot of infighting. No wonder our world is in such a sorry state. What a dreadful waste, what crying shame! Bruh Paul knew how important unity was for the church’s survival, thus his saying it to several churches. To the Romans, he earlier said: ‘Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not (do not set your mind on) high things, but condescend to men of low estate (associate with the humble). Be not wise in your own conceits (estimation).’ (Rom.12:16) Meanwhile, in exhorting the Philippians to steadfastness, he pleads: ‘Only let your conversation (conduct) be as it becometh (be worthy of) the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.’ (Phil.1:27) Then in Chapter 2, he again implores: ‘Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind.’ (Phil.2:2) And in 2nd Corinthians, his conclusion and benediction, he pleads with heartfelt fervour: ‘Finally brethren, farewell. Be perfect (complete), be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of LOVE and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute (greet) you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the LOVE of God, and the communion (fellowship) of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.’ (2 Cor.13:11-14) And that Friends is my wish and prayer for us all today! In closing, please remember that though coming together will not happen overnight, it certainly depends on each believer coming to the serious realization that without unity, the Church of Christ is doomed! And the sooner we reconcile with each other, the sooner our LOVE Revolution will succeed. Much LOVE!…working together is the only way to success…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 March 2012 Romans 15:5‏

19 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Romans 15:5.   Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.

Rise and shine my beautiful Friends in Christ! It’s Monday! No moans and groans please. (smile) It’s time to once again join the workweek fray! The enemy is already up and about…and so is Jesus. That means we can’t be lollygagging while battles need to be fought. And as always, before joining the fray, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, with much enthusiasm and heartfelt sincerity. Altogether 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 with the adrenalin of the Holy Spirit now percolating in our bodies and souls, let’s follow our Field Marshall, Jesus Christ, standing high in the stirrups, at the head of His troops, white charger anxiously snorting and eagerly prancing under Him, His raised sword casting brilliant reflections in the bright sunshine, as He gives the order: ‘Christian soldiers, onward into battle march!’ The sword comes down in an outstretched, forward motion, the white charger with reins finally released, tosses its head, snorts gladly and bounds ahead with mane flying… and all true believers, just as eagerly, march forward with battle cries ringing out in the morning air! Ah mih people, I only wish this was as true and easy as writing it was. But unfortunately it isn’t, for Christians are certainly not unified. That’s why Bruh Paul emphasized unity in Christ in our Bit. ‘Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.’ Unity of purpose is of the ultimate importance in any walk of life Friends, even more so in our walk with Christ. For as Bruh Paul continues: ‘That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Rom.15:6) Sadly though people, down through the ages Christ’s Church has become so divided and splintered, oftimes over petty, selfish stuff, that now the divisions are too numerous to count and too separated and diversified to mount a centralized fight. And if there’s no unity amongst Christ’s soldiers, then we’ll never defeat the enemy, who are quite unified in their evil, ungodly works. Jesus was very aware of this principle, for when the Jewish leaders accused Him of casting out demons in the name of Satan, He candidly replied: ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against it self, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.’ (Mark 3:23-26) Eternal words of wisdom from the Master, my people! That principle also applies to the Church of Christ. No wonder the enemy is currently winning the war, for they have successfully introduced the battle option of divide and conquer. And now that the Church is splintered in many small groups, it’s much easier to either secretly infiltrate them and stir up more dissension, or simply run them over with superior numbers and better prepared forces. Oh fellow believers, we’re existing in sad, troubled and confused times, where the only wise option is Jesus. But our LOVE Revolution will not work if all the followers of Christ don’t unite and make it a large and powerful force, comparable to the enemy’s. Consequently, I’m imploring us today, above all else, to seek unity among the body of Christ. And I’ll let Bruh Paul take us home with his challenge to the Corinthians, who were having similar problems with divisions in their church. ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing (have a uniform testimony), and that there be no divisions (dissensions, schisms) among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.’ (1 Cor.1:10) I can’t say it any better than that Friends. It’s now up to each one of us to do whatever we can to bring about unity in Christ’s followers. More on this tomorrow, if the breath of life still blows in us. Till then, let’s sincerely LOVE our God, conscientiously LIVE our Faith, and faithfully SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…unity… the power that makes the whole greater than the mere sum of the parts…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 March 2012 Titus 1:16‏

