Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 January 2010 Psalm 55:22‏

18 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 55:22     Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
 
Oh Friends, if we ever needed a Bit with the encouragement and assurance of today’s, it’s on this Monday morning when we rejoin the work week fray with the enemy and the catastrophic disaster in Haiti still weighing heavily on our minds. Though our spirits have been refreshed through rest, prayer and worship, we still need to give the Lord some early morning thanks and praise for getting us safely through another night, and enabling us with blessings and new mercy for the upcoming trials that we’ll surely face. Then, fully dressed in our spiritual armour, we hit the road and engage the enemy from a point of strength and towering confidence in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Oh bless His Holy Name my people! Why? Because it’s the only way we can ever hope to defeat, or even meaningfully engage Beelzebub in battle. Without the Lord as our guide and protector, we’re simply toast in Lucifer’s hot, evil hands. That’s why Bruh David made such a definitive declaration. ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.’ One thing we need to remember people is that most of Bruh David’s writings sprang from personal experience, so he’s not merely talking from hearsay, therefore it carries more weight and truth than simply regurgitating the experiences of others. Psalm 55 is no different. It is titled ‘A cry against deceitful friends.’ And sadly, just like back in Bruh David’s day, there are way too many of those in our current society. In fact, true friendship is really on the downslide since the society values and promotes selfishness rather than selflessness, and a true friend must exhibit more of the latter qualities than the former. But please note, that after spilling his hurt and anger to the Lord, Bruh David came to a very wise, justified conclusion. He would leave his deceitful friends and enemies to God, for the Lord had declared that vengeance was His department. (Deut.32:5) Instead, he proclaims: ‘As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.’ (Ps.55:16-17) Yes my people, once we have cast all our cares on the Lord, then that should be the modus operandi of all true believers, for He’s promised and shown over thousands of years that He’s faithful and upholds all who sincerely trust Him. And to show that it was not just a passing whim, Bruh David also made the same declaration in Psalm 37: ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.’ (vs.5) Then the unblemished Branch of his line, Jesus, reiterated the same sentiments with His great invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that are laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly (gentle and humble) in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Mat.11:28-30) And the Rock upon which Jesus built His Church, Peter, also weighed in on the situation, adding: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all you care upon him, for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7) Oh mih people, what else, or how many more invitations do we need to put our cares, our trust, our total surrender and our hands in the hand of the Most High God Jehovah? Three of the most faithful men in scripture practised and encouraged it, and so did many others. Why are we so hesitant and reluctant to do likewise eh? Jesus even tried to calm our fears and anxiety re life’s basic, everyday problems when He declared: ‘Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not life more than meat, and the body than raiment?’ (Mat.6:25) For sure it is Friends. But Jesus is trying to say we shouldn’t let the basics of life worry us so much that we have no time for God. And He goes on to talk about how the birds and flowers live well without sowing, reaping or storing, and we’re much more important than them, so obviously the Lord, who knows what we need, will supply it without our breaking out in worry and fear. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Mat.6:33) Ah Friends, that’s Jesus’ recommendation, which, as His followers, we’re expected to accept and live by. As an added incentive (smile) I’ll include some more of Bruh David’s words. The Bit ends; ‘he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit) the righteous to be moved (shaken, broken down) And that’s the gospel truth my people! For ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.’ (Ps.37:23- 25) I’m sure all you old fogies will agree with that, so let’s teach it to the young people, so they can teach it to their children and thus ensure the Word of the Lord endures forever. Much LOVE!…trust in the Lord…delight yourself in Him…and He will look surely after you…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 January 2010 John 15:26‏

