Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 July 2008 Psalm 77:2-3‏

05 Jul 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 77:2-3    In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God and was troubled. I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
 
Ah Friends, who knows the ways of our God eh, why He causes us to be bowed down with certain calamities? And I have  to chuckle shamefaced here, for this morning I picked up my bedroom phone extension and only got dead air. Puzzled, I went downstairs to the main one, found a red light on with a message saying, ‘Check phone cord.’ I checked all the cords, several times, with no positive response. But in between, I also angrily threw down the phone a couple times. Hn! Surprisingly it didn’t disintegrate. It’s an old one, guess they made them stronger then.(smile) Eventually, I got fed up and left it. A short while later though, after calming down, I decided to check out three adapters I found in a box of spare parts. The first two didn’t fit, but the third did. Whoopee! I plugged it into the wall and voila! Red light disappeared and dial tone returned. No one wants to wake up to a dead phone, but it’s not that important, especially when I had other phones to use. Friends, that’s what happens when the enemy sets upon us; we lose our focus, get upset over little things and ruin our day’s tempo. Thankfully Asaph, the writer of Psalm 77, titled, ‘Who is so great a God as our God?’ remembered the source of his strength when difficulties befell him. ‘In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord.’ Yes Friends, our first response must always be; seek the Lord. And though his problems confounded him all night, and ‘my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God.’ Another point to note people: When we cry out and don’t receive a response, don’t give up on our God; He’ll come through in due course. Asaph knew this. ‘I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.’ Sleep deserted him, and he was so troubled that he couldn’t talk either. Then he began reflecting on olden times, the days of his ancestors, and his own past. ‘I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.’ (vs.6) Oh Friends, that’s a perfect example of how to confront serious problems, when God’s silent: Consider all that He’s done for our forefathers, our friends and family, and for us personally. And though that lead Asaph to ask questions like; ‘Will the Lord cast off forever…Is his mercy clean gone forever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?’ (vs.7-9) He ended up correctly: ‘And I said, this is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.’ (vs.10-12) Friends, in tremulous times, that should be our modus operandi: Cry out to the Most High in sincerity; then ponder His eternal goodness and mercy to His disobedient offspring; renew our faith and wait patiently on Him. He always has a good reason for allowing whatever happens. But one thing’s certain Friends, He’ll never leave, forsake or fail us. That’s His undying promise. Believe it, and live by it. Much LOVE!…when we truly trust the Lord…we’re in the safest hands possible…Selah…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 July 2008 Proverbs 17:27-28‏

04 Jul 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 17:27-28    He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!
Yes Friends, it’s Independence Day in the greatest country ever. Founded on Biblical principles, it rose to great heights using those principles. But sadly, in it’s heyday, like many of us, the U.S. somehow managed to lose it’s way, and now, that once awesome power is waning, as its rock, its foundation; the moral, ethical and spiritual concepts that once held sway, are no longer considered  important and are fast being relegated to the trash bin. And what’s God’s people doing about it eh? Not enough obviously, since it seems to be daily sinking further into the morass of ungodliness. Unfortunately, much of the world still sees the U.S as a shining example of prosperity, hungers for the American dream, and blindly copies its institutions and lifestyle. Meaning a lot of what is bad is exported. Oh Friends, we can’t allow God to become second class and of little account, neither in our countries, or around the world. We’ve got to get up off our rear ends and fight valiantly for what we believe in. The godless are doing that. We’ve got to stand united, as ONE, and say NO! We’re not going to let our God be removed from our lives and our institutions. Please support and elect those who stand for the same things we do. Although Solomon says that a wise man speaks few words and has a calm spirit, Friends, this is not the time for us to remain silent, or say little, else the power brokers and the ungodly will run roughshod over us. It’s time to let them know we’re not fools by not holding our peace and shutting our mouths. That’s when we’re foolish. We need to boycott, protest, demonstrate, whatever it takes, within God’s parameters of course. Remember, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, so it’s time for us to stand up and be counted. If we want to live a God inspired life, then we’ve got to fight for it. That’s what our forefathers did. It was not handed to them on a silver platter. We’re now a more talkative society with the advent of cell phones and other modern communicating tools, but much of our communication is dumb stuff, of no real uplifting value. And what should be mere tools, are now controlling us, by been brainwashed with the necessity to posses stuff made obsolete every other day, which many of us have little need for. It just leads to more control and enrichment for the haves. What we can and should do Friends, is use these devices to spread the Word. There’s never been a time when communication has been so available,easy and cheap, giving us a wide window of opportunity to spread the good news about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Please, let’s not waste this God-given chance to spread the Word. We all talk a lot, but right now people, it’s also imperative that we speak the right thing; the Word of God, to as many as will listen. Time’s not on our side Friends, it’s later than we think, and to have any hope of success, we must start turning it around, NOW! So let’s get cracking nuh! Much LOVE!…stand up, stand up for Jesus…the trumpet call obey…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 July 2008 Matthew 26:56‏

