SCRIP-BITS

1 Corinthians 10:13.   There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
 
Oh Friends, let me apologize for the Bit being so late, but the ole fella’s a mess this bright sunny, summer Tuesday morning. As the old folks would say, when it isn’t one thing, it’s another, and what ent meet you, ent pass you. The situation developed yesterday afternoon while standing at my bedside, preparing to lie down. For some unremembered reason though, I took a sideways step to my left, and the next thing I knew I was crying out in pain while my left knee buckled below me. Luckily, I was able to hold on to the bed and a nearby chair and did not hit the ground. I don’t remember stumbling. In fact there was nothing at my bedside to stumble over. It just seems as though my surgically repaired left knee simply gave out on me. But that was the beginning of a mini-hell, which continues as I write these words. The pain was wonderful… And can you see my big, cheery smile? Hn, hn! I can laugh a little now, but yesterday when the excruciating pain hit, and continued, despite the ice packs and pain killers, I certainly wasn’t laughing. It reduced me to lying in bed, or hobbling around with a cane, or holding on to stuff, occasionally crying out in pain when I made a bad step. And obviously the right knee, having to compensate for the left, has begun to act up more than normal. Ah Lord eh! You should have seen me putting out the garbage a short time ago. While hobbling down the driveway with the recycling box, I stumbled and cried out in pain. This fellow walking his dog on the other side of the road quickly spun around to see what was happening. Then check me out shortly thereafter, coming down the basement steps to my study, trusty cane in one hand, refreshing cup of coffee in the other, bracing myself against the walls, taking one step at a time. Hn! What a sorry sight! And to make matters worse, I sit down at my desk, and this reminder that I have stuck up there quietly greets me. ‘Our task is to take hold of God’s grace, to endure our afflictions with patience, without growing weary. In time He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us. We must wait on the Lord and be of good courage.’ Oh Friends, the ole fella’s trying, but yuh know sometimes the spirit’s willing, but the flesh is sort of weak…especially when there seems to be no good reason for the adversity. And I have to chuckle here, as I remember writing yesterday about withstanding tests of the Lord, about standing strong and steadfast through them, so we can eventually receive the victor’s crown. Then too, I remember that awesome scripture from Colossians: ‘Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.’ (Col.1:11) Yes my people, that’s how believers ought to handle their adversity. But please note the most important words in that sentence are the last two; ‘with joyfulness.’ That’s because you can’t truly handle patience and longsuffering any other way. It’s the joyfulness that allows you to handle it with some amount of peace and calm. So take a valuable lesson from my experience Friends; anything you write or talk about in the Lord’s name, sooner or later, He’s going to test you on it, to see if you can practice what you preach. I’m trying my best, asking the Lord for His help in handling the adversity. And believe me, He does help. He might not take away the pain or the problem, but He does make a way for me to bear it. And that’s all He’s promised, as our Bit so encouragingly states: ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ Yes my brethren, no temptations come against us that’s not common to all humans. We all experience the ‘wily wiles’ of the enemy in some form and fashion, but through the faithfulness of our God, we won’t be tempted above the intensity or level that we can bare. He knows our temptation tolerance level and won’t allow it to go above that level because then we’ll succumb to it, which He obviously doesn’t want us to do. But by the same token, He will not necessarily allow us to totally escape from it. He simply guarantees to bring us through it without more ‘sufferation’ than we can handle, or as the scholars say: ‘He will enable us to land intact on the other side.’ That’s a whole lot more than we deserve. Oh Friends, time and space are against us, so we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, God willing. Till then, let’s ponder the scriptures we’ve spoken of, apply them to our lives, and stand strong in the face of temptation, with God’s help. Much LOVE!…in this evil world temptations abound…but with God’s help…we can fight them off…every single one…
 

Proverbs 17:3.    The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 17:3.    The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

Hebrews 13:1.     Let brotherly LOVE continue.

