Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 November 2009 Jeremiah 23:32‏

08 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Jeremiah 23:32     Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
 
It’s the end of the week Friends; Sabbath Time! Remember we’ve got to keep it holy; fellowship with each other, give thanks and praise, revitalize, rejuvenate our minds, bodies and souls. Those things enable us to face another week of serious battle with Beelzebub and his evil cronies. And Today’s Bit is a very telling piece of scripture in that area. First though, let’s check out this quote: ‘Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them.’ That’s courtesy of Seneca, the teacher and philosopher in Roman times, during Nero’s reign. And though it seems illogical, it is the living truth, for we have all noticed that when darkness falls, our troubles suddenly become more up front and pronounced, our illnesses seem to get worse, and we’re always more afraid in the dark than in the light. Who knows why? One would think that when everything’s peaceful and quiet, our troubles would quieten too, but they certainly don’t. Perhaps in all the activity and light of the day time, we can more easily face our fears and problems, because we’re moving around, interacting with others and don’t have as much time by ourselves to think, worry and fret. And it was the same way with the priests and prophets in Jeremiah’s day; what was expected of them wasn’t forthcoming. The Lord was angry at those who claimed to prophesy in His Name. ‘I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart.’ (Jer.23:25-26) Oh Friends, that’s the worse thing that could have happened to the Israelites, for it caused them to go astray, to turn away from the God of their fathers. ‘I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.’ (Jer.23:21-22) Oh my people, it’s sad, but the same thing is happening today. A lot of false prophets, priests and otherwise who claim to be of God are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing, agents of the enemy, and unfortunately are leading many of God’s people astray, either with outright lies, or slanted messages or whatever best suits their selfish, ungodly purposes. Everyday you hear about supposed men of God committing atrocious, ungodly acts; fraud against their own parishioners, sexual immorality, even actual devil worship. It’s also very sad that so many of us fall for their lies and deceit and thus end up going against God’s will rather than with it. And to think that the Lord won’t forcefully root them out and make examples of them because He knows them all. But His mental capacity is much higher than ours and consequently His plans more far reaching and complicated. Believe me though Friends, all those ungodly felons who pretend to be men of God will eventually get their comeuppance, just in the Lord’s own time. Oh my brethren it was just yesterday we talked about the numerous divisions and schisms in the church, and this is one cause of it. Too many people are interpreting the Good Book in their own fashion, thus splintering Christ’s body into too many small pieces, with no cohesion. And Friends, once there’s no cohesion, then all falls down, nothing will be built, at least not on a solid foundation. I know the Bible is a great book, but can it truly bear as many interpretations and conclusions as currently abound. It not only lead’s God’s people astray, but it also calls down His wrath upon us when we follow these false teachers. ‘Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies.’ It seems in Jeremiah’s time though, that the Lord brought some of them to heel, like Pashur, son of Immer the priest and chief governor in the Lord’s house. He imprisoned Jeremiah, smote him and placed him in the stocks. But on release, Jerry prophesied against him and his friends. They would be taken captive to Babylon, ‘and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.’ (Jer.20:6) Like the prophets in Jerry’s time were telling the people not to serve the king of Babylon, against the words of the Lord. ‘And it shall come to pass that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand….But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the Lord, and they shall till it, and dwell therein.’ (Jer.27:8,11) Ah my people, there’s another instance of the Lord’s apparent contrariness. We would think that He wouldn’t want His people to serve a heathen king, but He obviously had His reasons for it. Oh Friends there are too many religions, denominations, and smaller entities supposedly under the umbrella of God’s church, and with each having their own axe to grind, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see sufficient cohesion anytime soon to make any impact against the forces of evil, much less a lasting one. However, let the false teachers and preachers beware, for they will meet their maker eventually and pay the price for their lies and deceit. And as Jeremiah so aptly lamented; ‘Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?’  (Lam.3:37) My people, in these troubled and evil times, please be careful in whom you place your trust and your assets, for the enemy is out there ravenously seeking the blood of the righteous. We’ll continue this tomorrow. Till then, God willing, Much LOVE!…to know who’s false or true…we must know what the Good Book says…so read it…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 November 2009 Psalm 35:27‏

07 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 35:27     Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
 