18 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Titus 1:16:       They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Ah Friends, the wonderful weekend weather continues, though all the frivolity of St. Paddy’s Day is over. Time to get back to the Lenten austerity. ‘Bah humbug!’ I hear some of you unwisely declare. Anyway, I sure hope that many believers in the northern climes, who used the cold temps as an excuse for not going to church, will go now, since that excuse no longer holds water. (smile) But knowing this generation, many of us will find some other excuse for not going. Friends, please remember the adages; ‘one hand washes the other, and it takes two to tango,’ meaning that we can’t live this life successfully by ourselves, and if we reject God for spurious reasons, He will not respond favourably to us in our time of need. And don’t forget also, that though God LOVES us a whole heap, He doesn’t really need us, being omnipotent and all that He is, but we definitely and desperately need Him, for without Him, we are nothing. That means WE have to go to Him, because OUR future depends on Him, not vice versa. Consequently, we have to be very careful with whom we associate and listen to, since there are so many false prophets and teachers in this evil, ungodly world just waiting to lead us astray from the truth of God’s Word.  Our Bit says it nicely: ‘They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (disqualified).’ Yes Friends, con artists abound out there, seeking to trick us out of everything we have. And though they might get our earthly possessions, we certainly can’t allow them to trick us out of salvation and everlasting life; eternal separation from Jesus! No sir! For that is indeed true death!  And the only way to avoid such a calamity is by being able to pick out the wolves in disguise from the flock of sheep wandering around. Now yesterday we looked at some scripture dealing with the first part of our Bit, ‘They profess that they know God.’ Today, let’s move on to the next part; ‘but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.’ And these awesome verses from Bruh Paul to Timothy admirably capture the essence and spirit of the false teacher. ‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous (money lovers), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers (irreconcilable), false accusers (slanderers), incontinent (without self-control), fierce (brutal), despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady (reckless), high-minded (haughty), lovers of pleasures, more than (rather than) LOVERS of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (mere religion without a true spiritual life): from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive (prey upon) silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts (especially susceptible to false teachers), ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (seeking some esoteric quest for truth apart from God’s Word). Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, (the two magicians in Pharaoh’s court, who tried to duplicate Moses’ miracles – Ex.7:11, 9:11), so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate (disapproved) concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs (the magicians) also was.’ (2 Tim.3:2-9) Oh Friends, yuh sure Bruh Paul didn’t write that recently, instead of almost two thousand years ago, for it’s the perfect description of our modern world! Every evil and ungodly trait he mentions there is now glorified in our world, and it’s become increasingly difficult to pick out the wolves from the sheep for their disguises are so authentic. That’s why each believer has to delve into the Word themselves; read, study, meditate on it and ask questions of trustworthy followers, then plant the truth of God in their hearts, minds and souls, so that when the false teachers and prophets come with their lies and slants, you’ll be able to distinguish them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Oh my brethren, of all the generations of mankind, this one most desperately needs to know the truth of God’s Word, and unfortunately are not getting taught it. We as parents and leaders of the church have sadly fallen down on our responsibility to teach the generation that comes after us, and now they are solidly under Beelzebub’s thumb, heading for death and damnation in Hades! However, as we all know, while there is life there is hope, but we don’t know how much life is left, so please, let’s begin IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT NOW, to try and teach them the Word before it’s too late. We talk plenty about spreading the Word all over the world, but remember Charity, LOVE, begins at home, so let’s make sure we teach the Word at home first nuh. Only then will be ready to go unto the outside world. Much LOVE!…for the children’s sake…please teach them to pray…from an early age…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 March 2012 Titus 1:16

17 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Titus 1:16.    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