17 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

John 15:26     But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
 
Ah my Friends, what a wonderful, Leader, Lord and Saviour our Jesus Christ is! Praise His Holy Name my people! Send shouts of thanks and gratitude heavenward so that He knows we truly appreciate all He’s done for us! Yuh know Friends, Jesus could simply have come to earth, died for our sins and gone back to heaven, leaving us here to fend and fight it out on our own. But instead He chose to send a Comforter, a Helper, in the form of His Spirit to assist us in navigating this crazy, cruel, violent, greedy, immoral and sinful world. Give Him some more enthusiastic thanks Friends, He certainly deserves it! Imagine how His disciples must have been perplexed and scared when He told them He was leaving them, going back to where He came from. Even the promise of building mansions for them to come and be with Him, would not have assuaged their fears, since they were simple, down to earth people without the heightened spiritual understanding needed to accept Jesus’ words. They had been with Him for roughly three years and saw the confusion His words and actions stirred up, but He still expected them to go around preaching in His name after He left. I’m sure all they could envision was more trouble. However my people, our Jesus is so thoughtful, kind and caring that He gently reassured them. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) Oh mih Friends, what a beautiful, moving promise! And yuh know what people? That promise still holds true, to all who believe on Jesus, LOVE Him, and obey His dictates, from the day He made it, until forever. What an awesome High Priest my Friends! No other deity cares as much about their followers as Jesus does. According to the scholars, the literal meaning of the Greek word ‘parakletos’  is ‘one called alongside to help,’ from whence comes the idea of a comforter, a helper. And Jesus talks about ‘another Comforter’ because that is also one of His titles, translated as ‘Advocate’ in 1 John 1:2. The Father is also known as the ‘God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.’ (2 Cor.1:3-4) And how does the Lord comfort us Friends? Through the Holy Spirit; the Messenger, which emanates from both the Father and the Son, who works alongside them to further the kingdom. Oh my brethren, the most important element in a believer’s life is the Holy Spirit. Having repented, accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and been born again unto salvation and eternal life, it’s that Holy Spirit that comes to dwell in you, to guide and comfort you. As Jesus said in the Bit: ‘But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.’ Let’s quickly look at a few things here Friends. Right before His ascension, Jesus reminded His disciples: ‘And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.’ (Luke 24:49) He was referring to the Holy Spirit again. And note, He told them to remain in Jerusalem until they received that marvellous ‘power from on high,’ since they could not perform the tasks He set them without it. Oh my people, the very same thing applies to us today. Without the Holy Spirit of Father and Son existing beside and within us, we’re unable to do much in the Lord’s name. That’s just the way He designed it. And we all know how on that first Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the Holy Ghost: ‘And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:2-4) Wow! When our God moves, it’s certainly on a grand scale. But that was only a one time thing. (smile) The Spirit doesn’t come to ordinary believers like us in such dramatic fashion, but comes quietly to enhance our souls. We have to listen for it too Friends, pay attention to that still, small voice, what we sometimes call our conscience, that comes to us when we are faced with decisions. Jesus called it, the ‘Spirit of truth,’ which it surely is, for it never guides us wrong. He also claimed of the Spirit ‘and he shall testify of me.’ And it definitely does my people. John proclaimed: ‘This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.’ (1 John 5:6) Oh Friends, the water is the water of Jesus’ baptism, and the blood is that of His atoning and redeeming death, and the Spirit is what gives us the encouragement and assurance that the scriptural message regarding Jesus is true. Remember John was told that whoever the likeness of a dove descended upon was the Messiah, and He saw that when Jesus came to be baptized. So the Spirit indeed tells the truth. Yes mih people, the Holy Ghost is the most powerful force on earth today. We really don’t know it’s awesome power and full potential because most of us barely use it, if ever. But take it from me, as a personal testimony, it is a most powerful tool, and I am nowhere close to it’s full potential, so you can imagine what wonders we could do on this earth in Jesus’ name if we truly invoked His Spirit. Hn! The world would be overwhelmed by our godly reactions, sinners would be gladly coming to repentance in droves, and the Lord’s name would be eternally glorified. Let’s turn with more passion and belief to that Helper, that Comforter, that Holy Spirit nuh Friends. It was given to enlarge us and consequently our God, so please, let’s use it more than we’ve been doing. Much LOVE!…not by might…nor by power…but by my Spirit…saith the Lord of hosts…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 January 2010 Deuteronomy 32:6‏

16 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Deuteronomy 32:6     Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and established thee?
 
Ah my Friends, Today’s Bit fits us like a hand in a custom made glove. Those words were spoken by Moses to the Israelites shortly before his death because he knew that they were a stubborn, hard-hearted, impatient people who wanted everything easy and now for now. That sounds very much like our society today, doesn’t it Friends? As Moses said when he gathered the tribes to talk to them: ‘For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.’ (Deut. 31:29) Moses certainly knew his people. They had done it before and would do it again. ‘They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.’ (Deut. 32:5) Oh my people, Moses could have been referring to us in modern day society, for we are doing just like the Israelites. Because of their corruption, crooked and sinful dealings they had acquired a negative blemish that deprived them of the privilege of being considered God’s children. It’s the same with us today. Our society is so corrupt, sinful and ungodly that we cannot under any circumstances be considered God’s children or a godly society. Not by a long stretch of the imagination. That’s why Moses asked in the Bit; ‘Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise?’ Instead of complaining and turning against the Lord, they should have been saying stuff like the Psalmist: ‘What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.’ (Ps.116:12-14) Sadly, my brethren, we seem to be poured from the same mould. Instead of thanking God for the many benefits and blessings He’s so generously bestowed on us, we cause Him grief with our complaining and whining over the things we don’t get. But the fact of the matter is that many of the things we ask and long for are based on the world’s lustful expectations, rather than His spiritual programme. Under those circumstances, we certainly won’t get them, especially if our wishes are tied up with wrong motives. Our ungrateful, complaining attitudes over things that are not important in the Lord’s sight definitely throws us into the foolish and unwise category, specified by Moses. Friends, we cannot repay good with evil, or blessings with ingratitude, which is what our society seems to be about these days. We all expect a bountiful harvest without the requisite labour, and when it’s not forthcoming, we angrily wonder why. It’s simple my people; we’re not tuned into God’s wavelength so all we’re receiving is static, and until we tune our dial to God’s frequency, static is all we’ll receive. Consequently, our lives will be a mere shadow of what they could be under His wonderful patronage and tutelage. Such was Moses’ disappointment that he sadly enquired: ‘Is not he thy father that hath bought thee?’ Of course! The answer was and is and will always be yes on both counts. Let’s look at some of the justification. The Lord’s instructions to Moses on his first meeting with Pharaoh were: ‘And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my first born. And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me:’ (Ex.4:22-23) That certainly implies a father and son relationship. ‘And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare (carried) thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.’ (Deut.1:31) That’s another reminder of Moses to the parental connection. Isaiah also commented on the subject when talking of the Lord’s great favour shown to Israel. ‘Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.'(Is.63:16) Now re His buying of Israel, one verse of Asaph’s Psalm 74 will suffice. ‘Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod (tribe) of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed.’ (Ps. 74:2) And the last part of the Bit queries; ‘Hath he not made thee, and established thee?’ For sure! He not only formed us from the earth with His LOVING hands, but also prospered His people. ‘But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly (scornfully) esteemed the Rock of his salvation.’ (Deut.32:15) Ah mih people, those are instances of Old Testament interaction between The Most High God Jehovah and His chosen people, which still hold true today, but we have even more now; the coming of Jesus and His new covenant that brought us back into a right relationship with the Father. He bought us again through Jesus’ blood spilled on that disgusting cross and again gave us the privilege to be called the children of God if we believed on His Son. The Lord showed His immense LOVE for us by giving His only Son’s life as a ransom for our sins, providing salvation and eternal life even though we didn’t deserve it. And just like Moses, I’m asking; Is this the way we requite all His LOVE and tender care, mercy and forgiveness, by living such ungodly, sinful lives, desiring the lusts and material possessions of the world more than the spiritual benefits of His holy kingdom? Ah Friends, it should be not so. It’s neither wise nor grateful. But luckily for us our God is patient and will usually give us enough time to come to our senses. The only problem is that we have absolutely no idea when He’ll say, enough. That means we’ve got to get on His good side, make amends NOW, cause later or tomorrow might just be too late. So let’s wisely tune into the Lord’s frequency and get with His programme nuh. Then we won’t be considered foolish and unwise. Much LOVE!…a wise child…will LOVE and revere their father…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 January 2010 Proverbs 31:9‏