Oh Friends, it’s daybreak, time to be up and about our godly business! We all have great acts to perform in His Name. However, ‘To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.’ That’s the advice of one Vauvenarques. And it does have some merit, for if we’re going to do outstanding things, we can’t let ourselves be limited by time. And we all have important work to do for Christ. It might not seem so to the ordinary man, but the work of each believer is of immense importance in the eyes of Jesus. My brethren, please realize that with God, time is immaterial. Whatever He requires of us, we’ve been given sufficient time to accomplish it. But since most great things take a fair amount of time to come to fruition, we can’t wait to begin our great work, or keep putting it off through procrastination or mere laziness, claiming we have lot’s of time. That’s when the Father will step in and cause us problems, or simply keep needling and/or admonishing us in His special way, until we get up off our rear ends and begin our great work in His Name. I can testify to that with this Scrip-Bit, for when He first broached the idea, I laughed in disbelief, figuring I wasn’t qualified to write on scripture. But He kept needling me until I took it seriously and began writing little blurbs, which soon changed to longer pieces, as I got comfortable with it. Okay, so sometimes they seem long, don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger, writing what I’m directed to write. (smile) Psalm 35 is a prayer of Bruh David’s for rescue from his enemies. He opens by saying; ‘Plead my case O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me…say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’ (Ps.35:1,3) Yes my Friends, we all have people who fight against us when we try to do the Lord’s work, but that’s only natural since the powers of darkness don’t want the Lord’s work to prosper in this ungodly world. But tell them mih people, in no uncertain terms too, that no power on earth or in heaven can stop the Creator from achieving His purpose. Bruh David pleads for the Lord to ‘Let destruction come upon him at unawares (unexpectedly); and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.’ (Ps.35:8) When we come to the Lord with problems in the pursuit of His Holy purpose, the Lord will generally rectify it, unless he’s trying to teach or show us something. But be sure to be thankful whenever He makes a way for us. ‘And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.’ (Ps. 35:9)  Later on, Bruh David again pleads for the Lord to destroy the unrighteous. ‘Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.’ (Ps.35:26) That’s a logical plea my people when we try to do right but Lucifer’s buddies constantly hinder us by putting obstacles in our path. That’s one side of the coin; the evil side. Let’s now consider the godly side. No doubt the ungodly are standing strong together. So too should the godly. As Bruh David rightly declares: ‘Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.’ Yes my people, we believers should all stand together and be joyful when the enemy is routed, and/or the righteous cause has been fulfilled over their ungodly protestation. Bruh Paul puts it this way: ‘Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.’ (Rom.12:15) He also says ‘That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all members suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.’ (1 Cor.12:25-26) Oh Friends, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of believers coming together as one and staying united; presenting a united front, weeping together, rejoicing together, and above all continually praising and magnifying our great God together, for He’s the central theme of our Christian movement. Without Him, we are nothing, and have nothing, for He takes pleasure in our well being and His joy is our strength. So please, let’s not allow the enemy to divide and conquer us any longer. It’s time to put up a strong, united front in the Holy Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to make a united push against the enemy and win back the ground we’ve lost in this generation. So let’s stop with all the ‘isms and schisms’ and come together as one, battle-hardened unit and fight for our God. If we don’t, the enemy will just keep dividing and conquering us. And that’s certainly not  what Jesus planned or desires. Much LOVE!…oh my people…it’s time…time to really stand up strong for Jesus…or simply shut up…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 November 2004 Malachi 3:10‏

06 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Malachi 3:10      Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
 
Oh Friends, what a challenge from the Most High God Jehovah! Are we up to it? We should be. Sorry, the right answer is, of course! He’s been challenging His followers for eons now, and those who take up the challenge always lose, cause we can never out give God. Remember two days ago we mentioned Jacob promising to tithe, give a tenth of his earnings to God if He brought him back home safely? And Jacob did pretty well for himself, both in term of his earthly wealth and his family. Oh Friends, it’s all a part of what we’ve been recently discussing, giving and sowing. Today we’re dealing particularly with giving to our God, the one who makes it possible for us to acquire anything in the first place. So here, in the days of Malachi, He’s challenging His people, as a gesture of their good intentions, of their right hearts, to give ten percent of anything they earn to His house, His church, and see if their earnings won’t increase dramatically. Now this has been a contentious issue from the very start, even till now. People find all sorts of reasons why not. Oh Friends, the Lord Himself doesn’t really need it, but the people who look after His church and its affairs certainly do. If we want them to look after the church’s work properly then we’ve got to provide them with the means to do so. Who is the church? We are. It’s therefore our responsibility to ensure that there is enough to do the Lord’s work. And Friends, a tenth is not all that much; just ten cents out of every dollar. Is that too much to give our God? Are we going to begrudge Him a few measly cents out of all He’s given us? I certainly hope not. Sol wisely said to ‘ Honour the Lord with thy substance (possessions), and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses (vats) shall burst out with new wine.’ (Prov.3:9-10) And Friends, besides being wise, Sol was also filthy rich, so if he says that the Lord shall be the first recipient of our increase, whom are we to argue eh, especially when that generosity will bring us bigger increases? Therefore my people, let’s do as our God challenges: ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat (food) in mine house.’ Yes mih breddren, let’s give generously to our local churches so that they can continue to do the good work they’re doing, and even improve on it. You know in these disastrous times it’s the church that many turn to, giving them an even bigger role than normal to play. Now they have to spread the Word, but also help more poor, feed more hungry, clothe more naked and look after more sick, because in hurting times there are always more folks needing help. Now let’s get one thing straight; tithing doesn’t mean our total giving should be equal to ten percent. It means giving ten percent to the Lord’s church alone. Any other giving you do should be outside of that. I know it sounds a bit onerous, especially now, when we’re all struggling to keep our heads above water. But Friends, that’s the challenge I’m throwing out to all of us today. Let’s give ten percent to our local church, in addition to the other organizations we help. Let’s rise to God’s challenge, let’s load His storehouse ‘and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ Wow! Oh mih people, yuh know what happened the last time the Lord opened the windows of heaven? That was in the time of the great flood; it rained forty days and nights. (Gen.7:11-12) That just goes to show how much the Lord will bless us in return, we won’t have space to store it. Isn’t that wonderful! Now listen to this story of how our God works. After the idols were destroyed in Israel, under Hezekiah’s reign, and the people returned to serving the Lord, the king instructed everybody to offer tithes. They began in the third month and finished in the seventh, that’s four months of offerings. And when Hezekiah asked after the offerings, ‘Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have plenty left for the Lord: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is in this great store (abundance) (2 Chron.31:10) Yes mih Friends, the Lord blessed His people when they seriously began giving their tithes. It will be the same with us if we upgrade our giving to one tenth of what we earn. As usual though Friends, there’s always this proviso; we must do it out of a right heart, not just because we expect the Lord to bless us with more. Remember, in whatever we do, the state of our hearts is the most important factor in the Lord’s eyes. Oh Friends, these are probably some of the roughest times many of us have ever experienced, and many of us are struggling just to stay afloat, but believe me, there are plenty people suffering worse than us, and it’s our bounden duty, as followers of Jesus, to help the poor, sick, suffering and downtrodden. This we can do through our local churches, but sadly the churches are also suffering because we the members are hurting. However my people, the less fortunate must be helped, and it’s our job to see to it. So I’m imploring us, let’s step up to the plate, and accept the challenge the Lord has thrown out to us today. Let’s tithe, so that the Lord’s storehouse can be full, and enable His church to properly carry out its duties of spreading the Word and helping the less fortunate. If we do it from a right heart, the Lord will eventually bless us with more than we can ever ask or imagine. Oh Friends, please, let’s take this leap of faith so that the Lord’s Name can be suitably glorified in a land that’s become very ungodly. That’s a major part of why we’re in such dire straits now, and to improve it, we have to turn back to the Lord, through prayer, worship and tithing. I know that many of us give generously in terms of what we think we can afford, but I implore us to now make a conscious effort to tithe from this point forward. We won’t regret it. Much LOVE!…we waste more than ten percent on Lucifer…so why can’t we give our God a tenth…it’s put to much better use…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 November 2009 Proverbs 28:20‏

