Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 November 2012 Jeremiah 20:13

26 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 20:13.    Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers.
Ah Friends, please accept my humble apologies for the Bit being this late, but it’s due to circumstances beyond my control. (smile)  I got up this morning to go to church all the way in Scarborough for 7.30 and never got back home until late in the afternoon. It’s the first time I’ve been to this newly built St. Andrews Anglican church since 1972, for my father’s funeral. It’s nice in the modern way, and has a newish sheen to it, but to me it lacks the praise and worship ambience, the cathedral feel, with stained glass windows etc. that the old one had. It was over a hundred years old when it got blown down by Hurricane Flora in 1963. Oh, I met Harry in church. He seems to be feeling better, and thanks you all for your prayers. Obviously after church I had to talk to some people I haven’t seen for forty odd years. Then we went around visiting a couple of other old school chums. And in between all of that the rain just kept intruding. It would rain for a while, then stop, then start again. At one point in church, it was falling so hard that you couldn’t hear the minister. Yesterday afternoon when it began to fall, it fell with an intensity that I haven’t heard in a long while. But it didn’t interrupt my birthday celebrations, which wasn’t anything big anyway; just a couple of family members eating, talking and listening to music on my porch, watching and enjoying the falling rain. I was happy, since I didn’t feel like dressing up and going out in the inclement weather. The only drawback was that I didn’t get my daily dip in Store Bay, doesn’t seem like I’ll get it today either. But that’s okay, because I know it’s right next door, so I can go anytime I want. So as far as I’m concerned, I had a good 65th birthday, being surrounded by family, in the LOVING presence of Almighty God. It couldn’t get any better! That’s why I can agree with Jeremiah when he staunchly declares in our Bit: ‘ Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul (life) of the poor from the hand of evil doers.’ And that’s the truth Friends! Our God is very concerned about the souls of the poor, downtrodden and oppressed. Granted, sometimes it doesn’t seem so in the reality of the real world, but make no mistake, He does care for all His children very much. Listen to Bruh David tell it: ‘And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth (plunders) him.’ (Ps.35:9-10) The only problem Friends, is that there are so many who are not strong enough to resist being plundered by their enemies. And too many of them refuse to put their trust in the Lord God of Hosts, the mightiest General in the universe. But how can He help us, if we don’t put our complete trust in Him eh? We can’t be half and half, or sitting on the fence like too many of us choose to do. The only way the Lord can fight on our behalf is when we totally surrender our pitiful lives to Him. And in Psalm 109, a prayer for punishment of the wicked, Bruh David again proclaims his undying faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ‘Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice, Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame; and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn (judge) his soul.’ (Ps.109:28-31) Ah my people, I know it’s difficult to put our complete trust in a spiritual Being we can’t see. But that’s the whole idea of faith; believing and trusting in a non-mortal power, that we can’t see or touch. And if the mortals that we can see and touch are not willing to take care of us, but rather take pleasure in using and abusing us, where else are you going to turn, but to a higher spiritual Being, who has over the ages proven Himself to be strong, faithful and trustworthy. Take it from me Friends, it’s worth taking the plunge and putting your whole life in the protective arms of the Lord God Jehovah! I can personally vouch for that life changing strategy, for since I’ve done it, my life has become much better. Now it doesn’t mean you won’t have problems and adversity, but then you won’t be always worried and fearful, because you’ll have the peace and comfort that God will handle it, and also work it all out for the best. And we’ll end with some more encouraging words from the psalmist. This comes from Psalm 111, titled, ‘Praise the Lord for His care.’ And that’s something we ought to do more often and with much more intensity. ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of (studied by) all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious; and his righteousness endureth for ever.’ (Ps.111:1-3) And that’s the awesome truth Friends! So please, let’s get ourselves together and concentrate seriously on the great God we serve and worship nuh. You will not, no never regret it. Much LOVE!…Praise Him, praise Him…for He is LOVE…He is LOVE… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 November 2012 1 Chronicles 17:16

24 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

 