15 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 31:9     Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
 
Ah Friends, it’s Friday already, coming up to the time of rest, rejuvenation and celebration of the Sabbath. I hope you wore your spiritual armour all week and consequently stood strong against the enemy. Today I have a real interesting quote to share. The German philosopher, writer and lawyer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) is alleged to have made this statement. ‘Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of.’ Wow! Not only is it true my people, but it’s also an attitude, a principle that all we believers should adopt because it fits in quite nicely with our belief system and the works of Jesus. I guess we can term it a Jesus attitude (smile) since that’s exactly how He behaved. And a wonderful example of that is in the choosing of His disciples. Jesus didn’t look for the most educated, talented or wealthy, but for those who were considered the lower classes, the unwashed, uneducated, menial workers like tax collectors and fishermen, those who were normally excluded from the upper echelons of society. What did He say to Peter and Andrew when He recruited them? ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ (Mat.4:19) Jesus took them, unwashed and uneducated, and improved them. He didn’t look at their current limitations, but rather saw their possibilities after He had finished teaching them. Oh Friends, that’s how we are also expected to behave. We must not judge others, especially the struggling and unfortunate, by their current standing, instead we ought to see what they can become, envision their capabilities with help, and offer that help. It’s all part and parcel of our duty and fellowship as followers of Jesus. That principle is closely linked to Today’s Bit from Proverbs Chapter 31, supposedly written by one King Lemuel, relating his mother’s advice. However, the scholars claim to know nothing about him, except that Israel never had a king by that name. Anyway, regardless of the true author’s identity, the advice is still sound and in keeping with Jesus’ teaching. ‘Open thy mouth, judge righteously…’ Oh Friends, justice and righteousness are mainstays of our God’s nature. Listen to Him speaking through Moses on the laws of holiness and justice. ‘Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.’ (Lev.19: 15) Yes my people, we’re not to make judgements based on a person’s appearance or his position in society, but strictly in truth and righteousness. When Moses recounted God’s promises to his people, he put forth the same theory. ‘And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes (cases) between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.’ (Deut.1:16) But Friends, we too often see in our society different standards and judgements meted out to different people merely because of their wealth, political, or social standing. It’s obvious that the poor and needy receive a much more intolerant attitude in our justice system. Just look at the difference in the handling of white and blue-collar crime. The fraud artist, milking people for millions of dollars receives bail and a comparatively light sentence, while the down on his luck person that steals to feed himself and/or his family will probably be refused bail, or if granted, has no one to stand it for him, and will most likely be incarcerated. The crimes are the same, stealing, but because one person has some social status and position or knows those with it, he is treated more leniently although he stole more, and to simply satisfy his greed and lusts for material possessions. But mih people, that’s totally contrary to what our God declared, and also what our Bit advises; ‘and plead the cause of the poor and needy.’ We’re supposed to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Job acknowledged that as one of his strong points in his wealthy days. ‘Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.’ (Job 29:12) That’s how all God’s children should operate. But sadly we don’t, which sometimes adds a black mark to Jesus’ name. We talk a good talk, but when the time comes to stand up and defend the wronged, we’re nowhere to be found. In Isaiah’s call to repentance, he also declares this principle. ‘Learn to do well; seek judgement (justice), relieve the oppressed (reprove the oppressor), judge (vindicate, defend) the fatherless, plead for the widow.’ (Isa.1:17) What part of that don’t we understand eh mih people? It’s as plain as day. Jeremiah also held forth on this subject. ‘He judged (defended) the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was this not to know me? saith the Lord.’ (Jer.22:16) It certainly was Friends. We can’t truly know our God unless we obey his dictates with a right heart, right motives, and throughout the Good Book He shows He has a special soft spot for widows, orphans and strangers, those with no one to help them. Remember Jesus continually said that He came to be a servant, to heal the sick and suffering, to help and save the poor and downtrodden through His unselfish acts of righteousness. And then Jesus particularly warned the Jewish rulers of Israel: ‘Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement.’ (John 7:24) Ah my Friends, even so ought we to do, that we might uphold Jesus’ commitments and glorify our God. Much LOVE!…to truly follow Jesus…we must truly do like He did…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 January 2010 Psalm 119:57‏