05 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 28:20     A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
 
Morning mih people! The trumpet has sounded, so let’s be up and at them! Clothe yourself in your armour, cause it’s time to report for battle. Be sure you have on your helmet of salvation to guard your mind; the breastplate of righteousness to protect your emotions; the belt of truth, to stay centred in the Word, so you can walk, talk, live and testify to the truth. Now you can’t go into battle barefooted, so lace up your sandals of peace that wherever you walk, calm and peace will follow you. Ah my Friends, all smart warriors need a shield, and ours is that of faith, which can so ingeniously deflect the fiery darts of the enemy and provide solid protection. And last but not least, in fact most important, is our sword; the sword of the Spirit – the Good Book, the most mighty weapon known to man, the spiritual force that has the awesome power to convict you or set you free. And now that we’re fully dressed, let’s go out and join the fray. (smile) It’s serious though Friends, we cannot leave home without our battle gear else we’ll soon be toast. The powers of evil and darkness will attack us as soon as we step out, and if we’re not properly protected, sure and strong in our faith, then they’ll have us wavering back and forth, filled with doubt and confusion, in no time at all. For ‘He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed…A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:6,8) To be faithful to anything, person or cause, means standing strong in one position or another, not being wishy washy and sitting on the fence. Consequently, to be faithful to God entails whole heartedly embracing His cause, His Word, and following it to the end, whether it be bitter or sweet. Now that’s definitely not an easy task, that’s why the Lord has provided us with all that protection and firepower. So when the battle lines are drawn with the army of the wicked world, we are in no doubt of where we stand; faithful to the Lord God Jehovah, with superb protection, and the most powerful weapons available, ready to fight to the death. And my people, the Lord has made it very clear from early on, that ‘A faithful man shall abound in blessings.’ His words to Asa, king of Judah, through the prophet Azariah were: ‘Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.’ (2 Chron.15:7) Sol says if we feed or clothe our enemies; ‘Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.’ (Prov.25:22) That’s because we’re being faithful, LOVING our enemies as Jesus directed. And Jesus said that when we’re persecuted in His Name, standing faithful for Him, that we should; ‘Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuteth they the prophets which were before you.’ (Mat.5:12) So you see Friends, once we’re being faithful to Jesus, standing strong in His Most Holy Name, withstanding the fiery arrows the enemy shoots at us, then we’ll be richly rewarded. If not here on earth, then surely in heaven, when Jesus comes again to set up His everlasting kingdom. My people, that’s the faithful side of the coin. What happens if we foolishly err and join the enemy’s ranks, seeking worldly fame and riches? ‘But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.’ That means we won’t go unpunished. To be truthful, nothing done in haste, turns out as good as it should or could, hence the adage, ‘more haste less speed.’ And as we said yesterday, what we sow, we reap, also what goes around, comes around. So if we’re into greed, envy, unrighteousness, resentment and the wicked ways of Lucifer, then we’ll certainly suffer the pangs of God’s wrath. And Bruh Paul’s words most fittingly illustrate this unwise behaviour. ‘But they that will (desire to) be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful (harmful) lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition (ruin and destruction) For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith) and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (1 Tim.6:9-10) Yes Friends, coveting the things of this world is a sure formula for disaster. The only way to avoid it is by staying faithful and true to the Most High God Jehovah; Him who raised up the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He created us all, and provides us with everything we  need and have. His yoke is easy, and His burden light, but we have to live by His rules, and to do that we must stand strong, cause we’re embarked on a long, oftimes rough and rugged journey. However, our omnipotent, omniscient God knows that, therefore He provided the necessary protection and firepower so we can fight the good fight without doubt or worry. But we need to put on His protective armour everyday before we march into battle with the forces of darkness, else we’ll surely be defeated. So let’s remember, without God’s armour, we’re no match for the enemy, and we won’t be faithful for long, so our blessings won’t abound. We’ll end up fighting on Lucifer’s side, for the fleshly lusts of the world. And that my Friends, is totally unacceptable. Please believe that the Lord is a rewarder of those who seek Him, of those who reverence and obey Him. And we’ll close with some appropriate words from Bruh David. ‘O LOVE the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth (repays fully) the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.’ (Ps.31:23-24) I couldn’t say it any better my people. So till we meet again, God willing, Much LOVE!…be strong in the Lord…gird yourself with His armour…it’s the prescription for victory…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 November 2009 Luke 6:38‏

04 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Luke 6:38     Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
 