Psalm 16:8.    I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
 
Oh Friends, all yuh hearing the worldwide refrain ringing out? ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ Yes, that day we all so anxiously await each week is here: the day when we’re released from the bondage of work for a big TWO days. Wow! However in the wonderful northern climes this Friday July first 2011, we’re celebrating Canada Day; one hundred and forty four years of existence. Right on Canada! And to all my fellow Canadians I wish you a most happy and joyful Canada Day! And not to be outdone, on Monday, our neighbours to the south, the U.S. will be celebrating their big 4th of July bash. That means North America will be awash with good times this weekend. But please remember people, as the old folks would say, ‘drunk or sober, mind yuh business.’ And that’s gospel! In whatever state of sobriety you are, it’s absolutely necessary to pay attention to what’s happening around you, for that trouble maker Lucifer only needs a little opening to jump in there and cause mischief. Anyway, let’s chant our Friday Chant, because whether we’re home partying or out at work, we still need it. So with the riddim jamming loud and sweet, let’s chant: ‘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.’ Now that prayer sure ties in nicely with our Bit: ‘I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’ It’s taken from one of Bruh David’s many contemplations, where he’s seeking preservation and blessing, and he set’s the mood and tone right from the first verse. ‘Preserve (watch over) me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.’ (Ps.16:1) Yes Friends, a believer’s first and most important objective is to put their whole trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Without that crucial move, we’re short-changing ourselves because the Father only acknowledges those who truly trust Him, dealing positively with them like beloved children. No wonder, having put his sincere trust in the God of his fathers; the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD, Bruh David could make such a confident proclamation in our Bit. Placing the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God Jehovah as his trusted guide and safe-keeper, allowed him to stand strong and face the world with courage. And why not, since his bodyguard was, still is, and will always be, the Creator and Controller of the universe? Oh my people, in the same way, when we put our trust in the Lord, surrender our lives to Him, make Him the foremost aspect, the main focus of our earthly journey, then we too will be able to stand strong and courageous against the world’s many negative developments. Now it’s not easy, and merely saying the words doesn’t make it so. But when we truly hunker down and take it all to heart, we’ll surely see a difference, find a big improvement in our lives. As Bruh David goes on to confidently say: ‘Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the abode of the dead); neither wilt thou suffer (allow) thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ (Ps.16:9-11) Oh Friends, that says it all! And we know that if Bruh David says it’s so, then it is so, because he was a prophet, a friend of God and a man after His own heart. Wow! Now that’s the challenge thrown out to all of us today! Please, let’s accept it, let’s embrace it wholeheartedly, so we can become more like Jesus and thus further His kingdom more fervently and rapidly, because time is of the essence. Much LOVE!…you sure are in the safest of hands…when the Lord Jehovah is your guide and protector… 
 

Job 23:10.     But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 
 
Oh Friends, isn’t wonderful when you talk to someone you haven’t spoken to in ages, only to discover that they also have a strong faith in God and an earnest desire to serve Him, like you do? It sure is! Yesterday I called an old friend to offer my condolences on the unfortunate and sudden passing of one of his children, and you wouldn’t believe the enthusiasm we both expressed in living for God. It was certainly a revealing and refreshing moment for me. Now here’s a quote from Robert Nathan that gives us some good insight into living this earthly life. ‘Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage – and give exceeding thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still – the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see.’ Those are true words my people! We can’t always run away from problems, or be always courageous either, but whatever fear we feel, we’ve got to handle it with inner strength, which means entrusting it to our heavenly Father, invoking the power of the Holy Spirit, because strengthening us is one of His many purposes. That brings us to our Bit, where poor Job, beset by calamity and fickle friends, proudly proclaims: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’ Oh Friends, what a stirring moment it would be in heaven, if most believers could say that with authority and true sincerity! Anyway, yesterday we looked at scriptures on the first part of our Bit: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take.’ Today, let’s check out some on the second part: ‘when he hath tried me, I shall come forth like gold.’ First up are some words from Bruh David in a prayer for protection against oppressors. ‘Thou hast proved (tested) mine heart; thou hast visited me (searched me out) in the night; thou hast tried (examined) me, and shalt find nothing (evil): I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.’ (Ps.17:3) What confidence my brethren! Bruh David really had it going on with the Father! Now listen to these heartfelt words of the psalmist in talking of the great works of God: ‘For thou, O God, hast proved (tested) us: thou hast tried (refined) us, as silver is tried (refined). Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy (an abundant) place.’ (Ps.66:10-12) Wow Friends! Those truly are encouraging sentiments! Please believe them, for they are true, and let’s write them indelibly in our hearts, because they are words for all believers to live by. And finally words from James, who puts it this way: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried (has been proven), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE Him.’ (James 1:12) Yes mih people, trial and testing are an integral part of our earthly journey with Jehovah God, for that’s what brings us more like Jesus. It certainly isn’t an easy row to hoe, but as men of faith have proven, witnessed and testified down through the ages, if we totally trust and surrender our lives to the Lord’s will, though He tests us harshly and constantly, He will eventually bring us out safely and we’ll be much the better for it. That’s His promise. Please believe it, for then your perspective on this earthly life will be greatly enhanced. Much LOVE!…placing our lives entirely in the Father’s hands…that’s the wisest decision we can ever make… P.S. There certainly can be no complaints about the Bit’s length today. (smile) Much LOVE!
 