 HAPPY  ST. PATRICK’S  DAY

Well ‘ello dere me Irish Friends! A Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you and yours! No matter that only my name is Irish, and I’ve never set foot on the Emerald Isle. (smile) But St. Paddy’s Day was always a special day in T&T during my youth, for it was the only day in Lent that you were allowed to party and hear calypsos on the radio. That means we always looked forward to that jubilant break in the middle of a rather austere Lenten season practiced back then. Hope you have a fine day celebrating the Patron Saint of Ireland, with all your green stuff, and enjoy your parades and whatnot. But please remember to be very careful, and drunk or sober, mind your business, for the evil one and his associates are always lurking around these celebrations hoping to entice us into their dark lairs of lust, debauchery and ungodliness. Those workers of iniquity walk around in sheep’s clothing, but on the inside they are really ravenous, voracious wolves disguised as sheep, and they can do untold damage to us and Christ’s Church, if we allow them access to our inner beings. Like Bruh Paul told Titus in our Bit, way back when: ‘They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (disqualified).’ And that’s the living truth Friends! It’s amazing how plenty time passes in this world, but so many things remain the same, for we also have lots of that type of people circulating in our world, just like Bruh Paul’s day. And unfortunately they might be even more treacherous and devious today with all the new psychological warfare and technology. As Bruh Paul opens this warning passage on false teachers: ‘For there are many unruly (insubordinate) and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake (dishonest gains).’ (Titus 1:10-11) Yes Friends, a lot of fraudsters are running around the globe teaching false and/or subversive stuff solely for dishonest gain, whether it be power, money or some other earthly favour.  In this highly modernized world, all sorts of theories abound, some of which do sound good enough to be true, and the dishonest purveyors of these theories or slants, all claim that they are God driven; ‘they profess they know God.’ But listen to Jesus on the subject: ‘Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils (demons)? and in thy name done many wonderful works (miracles)? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness).’ (Matt.7:20-23) Truly my people, all that glitters is not gold, likewise all that sounds like truth is not necessarily true, neither are all those who claim to preach God’s Word, true believers. And we certainly don’t want to get involved with that kind, for when Jesus comes again in glory, we’ll sadly discover that we’re on the outside with Lucifer and his evil workers, looking in at the good life taking place in Jesus’ domain. That would certainly be disastrous on all counts! And Jesus was so serious about that message, He reiterated it in the parable of the ten virgins. Re the foolish ones who did not bring extra oil to the wedding for their lamps, and weren’t there when the bridegroom finally arrived and shut his door. ‘Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt.25:11-13) It’s a rough life this Friends, but we just have to be very careful and concentrate on the eternal things of Jesus, rather than the exhaustible and temporal things of this evil world, for everybody has some wonderful scheme to offer us. Note the high amount of white-collar fraud that’s currently prevalent. And that’s because we’re greedy and thus easily taken in. The con artists feed on that undesirable trait of our character.  How can someone offer us 10 or 15% interest on our money, when the big moneyed people can barely get 5%, if so much? If it sounds too good to be true, then most likely it is a fraudulent deal. The same goes for those claiming to preach the Word. Now let’s end with some appropriate words from 1 John, re tests of true knowledge: ‘And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the LOVE of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.’ (1 John 2:3-6) More on this tomorrow, if we’re still alive and kicking. Till then, please be careful of those evil wolves masquerading as sheep. Stay close to Jesus, that’s where it’s safest! Much LOVE!…things that are eye-catching and ear-pleasing…are not always what they seem to be…often they are just façades for evil…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 March 2012 Galatians 6:10‏

16 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  Galatians 6:10.    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
 