Oh Friends, it’s another bright, bountiful, beautiful day, chocked full of God’s wonderful mercies! So let’s rise and shine and greet it with much enthusiasm and faith, for we know that it will turn out great. It just has to, cause we’re alive and brimming over with hope. And once you’ve put on your battle gear, let’s go out and do as Jesus directs: ‘Give,’ of our hearts, money, time and knowledge. Now here’s a quote that expands on Jesus’ directive. ‘It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give when unasked through understanding.’ Oh Friends, what wise and powerful advice from Kahlil Gibran. It’s good to give if we’re asked, but it’s always so much more edifying, enlightening and soul building when we see a need and fill it without being asked. That shows the real Spirit of Jesus within us mih people. Jesus asked others what they needed, merely to publicly display their faith and aid in building His earthly Church, but through His Divine powers He always knew their needs. We, on the other hand, don’t always know what others need, especially when we encounter either those too proud or too sacred to ask for help. However, the important point here Friends is that we should give, always be on the lookout for ways to give. What’s the saying? Live to give. Our lives should be structured around giving. For it’s just like sowing; the more you sow, the more you’ll reap. Jesus didn’t beat about the bush; He spelled it right out for us. ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you.’ It’s a simple, but true and powerful statement. It’s how our God set up His universe. Sol puts it this way. ‘He that hath pity upon the poor  lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.’ (Prov.19:17) The only problem Friends is that today our society has become so selfish and self-centred that giving is frowned upon, scorned in too many areas of our lives. It’s certainly sad that in the midst of plenty and marvellous technological inventions, there are more needy people than ever. It’s reached such epidemic proportions that charity and charitable giving have now become big business.  Sadly though, fraud is playing such a big part in it that people are becoming increasingly reluctant to give of what little they have. And you really can’t blame them, since recently so many fraudulent supposedly charitable schemes have been exposed. It certainly makes you shake your head in sad bewilderment. Then we wonder why we’re becoming such a cold and heartless society. But it’s all a part of the equation, for when we see others living high on the charitable avails, it doesn’t do anything but harden our hearts, and consequently makes it more difficult for the genuine ones to raise funds. However my brethren, though we have to be careful how we dispense our hard earned assets, it’s still our bounden duty as believers, as followers of Christ to make giving a serious part of our lives, beginning with our tithes to God’s Church. Remember Jacob’s vow when his father Isaac sent him to Padan-aran to find a wife of his own people and he was afraid along the way? He vowed that if the Lord looked after him and brought him back to his father’s house safely, ‘then the Lord shall be my God…and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.’ (Gen.28:21-22) So we’ve got to start with giving to our God. He comes first in all we do. And listen to Sol again. ‘He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.’ (Prov.28:27) So please, let’s not get turned off by the numerous pleas for help, many of them illegal and fraudulent, and just remember what Jesus said, that if we give, it will be given to us; ‘good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket).’ Wow Friends! Yuh see how much of whatever we give will be returned to us: generous helpings, packed tightly together, like a bag of salt or sugar. You can shake and press it down so even more will fit in the container, then it’ll just keep flowing over. ‘For with the same measure that ye mete (use) withal it shall be measured unto you again.’ Yes my people, it’s the same old philosophy of life; whatever we give out, we’ll get back. So if we give generously, we’ll reap generously. If we give grudgingly and sparingly, then we’ll reap the same. As James says: ‘For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against (triumphs over) judgement.’ (James 2:13)That’s just the way of life my people. It’s like the boomerang story; what goes around, comes around. So if we want to receive, then we have to give. If we want to receive a lot, then we have to give a lot. And if we want to receive good things, then we have to give good things, cause we can’t sow corn and expect to reap peas. But before we close Friends, one word of caution on giving. Please, when we give, don’t do it to show off, or afterwards boast about it. Remember Jesus’ words on the matter. ‘Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.’ (Mat. 6:1) Please, don’t let us be like the hypocrite Pharisees, who only gave to look good in the public eye, not from a genuine heart. ‘But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms (charitable deed) may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.’ (Mat. 6:3-4) Much LOVE mih people!…a truly generous soul…is a godly soul…and finds much favour in heaven…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 November 2009 Psalm 2:12‏

03 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 2:12     Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
 
