SCRIP-BITS

Job 20:8.    He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

Job 20:8.    He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! Black Friday! The Friday after thanksgiving in the U.S. Hn! The biggest shopping day in the nation, where people line up and sleep in parking lots so they can rush into the stores when they open late at night or early in the morning. What madness! What sadness! It all comes right back down to our ungodly desire and lust for the things of the world. The merchants trade on that aspect of our lives and lower prices on a few items, using terms like door crashers to entice us, and have us literally crashing the doors, rushing madly, pushing and trampling others just to get in there and possibly save a few dollars. Oh Friends, is it worth it? I don’t think so, especially when you finally get in the store and realize that those in front of you have already gobbled up all the best sales items. The merchants aren’t stupid, they only put out a handful of those sale items thinking that once we get in there we’ll spend our money anyway. How many thousand dollar T.V’s are they going to put out for three or four hundred dollars eh? Not too many. I doubt that if the church or any God based organization was selling cheap stuff, or even giving it away, there would be any line ups, much less the crazy behaviour that our southern neighbours exhibit at this time. Sadly though, a lot of Canadians make the long trek to the U.S for this madness, ostensibly to buy cheaper stuff. But between the time, the distance, the hassle two ways at the border, having to pay duty on most things unless you’ve been away for at least a week, the foreign currency exchange, plus gas and the wear and tear on your vehicle, it certainly doesn’t add up to any savings in my mind. And as the old saying goes, ‘monkey see, monkey do.’ The Canadian merchants are now trying to establish a Black Friday tradition so that people will spend their money up here. Oh Friends, we live in such a crazy world, based  unfortunately on the possession, accumulation and abundance of things, a lot of them useless, and all of them facing eventual, rot, rust, malfunction and destruction. Anyway, in some places people are still thanking God that it’s Friday, and merely celebrating the end of the workweek, not killing themselves to buy stuff most can’t really afford. To counteract this malady, let’s chant our Friday Chant that will give us the true response and reason for the weekend. In one voice 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.’ And fortunately Friends, our Bit today is also a good reminder of what happens when we don’t follow the Lord. This is Zophar, Job’s friend talking about the plight of the wicked. ‘He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.’ Yes my people, that’s what’s going to happen to evil men. And furthermore: ‘The eye which also saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place anymore behold him.’ (Job 20:9) So to all intents and purposes the wicked will disappear from sight. As Asaph declares in Psalm 73, the mystery of prosperous wickedness, he was at first envious of their good fortune: ‘But as for me, my feet were almost gone (I almost stumbled); my steps had well-nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish (boastful), when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands (pangs or pains) in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men: neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain (serves as a necklace); violence covereth them as a garment.’ (Ps.73:2-6) But finally he understood: ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.’ (Ps.73:17-20) Ah mih people, the wicked surely seem prosperous here on earth, but please don’t envy them their earthly wealth, possessions and power, because they will all meet a sad end. Now let’s go home with some appropriate words from Psalm 90, from the pen of Moses who knew God and His workings better than most. ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withered.’ (Ps.90:2-6) Oh my people, I’m sure none of us want to suffer the ghastly fate that’s stored up for the wicked, so please let’s concentrate on being righteous nuh, and that means obeying God, walking in His will for us. It’s the only sane and sensible option available. Please take it. More on this tomorrow, God willing. Till then, Much LOVE!…to the wicked…comes eternal separation from God…to the righteous…eternal life with Jesus…your choice…
 

Matthew 26:27.    And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it.
                                        HAPPY  THANKSGIVING  U.S OF A!