1 Chronicles 17:16.     And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
‘Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday dear Randy! Happy Birthday to you!’ Oh Friends, today is the ole fella’s 65th birthday! Glory Hallelujah! And does our God ever move in mysterious ways, for the last birthday I spent in T&T was my 25th, that’s 40 years ago. Wow! And I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my 65th than in beautiful Tobago, the land of my birth. ‘Thank You Lord! You are so wonderful to me, that I don’t know what else to say.’ Yes my brethren, I can only follow in the footsteps of great men of faith, like Bruh David in our Bit, who when the Lord made the covenant with him, was so overwhelmed, that he could do as the Good Book declares: ‘And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto (this far)?’ Now obviously I’m not in Bruh David’s class re the strength of his relationship with the Lord, but I’m trying. And as the scholars so rightly explain of verses 16-27, which we all should read: ‘David again shows himself to be a man of spiritual sensitivity, who was always ready to go to God in prayer, thanksgiving, and praise.’Ah Friends, that’s the hallmark of a true believer: one who’s always ready to humble him/herself before their Maker, regardless of the circumstances. The fact of the matter is that God LOVES ALL His children, but sadly, His children don’t reciprocate that LOVE enough. We’re quick to come to Him when times are tough, when we need something, but in the good times, too many of us forget Him. Bruh David’s actions here are also recounted in 2 Samuel 7; and the words similar to our Bit, in verse 18. But let’s look at two other instances where men of great faith wondered about their worthiness to receive God’s favour and do His work. The first one deals with Jacob, when he was about to reconnect with his brother Esau, years after he’d stolen his birthright. (Gen.27) ‘And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies (LOVING-kindness), and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands (companies).’ (Gen.32:9-10) As we all know, Jacob was an ole crook, a fraud and con artist of the highest order, before the Lord called him to do His bidding. Even in this meeting with his brother Esau, he set up two separate groups of his people, so that if Esau came in foul mood to exact vengeance, one group would be able to escape. But that’s the Lord’s style. He usually calls the most unworthy in man’s eyes to do His work. We see that quite clearly in Moses’ case, an exiled murderer called to lead the Lord’s people to freedom. So when God called him at the burning bush to send him to talk to Pharaoh, his response was one of unworthiness. ‘And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token (sign) unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God on this mountain.’ (Ex.3:11-12) And after that, nobody did any greater work than Moses to glorify God, until Jesus came. Ah Friends, though most of us in the natural feel unworthy to do God’s work, be sure that He knows what He’s doing. And as He told Moses; ‘Certainly I will be with thee…’ the same way He will be with you, for He never gives you a job to do without the requisite tools and His invaluable help. I can vouch for that from personal experienced, for when He floated this Scrip-Bit idea, I laughed and told Him I couldn’t do it because I didn’t know enough scripture. But over the years, He’s certainly shown Himself faithful and has helped me everyday, to grow and to write the Bit. I could never have accomplished the little I’ve done so far in His Name, without His help. Yesterday was a perfect example of that. I went into the mighty metropolis of Scarborough, (smile) to get my Birth Certificate authenticated, so I can renew my T&T Passport, cause I’m not ever giving up my T&T citizenship. Anyway, this was around noon with the temp at 34 C, and I suspect that was in the shade. However, as I entered Scarborough, I found myself in a traffic jam, of all things. But through God’s great mercy, I managed to extricate myself from it and ended up at Fort King George, overlooking the town. Ah my brethren, the old fort not only provided protection from invaders in olden times, and has now been restored to some of its original splendour, but it also provides possibly the best scenic view in all of Tobago; that of Scarborough and its environs, surrounded  by the lovely blue waters in the bay. Then I visited a friend and a family member, whom I hadn’t seen in many years, before going back down town to the Birth Certificate place. Within ten minutes of getting there, I walked out with a new electronically generated one, but had to wait an hour and a half to get an affidavit signed. Then down the hill to the bay road, with more Friday afternoon traffic. Chuh! I guess all over the world Friday afternoons create real traffic problems. By the time we got home, it was almost dark, and the Duchess and I were too tired to walk to Store Bay, so we drove. And don’t worry, I gave my thanks floating cross-like on my back, but this time there was no half moon to be seen in the darkened sky, but instead showers of blessing began falling on my face. Just like playing mas in rain provides a different dimension, so does bathing in the sea in the rain bring a different dimension to the experience. The rain didn’t last long, but it was certainly enough to energize and renew our spirits, so that we could go and hang out later on in Lambeau, with the two wise men, drinking a li’l tequila, to ease the arthritis. (smile) So how can I ever complain eh Friends, when I’ve never done any great works in the Lord’s name, and yet He’s blessing me abundantly? By the way, please pray for one of our Scrip-Bit family, my schooldays chum Harry, who seems to be having some serious heart problems and suffered some complications yesterday. I spoke to him earlier on today, and he was doing better. But a little prayer never hurts, and often helps. That’s it for today Friends. Hopes it makes sense, but as I keep saying, true believers know how to pick sense from nonsense. (smile) Should have been finished long ago, but I’ve had more diversions than normal sitting out here on the porch of my cosy cottage in Store Bay. But since Today is my birthday, I am inclined to be generous. Much LOVE!…three things the Lord LOVES…and expects from His children…sincere prayer, unselfish good deeds, and genuine thanks…   P.S. God just moved in one of His mysterious ways and had my half brother, Haymer, whom I haven’t seen in almost forty years, show up at my cosy cottage. Even more reason to give plenty thanks. Much LOVE!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 November 2012 Proverbs 11:10