Oh my wonderful Friends in Jesus, many of us are in the autumn of our lives, getting ready to face the winter years. We might also be feeling fearful and worried about getting old and ever closer to meeting our maker. But here are some wonderful words of wisdom on the subject. ‘Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it is harvest time.’ That’s the wisdom of one Judah Leib Lazerov. And did he ever hit the nail on the head mih people! Old age is not to be feared. We should welcome it, use it, be proud that we’ve lived so long, see it as a sign of wisdom, experience and integrity. It means that we’ve seen and done a lot, have developed life skills and other physical aptitudes that we can now share with the younger generation, even though they consider us old and  long past our best before date. But as Jesus said, we have to forgive them, for in their immaturity, they figure that youth is immortal and knows it all. They don’t realize that youth is really like the seeds Jesus spoke about that flourish quickly in the cool of morning, but perish in the noonday sun because they have no deep, strong roots, no solid foundation. That foundation is only built bit by bit through actually living life, experiencing its ups and downs. And that’s why our winter years should be considered a time of harvest. We’ve sown good, bad and indifferent seed, experienced the joys and sorrows, and finally realize what life’s all about. And obviously the most important thing we ought to have done in our lives, the earlier the better, and now teaching the youth, is to ‘Kiss the Son.’ Yes my Friends, that’s the act of homage, of submission to Jesus that we should all make. Psalm 2 is titled, ‘Why do the heathen rage?’ It’s attributed to Bruh David in Acts 4:25 and called the second psalm in Acts 13:33. It basically deals with the naive, preposterous notions of earthly rulers to successfully attack God’s anointed king, when it’s so obvious they’ll fail. ‘Yet have I set (installed) my king upon the holy hill of Zion.’ (Ps.2: 6) Once the Lord has anointed His servant, he cannot be touched. Technically speaking, all the heirs of Bruh David to sit on his throne were anointed, however, the psalmist was really speaking of that special descendant promised to Bruh David’s line; the Messiah, the Mighty One, who’d vanquish all the earth. He thus admonishes: ‘Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.’ (Ps.2:10-11) Friends, that same advice stands today, and we have the advantage of factual evidence that the Messiah came in the form of Jesus, but it also means we have no excuses to not fear, serve and rejoice in His Name. The people of old could say that it was only talk, but we now know it for a fact. Unfortunately, not enough people are doing as Psalm 2 warns: ‘Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.’ Oh Friends, it only takes a little of His anger to cause us to perish and it’s borne out in John’s Revelation when the seals were opened. After the Lamb opened the sixth seal…Wow! ‘And lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. And the kings of the earth…the great men…the rich men…chief captains…mighty men…every bondman and every freeman hid themselves in the dens (caves) and in the rocks of the mountains. And said to the mountains and rocks. Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?’ (Rev.6:12,15-17) Oh Friends, it will be such a terrible day that the unbelievers will even wish the rocks and mountains to fall on them and save them from seeing God’s face. But people, that’s impossible, for we may run, but we can never hide from our Creator. And as to the question, ‘who shall be able to stand?’ The obvious answer is the believer in and follower of the Risen Lamb. ‘Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.’ Yes my brethren, unless we have trusted in the Saviour, come the  judgement day, it’ll be a sad, sorry, sorrowful time. And that’s one of the many things we learn from living a long, useful and productive life; you only reap what you sow. So if you sow ungodliness and unbelief, then the wrath of the Lamb is what you’ll eventually reap. Bruh David acknowledged it after he narrowly escaped death at the hands of Saul and his cohorts. (1 Sam.21:10-15) In Psalm 34, ‘The Lord hears the righteous,’ he boldly declares: ‘The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.’ (Ps.34: 22) Oh my people, only in the Most High God Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is there life, safety and protection from the evil forces of darkness that populate this world. Therefore, let’s all rise up now, like Bruh David did, and say with great conviction, in one loud voice: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest 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) Amen! Friends, with those wonderful words of hope, faith, surety and protection flowing thorough our souls, let’s all remember that as believers we’re meant to share our faith, share the good news of Jesus with others, so that they too can avoid the Lamb’s wrath at the judgement time. We need to give them an opportunity also to ‘Kiss the Son.’ Much LOVE!…Jesus…the Lamb of God…my Saviour…King…Guide…and Protector…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 November 2009 Proverbs 11:13‏

02 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 11:13     A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
 
Well hello there all you beautiful Friends and Neighbours in Christ! Once again we’re gathered here to discuss the Word and how it applies to our everyday lives, for that’s its basic purpose; to guide and lead us in a righteous and godly manner on our crucial journey on this evil, ungodly planet earth. Hn! I guess some of you who are involved in all the modern-day communication might have taken umbrage at my spiel yesterday, but them’s the breaks. I can only call it as I see it. Anyway, today we’ll look at the second half of the matter. Before we get to it though, I have one more scripture to quote on the tale bearing part. ‘He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not (don’t associate) with him that flattereth with the lips.’ (Prov.20:19) Friends, that’s gospel! Hanging out with that kind of person only causes you to get in trouble by spreading rumours and false stories, gossiping and generally wasting your precious time. Bruh Paul puts it quite nicely: ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, mark (note) them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good (smooth) words and fair (flattering) speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (innocent). (Rom.16:17-18) That should not come as a surprise my people, because our parents warned us, drilled it into us from an early age to stay away from gossip-mongers and such busybodies. Unfortunately though, it’s now become the norm rather than the exception, since our society has morphed into one of exactly such unsavoury characters and attitudes. That thing about silence is golden no longer holds true. But my people, it should. We should all still learn to stop and think before we act. Many of our children have probably never even heard of it. Just look at how many of us are getting in trouble because of the same face book, you tube and twitter use. Friendships are been broken, anger and resentment created, sportsmen fined and otherwise because of the things they upload to the net. One woman in England was so bright, she abused her boss on face book, forgetting that he was connected to her page. She was obiously fired. And not because a few criminals are being caught this way, makes it worthwhile. We should revert to the old fashioned idea that secrets are made to be kept because it’s a much safer and secure way of life than broadcasting everything. And Friends, there’s really no need to know at least 80 to 90 percent of the information we now share. Some things are just better left unsaid or unknown, and if you tell your secrets to a gossip, you know exactly what’s going to happen. In no time at all, it’ll be all over the place. But the worse part is, by the time it gets back to you, the story will be entirely different, cause every teller adds their two-cents worth to it. So if you have secrets, stuff you don’t want to be made public knowledge, I’d strongly suggest you keep it to yourself, for they also say that anything two people know is no longer a secret. But if you can’t, then be sure to find a very trustworthy person to share it with, for ‘he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.’ Unfortunately too Friends, in this day and age, trustworthy people are in very short supply. If we’re lucky enough to find one, we should treat them with great respect and appreciation. As Sol says: ‘The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.’ (Prov.19:11) Yes Friends, that’s one of the best measures of a person’s character; slow to anger and willing to overlook a mistake. Those are the types of people we need to associate with, not the overly chitty chatty ones who talk so much they can’t ever remember their last words. James says it thus: ‘Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not (doesn’t produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:19-20)  Now friends, in order to comply with all of the above, I’ll shut up, (smile) and let Bruh Paul take us home with some words we well know, but constantly need to be reminded of. ‘Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Eph. 4:31-32.) Much LOVE my people!…a combination of silence…and carefully choosing our words…is the best remedy for talkitis…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 November 2009 Proverbs 11:13‏