Aye mih people, once again it’s Friday, and the unseasonable warm weather continues! And it’s supposed to last all through the weekend, so you can imagine the confusion in the northern climes! The barbeques and bikes are already out, now the gatherings on the back porch and decks will certainly intensify. But let us not get too carried away, for the Lord is still in control, and who knows what His agenda is like for next week. The same way we’re having beautiful weather this week, we can have lousy times next week. However, to keep things in the right perspective for this unexpected warm weekend, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much enthusiasm as we wind down the workweek. ‘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.’ Yes Friends, we need to live a well-balanced life, and the only way to do so successfully is by walking hand in hand with Jesus on this earthly journey. The same thing applies to our Bit: ‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ We can’t do that unless the Spirit of Jesus is constantly working in our lives. Bruh Paul’s telling the Galatians, and us too, that we need to seize every opportunity to do good to others, ‘for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ (Gal.6:7b) And we know that’s gospel! Meanwhile, in Proverbs, Cousin Sol says it thus: ‘Withhold not good from them to whom it is due (the owners), when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.’ (Prov.3:27-28) That basically means that we must help our needy neighbours and not lie to them, saying we can’t or don’t have, when we very well have and can do what is required of us. Consequently, we are to do good to everyone who crosses our path. As Bruh Paul told Titus about the basis of the Christian ethic: ‘That being justified (declared righteous) by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.’ (Titus 3:7-8) And per the scholars on Chapter 6; Applications of new principles: ‘Contextually, doing good refers to the ministry of restoration (v.1), bearing one another’s burdens (v.2), supporting teachers (v.6), sowing to (living in accord with the leading of) the Spirit (v.8), and general perseverance (v.9). Believers are to minister first unto them who are of the household of faith (Christians), and second, to the rest of the world.’ Just like Bruh Paul declared to the Romans, re the service of LOVE to all: ‘Rejoicing in hope; patient (persevering) in tribulation; continuing instant (steadfastly) in prayer; Distributing to the necessity (needs) of saints (believers); given to hospitality.’ (Rom.12:12-13) However Friends, though we ought to take care of fellow believers first, the long and short of the story is that Christians ought always to do good, regardless of whom we’re doing it to. Let’s remember these awesome words of wisdom and write them indelibly in our hearts, souls and minds. ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (do not lose heart).’ (Gal.6:9) Oh my people, unfortunately our world right now isn’t taken with the idea of doing good. To oneself, yes, but not to others, for we live in a world that glorifies evil and selfishness. And if it is to improve, it’s Christ’s followers, we the believers who will have to bring about that improvement. But sadly, too many of us are also caught up in the selfishness that permeates our society, looking mainly to the things of the earth, rather than to the things of heaven, as Jesus desires. I implore us today, to examine ourselves, and with God’s help, remove any selfishness we find there, because if we don’t remove it, it will eventually, if it hasn’t already, become a stumbling block between you and Jesus. And that’s not a very wise thing to let happen. So let’s try and be kind and generous to all we meet, just like our heavenly Father is kind to us. That’s the only way the LOVE Revolution is going to grow and be successful! Much LOVE!…selfishness breeds selfishness…and goodness breeds goodness…the simple law of sowing and reaping…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 March 2012 Psalm 41:13‏

15 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 Psalm 41:13.    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Oh Friends, it didn’t take long for the crazies to come out of the woodwork; the fast, loud cars and loud music, the motor bikes, and the skimpy clothing. As though summer’s really here. But I guess when the weather inhibits one from doing those outdoor things for long periods of time, then the first, or any opportunity at all, is not to be disregarded. And you certainly won’t hear me complaining about the beautiful weather, cause it’s what my arthritic bones need. Now we’re only missing the sea and sand. (smile) And I’m not worried about that either, because I know in God’s good time, I will certainly get that too. I even went for a walk yesterday afternoon on my wonky knees. Wow! Wonders never cease, but daily they increase! And Friends, if we sit down and really look at out lives, we’ll find that that is the gospel truth! With each passing day the Lord does more wondrous things in our lives. For that, let’s give Him some thanks and praise: ‘Oh Lord God Jehovah, we the undeserving children of men, do praise and glorify Your Holy Name, and give You much thanks for looking after our earthly needs. We pray that we will keep on being faithful to You, as You are to us, and that our communion with the Holy Trinity will continue right through to eternity. On the precious, spilt blood of Jesus, Your wonderful Son and our Saviour we pray this. Amen!’ Yes Friends, if the Lord wasn’t looking after us, imagine how much more difficult our circumstances would be. That’s why it’s so important for us to stay under the protective umbrella of His LOVING-kindness, His mercy and forgiveness, and at all and any appropriate time give Him the thanks and praise for which He is eminently worthy. Praise like our Bit staunchly proclaims: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.’ Please note the two Amens. That shows how truly heartfelt Bruh David’s blessing is. Those words eventually become a doxology; a church formula for praising God. The psalm itself is about abuse and assurance: ‘Blessed is he that considereth the poor (helpless, powerless): the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing (sick bed): thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness (restore him in his sick bed).’ (Ps.41:1-3) Oh my people, how can we not be eternally grateful to a Deity who treats us with such tender mercies eh? And Cousin Sol follows in Bruh David’s footsteps in Psalm 72, The reign of the righteous king, one of only two Psalms he wrote. The other is Psalm 127. In Psalm 72, Cousin Sol joyfully declares: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.’ (Ps.72:18-19) Now those two men certainly had lots to be thankful for, just like we have, and they voiced their pleasure and their trust in the God of their fathers publicly and vociferously! Oh Friends, are we doing that too? Are we giving our great and gracious God public and enthusiastic thanks for all His wondrous works on our behalf? I sure hope so, else we’d be short-changing our wonderful Lord. And that’s one thing we never want to do, because if He ever stops blessing us, then ‘crapaud will truly smoke we pipe;’ much more calamity will certainly befall us. Ethan the Ezrahite, in Psalm 89, his great contemplation on God’s sure promises to Bruh David, also invokes the blessing on God at the end. ‘Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.’ (Ps.89:52) Note again, not one, but two Amens. Then in Psalm 106, Israel sins against God’s LOVE, the psalmist ends with the same message: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. (Hallelujah).’ (Ps.106:48) And most fittingly, the last Psalm, #150, is one that encourages praise, and ends with a slightly different but still reverent form of the doxology: ‘Praise ye the Lord (sing Hallelujah). Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness…Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (sing Hallelujah).’ (Ps.150:1-2, 6) Oh Friends, right in that last, simple verse is the eternal hope for our future. Our future depends entirely on our praise, thanks, reverence, glorification, worship, appreciation and obedience to our God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I cannot stress enough the importance of doing those things which please Him. So today, please, let’s all take some extra and some special time, especially in this Lenten Season, to show God that we really and truly do LOVE and appreciate Him. It’s the least we can do, in return for all that He’s done, and is still doing for us. Much LOVE!…all our God asks of us…is true reverence and undying LOVE…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 March 2012 Proverbs 15:21