23 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 11:10.    When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! The Friday that’s now becoming known as ‘Black Friday’, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving. As usual, the U.S is busy exporting its very commercial culture, and sadly it’s now wreaking havoc in Canada. It’s forcing the local merchants to get into the nonsense too, having sales the same day, trying to match U.S. prices, to stop Canadians form cross border shopping, which takes a lot of money out of our economy. And as usual, it’s moving from the sublime to the ridiculous! What began a few years ago as early Friday morning shopping, has now morphed into late Thursday night shopping. That means you can’t even enjoy your Thanksgiving Day in peace, but have to rush through it, so you can get to the store and line up hours before it opens. And you wouldn’t like to see the wild, animalistic behaviour we put down; rushing and shoving and behaving real foolish. Ah Lord eh! Instead of mankind becoming more sensible and god-like with all the advances and amenities with which we’re blessed, we’re becoming dumber, more stupid and very evil minded. Oh fellow believers, please, let’s pray that this stupid, ignorant, evil behaviour that’s now clouding our world doesn’t go to its logical end – self-destruction – but someday soon we’ll come to our senses and, once and for all time, repudiate Lucifer and his evil doings, and find the God of our fathers once again. Anyway, some people are still joyfully shouting ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Therefore let’s chant our Friday Chant to enable us to put the weekend in its proper perspective. As one vociferous, but harmonious choir 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.’ Yes mih people, that should cause us to tone down the weekend some, bring a modicum of circumspection to our activities. And the ole fella’s still giving plenty thanks, as I continue to write from the porch of my cosy cottage in Store Bay. I didn’t do much yesterday; slept out most of the day. I guess the body was really tired from the steady spate of activities since Monday. But I did get a dip in the salt after the sun set, and again, while floating in cross-like fashion, and looking up at the half moon, gave heartfelt thanks to our wonderful God for all His marvellous blessings. Oh Friends, I could really get addicted to that habit yes! (smile) And to raise the excitement, I bought some curry crab and dumpling with some T&T callaloo thrown in at a food booth at the Bay. Oh my people, was it ever tasty! The ‘nana’ (gravy from the curry crab) tasted like manna from heaven, just like I remembered it! Then late at night, while flipping through the channels  on the t.v. I came across the movie ‘Jesus of Nazareth’; an old Franco Zeferrelli production that hooked me. I hadn’t heard the Word for a few days, and regardless of how much you read it for yourself, hearing it takes you to another dimension, so to speak. It was so moving that at times it brought unbidden tears to my eyes. Surprisingly too, it’s the first movie I’ve watched in ages. Consider it then, another of our God’s mysterious movements. And what does all of that have to do with our Bit? Frankly Friends, I don’t know, because I don’t have a Bit as yet. But soon come, going to seek one now. Oh mih breddren, I’m back, less than two minute later! What a faithful God we serve and worship Friends! And as our Bit declares: ‘When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.’ Now that’s undeniable truth! We don’t have to look very far to see it. In whatever country, province, city, town or village you’re reading this, I know you can connect to it through personal experience. That brings up the rather important question of why are the righteous allowing the wicked to run so much of our world, and consequently causing so much pain, suffering and heartache? One would think that we’d get rid of them as quickly as possible. But unfortunately, the reality is totally different. And not because Lucifer has power over this world of darkness, we should allow his evil minions to rule over us. Through Jesus, who has conquered death, the grave and hell, with His sacrificial death and resurrection, we have the awesome power to run Beelzebub and his wicked cronies out of town. But we’re either too lazy, too comfortable in our prosperous lifestyle, or simply too timid and afraid to do so. Listen to Cousin Sol again on the subject. ‘When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden (will be sought after).’ (Prov.28:12) Oh Friends, we all know the truth in that statement, yet we allow the wicked to rise in power over us. Oh my brethren, it’s time to change that state of affairs in our world. It’s time to implement righteous rule, so that our world can derive positive benefits. As Cousin Sol further declares: ‘When the righteous are in authority (increased), the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (groan, suffer).’ (Prov.29:2) And we all know that people all over the world are moaning and groaning, suffering, in great misery, because the wicked are ruling. Please Friends, let’s do something to change it nuh. Remember that with our God, all things are possible, but we have to get up off our fat fannies and do our part too. The Lord’s not going to do it all for us. So please, today, let’s ponder the level of our involvement in making a better and more godly world, and do our best to improve our involvement, if it’s only by a small amount, for without our strong stand of faith, all will eventually be lost, and we definitely don’t want to disappoint Jesus, to break His gentle heart anymore than we’re already doing, by letting that happen. Much LOVE!…we can only stand up for Jesus…by faithfully obeying the trumpet’s call…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 November 2012 Psalm 92:1

22 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 92:1.      It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING  U. S. OF A!