01 Nov 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 11:13     A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
 
Yes Friends, the Halloween nonsense is now over, time for the next big economic push; the U.S Thanksgiving later this month, then Christmas. The blarney is already underway, in the hope that it will turn into the harsh jangling of cash registers ringing up enormous sales, ergo profits. We’ve become so economically driven that the old folks have forgotten what the true spirit of the celebrations were about, and sadly the young have no idea, cause they were never taught. They only know about pumpkins, frightening costumes, witches, candy, food and plenty presents.  How heartrending my people. Unfortunately, that’s not the only area we’ve greatly commercialized; we’ve also turned minding other people’s business into a money juggernaut. The paparazzi are flourishing like never before, so are the scandal sheets, so is face book, you tube, twitter and the numerous wireless or Internet driven modes of modern communication. Before you even say the words or done the action, it’s known worldwide. Whatever happened to 3 Canal’s advice eh? ‘Mind yuh own business, and stop minding other people’s. And if you don’t have no business, find some.’ That’s obviously gone the way of the do-do bird; history, extinct. The first part of our Bit is now the norm. ‘A talebearer revealeth secrets.’ And how do they these days! Chuh! Nothing is now considered sacred, private or confidential. There’s always someone or some organization willing to pay for whatever info you possess and use it in a negative manner against those to whom it pertains. Once upon a time you’d be hard put to find anybody to broadcast or publish certain things. Not so now my Friends. Today everything’s for sale. Much to the detriment of our society, we have either forgotten, or simply relegated the Lord’s instructions to the rubbish heap. From the very early days He specifically warned: ‘Keep thee from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.’ (Ex.23:7) Again, when Moses spoke to the Israelites in terms of Laws of holiness and justice, this was a definite directive. ‘Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people, neither shalt thou stand against the blood (life) of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.’ (Lev.19:16) Oh Friends, it’s so sad and downright disgusting that today’s celebrity watching, tracking, hassling, whatever it takes, is big business and big news. What’s so sad is that those we focus on are mostly young and inexperienced and consequently make many life mistakes that we ravenously gobble up, and either put them on an undeserved pedestal or mercilessly tear them down. Check out the nonsense on the innumerable talk shows. It seems like everybody has one now. We’re all seeking some sort of notoriety, our 10 seconds in the limelight. It’s open season on sexual affairs, somebody’s always stalking somebody with supposed LOVE in their eyes and heart. If not, they’re threatening blackmail. Whatever happened to what I did was my business and what you did was yours? Now, even the aggrieved person is getting big bucks to tell their sordid stories. And as a society we’re just lapping it up. Ah Lord eh! And don’t talk about the twitter foolishness! We complain that we don’t have enough hours in a day, but we certainly find time to idly tweet, twitter and whatever dumb, new-fangled idea is foisted upon us to steal our precious time and money. And don’t fool yuh fat Friends, it’s all about money and greed. Lucifer’s devilish hand is behind it all. Please tell me, if your time is constantly tied up in talking, tweeting, twitting, texting, in watching the dumb, negativity based soap operas, the sleazy talk shows and reading the slimy tabloids, which all cost money, when do you have proper time for yourself, your family, friends, neighbours and community? Steups! I guess if you’re all involved in the same nonsense, then that’s your time together. But is it quality time? I doubt it. And you’re still minding other folks’ business, which the Lord specifically forbade; ‘For a talebearer revealeth secrets.’ And a secret, by its very definition, should not be revealed. It’s so bad now that even the supposed Secret Services, Spy Agencies in all countries have been so badly infiltrated, or their secrets are so easily come by, that they do the name Secret Service a great injustice. Sadly, the days when we took secrets to our graves are long gone. We’re all rushing to spill our guts now, through some tasteless, unnecessary book, internet portal or media outlet to cash in on the hunger that our society now has for other people’s business, especially misfortunes. Unfortunately the good stories seldom make the big time, it’s usually the sleaze, the smut, the dark, dubious, conniving negative things that get the exposure. Even the basic newscasts are now filled more with people’s business than important world events. And you’re right, the eccentricities, sexual doings or misdeeds of the world’s leaders make for more juicy headlines and tabloid fodder than any serious work they do. Oh people, modern technology, greedy, unprincipled entrepreneurs and politicians, plus our lack of a proper sense of self worth have made us such a dumb, decadent, disgusting, sinful, ungodly society, that when the Lord looks down on us and sees the low level to which we’ve sunk, I’m sure He sighs, shakes His head and sadly wonders, ‘Why?’ I do. And it’s not to say that much of the stuff we have isn’t useful, cause it certainly is, but as tools for us to manipulate, not for them to manipulate us, which is what they’re doing right now. And unless we step back and take stock of ourselves, since  nobody can do it for us, we’ll just continue deteriorating, with Big Brother controlling us more and more. And if you doubt that Big Brother is already controlling us like never before, then just look around at your own personal life and see how much privacy you really have. He knows more about you than you do about yourself, and already controls you from cradle to grave. Note the next thing is the I.D. implant. But please Friends, let’s not give him the opportunity to control us any further. We’re humans, not machines or robots, which we’re slowly morphing into with our dumb, lax attitudes. Oh my people, if the Lord wanted robots or machines to glorify and worship Him, He would have made them. They are much easier than humans to make. But He wanted a species with individual brains, who could think for themselves, not for us to become tools for others to control and manipulate our thinking. That’s what sheep are for. Oh Friends, that’s my spiel for the day. If you don’t like it, then too bad, cause that’s just the way I feel. And please remember, if you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for every and anything. We’ll continue this tomorrow. Till then, the Good Lord willing, Much LOVE!…it’s time to take inventory…time to regain control of our lives…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 October 2009 Psalm 51:17‏

