SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday! The day we LOVE to hate, because it means our return to slaving for the man. But here are two encouraging notes; the ground is wet from a thunderstorm a few hours ago, and it won’t be as hot as last week. And all God’s people released a loud sigh and a thankful ‘Praise the Lord!’ Oh, it’ll still be on the warm side, high 20’s, but nowhere near as humid or oppressive. And a good indicator of that is last night, as I was coming home from a function in Toronto, I didn’t need my A/C, I just put the setting to vent and it kept me cool and comfortable. I also noticed a billboard overlooking the highway flashing a potent message: ‘Your destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice.’ And that’s very true in most instances my people, especially when it comes to our eternal destiny; whether we’ll spend eternity in Hades with Lucifer and his evil cohorts, or in heaven with the Holy Trinity. Oh Friends, that’s the most important decision we’ll ever make in this life, and I’ll strongly advise that you make reservations with the latter trio, because they run the better establishment. Heaven is five star, while Hades is a dump! And furthermore, I ‘d advise you to make those reservations right away, for none of us knows when our number will be called up yonder, and if you don’t book for heaven from down here, then you’ll automatically end up in the quagmire that’s Hades. Anyway, our immediate need is to raise our spirits, to get us enlivened to go out and face the enemy this new work week, so let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And with that spurt of adrenalin and enthusiasm engendered by that prayer, let’s go out and do serious battle now mih breddren! It also segues quite nicely into our Bit, taken from a psalm that praises God’s sustaining power. ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills (mountains), from whence cometh my help.’ Now note that the psalmist isn’t looking at the mountains as a source of help, but more as a reflection of God’s presence and power; their overwhelming strength, majesty and beauty, towering over every thing else, the way our God does. And as the scholars suggest, the last part of our Bit should possibly be rephrased as a question; ‘from whence cometh my help?’ That’s because in the next verse the psalmist confidently declares where that help truly comes from: ‘My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.’ (Ps.121:2) And that’s the gospel truth people! It’s proven by the fact that we just finished singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, as we do our Friday Chant, to the Lord God Jehovah, who’s the one that gives us the wherewithal to withstand the trials and temptations of this earthly journey. The prophet Jeremiah totally concurs with this truth. ‘Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.’ (Jer.3:23) And as the psalmist confidently continues: ‘He will not suffer thy foot to be moved (slip): he that keepeth thee will not slumber… The Lord shall preserve (keep) thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.’ (Ps.121:3,7-8) Oh Friends, that says it all! The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the creator of this world and all therein. He’s also the sustainer of all those who believe, trust and surrender their lives to Him. So please my people, let’s conduct ourselves accordingly; with respect, reverence and LOVE for our heavenly Father. It’s the only wise and sensible way to live this earthly life. Much LOVE!…he who hath ears to hear…let him hear…

Oh Friends, when is the nonsense going to stop eh? Only when we’ve completely destroyed ourselves? I’m talking about the sad spectacle in Norway’s capital, Oslo; the senseless bombing of the government’s office building, containing the Prime Minister’s office and those of other high government functionaries, then the fatal shooting of at least eighty odd teenagers at an island camp outside of the capital. Ah Lord eh! And it’s hard to believe that that’s the work of apparently one deranged Norwegian male, unhappy with the ruling government. Many of us are unhappy with our governments, but that’s no reason to go blowing up buildings and killing innocent people. If all unhappy citizens acted that way, then there’d be total anarchy. Unfortunately that seems to be the direction we’re headed, for this sickness of wreaking havoc, of being a destructive rather than a creative force, has become too pervasive all around the globe now. The cowardly, murderous behaviour, nicely termed terrorism, has now infiltrated all societies, causing us to live in even more fear than normal. But Friends, until we truly and seriously come together and defeat the satanic beast that’s corrupting our world, our lives will always be less than fulfilled, because that unspoken fear at the back of our minds will constantly have us jittery and anxious. On a much more pleasant note though, some showers of blessing finally fell in the Toronto area last night… And the voices of all God’s people rose to high heaven with a glorious shout of: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Great is our God! And greatly to be praised!’ I don’t think it was sufficient to quench the immense thirst of the parched land, but we’re all thankful for small mercies. On the other hand, the extreme heat is not forecasted to go away for a few days yet. But then again, as true and faithful believers, we all know and operate on the principle that ‘this too shall pass.’ And with that in mind, let’s do what our Bit advises nuh mih people: ‘Make a joyful noise (shout) unto God, all ye lands, (people of the earth). Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.’ Yes Friends, our powerful but merciful, generous and LOVING God is most worthy of our praise and honour. I don’t think we really appreciate His goodness sufficiently, else we would LOVE, honour, praise, thank and obey Him much more than we do. I’m sure if each us looked back at where we came from, where we are today, and where we’re headed, we’d see quite clearly the hand of God writ large there. None of us could have made it without His constant and merciful help along the way. So why are we so reluctant to give Him the praise and glory that He’s due eh? I guess we’ve allowed the enemy to infiltrate our hearts and minds, causing us to think we had much more to do with our success than we did. But fellow believer, please remember these faithful words of Jesus: ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) Truer words were never spoken my brethren! Without Jesus in our lives, we’re lost, helpless imbeciles. End of story! Consequently, it is essential, of vital importance that we constantly praise, revere and glorify the Lord God of our fathers. The psalmists enthusiastically advised it on several occasions. Listen to a few of them: ‘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) Then Psalm 105 joyfully proclaims: ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.’ (Ps.105:1-3) And finally, Psalm 100 declares in conjunction with our Bit: ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (all the earth). Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.’ (Ps.100:1-5) And a loud, ‘Hallelujah! Amen!’ rang up to heaven. Ah Friends, the major fault in our world right now is that we’ve relegated our God to background status, and therefore don’t praise and glorify Him as we ought, and that’s the main reason why He created us. So please, let’s bring Him back to the forefront of our lives. And the easiest way to do that is by singing His praise and talking of His goodness, letting His LOVE in our hearts shine abroad, so horrific deeds like that committed in Norway, won’t happen again. It’s the only way to prevent such disastrous occurrences. Much LOVE!…only the LOVE of Jesus…can conquer the evil of Beelzebub…

Ah mih people, it’s promising to be another hot, humid day in July, though not as hot as Thursday, when we reached temps of 37.9 Celsius, the hottest day in July for many a year. Rain has also been forecasted for some areas, but that hasn’t happened as yet. It’s coming though, only on the Lord’s timetable. Anyway, on this muggy Saturday morning, even if we are somewhat uncomfortable, let’s stand strong in our faith, ‘Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith…’ (Heb.12:2) and also ‘…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’ (Heb.5:9) That means, regardless of what’s happening in our lives and the world at large, believers ought always to keep looking to Jesus for strength, leadership and guidance. It is not always an easy task to manage when the pressures of life come against us, but our faith requires it. Turning to Jesus in faith during those difficult times also helps us grow, builds our maturity in the Christian walk, which is essential if we want to become true images of Jesus in this fallen world. That is why, Bruh David, when he fled from his rebellious son Absalom, could say in Psalm 3, a prayer of confidence in God: ‘But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.’ He knew exactly where his strength and salvation lay; with the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God of his fathers. And the same still stands true for us today Friends. The Lord God Jehovah is still our rock, our solid foundation and sure refuge, the one who will walk and talk with us through whatever problems we face, and bring us out safely at the end of them all. As Bruh David so gloriously proclaimed in Psalm 5, a prayer for protection: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest (protect) them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! The Lord will certainly bless and keep from harm those who obey Him, so it’s only fitting that believers rejoice and shout for joy because we are confident in the Lord’s promises to safeguard the righteous. And if that doesn’t move your spirit, (smile) then hear this from Psalm 28, Bruh David’s prayer for God’s help: ‘Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:6-7) Yes