Oh Friends, once again, from the porch of my cosy cottage at Store Bay, I’m writing these words of LOVE and thanks! And they couldn’t be more appropriate than on this Thanksgiving Day of 2012, being celebrated in the U.S. It will be pretty rough on the folks who are still suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Sandy, but America didn’t become the greatest nation ever by overmuch complaining and whining, but by being strong in the Lord when times got rough, and by sharing their bounty with the less fortunate. Let’s hope that that sort of godliness shows up in full force today, and that nobody suffers too much. In light of all that Friends, please offer up some heartfelt prayers for those unfortunate people today. But even with all the tragedy and disaster, there is still much to give thanks for; especially life, for wherever there is breath stirring in a body, then hope and expectation of godly blessing can also abound there. And talking about being thankful, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for. I guess I can start by being thankful for just my very presence in sweet Tobago, the land of my birth, from which I’ve been exiled for almost thirty years. Then yesterday, after writing the Bit, I went to a christening. It wasn’t a big do; just about a dozen of us having lunch at one of the swanky hotels on the island. I don’t even remember the name, Magdalena, or something like that, but the most important thing is the food was most excellent West Indian fare! It’s good to see the big hotels serving local food and not the imported European and North American nonsense. After that I was taken on a scenic tour of Scarborough and its environs. Brother, the city (smile) has changed up so much that I passed a couple of areas where I lived and couldn’t even recognize them! But that’s to be expected with the passing of time. What hasn’t changed though is the ‘White House.’ Ah Friends, that was the scene of many memorable memories during my High School days. Harry, the owner, and I sat down on the back steps looking out at the lush valley and hillside that rose from it, with the steel towers and masts of the island’s communications system rising high in the distant sky. We obviously recalled the numerous occasions on which we sat there in our young, unencumbered days. Yes people, we did have some fun times in the ‘White House’, drinking, smoking cigarettes and playing cards, when we should have been studying. That’s why it’s ever so important to make good memories that you can later look back on with a smile or a chuckle, and not a frown or anger. For as the man so rightly says in the song: ‘Memories don’t leave like people do. They always stay with you.’ And who wants ugly or hurting memories eh! Now after touring the big city of Scarborough (smile) I got home about dusk, then went for a dip in Store Bay. And was it ever beautiful! The sun had just gone down, leaving a few golden flecks of colour in the white clouds on the distant horizon. Meanwhile, in the bay itself, a number of boats of varying sizes and styles were quietly anchored off shore, and the lights of the hotel pavilions on both sides sprinkled the area. There weren’t many people on the beach or in the calm water, so it was pretty quiet. The best part though is that soon after I got in the water, I lay floating on my back, in a cross-like position, looked up to the heavens, where a half moon was shining and gave thanks for the multitude of blessings that the Lord was showering down on me. Oh mih people, that was such a beautiful, peaceful, calming experience! An excellent memory to contemplate on later in life. But here comes the horror show. I went to bed early, about 9 p.m, because I was tired. Sometime during the night, I got up to go to the bathroom, but lo and behold when I finally found the light switch and flicked it on, the place remained in total darkness. Steups! After looking around for a few moments, I then realized that the power had gone, for even the street lights were out too. Can you imagine how my bladder was bursting, while trying to find my way in the dark! However, through the Lord’s kindness and mercy, I got through the ordeal without any accidents. But I couldn’t sleep after that. At one stage, wanting to know the time, I got up and fiddled my way to the living room to get my cell phone. It said 2.40. There was nothing else to do but lie back down and try to fall asleep, which I did. Then some time later, I got up again, swung my legs off the bed and reached for my cell phone, but just then the lights came back on. I obviously sent up a most grateful ‘Thank You Lord!’ It was then about 4.40, so instead of going back to bed, I got up and made some java, came outside on the porch, listened to the dogs barking, the roosters crowing, and the birds singing their songs of thanks and praise to their heavenly creator. Oh Friends, it’s a crying shame that those supposed dumb animals are continuously giving thanks and praise to God, while we, His supposed most blessed and important creation, find it so difficult, and even worse, give the little we do, in such a begrudging manner, as though the Lord is lucky and should be thankful for our pittance of thanks. That’s absolutely wrong my brethren. It should be as our Bit so rightly declares: ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To show forth (declare) thy LOVING-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery (lute or lyre); and upon the harp with a solemn (harmonious or melodic) sound. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the work of thy hands.’ (Ps.92:1-4) That’s as it should be Friends! And we’ll close with one more reminder that thanksgiving is ever so important. ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah): for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely (beautiful).’ (Ps.147:1) Gospel truth if there was ever any! And that’s my spiel for today Friends! I hope it brings a smile to your face and the LOVE of God ever deeper into your hearts and minds, thus enabling you to stand strong in the Lord, giving plenty thanks for all that you are and have. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE, my people!…believers should give thanks…at ALL TIMES…be the times…good, bad or indifferent…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 November 2012 Genesis 9:13

21 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 9:13.   I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Morning Friends! From the porch of my cosy cottage at Store Bay, in the cool morning air, surrounded by an abundance of colourful flora, I write these words of peace, LOVE and good health. Oh my people, you wouldn’t know what joy it is to be awakened in the early morning hours by cocks-a-crowing, birds-a-singing, and dogs-a-barking! And though at times the noise can be a bit disconcerting, especially when you’re not ready to get up, it sure is preferable to waking up in a cold, dark environment with none of God’s creations sweetly singing His praises. And since my sojourn on God’s Little Acre is short, I have to enjoy it to the fullest. Yesterday, after writing the Bit, I walked out to Store Bay, yes it’s only a five minute walk from my cosy cottage, and had a nice dip in its calm, beautiful azure blue, highly regenerative waters. Yes Friends, without a doubt, the best therapeutic remedy for any and all aches and pains is good, ole sea water! God’s considerate provision for His people! After that I went shopping for some groceries, and are they ever expensive, in terms of T&T dollars. Later in the evening I hung out with a couple of old fogeys like myself, reminiscing about some of the colourful and eccentric characters who lived in the capital, Scarborough, during our youth. And believe me, there were quite a few colourful characters hanging around our town back then. And the beauty of it all, is that though their physical appearance, emotional stability and economic situation were at the bottom of the totem pole, their brain power was amazing. Some of the wisdom that would pour out of their souls was truly astounding. It’s reputed that a couple of them had been teachers fallen on hard times, and their vocabulary certainly attested to that possibility. Ah Friends, luckily for us the Lord woke me at a reasonable time this morning, so that I can write the Bit early o’clock, because later on in the day, I have a christening to attend, and it’s very doubtful if I’ll be in any fit shape to write anything sensible after that. (smile) So here goes. Our Bit is the same as yesterday: ‘I do set my bow (rainbow) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token (sign) of a covenant between me and the earth.’ Now just before our Bit, the Lord spoke these memorable and most important words to Noah after the flood receded. ‘And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token (sign) of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.’ (Gen. 9:11-12) And that token, that sign, as our Bit declares, was a rainbow in the sky. And the scholars say this in their footnote: ‘This covenant involved the dispensation of human government, with humanity governing itself. Man was responsible to govern the world for God. The governing covenant of this era was the Noahic covenant (v 11). Under it, man’s relationship to the earth and to the order of nature was confirmed (vv 2-11), human government was established, and God promised never again to use a universal flood to judge the world (vv 11-17). The failure of man under this dispensation culminated in the building of the tower of Babel and resulted in the judgement of the confusion of tongues. (cf. 11:1-3,7).’  So what else is new eh? Man’s failure to keep our covenants with God down through the ages has been causing us pain and discomfort from day one with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And even after God’s unfathomable grace that allowed Jesus to pay our sin debt in full, we still can’t get it through our thick skulls that obedience to Almighty God is the only way to live a good, peaceful, LOVING and prosperous life on this mish mash earth. Anyway, Friends, I’m not getting in to any haranguing about our foolish pride and rebellion today. (smile) Rather, I’m just going to share some scriptures that indicate how important a rainbow still is in our relationship with our Creator. And the first scripture comes from the prophet Ezekiel, where he declares his vision of God’s glory. ‘As the appearance of the bow (rainbow) that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.’ (Ezek.1:28) That goes to show the lack of words to really describe God’s glory, but He, in His infinite wisdom, gives us some indication of the brightness of His glory in the rainbow with its wondrous colour scheme. Then we’ll jump all the way to the end times, where John tells us about what he saw around God’s throne in the heavens. ‘And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine (sardis) stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight (appearance) like unto an emerald.’ (Rev.4:3) Oh Friends, the gems and the rainbow show God’s glory, and reminds us that it will always be an integral part of the reflection of His awesome, colour, light and beauty! And further on in Revelation, when John talks of the angel and the little book, he begins the chapter thus: ‘And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.’ (Rev.10:1) Yes my brethren, even in the painful times to come, the rainbow will still be involved in the activities of Almighty God! So please, whenever we see a rainbow, which is not too often, let’s stand and admire it, and contemplate the awesome power of our wonderful God, who created such beautiful imagery to show His amazing LOVE and care for mankind; His most precious creation. And a minute ago, the same black rooster that gave me a raucous cockadoodle-do greeting yesterday afternoon, was on the other side of the fence, pecking at the ground and clucking in a low tone. Then he came in to the yard and strutted across the lawn, as though he owned it, with his bright red plumage above his beak standing proud in the early morning sunshine. Now what can be better than that eh Friends? Only heaven! Much LOVE!…is it plane…is it a bird…NO…it’s a rainbow… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 November 2012 Genesis 9:13