14 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 15:21.   Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Oh Friends, it’s supposed to be another beautiful summer’s day in my area; (smile) with temps in the mid teens again. Wow! The whole week is supposed to be like that. It’s nice, but a little intimidating though, because who knows what we’ll have next week or later on, when it should really be springtime. However, there’s no need to worry, whatever happens we’ll handle it with Jesus’ help. And all God’s people shouted, a rousing ‘Amen!’ Now here are some of the things Jesus knows about us, from Anne Graham Lotz’s book, – Jesus is my…Everything: ‘Jesus knows: the small secrets of your heart, The unspoken dreams of your imagination, The unrevealed thoughts of your mind, The emotional shards of your feelings, The paralyzing fears for your future, The bitter resentments of your past, The joys and heartaches, The pleasures and pain, The successes and failures, The honours and humiliations, The deeds and the doubts. He knows all about you, inside and out, past, present and future.’ Yes Friends, there’s nothing that Jesus doesn’t know about us! That’s why we have to pay serious attention to our Bit: ‘Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom (discernment): but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.’ If we want to be good associates of Jesus, we can’t afford to find joy in foolish things. We need to have proper discernment about what He requires of us. And if we don’t have it, then we sincerely ask for it. As James says: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he will receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8) Ah mih people, it’s indeed a sad situation in which we currently find ourselves, where those who lack true wisdom, true discernment are ruling the world, and apparently having great joy doing so. No wonder God’s great creation is so embattled and embittered! Hear Cousin Sol in an earlier chapter on the wise and foolish contrasted: ‘It is as sport to a fool to do mischief (evil): but a man of understanding hath wisdom.’ (Prov.10:23) No doubt about that Friends! And as believers, we’re all supposed to actively and diligently cultivate things like wisdom, understanding, knowledge and discernment through sincere communication with our heavenly Father, from whom these things come, and who as James just said, willing gives to all who ask sincerely. For remember that ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou doest embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver thee.’ (Prov.4:7-9) And it all begins my brethren by reverencing Almighty God! Thus when we acquire wisdom and understanding we’ll walk uprightly in God’s ways and not foolishly, like the workers of iniquity, who take joy in the ways of evil. As Bruh Paul said to the Ephesians: ‘See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time (making the most of every opportunity), because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be (continually) filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (doing what pleases Him).’ (Eph.5:15-21) Yes my people, those are the things believers ought to engage in. But unfortunately we’re not doing as much of them, or to as high a degree as we should. Consequently, our world is falling apart right before our very eyes. Let us therefore try to upgrade or increase those things which bring us wisdom and closeness to God, and will also further the LOVE Revolution that’s currently lighting up our world, and slowly but surely turning it around. Oh Friends, please do your best to encourage the LOVE Revolution which will bring our world back to faith, hope, LOVE, trust, true and faithful surrender to Jesus and Almighty God, where it’s supposed to be! Much LOVE!…in the words of the old song…only LOVE can break a heart…but by the same token…only LOVE can mend it again…for LOVE is the most overwhelming emotion in existence…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 March 2012 Proverbs 17:17‏