Oh Friends, it’s Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Possibly the biggest day of celebration on their calendar, for unlike things like Christmas, everybody celebrates Thanksgiving. Not to rain on their parade though, I wonder how much true thanksgiving will really be offered today? I suspect not as much as usual, for many people will forego reading their Bibles, being too busy preparing for the big feasts and parties thereafter. And though it’s mete and right to celebrate, I believe we put too much emphasis on the celebrating, rather than on the giving of real thanks. Anyway, thanksgiving comes from a spirit of gratitude, and according to Dr. Schuller: ‘The attitude of gratitude gives you surviving power, which means you will not quit.’ Quite true my people! When you are grateful for whatever you have, be it a lot, a little, or in between, you keep believing that better will come, and therefore you keep on keeping on with hope and faith. Dr. Schuller also shares an enlightening story about one harvest when he was a boy on his father’s Iowa farm. It was a terrible harvest. Instead of reaping a hundred wagonloads of corn, his father reaped only a half full wagonload. Mama Mia! But here was his reaction. He said: ‘I thank you God, that I have lost nothing. For I have regained the seed I planted in the springtime.’ Hn! He had used a half wagon of seed for planting and had gotten back a half wagon. So he felt that he’d lost nothing, but the other farmers in the same disastrous situation, whined and complained, because ‘they counted their losses by what they hope they could have harvested.’ Dr. Schuller remembers his father saying: ‘You can never count up the might-have-beens or you will be defeated.’ And that’s gospel mih people! But we all still do it, though it’s best for us to concentrate on what we have left, rather than what we lost. This brings us to our Bit: ‘And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.’ Yes Friends, a very simple, but most meaningful gesture on Jesus’ part. This First Communion happened during what we term The Last Supper. Jesus first took bread, blessed it, then gave it to the disciples saying: ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ (Matt.26:26) Then He took the cup of wine and after giving thanks… Please note that though Jesus was God incarnate, He still showed respect and reverence for His heavenly Father by giving Him thanks for the wine they were to drink, acting as a token of His soon to be shed blood. ‘For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.’ (Matt.26:28) Oh Friends, we desperately need to remember that the giving of thanks to Almighty God is a most important part of our Christian heritage and duty. There are also many passages of scripture that attempt to drive home this message to us, but too often they fall on deaf ears, and instead of being thankful for what we have, we bemoan the lack of what we don’t have. Let’s look at a few of these passages and see if they can make some headway in our lives this Thanksgiving Day. And what better words to start with, than those of Psalm 95; a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to our great God. ‘O come let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms (songs). For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.’ (Ps.95:1-3) Bruh Paul was also a great example of one who gave thanks for all sorts of things. He wanted it to be a trait of the believer. ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) Then, in talking about death’s sting being abolished, he declares: ‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor.15:57) Meanwhile, in Acts, as a prisoner on his way to Rome, some brethren came to greet him along the way. ‘And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as the Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns (Inns): whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.’ (Acts 28:15) And then there’s this, one of his most famous pronouncements, re rejoicing in the Lord. ‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil.3:6-7) Oh Friends, this life is all about giving thanks to our Creator, Provider, Protector and great God, for all the wonderful blessings He’s bestowed on us down through the ages and will continue to do in the future, once we abide by His will. Please, let’s make it a predominant factor in our lives, for in the long run it will certainly bring us great joy and many rewards. Much LOVE!…giving thanks to Almighty God…ought to come naturally…to a believer’s heart, soul, mouth and mind…

Hebrews 13:16.    But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
 
Oh Friends, it’s shaping up to be a dark, wet, dreary day in my area. We might not even see the sun. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there, because the sun’s always there. It’s just that sometimes it’s hidden behind a series of dark clouds. The sun’s like our wonderful God; always there, for He promised to never leave or forsake us and we know that He keeps all His promises. Sometimes though, when we’re going through rough, dark periods, it seems like God isn’t around. Don’t be fooled by outward appearances though Friends, for our situations are often like the woman who cried out to God, asking where He was during her times of trouble, for when she looked back at the sands of time, in those dark, despairing days, she only saw one set of footprints. But the Lord calmly and sweetly informed her: ‘My child, that’s when I carried you.’ Yes Friends, often in our most perilous moments, it’s the Lord who’s carrying us on His strong shoulders because we simply cannot make it in our own strength. So don’t think because you can’t see, sense or feel our God that He isn’t right there by our side, cause He’s always present and accounted for, just like He so faithfully promised. He might just be too busy carrying us. That means words like those shared in our Bit should always be uppermost in our minds. ‘But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ And now my people, we’ll just check out some scripture that shows the importance of doing good and sharing, which certainly helped the early church get through the rough times, and hopefully will encourage us to do the same, for Christ’s Church is still hurting today. Let’s begin in Acts 11, when some prophets from Jerusalem came to visit Bruh Paul and Barnabas in Antioch, where they were then residing. One prophet, Agabus, stood up ‘and signified (showed) by the Spirit that there would be great dearth (famine) throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.’ (Acts 11:28-30) Then in Romans 12, where Bruh Paul talks about the service of LOVE to all, he solemnly declares: ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good…Distributing to the necessity (needs) of saints; given to hospitality.’ (Rom.12:9,13) Yes mih breddren, LOVE does mean sharing and being hospitable. As Hebrews 13 warns us: ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ (Heb.13:2) That’s what happened to Lot in Genesis 19:1. Now turn to 2 Corinthians 9, in which Bruh Paul reminds them that God LOVES a cheerful giver. Having told then that God will supply all their needs in righteousness, which will cause them to be thankful to Him, he then declares: ‘For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want (needs) of the saints, but us abundant (abounding) also by many thanksgivings unto God. While by the experiment (proof) of this ministration (ministry) they glorify God for your professed subjection (the obedience of your confession) into the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution (sharing) unto them, and unto all men.’ (2 Cor.9:12-13) Meanwhile in Galatians 2, having gone up to Jerusalem 14 years later and making peace with the disciples there, they decided that those at Jerusalem should preach to the Jews while Bruh Paul and Barnabas taught the Gentiles: ‘Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was froward (eager) to do.’ (Gal.2:10) And finally Friends, as we endeavour to do whenever possible, we’ll close with the telling words of Jesus on the subject. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16) Now if those scriptures don’t encourage us to rise up and show our true Christian colours, I don’t know what will. In any case, let’s, like the excellent believers in Christ that we are, go forth and do good and share God’s blessings with others, so that He may be glorified. Much LOVE!…to truly LOVE God…is to be thankful…caring…and sharing…from a willing heart…
 