20 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 9:13.    I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Surprise! Surprise Friends! The ole fella’s in sweet Tobago! Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Yes mih breddren, the Duchess and I are on Crusoe’s Isle, God’s Little Acre, Paradise on Earth! Wow! I still can’t believe it. That’s why the Bit is a bit late. I didn’t get here till after 8 a.m this morning, after leaving Toronto at 10 p.m last night, and then I had to catch my bearings. So, from a cosy cottage by Store Bay, I’m writing these words of LOVE to you. Yes Friends, after thirty long years of exile in the cold North Country, the Good Lord has finally granted me favour to return to the land of my birth. And they say you can’t go home again. But that’s a lie, for my navel string is buried in this land, so it will always be home regardless of how long I stay away. Home might look physically different, but the folks of Tobago are still the same as I discovered as soon as I got off the plane this morning. They’re still the same kind, LOVING, gentle and friendly people I grew up with. They haven’t changed, because that’s the way we’re raised from birth. As Lord Nelson said in his song about Tobagonians long ago: ‘All ah we is one family!’ And that’s the undeniable truth Friends. Ah my brethren, at long last I’m in the land of sea, sand, sun and rum! So far though I’ve only experienced the sun – going up to 27 Celsius today – but I saw Store Bay, my favourite beach in all the world, earlier on when I went to get some breakfast of fry bake and saltfish, washed down with some cold, tasty mauby. Store Bay is very commercialized now, but the beach is still golden brown sand, and the water is still a beautiful sky blue, so it should feel the same. And I’ve learned my lesson, I didn’t rush to the beach right away, like I did in L.A. last year and lost my wedding ring. Hn, Hn! And the second honeymoon got off to a great start. (smile) When the Duchess reads this, she’s going to chew me out, about what second honeymoon. But as I keep saying, while there’s life, there’s always hope. And I do hope you all noticed our Bit today: ‘I do set my bow (rainbow) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token (sign) of a covenant between me and the earth.’ Believe me Friends, it’s very relevant, because a few minutes after the plane took off from Trinidad, bound for Tobago, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky on my side of the plane, and it followed us all the way to Tobago, some fifteen minutes later. I don’t know about you all, but I took that as a good and positive sign, since the Lord continued saying to Noah after our Bit: ‘And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow (rainbow) shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow (rainbow) shall be in the cloud: and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And the Lord said unto Noah, This is the token (sign) of the covenant, which I have established between me and all the flesh that is upon the earth.’ (Gen.9:14-17) After all of that, plus some excellent treatment I received from T.O. to Tobago, by all and sundry, how I could think anything else but God was giving me a good sign eh? And it’s not like I couldn’t come to Tobago before, I’ve been to Barbados, and to Jamaica at least three times since I was last here. However, something just kept holding me back, saying that the time wasn’t right, and I decided to be patient and wait on the Lord for His timing, and this Tobago trip actually fell into my lap without me even really asking for or thinking about it. And here we are, finally in Paradise. One other thing of note happened this morning; while sitting in Piarco Airport waiting for my flight to Tobago, a gentleman came up to me and said he remembered me from way back when, going to Bishop’s High School, though he at the time went to a different Secondary School. That’s some fifty years ago! I still can’t believe my ears when I talk about stuff that happened a half century ago.Time really does fly yes! Coincidentally, his name was also Randolph. Our God sure does move in mysterious ways! Ah Friends, the ole fella’s wired from lack of sleep and too much coffee, plus my conscience bothered me about not writing the Bit, so since I couldn’t sleep, I just got up and wrote it. Now because I don’t have a set itinerary, just playing it by ear, I can’t guarantee that the Bit will be early as usual, but you’ll certainly get it, the Good Lord willing. Just be happy for the old fella and pray that the Lord blesses him with a good, no, a great second honeymoon in Tobago, as He did with the first one some forty one years ago. Going to go and check out the sea and sand shortly. Much LOVE!…wait patiently on the Lord…and He WILL…eventually bring the desires of your heart to pass…  P.S. As I was just editing the Bit, a balck rooster just went by and gave me aloud, friendly cockadoodle-do greeting. (smile)  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 November 2012 Psalm 18:30