03 Jul 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

 

Matthew 26:56    But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
 
Ah Friends, what a bunch of cowards! With friends like them, who needs enemies eh? (smile) They’d been hanging out with Jesus all this time, talking big, but as soon as the lynch mob sent out by the chief priests and elders showed up, they lost their gumption. Granted, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Only to have Jesus rejoin it and rebuke him. ‘Put up again thy sword…for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.’ (vs.52) Wise words that we should all heed Friends. Whatever weapon we use to destroy others, that same weapon will most likely destroy us. Jesus was also insinuating that His kingdom would not be manifested by force before His death. As He subsequently asked. ‘Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? ‘ Wow! I like that bit of braggadocio. Now, since each legion of Roman soldiers had six thousand soldiers, that means Jesus would have had 72 thousand angels at His behest. Brother! What a fighting machine! But yuh know Friends, when we talk about obedience and obedient people, we’ve got to look at Jesus, for He epitomizes it. Though He could have had immediate, abundant help to extricate Him from that tenuous situation, He restrained Himself, ready to obey His Father’s will instead. Don’t think He wasn’t nervous and scared, remember He was in human form, and knew the pain of the torturous death He would suffer, for our sakes, would be terribly excruciating. But He’d already made His peace with that, after unsuccessfully asking the Father to abort the mission, by saying ‘O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.’ (vs.42) That’s why He asked the disciples, ‘But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?’ If He didn’t see it through, the scriptures would not be fulfilled, making a mockery of God’s Word from the beginning of time, turning all the prophecies of all the prophets into mere words, blown like chaff on the wind. He couldn’t do that. Likewise Friends, we, as believers in Christ have a great responsibility to uphold His ministry, and all that He lived and died for. We can’t, as the disciples did, simply run away at the first sign of difficulty. We’ve got to stand strong and face the music like He did. Otherwise we’d be unworthy of being called a Christian, His follower. Friends, yuh see how Jesus had it real rough. He came to die for us, an innocent victim, used as a scapegoat for worthless, ungrateful sinners. But He didn’t shirk His responsibility, although He had every right to. I doubt any of us will have it even half as hard. So after all He suffered in our name, how can we now deny Him, or run away when things get a bit rough eh? We will experience fear, but just like the Father sent the Holy Spirit to help Jesus in His time of need, He’ll send His spirit to help us in tough times. He did His Father’s work without question. Friends, let’s try and do His bidding without too much murmuring or complaining nuh. Life’s never going to be a bed of roses, but if we persevere, go bravely, with a right and willing heart, led by the Sprit, we’ll succeed, just like Jesus did. Much LOVE!…to truly follow Jesus…like Him…we’ve got to take up our cross…and walk…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 July 2008 Colossians 2:6-7‏

02 Jul 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Colossians 2:6-7    As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein in thanksgiving.
 