13 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 17:17.    A friend LOVETH at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
 
Oh Friends, our God is into His mysterious workings with me today. Earlier on, I was reading my Bible, the one I got from my mother, and I happened to come across this bookmark that asked the age old but very important question ‘What is a Friend? Here’s the answer it provides: ‘A friend is someone very dear who shares your hopes and dreams, who shows you that the grayest day is brighter than it seems, A friend will bring you happiness that lasts a lifetime through – I know, for that’s the kind of friend I found when I met you.’ I had a Selah moment – then excitedly said to myself, ‘But that’s Jesus they’re talking about!’ For that’s the kind of friendship He brings to our lives when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour! And believe me, the words to that old but blessed and BELOVED Hymn ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus,’ immediately rose up in my soul. I couldn’t remember all the words at the time, so I checked them out just now, and here they are: ‘What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Ev’rything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour, still our refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.’ Oh my people, who could want for a better Friend than Jesus eh; the most powerful Being in existence, Master of all He surveys, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator and Controller of the universe and all therein, yet humble and LOVING enough to befriend the worthless and ungrateful children of men? How could it not be a wonder and a blessing to associate with such a magnificent and majestic Being! He fulfills the words of our Bit to the nth degree: ‘A friend LOVETH at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.’ The scholars claim: ‘A true friend has unquenchable LOVE that is not diminished by adversity.’ And that’s the gospel truth people! It brings to mind the human friendship of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, when their men folk die in a foreign land and Naomi plans to return to her people and tells Ruth to go back to her own. ‘And Ruth said, Entreat (urge) me not to leave thee, or to return (turn back) from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. When she (Naomi) saw that she (Ruth) was steadfastly minded (determined) to go with her, then she (Naomi) left speaking unto her (didn’t try to dissuade her any more).’ (Ruth 1:16-18) Now that’s a wonderful illustration of friendship! And for that ‘stick-to-itiveness’, the Lord rewarded her with being the great grandmother of Bruh David, a member of the line from whom Jesus was descended. Wow! Doesn’t our God write wonderful scripts! Oh fellow believers, though Jesus is Lord and Master of ALL, He is still capable of being a Friend; the ‘BESTEST’ Friend ever, as the young people would say! Please also look to Him as such, and whenever you need a friend to talk to, or just to sit quietly with, please turn to Him, for there’s NO ONE like Him; a Friend in need and a Friend in deed, One who promises never to leave or forsake you, to help you bear all your burdens, give you salvation and eternal life. And you can be sure He’ll never bad talk you behind your back or spread all your heartfelt secrets abroad, as so many supposed human friends do. (smile) Yes my brethren, Jesus is the Friend of all Friends! Please turn to Him in your time of need, and you’ll be surprised at the awesome friendship you’ll develop, and quickly too, once you bare your heart to Him. And this is not hearsay people, but personal experience. I’m reminded of last summer when I was sick and we’d sit down on my front porch during the midnight hours and reason. And yuh know what, while I sat on the chair on the porch, Jesus would always sit on the step below me. That’s how humble He is in His friendships! So please turn to Jesus RIGHT NOW if you need a faithful friend, and you’ll never experience one moment of regret. I guarantee you that! One note of caution here. Not because Jesus is all powerful and otherwise, means that being His friend will automatically make life easy for you, and you’ll just sail through it without a problem. On the contrary, you can be sure that he’ll always tell you like it is. He won’t mince words and only tell you what you want to hear. If you’re wrong, He’ll so inform you, but in His masterful, non-demeaning, non-judgemental way, with the utmost of care, consideration and LOVE. Just like our earthly friends sometimes need to give us a blast to make us smarten up, Jesus will do the same thing, just in a less controversial and belittling manner. Oh my people, I can’t begin to tell you the privileges, benefits, blessings, etc. etc. that comes from having Jesus as your personal ‘BESTEST’ Friend! You have to experience it to really understand the peace, calm, warmth, joy and understanding He brings into our lives, when we allow Him to walk this rugged earthly journey with us! Trust me, it’s real, and it’s beautiful! I wouldn’t lie to you on something as important as this. Till next time then, please walk with Jesus beside you, every step of the way. That’s the only way to successfully navigate this earthly journey. Much LOVE!…looking for a real true Friend…then try Jesus…He’s undoubtedly the ‘BESTEST’ there is…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 March 2012 Obadiah 1:4‏

12 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  Obadiah 1:4  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.