19 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 18:30.     As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

‘Mornin’ neighbuh!’ A bright and breezy tone.    ‘Mornin’…’ Sour and surly.    ‘Is a nice morning eh…’    ‘Steups! What so nice about it eh? Is Monday morning, that means I have to get up and go to the stupid government work!’    ‘So?”    ‘Ah Lord eh! Ah don’t know what wrong with you nuh woman. You always so bright and bubbly on a Monday.’    ”That’s because the Holy Spirit of Jesus is living in me, and He makes me happy EVERY morning!’    ‘Well good for you and Jesus yes! I wish all yuh the best of luck in all yuh happiness.’     ‘Thank you neighbuh. Jesus and me wish you the best of luck too.’     ‘Steups! Jesus, Jesus…that is all she could talk about yes, especially on a Monday morning, when a body have to get up out of bed so early to go and labour for a pittance. Steups!’  Ah Friends, I hope you all see the difference in attitudes caused by the difference in perspectives. Followers of Jesus should always have the bright positive approach, regardless of what day it is, because we know that with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, EVERY day is a GOOD day. Trouble is, not all of us believers actually feel that way, and some days, particularly on Mondays, we fall into a blue funk, and need a spark, a boost to get up and get a move on. So with one voice, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to get the adrenalin flowing nuh. All together 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!’ Yes Friends, now that our engine is purring smoothly, in perfect sync with that of the Holy Spirit that’s guiding us, let’s go out into the ungodly world with plenty vim and vigour and wage serious battle against Beelzebub and his evil cohorts nuh. And to help us stay in that Jesus groove, let’s use our Bit as a catalyst, a ‘strengthener’ to help us remember our earthly purpose – to help bring lost souls to the Saviour. ‘As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried (proven): he is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in him.’ Awesome words of wisdom and truth my people! Now yesterday we looked at some scripture that verified the first half of our Bit, today we’ll look at some that verify the second half. ‘…the word of the Lord is tried (proven): he is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in him.’ And we don’t have very far to go to find corroboration of those facts, for in Psalm 12, Bruh David proudly proclaims: ‘The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’ (Ps.12:6) Ah mih breddren, how many things of the earth can we purify in fire seven times and have them remain, unbroken, unvarnished, vibrant and ever-resilient eh? Not many.  But the Lord’s Word can certainly stand that rigorous test. Then in Psalm 17, a prayer for protection against oppressors, Bruh David invokes the Lord to ‘Show thy marvellous LOVING-kindness, O thou that savest (delivers) by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.’ (Ps.17:6)  Meanwhile, in Proverbs 30, Agur also declares with great confidence: ‘Every word of God is pure (tried and found pure): he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.’ (Prov.30:5-6) Oh my brethren, please note that last verse very carefully. We’re not to add our two cents worth to God’s Word, as has become very prevalent nowadays, where we slant the Word to suit our own selfish purposes. And going back to the Psalms, we have the psalmist declaring in 119:140: ‘Thy word is very pure (refined or tried): therefore thy servant LOVETH it.’  How can we not LOVE the Word if it’s so pure, true and wise eh Friends? Now let’s close with some more encouraging words of truth and wisdom. ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12) And all God’s people exulted with a loud ‘Praise the Lord! Amen! And it really couldn’t be put any better than that Friends, so let’s grab hold of it all and diligently run the earthly race of glory laid out for us. It will be most worthwhile in the end. Much LOVE!…everything hinges on the WORD…it created the universe…controls it…and will eventually destroy it…in God’s perfect time…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 November 2012 Psalm 18:30

18 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 18:30.      As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