31 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 51:17     The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
 
Oh Friends, it’s another day! We’ve been graciously given another chance by our most forgiving and merciful God to put our  wrongs of yesterday behind us and begin afresh today. What a generous and magnanimous deity! Today’s Bit is taken from Bruh David’s prayer for cleansing and forgiveness after he’d sinfully lain with Bathsheba and caused her husband Uriah to be purposely killed in battle, but making it look natural. Bruh David knew that he’d done a great wrong, committed much sin, so when the prophet Nathan accused him to his face, he was quick to repent and ask for the Lord’s mercy. ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression: and my sin is ever before me.’ (Ps.51:1-3) The point is that Bruh David knew he was doing wrong when he set his disgusting plan in action, and even when he seemed to have pulled it off successfully, I’m sure his conscience must have bothered him at times. Though he was a lusty man with human appetites, he was also deeply religious and faithful to God, and no one who’s really conscientious can live with such an awful sin and not have it rattle them occasionally. That’s why when Nathan confronted Bruh David, (2 Sam.12) letting him know that his sin was found out and would be publicly punished though committed in secret, he quickly repented. ‘And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.’ (2 Sam.12:13) In the psalm he writes: ‘Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou might be justified (be found just) when thou speakest, and be clear (blameless) when thou judgest,’ (Ps.51:4) I’ve always wondered how Nathan found out, but Friends that really doesn’t matter nuh, the important thing is that he did. And as Jesus said later on, anything done in darkness will surely come to light. (Luke 12:3) So it’s no use hiding our sins cause at some stage of the game they will come out publicly and make us look foolish and /or hypocritical, while God knows them from the beginning and sets the wheels in motion for us to pay the necessary price. Now the Lord forgave Bruh David. He did not strike him down, but he paid a hefty penalty for a moment’s lustful pleasure by losing his first born child by Bathsheba, some of his kingdom and serious problems with his children. Now was the pleasure worth the consequent pain? I doubt it. Friends, the Lord knew that Bruh David was human and thus capable of sin, but such a terrible conspiracy was certainly unbecoming of a man in his position, whom the Lord had specifically raised up to lead His people. In that respect he behaved just like Saul, jealous and vindictive. It was a rather poor example of leadership and faithfulness on Bruh David’s part, and what seems to have irked the Lord the most is that it gave His enemies an opportunity to blaspheme Him, it brought His Holy Name into sad disrepute. (2 Sam.12:14) Now in those times it was normal to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices in atonement for sins. However, as Samuel had sadly informed Saul, the previous king: ‘Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice; and to hearken than the fat of rams.’ (1 Sam.15:22) Bruh David obviously knew this, as he declares: ‘For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offerings. (Ps.51:16) Fortunately he also knew what the Lord desired. ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart.’ Yes my people, that’s what our God requires of us, especially since Jesus’ death made burnt offerings and sacrifices unnecessary. Now it’s only the individual’s penitence that’s important. Is your spirit broken, has it been crushed? Have you been brought low enough to recognize your wrongdoing and admit it? And Friends, once that has been accomplished, are we ready to say we’re truly sorry and mean it, mean it so that God can look at our broken, humbled heart and see real repentance and sorrow? Isaiah also trumpeted this requirement. ‘For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’ (Isa.57:15) Yes my people, God abides both in eternity and the hearts of the contrite and humble. Bruh David also expressed that sentiment. ‘The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of contrite spirit.’ (Ps.34:18) That says it all Friends. We have to be truly sorry for our wrongdoings if we expect the Lord to be merciful to us. We can’t just mouth the words, that feeling of humility, repentance and sorrow must dig deep in our souls, deep enough to bring about a substantial change in our behaviour, and turn us back from the lost, lustful jungle of the world, to the straight, narrow and righteous path of the Lord. Anything less than that is not acceptable in God’s eyes, my Friends. And as Bruh David rightfully claims; ‘O God, thou wilt not despise.’ That’s for sure my people. Our God will not despise us if we are truly repentant and contrite. Consequently, let us seriously attempt to live righteous and godly lives nuh, so that we won’t have to turn to God too often with sad, contrite, and repentant hearts. Much LOVE!…remember…prevention is always better than cure…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 October 2009 Genesis 50:20‏

30 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Genesis 50:20     But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people.
 