Job 23:10.    But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
 
Oh Friends, do you ever feel like you’re on a never ending treadmill of pain, heartache, grief, sorrow and suffering, with only a few small windows of joy in between? Well that’s what life is often about. And in many cases there’s nothing we can do to change it. But luckily for us believers, we have Jesus to hold on to, to help and guide us through both the pleasant and unpleasant facets of life. It’s not easy being righteous in this evil, ungodly world, for sometimes when we’re trying our best, that’s when troubles befall us like rain. In anguish, we cry out to God, but He doesn’t answer, doesn’t seem to be there in our time of great need. So we feel lost and abandoned. But Friends, that’s the furthest thing from the truth, for God has promised to be with us always, (Matt.28:20) and also to never leave or forsake us. (Heb.13:5). And we all know that He faithfully keeps all His promises. So when we’re seeking Him and can’t find Him, then it’s possibly because of our sin, or He’s testing us. And if we’ve been fairly righteous, then it shouldn’t be our sin. We have a perfect example of that kind of dilemma in Job. He felt that he was doing a decent Job in obeying God’s will, and he was, but Lucifer talked the Lord into testing him, and during his time of calamity, he cried out to God, searched diligently for Him, but to no avail. As he says: ‘Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him. On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him, he hideth himself on the right hand (turns to the right), that I cannot see him.’ (Job 23:8-9) Yes my people, there’s nothing more disheartening than sincerely seeking God but being unable to find Him. However, as true believers, we’re inbred with His Holy Spirit, there for our help, guidance and protection. That Spirit never leaves or abandons us, instead it helps us to hang on, boosts our faith in Almighty God when things get rough. Thus in those times when we feel alone and abandoned, we ought to invoke the power of the Spirit, then rise up and say like Job does in our Bit: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’ Yes my brethren, though Job’s friends felt that his life was riddled with hidden sin, that’s why such terrible calamity befell him, Job felt totally different. He knew that he sincerely tried to maintain a righteous attitude towards God, and felt sure that no terrible sins would be found if the Lord tested him in the fires of refinement. He would come out strong and shiny like gold. Now is that the way we feel today? It’s how we ought to. But unless we’re truly tying to live a righteous life, we won’t be able to say it with any sincerity, and since God reads our hearts, unless it’s reflected there, our words will be in vain. Now our Bit can be divided into two parts, the first being: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take:’ And that’s an undeniable fact Friends! The Lord knows all our comings and goings, nothing about us is hid from Him. So let’s check out a couple of scriptures that highlight that aspect of our Bit. In the very first Psalm, ‘Blessed are the righteous,’ the psalmist proudly declares: ‘For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ (Ps.1:6) Then in Psalm 139, talking of the everlasting presence and power of God, Bruh David offers these immortal words: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compasseth (comprehendeth) my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.’ (Ps.139:1-4) Yes my people, our God knows all about us since He created us and planned our lives, and He will never abandon us, though sometimes He hides His face from us, we can’t feel His presence. ‘Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.’ (Is.45:15) But usually those are times of testing; He’s trying to find out how sincere we are about LOVING, trusting and surrendering ourselves to Him. So in those lonely, troubled times Friends, please take heart, stand steadfast and strong, knowing that our God will never leave or forsake us, in fact, when we can’t go on any more, then He will carry us. I can tell you from personal experience that He’s a most wonderful God, so please don’t ever loose faith and trust in Him. We’ll continue this Bit tomorrow, God willing. Till then, please walk safely in His LOVING grace. Much LOVE!…when in the sands of our troubled times…only one set of footprints we see…that’s when our LOVING God carried us…
 