Ah Friends, why are people always trying to change our minds about Jesus eh? Is it because they know that He’s really the Way, the Truth and the Light, and they’re afraid of His awesome power? From the earliest days it’s been that way. The Colossian Church  had been set up by Epaphras, a follower of Bruh Paul, who taught them that Jesus was the Messiah, the Head of the Church, the Divine Lamb who died to atone for our sins, and to whom they should look for eternal salvation. But it seems that local busybodies were trying to undo the gospel with a synthetic philosophy based on paganism, Judaism and Christianity, advocating the worship of angelic beings, acting as intermediaries between God and man, plus stressing the means of salvation as some secret knowledge, cult members received after joining. It also imposed the old laws of Moses, and though it didn’t deny Christ, it lowered His status by not recognizing Him as a Divine Being, thus giving Him no special significance or saving grace to His death. Wow! What heresy! That’s what Bruh Paul was trying to fight from his prison cell in Rome. Sadly though Friends, the same thing is happening in the Church today. People are using the Church and the Word for their own selfish purposes, to advance their personal agendas, either by introducing incorrect stuff, or slanting the truth to their advantage. Consequently there’s much dissension, and the august body of Christ has lost it’s cohesion and direction. Remember, Jesus said, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or every house divided against itself shall not stand.’ (Mat.12:25) So how do we expect to beat the enemy, when we’re embroiled in our own internal feuds? It’s obvious Bruh Paul was greatly disturbed by that news and wanted to correct the heresy. But since he was in jail, all he could do was write to them. So ‘That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,’ and that they might attain a mature understanding of the mystery of God and Christ. ‘In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ (Col.2:2-3) Yes People, Christ is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. ‘And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.’ (vs.4) Oh Friends, it would do us good to heed that warning also, for there are many out there with glib, deceitful tongues. Bruh Paul then praises them for ‘the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.'(vs.5) We should also be deserving of such praise. However, ‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein in thanksgiving.’ That’s how it should be people! The same way we were taught about Christ, received and grown in Him, that’s exactly how we’re to continue. We’re not to let ‘philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,’ confuse us or lead us astray, for Christ is the Godhead, and in Him we are complete. Yes Friends, in Jesus, we have all we can ever need or want. Please remember that and walk accordingly. Much LOVE!…sufficient unto everlasting…is Jesus…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 July 2008 Micah 7:18‏

01 Jul 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Micah 7:18    Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.                                                                        
                                                                                                            HAPPY CANADA DAY

That’s our God, Friends! And there’s none like Him! And He’s been looking over Canada since the first hamlet was built on the East Coast, over two hundred years ago. He’s still safeguarding us people, but everyday He’s liking less of what He sees, for we’re becoming an ungodly, divisive nation, increasingly chasing the baubles of the ungodly nations around us. Sounds like Judah, in Micah’s day, with all the pagan peoples living around them. Nothing has as much influence on us as the people we hang out with. That’s why our parents warned us about the company we kept, and the Lord warned the Israelites against intermarriage and too much association with the strangers living amongst them. He knew that they’d be greatly influenced to turn away from Him and His dictates, because the godless live a selfish, what’s in it for me life. Oh Friends, the same thing’s happening today. The leaders and the wealthy are promoting a world society. They’re touting a global scenario where we all are thrown into a world mix, killing nationalism for an international world, where the money men and powerbrokers control everything, bypassing national interests. But Friends, this scenario is fraught with danger on at least two fronts. We’re already experiencing the negative effects of that mindset, with loss of jobs and economic stagnation through outsourcing production to lower cost Third World countries, who’ll move up, while the current First World countries decline. Also the many ungodly nations out there, whom we’ll be forced to intermingle with, to the detriment of our godly values. It should really be the other way around; they accepting our godly values, but unfortunately, right now the ungodly are ruling the roost, plus we’re not as united as them, and aren’t as willing to fight tooth and nail for what we believe in. It’s a negative picture, but it’s also the reality of the situation. Everyday, something godly is questioned, disbanded, or overturned. All in the name of freedom. But Friends, that word, Freedom, it’s a misnomer. True freedom doesn’t exist. No one is ever truly free. We all must answer to someone, sometime, even if it’s ourselves. As Believers, we answer to the one, true God, Jehovah, who’s a loving and merciful Being. But He’s also a stickler for obedience and justice. And if we continually disobey, we’ll pay, eventually. Oh People, even a blind man can see that our world is getting worse daily: From global warming to terrorism; rampant oppression, and religious strife; increased poverty, greed, inflation, and natural disasters. There’s no magic wand to fix it. But for sure, if we don’t start living in real LOVE, like Jesus said, then everything’s going to crash. It’s not even about believing, just living decently with each other. For faith without works is the same khaki pants. But then again Friends, we worship such a merciful, magnanimous God, that once we cast off our sinful ways and turn to Him; ‘He will have compassion upon us… subdue our iniquities…and cast our sins into the depths of the sea.’ (Mic.7:19) So People, I’m imploring us to work fervently towards that goal, for we know not when the final knell will sound. Enjoy the day, but remember to keep God first, in your heart, mind and soul. Much LOVE!…let’s start the turnaround…by living a good and godly life…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 June 2008 Psalm 118:1‏