Oh Friends, oh Friends, our Lord is certainly something else yes! And though I’m sometimes sorrowful or overwhelmed by my problems, I have to laugh at His mysterious workings. Now I’ve written on this passage before, and been meaning to write something further on Bruh Joseph, for he isn’t acknowledged as much as my other two Bruh’s, David and Pablo, though his story is also of great importance and inspirational value in the Christian ethos. But the time just never seemed right. It is tonight though. The Good Lord decreed it. How do I know that? Well, for the last week or so I’ve been dealing with a problem I can’t seem to solve, even though I’ve prayed about it. Now it’s not a serious problem, but it still needs fixing, and you know it’s the small ones that we feel we should be able to fix, but can’t, that causes the most frustration. I’ve been biding my time, staying in faith, doing my part; been practicing all the things I preach, (smile), but this nagging problem still persists. The frustration here is that I have several avenues to pursue, but none clearly stand out as the best solution. So after writing yesterday’s Bit and talking about asking for a sign if we still don’t understand God’s plan, I did just that. And lo and behold Friends, to day I got an answer. I’d even forgotten that I’d asked for a sign. Talk about timing. As I keep saying, our God is the Master of Timing! Just when I was beginning to get real frustrated, a missive arrived from Uncle Charles, Charles Stanley. I support his outreach programme here in Canada and every month he sends out a two-page bulletin called ‘From the Pastor’s Heart,’ talking on some subject he deems important. Well mih people, this month’s bulletin was more than important, it was timely, very timely! And I just burst out laughing after I read the first two paragraphs cause it suddenly hit me that that was the sign I was seeking, for in it he talks about the trials and tribulation of Bruh Joseph, but how he maintained his sanity by steadfastly keeping his focus on God. Now we all know Bruh Joseph’s story: How as a teenager, the apple of his father Jacob’s eye, he went about in his coat of many colours, dreaming dreams, big ones. This dreamer’s attitude didn’t endear him to his older brothers, but when he told them of a dream that insinuated he would be a ruler over them someday, they really got fed up and conspired to kill him, but eventually sold him into slavery. He ends up in Egypt, a foreign country that he knows nothing of, or no one, can’t even speak the language, and for the next thirteen years experiences a real hell of a life on earth. Bruh Joseph must certainly have wondered if he’d read God’s dream right. How could he be a man of substance and power as a slave in a foreign culture? But people, he kept his eyes riveted on the God of his fathers. And Friends, when God is for us, who can be against us eh? NOBODY! We know that the wealthy and influential Potiphar bought him and eventually made him custodian of all he owned because he saw that God was with him. Unfortunately the beady eyes of Potiphar’s wife lusted after him and since hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, she spoiled his good thing by falsely accusing him of sexual assault. So Bruh Joseph ends up in prison. But again Friends, he didn’t fret and complain, simply did his best and kept his focus on God. And the Lord blessed him in jail too, for the jailer saw his decent, even-tempered demeanour and also made him his right hand man. God’s contrary movements must surely have puzzled Bruh Joseph, but he kept hanging in. Even after he deciphered the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, whom he asked to remember him and his innocence to Pharaoh when they got out, and they forgot him, he never rose up in anger. Well we can’t blame the baker cause he was hanged, but the butler for sure. But Friends, that’s the only time Bruh Joseph is ever quoted in the Good Book as asking for help in all his trials. (Gen.40:14-15) For two years after the butler got out he languished in prison, until the Lord was ready. He made Pharaoh dream a dream that none of his people could interpret. Only then the butler remembered him. But what’s always amazed me about Bruh Joseph is that through all his ‘sufferation’ the Good Book never mentions him getting angry, throwing a tantrum, being violent, crying woe is me, or none of that negative behaviour which one would normally expect under those unfortunate, unjust circumstances. He was an entirely different cup of tea to my other two Bruh’s, David and Pablo; the Renaissance man and the loudmouth, rabble-rouser. Neither of them would have gone quietly and said nothing, though they would have kept their faith. With that difference in personality, I tend to consider Bruh Joseph my soul brother. He was the quiet one who suffered in silence, just did his best at all times in a godly fashion and allowed his God to talk for him. He underwent all that injustice, like the Negro slaves did with patience and a quiet trust in God. That quiet trust eventually strengthened them and brought out the great spiritual songs from deep down inside. I can just imagine Bruh Joseph sitting in some quiet part of the jail and humming or singing some mournful, soulful tune to ease his hurt. Oh Friends, even when Bruh Joseph became Prime Minister of Egypt, with all the worldly power and wealth available, like Jesus, he still made himself of little account, and whatever he accomplished, gave all the glory to God. When we talk about a right heart, we’re talking about one like Bruh Joseph’s. It’s also nice to see that he held no bitterness towards his traitorous family or those who wronged him because he finally realized why God had put him through the wringer so to speak; to teach him wisdom, patience, understanding and all the other things he needed to successfully hold the leadership position God had reserved for him, to keep life and limb together for his Hebrew family and his adopted Egyptian land during the times of deathly famine. So Friends, we must never give up on our god-given dreams, though the road be rough, rocky and unfair, for we never know what God has planned, but everything He allows in our lives has a purpose. And when we talk about patience, Job’s name is the one that usually comes to the fore, but I want to advocate Bruh Joseph’s instead. Job was a big, experienced man when he suffered his terrible tragedy, but consider Bruh Joseph, just seventeen when sold into slavery by his family no less, and all the other wrongful stuff he suffered, he made no noise, just took his misfortune in stride without any serious complaints, never got all hot and bothered like Job, fully trusting his God to work it out in His own way and time. His crowning glory though is Today’s Bit, showing his eventual understanding of God’s higher mental capacity and his often complicated methods of bringing what we consider simple things to pass. As he wisely said to his family at their reunification: ‘But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.’ Thanks Uncle Charles for reminding, encouraging and helping me to constantly keep my focus on the Lord, despite any difficulties I might face. Oh Friends, my problem is no closer to being solved, but my perspective has been renewed. I’m once again able to sit and wait patiently on the Lord. I sure hope this testimony shows that we all need encouragement at some time regardless of our level of Christian maturity, and that the Lord brings it to pass in ways we never expect. Please read the story of Bruh Joseph’s difficult but triumphal uplifting as he stayed purposed and focused on His God in Genesis Chapters 30-50. It’s a wonderful story that shows the kind of attitude we as believers must cultivate; though we have good grounds to carry on, yet we stay quiet and concentrate on God, and the good outcome we know He has for each of us, cause ‘We know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom.8:28) Much LOVE!…as Uncle Charles says…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…
 

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