James 4:10.    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a new day and new manna is being showered down from heaven! Yesterday’s manna is of no use today. Only the goodies that were made especially for Tuesday 28 June 2011 are viable today. So if you want any, you have to get up and get it. Remember, the early bird gets the best worms. (smile) Oh my brethren, whenever I sit and contemplate the goodness of our God, I can’t help but think how amazing He is, and how lucky we are to worship not only such an omnipotent Deity, but One who is also so magnanimous. Just look at all He’s done for us nuh! First creating us, then continuing to LOVE us unconditionally, providing, guiding and caring for us despite our disobedience and rebellion against Him. And then the crowning glory; sending His only Son Jesus to sacrifice His sinless life, so that we could be cleansed of our disgusting sins and be reconciled to Him. Wow! What a great and wonderful God! And having considered all that, it just makes me feel grateful and real humble. The problem though is that the world does not value gratitude and humility as much as it does arrogance, self-centredness and pride, and since we have to live in it, it’s obvious that some of its values will rub off on us, possibly not all the time, but for sure occasionally. Now the only way to beat the pressure of the world’s proud and lustful values is by following the advice James gives in our Bit. ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ And that’s no lie my people! When you embrace the Lord, acknowledge His sovereignty and live an obedient life, He will cause you to rise higher in your endeavours, often higher than you expect or imagine. That’s the kind of God He is to those who are obedient to His will! It’s also true that the world will put you on a pedestal if you come out proud and boastful in recognition of your earthly accomplishments. However, the big difference between the world’s lifting up and that of God is that when your Achilles heel shows up, or someone else comes along that seems better, the world in it’s fickleness will knock you off that pedestal so fast and furious, you won’t know what hit you. But when the Lord elevates you, you will stay elevated, provided you stay humble and grateful, and don’t behave like it was all your doing. For believe me people, if you get too big for your breeches when the Lord lifts you up, He will pull you down even quicker and more painfully than the world. Nothing’s basically wrong with being acknowledged for our earthly accomplishments, but we have to ensure that we give God the glory for it, and not try to take it personally. Being humble in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s system is of the utmost importance, because pride seems to annoy Him more than anything else. And why is that? Because pride totally shuts Him out of our lives, we don’t take Him into account in anything we do, and He explicitly made us for the exact opposite purpose; to be very involved in our lives. Now let’s hear some scriptures that deal with the subject. In Job 5:11, Eliphaz, when rebuking his friend, says that one of the great things the Lord does is ‘To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.’ Later on, Eliphaz also declares: ‘When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up (exaltation); and he shall save the humble person.’ (Job 22:29) Then James, in paraphrasing Prov.4:34, says: ‘God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’ (James 4:6) Peter used those same words in 1 Pet.5:5, then boldly declared: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7) Oh Friends, all those men of great faith knew back then that true humility was a necessity in being a believer, and it still is today, especially with the current prevalence of arrogance and pride in our society. And I’ve saved the best for last; the words of Jesus Himself: ‘But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased (humbled); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (lifted up).’ (Matt.23:11-12) Yes my people, there’s no denying that a humble attitude is of great importance in the Lord’s kingdom, so please let’s try and acquire it nuh. Too many of us believers are behaving like the world behaves; proud, lustful and arrogant, which, in the Lord’s good time, will sadly lead to our eventual painful downfall. Much LOVE!…a word to the wise is usually sufficient…

Psalm 145:18.     The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
 
Well a good Sunday morning to all you beautiful Friends and Neighbours in Christ! The new provisions of God, this new day, are being disseminated at this very moment to all who truly seek them. And while we are being richly blessed, it’s only right that we should remember others not so fortunate and do stuff to benefit them, though we may never see or know about it. In support of that statement, let me share a quote from my ‘I LOVE YOU’ poster, which says: ‘Do for others with no desire of returned favours. We should all plant some trees we’ll never sit under.’ And that’s the living truth my brethren! We should all aspire to do good deeds; some with hope of future blessing, but also some without thought of future reward. And yuh know, those are usually the ones that please our God the most. It reminds me of the story about an elderly man who planted a tree that took many years to grow and bear fruit. When asked why he did it, since he would most likely not be around to enjoy its fruit and shade, he simply replied that it wasn’t planted with his enjoyment in mind, but for that of some unknown person(s) in the future. Now that’s the epitome of selflessness, a lesson many many of us believers still have to learn because we insist on following the selfish, greedy ways and patterns of the world. Remember though that we ought to be in the world, but not of it. (Rom.12:2; 1 John 2:15) However, the only way to do that on a successful basis is by continually doing as our Bit advises: ‘The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.’ Yes Friends, we have to keep calling out to the Lord for help to handle the evils of our world; evils like selfishness, greed, anger, resentment, bitterness, hate and violence, otherwise we’ll get caught in the trap, fall into the pit of evil that the enemy has dug and set for us. As Moses said to the Israelites when exhorting them to obedience of God’s laws. ‘For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh (near) unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?’ (Deut.4:7) And the emphatic answer is NONE! Ah mih people, many of us want and expect God’s attention, but it doesn’t usually happen until we call out to Him, unless we purposely seek Him. He’s always there, right close by, but does not get involved unless we ask Him to, cause He’s a God of choices. Now the next important thing is that we can’t just go to Him and ask for whatever we want without a sincere heart; a heart that truly recognizes Him as Lord and Saviour. Selfish, greedy motives will be readily discovered since it’s our hearts that He searches and listens to, not merely the pleas of our mouths. Jesus said it quite plainly to the Samaritan woman at the well: ‘But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.’ (John 4:23-24) Oh Friends, to be true believers we must seek God on purpose, with truth and a right heart, otherwise we’re just fooling ourselves, our religion is vain and useless. So today, let’s ponder those two aspects of our lives, determine the intensity of our desire to know and seek God, and the rightness of our motives when we come to Him, then try our best to improve them, for there’s room for improvement in all of us. Note too, it’s all for OUR benefit, not God’s. Much LOVE!…remember…God is not there to serve our selfish purposes…but we’re here to serve His righteous desires…  P.S.  And my reason for the Bit being late today – I went to church, seeking God and fellowship with other believers, simply trying to practice what I preach. (smile) Much LOVE!