30 Jun 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 118:1   O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.
 
Oh Friends, that’s a fact I’ve just proven again! Yuh see, the ole fella’s tired, and a tad grumpy, only a tad now children, (smile) suffering from sleep deprivation, don’t ask why, and various age related aches and pains, but I’ve got to do this Bit first, for wherever I rest mih head tonight, no grass grow; I’m sleeping for a long time. Anyway, in such a negative state, it was hard to decide on a Bit, but the good Lord in all His mercy, finally led me to Bruh David and Psalm 118. And then, I couldn’t believe that I’d never used anything from it, so much of it is highlighted in red. But the records say so, and even if it’s wrong, the important thing is that it put the Word in me and lifted my spirits, so that now these words are flowing from my pen like water. Hn,Hn! Don’t laugh people, it’s the truth. I’m chuckling though, as I was most surprised; one moment I felt lousy, then having read through the psalm, I perked right up. My spirit suddenly felt refreshed and the words began flowing smoothly; again confirming that the soul’s best booster is the Word, for we worship a God, who excels at bestowing mercy and loving kindness on those who call on Him in sincerity. Psalm 118 details thanksgiving for the Lord’s salvation, and was apparently a favourite of Martin Luther, one of the leading preachers of the Reformation Era. I can’t add any wisdom to it, so I’ll just pick some highlighted verses and add my two cents worth. Now Friends, this is possibly the most important thing we need to remember in our daily walk of faith. ‘I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me and set me in a high place.’ (vs.5) Yes Friends, He’s the FIRST person we should call in times of trouble, not the last, as we tend to do, after all our man made solutions have failed. And we’re stupid not to call on our mighty, merciful God FIRST, because ‘It’s better to put trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.’ (vs.8) Now ain’t that the truth people! Man is only sinful flesh and blood, limited by his mortal coil and finite mental capacity, also extremely untrustworthy. However, our God is spiritual, immortal and infinite in His capacity for all things. Now isn’t that a much better source of help? For sure! And when ‘the Lord is on my side, I will not fear: for what can man do unto me?’ (vs.6) Nothing people, nothing! And though my enemy, ‘Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.’ (vs.13) Hallelujah people! His help is always close at hand, just waiting to be asked. Even when I’m disobedient, ‘The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.’ Praise Him Friends! For if He ever unleashes His awesome wrath on us, we’ll certainly perish. But as a direct result of His generous grace and mercy, ‘I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.’ (vs.17) Amen people! That’s exactly what we’re here for; to live in LOVE, spread His Word and glorify His Name. So, in light of all this Friends, when life gets rough, who FIRST, yuh gonna call? The Lord Jehovah! Why? Because ‘The Lord is my strength and song; and is become my salvation.’ (vs.14) And all God’s people said, Wow! Therefore Friends, let’s all, individually and together, ‘Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.’ That’s gospel Friends! Believe it, and it will always stand you in good stead. Much LOVE!…three things to remember…the Lord is always…FIRST…FIRST…FIRST…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 June 2008 Acts 17:22-23‏