And then finally, there’s Sunday’s child: ‘But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day, is bonny and blythe and gay.’ Caution: ‘gay’ here refers to ‘jolly and happy’, its original meaning not the new meaning ‘homosexual.’ And considering those wonderful traits that a child born on Sunday is alleged to have, all of us would greatly desire to be born on that special day. But take heart Friends, those attributes are available to all who believe in and diligently follow Jesus Christ; the TRUTH,the LIFE, the LIGHT, and the ONLY WAY to Almighty God! And a loud, grateful, ‘Hallelujah! Amen,’ rose up from God’s people to His throne in heaven on high. Please remember my brethren, Jesus’ consoling words to His disciples, and therefore to us also: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) That means we can all be ‘bonny and blythe and gay’ because Jesus says so. And like a hand fits a glove, our Bit fits neatly right here, verifying the truth and trustworthiness of Jesus’ words. ‘As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried (proven): he is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in him.’ Wow! What words of faith! And there’s nary a doubt about any of those statements Friends, because the man who made them, Bruh David, lived his life by them, and was rightly classed as Israel’s greatest king. Cousin Sol might have been wiser and richer, but he wasn’t made of sterner stuff like Bruh David was. Cousin Sol never had to battle serious enemies from his boyhood right through to death, like his father. And our Bit is appropriately taken from one of Bruh David’s most emotional psalms, where he’s giving thanks to God for deliverance from all his enemies, especially the most dreaded and determined one, King Saul. Oh Friends, Bruh David had his human frailties like all of us, but the important thing is that throughout his tempestuous life, through all his trials and tribulations, he never stopped seeking and believing in the omnipotence and faithfulness of the God of his fathers. And whenever he was caught napping, he turned to the Lord, as soon as possible, with heartfelt repentance. That’s why the prophet Samuel could say of Bruh David to Saul, when he lost the kingship of Israel. ‘The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart.’ (1 Sam.13:14) Now let’s look at some scripture that verify the statements in our Bit. And the fist statement is: ‘As for God, his way is perfect.’  The first verification comes from Moses, the third and fourth verses of his Song in praise of Almighty God. ‘Because I will publish (proclaim) the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.’ (Deut.32:3-4) Oh Friends, oh Friends, you couldn’t want a better verifier than Moses, who truly experienced the greatness of God when leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land! Now it was certainly a most difficult task leading some two million rebellious, cantankerous Jews through a desert-like land, and poor Moses bore the brunt of God’s anger against the Israelites. But in showcasing the Lord’s awesome power, faithfulness and trust, he also performed astonishing miracles in His Name. Thus his words must carry a lot of weight re the attributes of our God.  And here’s what Bruh David says in Psalm 145, his psalm of praise, re the Lord’s graciousness. ‘The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy (gracious) in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.’ (Ps.145:17-18) That’s gospel my people! But just in case you don’t believe the earthly throng, then listen to what John saw happening in heaven. ‘And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgements are made manifest.’ (Rev.15:2-4) Oh my brethren, there’s nothing left to be said. The heavenly host are singing and praising our wonderful God on high, verifying His perfection and trustworthiness, and so should we down here on earth. Remember how Jesus taught us to pray? ‘…thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven…’ (Matt.6:10) Let’s put that into real action nuh my people, for it will not only boost our earthly walk of faith, but also increase our rewards in the unbreakable Bank of Heaven. (smile) More on this topic tomorrow, provided the Lord’s willing. Till then, please trust Him and walk in His blessed protection. Much LOVE!…if the Lord isn’t perfect…then He’s liable to make mistakes…and thus prove to be unreliable…therefore not worthy to be called God…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 November 2012 Psalm 119:130

17 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 119:130.      The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
 
Oh Friends, are you a Saturday child, were you born on a Saturday? Then unfortunately, according to our nursery rhyme, you have to work hard for a living. (smile) But don’t feel badly, because most of mankind also have to work hard for a living. It’s all part and parcel of our  forefathers’ fall from grace. However, through the LOVING-kindness of our wonderful God, the sacrificed life of His Son, Jesus, and His Holy Spirit living in us, we’ve been granted some respite from the terrible drudgery and devastating troubles of this earthly life. And all God’s children gave a mighty shout of joy: ‘Oh thank You Father for sending Jesus to die on the cross to pay our sin debt in full! Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all righteousness! We praise and glorify Your Holy Name today and forever more!’ Yes Friends, we do serve and worship an awesome God! I don’t know when some of us will wake up and truly understand and believe that nuh. I sincerely hope that it won’t be too late for anyone. But it’s also comforting to know that once there’s breath flowing through our mortal coil, it’s NEVER too late, because the Most High is the God of second chances – even third, fourth and fifth. The problem though is that unless we read, understand and obey His dictates, we’re just wasting His time and ours. Why is that eh? Because as the psalmist so gloriously declares in our Bit: ‘The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.’  And isn’t that the undisputed truth, my fellow believers! For without God’s Word deeply embedded in our hearts and minds, we won’t be able to live the way He desires us to. Bruh David say it thus in Psalm 19, the creation and covenant of God. ‘The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.’ (Ps.19:8) Yes my people, when we read the scriptures, our hearts rejoice, our minds are enlightened, our eyes of faith are opened, causing us to develop discernment and focus. Now listen to how Cousin Sol, in his great wisdom, describes God’s Word in Proverbs. ‘For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ (Prov.6:23) Oh Friends, the Lord’s dictates are ever so enlightening and guiding, because without them residing and resounding in our souls, we’d be totally lost in the utter darkness of this world, created by Lucifer and his evil minions! That’s why earlier on in this section warning against adultery, Cousin Sol says that we should not forsake the teachings of our parents, which should be the Word of God, but to ‘Bind them continually upon thine heart (and mind), and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.’ (Prov.6:21-22) Ah mih breddren, I couldn’t have said it any better! (smile) And what’s so great about God’s Word entering and taking up a sure reign in our souls is that it gives understanding even to the simple. That means Friends, you don’t have to be gifted with lots of natural intelligence to understand the word. Even a simpleton can, if he is prepared to read and meditate on it, for the Lord will gladly lead and guide him in his endeavour to learn and follow His dictates. And Bruh David verifies that by saying: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.’ (Ps.19:7) Meanwhile, Cousin Sol describes one of the purposes of the Proverbs thus: ‘To give subtilty (prudence) to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.’ (Prov.1:4) The scholars explain that verse this way. ‘The simple are naive young people open to any influence, among the chief addressees in the book. Knowledge means the apprehension of reality, including an experiential knowledge of God. Discretion refers to the power of formulating and carrying out the right measures.’  That’s the beauty of learning God’s commands my people! They enable us to live as good and pure and righteous a life as we can on this sinful, ungodly earth. And we’ll let the psalmist take us home, as he praises the Lord for His care towards us. ‘The works of his hands are verity (truth) and judgement (justice); all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord (an awe filled reverence toward the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.’ (Ps.111:7-10) And all God’s people responded with a loud, thankful, ‘Hallelujah! Amen.’ We responded that way because it’s gospel truth Friends, which means that to restore some of the godliness our world has recently lost, we have to buckle down and seriously read the Word, so that we can understand it, and live the way it says we should. That’s the ultimate in wisdom my people! Therefore, let’s concentrate on becoming somewhat wiser than we are right now nuh. Much LOVE!…a true believer…must first know the Lord’s commands…then follow them as closely as possible…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 November 2012 1 Timothy 6:10