14 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 119:57     Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.
 
Oh Friends, what a tragic disaster in Haiti! Hn! I don’t know if the Lord meant it as a warning or what, but I do hope that we in the West will at last pay some real and serious attention to the poorest nation in our hemisphere, now that such a terrible tragedy has occurred. Before this earthquake their plight was sad, I don’t know how to term it now. We’ve been sending lots of help to faraway places while ignoring the poor and downtrodden right in our own backyard. I know they don’t have oil or anything worthwhile in monetary terms, but they are humans, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and it’s our Christian duty to help them. And yes, there have been some attempts to help, but how serious were they eh? Furthermore, nobody seemed seriously intent on dealing with the turmoil and corruption prevalent amongst the government and the wealthy elite. However Friends, this is the opportunity to turn the fortunes of Haiti around, cleanse the country of the rampant corruption and poverty, and give it a brand new start. Look at how far it has fallen eh? From being the first Black Independent Republic in the world at beginning of the 19th century, inspired by Toussaint L’Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, with a flourishing economy and healthy, wealthy and wise citizens, to being the poorest and most underdeveloped nation in the area. Oh Friends, please, let us all do as our leader Jesus would desire and lend a helping hand in some shape and form. And it’s only fitting that our Bit today is from the part of Psalm 119 written under ‘Cheth’ and sub-titled, ‘The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy.’ Let’s hope we see plenty of that mercy in Haiti. But turning to the Bit, Bruh David makes a powerful declaration: ‘Thou art my portion O Lord.’ Those words Friends are very meaningful, especially in the Old Testament context, before Jesus came. Why? Firstly, when the Lord divided the land and jobs between the tribes of Israel, He gave physical substance to all but the priests and Levites. ‘And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.’ (Num.18:20) The priestly community was granted the tithe of the people to live on. (Num.18:21) They were to concern themselves mainly with the Lord’s work. Bruh David is also claiming the Lord as his inheritance and he boldly proclaims it in Psalm 16. ‘The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest (upholds) my lot.’ (Ps.16:5) Yes Friends, it’s the Lord who upholds us, maintains us with His gracious provisions and we are all indebted to Him for whatever we have. Jeremiah also made this quite plain. ‘The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former (maker) of all things; and Israel is the rod (tribe) of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.’ (Jer.10:16) So Friends, since the Lord is the maker of all, and we are the descendants of Abraham, then we’re also entitled to Him being our portion, our inheritance. In his Lamentations, Jeremiah also confidently proclaimed: ‘The Lord is my portion saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.’ (Lam.3:24) Ah Friends, we’ve come to that magic word ‘Hope,’ It surely covers and controls many areas and circumstances in our lives, but it’s also the beacon, the ray of light to be found in all true believers. Hope is a light that should never be extinguished in our earthly walk with God. Bruh Paul puts it thus: ‘Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…’ (Heb.6:19) So Hope not only shines forth from us, but it also holds us steady as an anchor. Oh my people, our God kept His promise to reclaim our lost and sinful souls by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us. And though Bruh David wasn’t around when Jesus came to earth, He was man enough, and faithful enough to promise: ‘I have said that I would keep thy words.’ And he certainly tried to keep them. Friends, I believe the same thing applies to us. We’ve seen the light, Jesus. We’ve been cleansed from sin, granted salvation through His redeeming death, and have been promised eternal life because of His resurrection and ascension. How much more can we expect from our God eh? And all He asks is that we obey His laws, which are definitely not onerous; LOVE Him, LOVE each other, and live a lifestyle befitting followers of His Son Jesus, that will in turn bring others to Him and glory to His Holy Name. I don’t think that’s so hard mih people, when we consider all that our Father in heaven has done for us, when we didn’t deserve it too. Oh Friends, it’s nice to know that the Lord is also our portion, our inheritance based on our adoption through Christ, but by the same token we also have a responsibility to obey His statutes and live a godly and righteous life. It is the mark of our Christian faith, and we all know that many of us are not really living up to the standard Jesus expects of us. So let’s renew that promise we made at New Year’s to live a more faithful life nuh, so that our society can once more turn to God and truthfully say to Him; ‘Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words…And I have kept them.’ Much LOVE!…the believer’s duty is to further God’s kingdom…by faith, word and deed.
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 January 2010 Psalm 133:1‏

13 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 133:1     Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
 