29 Jun 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Acts 17:22-23    Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription; TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
 
Bravo, Bruh Paul, Bravo! Now most of us couldn’t do that, but Bruh Paul was a different being. Yesterday we saw him talking in the marketplace of Athens. Today he’s preaching Christ on the Areopagus, (Mars Hill), where all the moral, philosophical and religious matters were promulgated and debated. Philosophers of the leading schools of thought, the Stoics and Epicureans, had encountered him in the market, and though some considered him a ‘babbler’ of no account, others thought him ‘to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.’ (vs.18) But such was the Athenians love of discourse and new ideas, that even though they did not rate him highly, they put Bruh Paul on their stage, ‘saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know thereof what these things mean.’ (vs.19-20) Hn,hn! But Friends, little did they know that giving Bruh Paul a pulpit to preach from, was music to his ears. And preach he did, that eventful day on Mars Hill, people. Note, he didn’t condemn the Greeks, though he called them superstitious. Some Scholars suggest that ‘religious’ was a better translation of the Greek word. Anyway, smart orator that he was, Bruh Paul knew he had to establish a rapport with them, if he hoped to advance Christ. Apparently, in his wanderings around the religious section of the city, he came upon an altar inscribed, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ Friends, that’s the Lord in drama creating mode, giving him a sure fire opening. ‘Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.’ (vs.23) He was going to make their ‘UNKNOWN GOD,’ KNOWN. This he did by proclaiming the true ‘God that made the world and all things therein, …Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with man’s hands; as though he needed anything; seeing he giveth to all life, breath, and all things, And hath made of one blood, all nations of men…determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.’ (vs.24-26) Yes Friends, He’s our Creator, sets and appoints our time, is very involved in our affairs. ‘That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being…’ (vs.27-28) And that’s the living truth people! We exist through and for Him, and He’s always found by those who sincerely seek him. Then Bruh Paul explained about the need for repentance with the resurrection and judgement day in the offing. Obviously some laughed and mocked, while others wanted to hear more. But Bruh Paul left Athens soon after. However, his preaching was not in vain, for some believed, including a woman named Damaris, and Dionysius, a member of the City Council. The Lord had sown some seeds, in high places too. Friends, that means we’re to enthusiastically welcome every opportunity to talk about Jesus, for, with the Lord’s help, anything is possible. Much LOVE!…even a single soul saved…brings immense glory to God…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 June 2008 Acts 17:16-17‏

28 Jun 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Acts 17:16-17    Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met him.
 