16 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

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

1 Timothy 6:10.     For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Oh Friends, it’s Friday, the day we’ve all been anxiously waiting for!  And according to our old nursery rhyme, Friday’s child is LOVING and giving! Now that’s the truth of not only those born on a Friday, but even more so of all Jesus’ followers. And in light of all the recent disasters, Sandy et al, the tone of Friday celebrations has been lowered somewhat. Not as many people are joyfully shouting ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ And those who are, their joy is a tad subdued, because they know or can appreciate the feelings of those undergoing the sad ‘sufferation’ that’s gripping so many parts of our world. Now that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the life the Lord’s provided for us, but out of our plenty, we have to share with the less fortunate, and even more importantly pray for them. Ah mih people, if ever there was a time that mankind desperately needed prayer, IT’S NOW! As we said a couple days ago, prayer is the most potent weapon we have. So please, please, let’s get on our knees, or whatever position best suits us, and offer up, serious, diligent, heartfelt prayers for our world and any individuals we know that are really experiencing an unusually rough time. Oh my brethren, we need prayers so rich in honesty, compassion, mercy and righteousness that the Lord has no other option but to grant them, to help His hurting children down here. That’s one of the great benefits and privileges of being a believer. Now let’s chant our Friday Chant as loudly as we can, but also with a truly prayerful heart. As one exceptional choir 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.’ Yes Friends, that’s to set the tone for the weekend; not too high or low, but with a heart full of joy, understanding and LOVE. That brings us to our Bit, hopefully the last message based on it. (smile) Don’t blame me, I’m only the messenger. I had planned to write one message on it, but obviously the Good Lord in His infinite wisdom thought we needed more on one of the topics that is driving our world into the ground, and its people into the evil arms of Lucifer. Bruh Paul was ever so right when he warned Timothy that: ‘For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after (in their greediness), they have erred (strayed) from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ And we all know that’s the living truth, though many of us don’t have the parts to admit it. Today though, I want to share one more gospel story about money and the serious problems it can cause. This story happens in Acts 8, when Philip (the evangelist, not the apostle) went down to Samaria and preached Christ to them. However, the great joy that followed Philip’s preaching seriously cut into the business of one Simon ‘which beforetime in the same city used sorcery (practiced magic), and bewitched (astonished) the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.’ (Acts 8:9-10) As unlikely as it seems, Simon became a believer, and hung out with Philip, being amazed at the miracles and signs that were happening in the Christian community. Finally, when the brethren at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had become a hot bed of repentance, they sent Peter and John, ‘Who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ (Acts 8:15-16) The scholars describe the situation thus: ‘The ministry of Peter and John must be understood in the light of the unique historical situation. As at Pentecost, God is initiating a new work – the beginning of the church amongst a distinct ethnic group. The Samaritans were Jews of mixed blood whom the other Jews despised. At Pentecost, no human instrument was involved in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here God delays the outpouring until after the arrival of Peter and the laying on of his hands. Thus the Jerusalem church and the Samaritan church are united into one work, one body. Without Peter’s involvement, this work may not have been accepted by some Jews. Thus schism was avoided from the start.’ Chuh! If we could heal some of the serious schism we now have in Christ’s church eh! Anyway, to continue the story: ‘Then laid they (Peter, John) their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot (portion) in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of (poisoned by) bitterness, and in the bond of (bound by) iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.’ (Acts.8:17-24) Ah Friends, once again money raised its ugly head, causing Simon to think he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit with man made wealth. And the scholars have a very good word on that. ‘Simon the sorcerer made an outward profession of faith (v.13), but his response demonstrates his lack of spiritual life. Early Christian writings substantiate this fact. Simon, like Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, (2 Kin. 5:20-27) sought to use God’s miraculous gift for his own benefit.’ And don’t laugh or criticize Friends, because today many of us still believe we can buy anything with money, which is a complete fallacy. So please, in closing, let’s stop making money our number one priority nuh. Let’s write it indelibly in our hearts and minds, that though money is important, it is definitely not as important as worshipping and serving Almighty God. It NEVER WAS, and NEVER WILL BE! Much LOVE!…money can buy many things…but not the MOST important…LOVE…Salvation…and Eternal Life…
 
 

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