Oh Friends, Today’s Bit might seem and sound simple, but those few words carry more weight and complexity far beyond their basic meaning. I wonder if Bruh David really knew the gravity of those words when he penned them and the role they’d play down through the ages? I doubt it. ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’ Wow! Friends, it’s a priceless statement, one of inestimable value for it highlights the very importance and sacredness of family unity. Bruh David describes it thus: ‘It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.’  (Ps.133:2) He’s likened it to the precious and costly oil they used for anointing in his day. It wasn’t wasted, but apparently when it was poured on a person’s head, enough was used so that it ran down their face, through their beard and down to the hem of their garments. The allusion to Aaron was possibly to his priestly anointing. Back in Bruh David’s time the world was small compared to ours today, but even in that small, closed society there was much dissension and disagreement within families. Bruh David’s is a prime example: one son raped his sister, then was killed by his brother, then that son, back stabbed his father and rebelled against him. So Bruh David knew first hand the destructive tendencies of disunity within families and how, if allowed to fester and brought into the open, could also have negative effects on the society itself, especially if it was amongst the ruling elite, like his family. No wonder the Psalm is titled, ‘The Joy of Brotherhood.’ And Friends, you don’t need me to tell you what a wonderful feeling it is when people live good together. Unfortunately though, there’s much too little of it in our world today, which is filled with endless strife within and between families, and it ends up spilling over into the society as a whole. That’s one of the reasons our society is so violent and unproductive; its basic entity, its foundation, the family unit, is broken, severely fractured by dissension, backbiting and confusion. No society, or any entity, can function properly if it’s foundation is not whole, not secure. And the sad part is that a lot of the strife that’s causing the dysfunction is foolish, petty, selfish stuff, brought on by the ungodly ways in which we’ve recently chosen to live. From early on, smart humans knew the negative values of strife and sought to avoid it. A perfect example is Abram and Lot. ‘And Abram said unto Lot. Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.’ (Gen.13:8) What made that conversation necessary? ‘And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of of Lot’s cattle.’ (Gen.13:7)  But Abram was wise enough to know that they both could not exist in the same area, so he gave Lot first choice, then took what remained. However Friends, total separation like that is not easy, or always possible, so we have to come to terms with our brethren on whatever problem(s) that’s causing strife and animosity between us. And don’t think for one moment that disunity is only prevalent amongst the ungodly households or societies. I have news for you Friends, those supposedly godly households today are also rife with anger, strife and dysfunction. I just heard about a son and his wife treating his mother like real dirt, laying some bad emotional abuse on her and that angered me, for it’s the same son whom the mother over the last twenty years slaved behind, after leaving an abusive marriage. But now he’s letting a virtual stranger turn him against the one who bore him and dedicated her life to raising him in a half decent manner. Why are people like that eh? And from what I gathered, she isn’t an interfering mother in law, so why the animosity and the emotional mistreatment eh? Steups! I guess it’s just a part of man’s make up, because it’s found in all walks of life; one of the most frustrating being religion. Even the people who worship the same God can’t seem to agree on basic principles or topics, that’s why there are so many splinter groups. So can you imagine the animosity inherent in those worshipping different deities? Sadly, it’s something you don’t have to imagine because it’s playing out right now over the whole world. Politics is another hotbed of disagreement. Even when there is only one right way, the partisan sides cause confusion and disagreement due to self-interest, so the best interest of the country goes a begging. Hn! I really don’t understand us nuh Friends, as the old people would say, we like to cut off our noses to spite our faces, and that’s the sad truth, for none of the family disunity so prevalent all over the world today is improving or building anything. It’s only destroying what little positive and productive family life we still have. But mih people, we, believers have to do better than we’re currently doing. A lot is at stake, and a lot of any resurgence or resurrection of good family life will have to begin with us, since that is what Jesus died for us to have, and how He wants us to live. And to be true believers, we need to set better examples than we’re currently doing. Anyway, to wrap this all up, I’ll leave us with some most appropriate words from Hebrews, which wisely advises us to  ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have  entertained angels unawares…Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Heb.13:1,2,5) Yes Friends, that’s the way we’re supposed to live, in unity with each other, in Jesus name. Let’s try to live up to that standard nuh. Much LOVE!…only when breddren live good together…can the true face and purpose of Jesus be seen…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 January 2010 Mark 10:18‏

12 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Mark 10:18     And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
 