Hebrews 13:16.     But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
 
Oh Friends, here comes that bright and ever-faithful sun, rising majestically over the horizon, as it has done every day for eons. And just like the sun’s been rising everyday, so too have wonderful blessings and mercies come from the Lord God Jehovah, every single day from the beginning of time. And we have a most faithful promise from our God, that both will continue to do so, until they are no longer necessary. Wow! What an amazing God we worship! Now here’s a Prayer for Hope by Dr. Schuller that I was guided by the Spirit to share, possibly because our world is so mired in quicksand that a torrent of Hope is all that can keep us from going under. It says: ‘I have a strong, serene feeling that God is planning something good for me today. I cannot explain it, but I have a deep feeling that wonderful things are in store for me. I am expecting God to surprise me with His tender mercy. He will turn my hurts into halos. He is guiding my life in such a way that whatever happens to me will prove to be a beautiful blessing. Thank you, Lord. Amen.’ Oh Friends, how can we not agree with that eh? It’s such an uplifting and comforting prayer, providing a strong sense of Jesus working positively in our lives. However, just as we feel the awesome power of Jesus moving on our behalf, we must remember that His blessings are not for us to enjoy alone, but also to share with others. As our Bit so rightly informs us: ‘But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ And that’s gospel Friends! It’s an indisputable fact, as we all know, but are not always so ready to fulfill. And as we pointed out yesterday, the majority of our problems come from a ridiculous inequity of worldly possessions, which causes outrageous poverty and misfortune to too many of God’s children. Why is that eh, when caring and sharing are the foundation stones on which our Christian faith is built? Look at what happened after Pentecost, (Acts 2) when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with a burning desire, and they mightily preached the gospel in tongues, so some three thousand souls understood and received Christ. The Good Book declares: ‘And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted (distributed) them to all men, as every man (anyone) had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord (mind) in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat (food) with gladness and singleness of heart (simplicity). Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be (were being) saved.’ (Acts 2:44-47) Yes Friends, that was the only way Christ’s Church could have survived back then, and the same also applies today. Obviously we’re not called to sell all our possessions and pool the results, but we are called upon to share what the Lord has blessed us with, and to live good with each other. Please remember that everything belongs to the Lord, and we’re only stewards, managers – not very good ones at that – of whatever He’s seen fit to put in our power. And if you don’t believe me, listen to Bruh Paul’s directive to the church at Corinth. ‘Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order (orders) to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store (lay something aside, and store up), as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings (collections) when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality (gifts) unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet (fitting) that I go also, they shall go with me.’ (1 Cor. 16:1-4) So how come then mih people, that so many believers today are so loathe to share God’s blessings with others who are less fortunate eh? And it’s not like if we share we’ll lose whatever we have. On the contrary, the more we give, the more we will receive. It’s the simple principle of sowing and reaping, which Jesus talked about so much in His earthly ministry. Here is the definitive word on it – from Jesus of course. ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (the fold in a garment used as a pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use, give) withal it shall be measured to you again.’ (Luke 6:38) Oh Friends, it’s a simple lesson; whatever we sow, we’ll reap, and the more we sow, the bigger our harvests will be. And in these very troubling times it’s of the utmost importance that believers lead by personal example, caring and sharing with the poor, downtrodden, sick and hurting, so that Jesus’ ministry will be furthered here on earth, our rewards piled up in heaven, and the Father greatly glorified. That’s our bounden duty, let’s perform it with right hearts and motives nuh. Much LOVE!…a Christian’s duty…to sow plenty good seed…in Jesus’ Name…
 

Hebrews 13:16.    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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…