Oh my fellow brethren in Christ, it’s Monday! The call to arms has already sounded, and our brilliant Field Marshall, Jesus, is already out surveying the battlefield, planning his strategy. You know He gets up early every morning to commune with the Father before tackling the day’s tasks. We can’t afford to be resting on our laurels, for while we’re doing that, the enemy is out there making hay in the sunshine. (smile) So let’s get up and get a move on. But first, let’s take a moment ourselves to commune with the Father by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. As one, heaven-reaching voice 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 now Friends, with the Holy Spirit boldly coursing through us, and being safely ensconced in our spiritual armour, let’s hit the battlefield and show the evil enemy the might and power of Jesus and His righteous, upstanding soldiers, fearlessly singing: ‘Onward Christian soldiers, marching unto war, with the Cross of Jesus, going on before!’ And when we meet the brazen and bumptious enemy, please let them know that: ‘The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?’ (Obad.1:3) But they boldface eh! Who shall bring them down? Well the answer is in our Bit: ‘Though thou exalt thyself as (high as) the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.’ And to that, all God’s people shouted a deafening ‘Amen!’ Yes my people, our God will eventually humble all those who arrogantly and proudly exalt themselves, without taking His majesty into consideration! Obadiah’s prophecy was against Edom, the Edomites, descendants of Esau, who, according to the scholars, lived in a mountainous desert area of the Promised Land, and who felt they were safe and secure because of their mountain stronghold. They became prosperous by taxing caravans that passed through their territory. Apparently they helped Nebuchadrezzar invade Judah (Lam.4:21-22) and also expanded their own land into Judah, (Jacob’s descendants) forming the land of Idumea, and were then mostly known as Idumeans, but between wars, political machinations, and the coming of the Roman Empire, they eventually disappeared from history. Thus was the prophecy of Obadiah fulfilled on them, and also that of Jeremiah: ‘For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen (nations), and despised among men. Thy terribleness (fierceness) hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make they nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord. Also Edom shall be a desolation (an astonishment): everyone that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.’ (Jer.49:15-18) Oh Friends, when the Lord’s out to get you, it’s impossible to escape! That’s why our current ungodliness and sinful behaviour is a very vexing and truly foolish show of pride, idolatry and earthly lusts, the things which the Lord God Jehovah most detests, because they don’t give Him His proper reverence and respect.  Remember His first commandments were to not have any other gods but Him, also not to make graven images of anything on earth, in heaven or the sea, nor bow down to them. But sadly, that’s what we’re doing right now; worshipping earthly treasures, placing them before Him. In fact we’re doing our best to get rid of Him altogether from our society. And do we expect to really live happily ever after by doing that? Oh Friends, that’s just Lucifer and his evil associates poisoning our minds against the Most High God, creator and ruler of the universe. It’s a most unwise decision, for if we read the Good Book we’ll see that every society which tried to get rid of Him or didn’t hold Him in proper reverence was eventually punished. What’s it going to take for us to wake up to that reality eh? We’re already being bombarded by all kinds of unusual calamities; wars and strife all over the world, financial and economic disasters, climate irregularities, poverty, sickness, oppression, homelessness, like we haven’t seen in ages, and with our world at the height of its evolution too. What explains it all? Only one thing Friends: disobedience to God’s Word. Please my people, we’ve tried all the man made solutions, and none have worked, they’ve only made matters worse. So let’s smarten up nuh, let’s turn back to the God of our fathers, it’s the only thing left for us to try. As I keep pleading, for our children’s sake let’s repent of our misdeeds and ask the Lord for forgiveness. You know He’ll be only too glad to comply, if we come to Him with truly repentant hearts, for He is indeed a God of compassion and mercy. That’s the only true wisdom of the ages my people! Let’s not go down in history as the generation that lost it all. Much LOVE!…though all seems lost…give God a chance…and He will surely save the day…

 

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