Ah my Friends, it’s another day upon planet earth, another day when most of us will venture forth into the maelstrom, the confusion of the workplace to hopefully find ways of amassing our earthly goods and worldly possessions. But please bear in mind that though it has some merit, it is not, and I repeat, it is not the only, or even the most worthwhile goal of our lives. And way back in Jesus’ time, at least one wealthy, young ruler knew that riches didn’t mean anything when it came to eternal life, that’s why he ran up to Jesus, ‘kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ (Mark 10:17) But Jesus didn’t address the poor fellow’s question immediately, instead He asked a question of His own: ‘Why callest thou me good?’ He knew that the young man was addressing Him as a religious teacher, not as part of the Godhead. Then Jesus informed him that; ‘There is none good but one, that is, God.’ And isn’t that the truth of all truths mih people! Only God is good and perfect in everything, in all aspects of His nature and actions. His nature is defined by many wonderful attributes like kindness, LOVE, patience, mercy, forgiveness, and grace, which then beget the actions associated with each of them. So Jesus wasn’t trying to be a smart-alec or rain on the fellow’s parade, but was just reminding him that no mere mortal deserves or merits the title ‘good.’ Such a title is merited by only One Being; the immortal God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All the good that surrounds us in this world is a true reflection of God’s goodness. ‘And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.’ (Gen.1:10) Yes Friends, right there, at the very beginning, the Lord’s goodness is shown, is highlighted, and there’s nowhere else, no other source from which good can be derived other than from Him. Note too, in describing Himself to Moses, some of the descriptions were; ‘The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.’ (Ex.34:6) His goodness is certainly abundant my people, that’s why He can share so much of it with us, His beautiful, hand made creation. And we ought not to forget that cause it’s a very crucial aspect of our faith; always expecting good and not bad from our God. Hannah knew this when she sang her song of joy, re the Lord answering her prayer for a son, Samuel. She joyfully declared: ‘There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none besides thee: neither is there any rock like our God.’ (1 Sam.2:2) Praise His Holy Name oh my people! And the next thing Friends, is do we truly feel that way about our God? Do our hearts and souls sincerely sing the praises and the glory of the Most High God Jehovah? They should, and not only when we receive a special blessing like Hannah did, but all the time, cause He is constantly blessing us with things like, life, family, friends, food, good weather, abundant harvests, a roof over our heads and all the basic aspects of earthly life. Those are the things we take for granted, but we only receive them because of God’s LOVE and goodness towards us. As James so rightly and proudly proclaims: ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation) neither shadow of turning.’ (James 1:17) Yes my people, just like we talk about doing things out of the goodness of our hearts, it’s the same way our God provides the necessities of life for us from the goodness of His heart. And yuh know what Friends, our God is so good, His goodness is so abundant, in fact it knows no bounds whatsoever, that He not only makes our lives on earth comfortable and enjoyable, but He even created a special plan whereby we could enjoy eternal life with Him after the frail, physical bodies He built around our spirits have returned to the dust, the earth from which He made them. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we could be redeemed, washed clean and reclaimed under the broad, safe, protective umbrella of His LOVE and goodness. As Bruh Paul puts it: ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.’ (Eph. 2:8) Ah mih people, we don’t know lucky we really are nuh, worshipping a LOVING God like we do, because it’s from that LOVE, that all the goodness He bestows on us flows. Without LOVE there can be no goodness, for that’s the basic essence of LOVE. It’s there, it exists as a glowing example to us of the great care and concern that our heavenly Father bears for us. Please don’t forget that, cause it’s the backbone, the foundation of our faith; truth, righteousness and goodness which flow from the Almighty’s abundance of unconditional LOVE towards His sinful, rebellious and wayward children. And since we’re true believers, let’s go forth and spread that same sense and feeling of goodness, mercy, forgiveness, redemption and LOVE to others that the Lord has so generously showered on us. That is our godly purpose. Let’s do it all in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE!…the fountain of all goodness…flows forth from…God’s LOVE…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 January 2010 2 Chronicles 33:12‏

11 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Chronicles 33:12    And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Monday morning, cold and miserable, when the basic work week, read rat race, begins anew. That means believers need to be fully clothed in their spiritual armour before they leave home to face the enemy hordes, beginning on the crowded highways, leading to the concrete jungles where we slave during the day for a pittance. Those are the times when we’re most vulnerable to Beelzebub’s wiles and lies. So please listen to Bruh Paul and dress for maximum protection. ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’ (Eph.6:11) Otherwise we might just end up like Manasseh, one of Judah’s kings, who rebuilt all the high places and altars of heathen worship that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. ‘So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken (obey). (2 Chron.33:9-10) But what else is new eh Friends? The human spirit has rebelled against authority from the earliest times, even when we know that doing so will undoubtedly mean loss, hardship and punishment. And so said, so done: ‘Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns (with nose hooks), and bound him with fetters (bronze chains), and carried him to Babylon.’ (2 Chron.33:11) Oh my people, when are we going to learn eh? It’s the same thing we’re doing now, rollicking and rolling in all sorts of ungodliness that  is breaking our heavenly Father’s heart. Just like we don’t like to punish our children, but must if they disobey, He has to do the same with us. For though He’s a titan of LOVE, He’s also one of truth and justice, meaning that at some stage of the game we will pay for our disobedience, just like Manasseh. The sad part is that we only seem to smarten up after we’ve been punished. Why is that eh? Can we have a mental screw missing or something? Or are we just so proud and arrogant, believing we know it all, that we blatantly ignore numerous previous examples of godly retribution and figure it won’t happen to us? Why? I don’t know. The Lord’s been saying it from day one:  ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’ (2 Chron.7: 14) And since we worship and unchangeable God, that means the decree still stands; ‘disobey and you will be punished,’ and it will stand till the end of time. However, it’s both amusing and sad that once misfortune befalls us, we’re suddenly transformed from big and bumptious, to small and humble, like Manasseh. ‘And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.’ Oh Friends, isn’t that a vivid reminder of our own behaviour? When things are going good, we have no time for God, but once we run into trouble, we’re quick to cry out to Him. Obviously Manasseh never learned from his father’s submission to the Lord, nor we from ours. He didn’t understand that prevention is always better than a cure. ‘Nothwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.’ (2 Chron.32:26) Some of us, like Manasseh, apparently can only learn the hard way. Then we get all teary eyed and fall on our knees and beg for mercy. That’s exactly what Manasseh did. ‘And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.’ (2 Chron.33:13) Praise the Lord for His LOVING kindness and mercy yes mih people, cause we’re no different. Only when trials and tribulations beset us that many of us even remember there’s a God. But Friends, it should not be a sort of knee-jerk reaction. We should be walking in obedience to the Lord’s will from the very beginning. As Peter rightly advises: ‘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. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in (experienced by) your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet.5:6-11) Friends, that’s how true believers are supposed to operate. So let’s smarten up and behave the way we should nuh. Much LOVE!…if yuh doh hear…yuh surely going to feel…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 January 2010 Proverbs 19:13‏