Friends, when we place our sincere trust in Almighty God, surrender our will completely to His, then there’s nothing He won’t do for us. He becomes our strength and shield, our provider and protector. We therefore have great reason to rejoice and sing His praises. As our Bit says, the Lord’s also our glory and the lifter of our heads. Now isn’t His glory a spectacular sight to behold! His throne in the heavens all dressed in splendour, and Jesus, our Lord, Saviour and Advocate sitting at His right hand, with the angels singing praises while they do His bidding! His glory is transferred to us when we humbly and obediently seek Him with a pure heart. His Holy Spirit is born within us causing us to lift up our heads in confidence, throw back our shoulders and walk proudly as befits a child of the Most High God, thinking powerful, positive thoughts like: ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom.8:31) ‘The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Ps.27:1)  ‘And now shall mine head be lifted up (in honour) above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.’ (Ps.27:6) Oh my people, the Lord God Jehovah is our mainstay: He created us, provides for and protects us, then receives us in glory. Now since He’s so very good to the undeserving children of men, that’s reason enough for us to worship Him with joy and loudly sing His praises for all to hear! My people, let’s think seriously on the things we’ve spoken of today, and accordingly give our God the great praise, worship and obedience He deserves. As believers, that’s our bounden duty. Much LOVE!…Oh, when I remember the good things my God has done for me…I just want to jump for joy…and sing and praise His Holy Name…

Oh my faithful Friends in Christ Jesus, another beautiful summer’s day is in the offing, bringing with it new mercies and blessings, except perhaps rain. But that should not change or lessen our attitude towards our God. We should still be faithfully LOVING, serving and worshipping Him. In fact it should energize us, cause us to work harder, pray more diligently for that glorious blessing that pours down from heaven in God’s mercy, and which plays such a vital role in all aspects of our lives. So as this quote from the American poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) wisely advises: ‘Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate.’ And that’s something we all need to do my people, for though a daily routine is good, giving us stability and safety, we need to step out of its comforting confines every so often, to wake up our too comfortable souls and spirits some. Why do we need that you suspiciously and querulously ask from your easy chair? Because ‘a sprinkling of risk is the seasoning that adds zest to our lives.’ So let’s wake up, let’s resurrect that joy, that vitality we had for life and living, until we let the burdensome cares of the world beat and wear us down. Unfortunately, a lot of believers have allowed Lucifer to steal the enthusiasm which God inspires in us, so that we can run the arduous earthly race set before us to glorify His Holy Name. As our Bit questions: ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ Yes Friends, if we want to win the prize, we’ve got to run, to put out, to exert ourselves more than normal. And here’s a timely quote from the scholars explaining Bruh Paul’s use of the race analogy. ‘Paul draws on a scene familiar to his Corinthian readers in order to drive home his point. The Isthmian Games were an athletic event known to all of his readers. They were held on alternate summers in the vicinity of Corinth. It was an event not to be missed by anyone of importance in all parts of Greece. As a national institution, it was familiar to his readers as modern football to most Americans.’ That shows that big athletic games are nothing new, neither is running to win a new idea. And why do we expend all that energy? I’ll let Bruh Paul explain it. ‘And every man that striveth for the mastery (competes for the prize), is temperate in all things (has self control). Now they do it to obtain a corruptible (perishable) crown; but we an incorruptible (imperishable).’ (I Cor.9:25) That tells us two things my Friends: The first is that believers who are vying to win God’s prize must let moderation and self-control be their guide. And secondly, and most importantly, the crown we’re trying to win is not one that’s perishable, like the things of the world, but imperishable, like the things of God. Consequently, Bruh Paul continues: ‘I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under (discipline) my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified).’ (1 Cor.9:26-27) That means my brethren we have to be very certain of our goal(s) and pursue them confidently and faithfully, not in a wish-washy, doh care manner, and be also well disciplined, both in body and mind. Only by being a good, solid, living example, can we lessen the risk of losing God’s crown, of being disqualified from the race of life. One of the most terrible things that can ever happen to us is to be caught not practicing what we preach. Then we become a laughing stock, viewed as unworthy, a hypocrite of the highest proportions. Oh Friends, it’s sad, but too many believers these days fall into that unfortunate class of people, and thus bring a bad name to Christ’s church. Please, let’s strive not be numbered amongst that lot. Let’s hunker down, starting RIGHT NOW, let’s discipline our selves so that we can live a life that teaches, encourages man, and glorifies God! More on this tomorrow, our God in favour. Till then, continue fighting the good fight of faith and running a strong race of glory with God’s help. Much LOVE!…examples work more forcibly on the mind…than precepts…than mere talk…

Oh Friends, the day’s dawned bright and sunny, and the summer is proceeding beautifully with lots of sunshine and cool breezes, but we’re missing one essential ingredient, one heavenly blessing; rain. It’s sure nice to have sunny days, but when no rain accompanies them, it creates problems we can ill afford. The land hurts for nourishment, so crops don’t grow like they should; the grass gets dry and brown, a lightning rod for brushfires, and we spend numerous gallons of water trying to keep our precious little lawns green, which depletes the water supply, until the powers that be put out a no-watering edict. I guess we ought to seriously pray for rain, because it’s not only my area that’s suffering drought-like conditions, many other parts of the world are also starving for some heavenly showers. We might need to do like Elijah did, when he prayed for rain and said to his servant Ahab: ‘Get thee up, eat and drink: for there is a sound of the abundance of rain.’ (1Kin.18:41)  Yes Friends, we can certainly conjure up in our minds the sound of abundant rain; see it, believe it and talk it into existence. That brings us to our Bit, a mournful cry to our heavenly Father for divine help: ‘Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.’ And do we ever need God’s intervention my people, at this crucial juncture in our society. The wicked are in the ascendant position, and they are just using their power to enrich themselves, with an eye to destroying our beautiful civilization instead of building it. They take morbid pleasure in oppressing the righteous, inflicting harsh, unjust punishment on those who don’t toe their evil line. Having sold their souls to Beelzebub, they now have to pay the price for their earthly power and glory. And make no mistake Friends, Beelzebub extracts a very high price for exalting you with earthly possessions and power. Just like his subordinates, he’s a harsh and cruel taskmaster. If ever there was a time we badly need to cry out to God, I believe it’s now, when the whole world is going downhill very quickly. Bruh David puts it very nicely in Psalm 17, ‘A prayer for protection against oppressors.’ ‘I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 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.17:6-7) Oh my brethren, that’s the kind of cry to our God that each of us needs to make, so that this evil, cruel, violent, greedy, oppressive world will begin turning around, start turning back to worshipping and serving the Most High God Jehovah. Without that happening, sooner rather than later, we have as much chance as a snowball in hell to survive the iniquity and destructive appetites of the wicked. Because of their evil influence ‘sufferation’ is rampant, of epidemic proportions around the world. As the author of Psalm 94 so eloquently declares: ‘O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself (shine forth). Lift up thyself (rise up), thou judge of the earth: render a reward to (repay) the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?’ (Ps.94:1-3) Now that’s a very good question Friends, an answer to which all of us are dying to know. The wicked have held sway over God’s beautiful creation for much too long. What we need right now is for God to move against them without further delay. As Micah proclaimed: ‘Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off (destroyed).’ (Mic.5:9) Oh my brethren, let’s hope and pray that God in His high heaven, seeing the iniquity and injustice that’s taking place in His world will be thoroughly incensed and do something to help us soon, for He is the only one who can. And when He does, He will not forget the humble, the righteous, the afflicted, of that we can be sure, for Bruh David gives us that assurance. ‘When he maketh inquisition for blood (avenges blood), he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.’ (Ps.9:12) Unfortunately, we don’t know God’s plans, so we just have to soldier on in faith and do what we can, which means sincerely LOVING our God, truly LIVING our Faith, and generously SPREADING His Word. In Jesus’ Name, I pray that all His people will do exactly that. Amen. Much LOVE!…Oh Lord…how long shall the wicked prosper…till I’m ready to destroy them…