10 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 19:13     A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
 
Oh Friends, before we get into the Bit, let me apologize for a numerical error I made yesterday. I said that I’d been writing this wonderful piece (smile) for four years. Sorry, but it’s only three, though we’re into the fourth calendar year; 07,08,09,10. The full three years won’t be up till late February, early March. I guess my faith was much stronger than my counting. But that’s good cause I’m obviously foreseeing myself having completed four years, and hopefully many more, which all depends though on the plans of the Grand Master. And who knows what plans He has in store for any of us? We’re sure though, that whatever they are, they will be for our good, to enable, not to harm us. But enough of me and my rambling, let’s get to the task at hand, the second part of the Bit; ‘and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.’ Hn, hn! Cousin Sol was really something else yes in his choice of words. Though we may not like them, they do convey the truth. A wife’s constant complaining and dissatisfaction are like an unending irritation that just wearies one’s soul. It compares to the monotonous buzzing of a bee or some night insect that keeps on making the same sound, which eventually drives you crazy. You can even liken it to an itch in some unreachable part of your body. You know how those can be very irritating. Some of you female readers might take umbrage at the statements posed here, but if you’ll look at the situation honestly, you’ll find that the statements are true. It is difficult to live with anyone who’s usually complaining, dissatisfied and negative. Don’t worry ladies, it also applies to men, but it just so happens that the female of the species tends to be the more nagging and complaining partner. (smile) But whether it’s a contentious wife or husband, they both can ruin the other’s life, home and family. And Sol doesn’t leave it there, he offers up some more wise words on the subject, for example: ‘It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.’ (Prov.21:9) And isn’t that the gospel truth Friends! It’s often easier to live peacefully in a little corner of the house by yourself, than in the whole house with an annoying spouse. Now if that didn’t grab you, listen to this statement. ‘It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.’ (Prov.21:19) Hn! Sol wasn’t making joke there at all nuh Friends. He claims it’s better to live in the desert, than with an angry, miserable person, which is pushing the envelope a bit, but if your thing is peace at all costs, then it does make sense. Sadly though, dissatisfaction, nagging and constant harassment is a prime reason for the breakdown of the family in today’s society. For one reason or another, few people seem to be relatively happy and contented with their spouses, and that negativity eventually seeps down to the children, then the entire household becomes contentious and unhappy. Oh Friends, the purpose of two people living together in matrimony is to help, encourage, uplift, and reassure each other, to provide a LOVING relationship, not only of the romantic kind, but one that enhances the human condition, that makes one feel like there’s something to live for, a reason to get up every morning. Unfortunately, we’re seeing less and less of these relationships. Spouses seem to expect perfection from their partners, when they themselves are far from perfect, and like everything else nowadays, there’s only a very small, window of opportunity. Understanding and compromise between imperfect people doesn’t exist much anymore. It’s simply, if we can’t fix it right now, then see you later alligator, it’s over. Just the very pace of modern society and it’s many demands works against the building of successful relationships. Today it takes much more gumption and willingness to keep a relationship afloat, than say two or three decades ago. Back then most people expected to be in it for the long haul, and something serious would have to happen for it to come crashing down. But today any frivolous nonsense will dissolve relationships. That’s why we have to be very careful before entering any long-term relationship. We have to know the negative baggage that each person is bringing to it, though the baggage usually comes out only after the relationship has been cemented. It’s one of the many reasons young people don’t get married or commit to a long term affair and just shack up, figuring that if it doesn’t work out, then it’ll be much easier to end. Oh Friends, no relationship is perfect, but we won’t have a stable society if we keep jumping here, there and every where, because stability comes from an inner sense of purpose to generally keep a good thing going. And many of the problems stem from pure selfishness and/or the exaggerated expectations on someone’s part, which in turn is generated by the unreasonable and selfish attitudes prevailing in our society. But Friends, true progress only results from stability. So if we intend to build a stable society, then we need to stop all the fussing and fighting over petty and immaterial things, cut out the dissension in our families and outside relationships, otherwise it will just continue to deteriorate. My people, we are our worse enemies, and until we realize that and truly decide to change, then there isn’t much hope for us. And I’ll close with a statement outlining how it should be. I’m not sure how I came by the original statement, but I’ve added my own touch to it. And it says: ‘Behind, before, or beside every successful man or woman, is a sensible, understanding man or woman.’ Yes mih Friends, we can only improve when we’re working with sensible, understanding people. So let’s see if we can’t generate some badly needed understanding in our society this year nuh. Much LOVE!…it takes one hand to wash another… two hands to clap…and two people to tango…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 January 2010 Proverbs 19:13‏

09 Jan 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 19:13     A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
 
Ah Friends, I am ready to write, but I don’t know what to write. (smile) I’ve asked for help, but it hasn’t arrived as yet. So all I can do is wait and hope, but with the faith and assurance that help will be forthcoming before it’s too late. Yuh know, sometimes the Father drives me bonkers with His last minute style. I guess He’s trying to improve my patience level and see how strong my faith really is. Oh my faith is strong, else I wouldn’t be writing this Bit for almost four years now. My impatience meter though, that’s another story. It has improved over the years, but I doubt I’ll ever lose the urge, the desire to get stuff done within a reasonable time frame, rather than always be on the last minute train, rushing to complete a project or go somewhere, since that course is always fraught with mistakes and problems. Do you hear me chuckling Friends? That’s because our God is not only wonderful re blessings, mercy and forgiveness, but He also has a highly refined sense of humour. You’ll notice that though I didn’t know what to write at first, I ended up writing a lot. That was the help I sought, but given in a roundabout way. I had to make a start before He would intervene. I guess that was just one of His little ways of testing me, of gauging my level of surrender, to see if I’m a foolish son who’ll bring calamity upon his Father. He knows that I won’t knowingly cause Him problems, but we can’t say the same for many of our children in relation to us, human parents. And that’s especially true in this day of family, state and church breakdown, hence a time of untold freedom, lax morality and many other negative things like the current cult of celebrity, with no redeeming qualities or values whatsoever. Sol contends that ‘A foolish son is the calamity of his father.’ And that has much truth to it, for an unwise son could ruin a father’s life and home at any time, but even more so under the prevailing lax, loose conditions of our current society. Nowadays that proverb doesn’t only apply to sons but also to daughters, since many restrictions have been lifted from their once cloistered, convent-like existence. And I don’t care what the supposed experts say, one of the main reasons for this lax, lackadaisical society is the parents lax, lackadaisical attitude and approach to parenting. The Good Book makes it abundantly clear that if you spare the rod you’ll spoil the child. And we’re not talking about physical abuse, but children need to be made to understand right from the very beginning that disobedience will be punished. Now if God punishes His children for disobedience, why shouldn’t we do the same to ours? It’s our parental duty, and shirking it for whatever reason, doesn’t help, it only encourages them in the negative patterns. My children can’t tell you they were physically abused, and though they were basically good children, every so often they needed a slap or strap to keep them on the straight and narrow. And I know a lot of people consider a strap or slap physical abuse, but you don’t have to overdo it, and it does work in most cases. But that’s why we have children running around like ‘leggo’ beasts, with no manners, and no respect for any authority, especially their parents. Steups! The way I hear some children talking to their parents eh, mine wouldn’t dream of doing that with me, cause they know that big as they are, I wouldn’t be afraid to box the teeth out of their mouths. Ah mih people. Sol does have two other interesting statements I want to point out. ‘The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother shame.’ (Prov.29:15)  ‘Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.’ (Prov.15:17) Now those are two bits of scripture that this generation of parents either didn’t know or for some reason ignored, hence the general lawlessness and sad behaviour of the upcoming generation. To some extent you can’t blame them because we didn’t teach them the right things or the right way. Sol also had something sensible to say on that point. ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ (Prov.22:6) Oh Friends, don’t tell we’ve trained up our children right, otherwise they wouldn’t be as selfish, immoral, rude and disrespectful as they are. And Friends I’m no prude or unwavering disciplinarian, in fact I’m quite liberal, but children must be taught from an early age that there are boundaries and limits a decent society or family will tolerate, and if they cross those boundaries or exceed the limits then they will pay a price in accordance with the severity of their disobedience. Oh Friends, I don’t know how many of you agree with me, but I’m sure you can’t be thrilled with the overall behaviour of young people today. And I’m not saying that every situation calls for a slap or strap, there are other ways to get the message across. All I’m saying is that we can’t completely rule out physical contact, at our own or society’s expense, cause that’s all many people understand. My mother punished me in other ways, but I always knew the strap was a real possibility, and sometimes it was preferable to other forms of punishment, because your skin soon cooled from the few lashes and you could get back to your normal routine, while some of the other forms were much more intrusive and emotionally painful. And that’s what I don’t like about some of the new fangled ways of punishment. I think they tend to leave more emotional scars on the children than the odd slap or strap. Oh Friends we’ve only covered one half of the Bit. Hn! From not knowing what to write, to writing so much, but those who know me, know that children’s generally negative behaviour today is one of my pet peeves. It annoys me no end. Anyway that’s my spiel for today. We’ll tackle the other part tomorrow, God willing. Till then Much LOVE!…a strong, god-fearing society must have… firm, reasonable borders and limits…but also requisite punishment for exceeding them…
 

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