Bruh Paul was truly something else yes Friends. After they ran him out of Thessalonica, he went to Berea, a small town nearby. But when the Thessalonian Jews heard that he was having success there too, they conspired to also have him run out of Berea. That’s when he ended up in Athens, waiting for Silas and Timothy. But yuh think he could sit still and shut up, especially after just being run out of two towns? Not on yuh life! Once he saw the rampant idolatry in the city, ‘…his spirit was stirred in him.’ This led him to earnestly converse with the Jews and devout Gentiles he met in the market place. At that time Athens had waned in political and economic importance, but was still an intellectual centre, where the main preoccupation was to sit around and discuss philosophy and new ideas. So it was an ideal place for Bruh Paul to expound. I wish we could all have his faith, strong conviction and zeal for Christ. Can you imagine how hard it must have been for him to convince people of his good intentions, after being one of the chief persecutors of early Christians, but now telling them that Christ was the only way to salvation? Hn! Bruh Paul sure had many manly parts. (smile)  And Friends, that’s what many of us lack. We’re uncomfortable, or afraid to say we’re Christians, or talk to people about Christ, cause they’ll find us strange and won’t like us and we won’t fit in. But in reality, what we’re doing is making man’s opinion more important than our calling to spread God’s word. People, that doesn’t sit well with the Father. Remember, He said that if you’re ashamed of, or deny Him, He’ll do the same to you. Yuh see Friends, other people’s opinion didn’t bother Bruh Paul, even when he was beaten or imprisoned. He was secure in his knowledge and faith in Christ. Everybody can’t be a gung-ho proselytizer (soul saver) like Bruh Paul, but I’m sure we can all increase our zeal and spread the faith with a bit more gusto, than we’re currently doing. And I don’t mean badgering or brow beating. The enemy is winning right now people. They’re up-beat and enthusiastic about their ungodliness, spreading it like wildfire. Friends, it’s our responsibility to counter that spread; stop it and turn it around with our good news of Jesus and the wonderful things He’s done for us. Remember, we need to have everyone on earth hear the word and accept it, before Jesus comes again, so that all can be saved, and none thrust out into eternal darkness. You know that’s the sincere wish of Jesus: He doesn’t want even one, single, solitary soul to be lost. So let’s work together fervently nuh, towards granting Him that wish. In light of all He’s done for us, it’s a relatively small request to honour. Much LOVE!…true believers…always have Jesus…on the tip of their tongues…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 June 2008 Jeremiah 1:6-7‏

27 Jun 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Jeremiah 1:6-7    Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
 
Ah Friends, our God is really the greatest yes! Why? Because He can play all the roles involved in a staging, and write it too. He can be serious; excels at timing; He’s humorous, and He’s the King of drama. Nobody can do that like Him. When He punishes us, we seldom feel the full force of His wrath, it’s always laced with mercy. And we certainly know about His forgiveness. Not to mention when He puts us in a tight spot, He always provides a way out. And when He calls us to do His bidding, like Jeremiah, He always provides the tools, the wherewithal, to accomplish it. Reminds me of when He first broached the Scrip-Bit idea. I laughed, figuring I didn’t have the Scriptural knowledge. But He wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer, and I finally succumbed to His wishes, and look at us now eh. It’s been over a year, and we’re still going strong. And don’t think it’s been my doing nuh. It’s been mostly His, for there’ve been many days I either don’t  know what to write about, or struggled to write it, but in the end, He always comes through and I write something. It does take time, but it’s certainly brought me closer to Him, and given me a better understanding of what He’s about. Hopefully it’s done the same for some of you, my faithful readers. So Friends, if you feel like He’s called you to do something, to step out for Him, don’t be afraid, for like He did with Jeremiah and everyone that does His bidding, He’ll help you. If you’re doing what he wants, He won’t let you fail. Most likely it won’t be easy, but just step out in faith, that’s when He really excels. And don’t feel badly if you think you’re unworthy; lots of great men felt that way when they were called. Think about Moses, Barak, Gideon, Saul, Bruh David, Samuel, Solomon, and many more, who realized that they couldn’t do the job without His specific help. When Moses pleaded that he wasn’t eloquent and stuttered, the Lord shut him up by asking who made man’s mouth, the deaf, blind, dumb, etc. if it wasn’t Him? ‘Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.’ (Ex.4:12) It’s the same thing He said to Jeremiah, when he claimed inexperience. ‘Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put words in thy mouth.’ (Jer.1:8-9) Wow! As easy as that Friends. And he’s done it for many others. That’s the kind of God we worship people; a God magnanimous and mighty. So don’t despair. Take a step of faith in His name today, for He greatly rewards those who trust in, and are obedient to Him. Much LOVE!…if He says do it…just trust and obey…He’ll surely help you…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 June 2008 Isaiah 2:22‏

26 Jun 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 2:22    Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
 
Oh Friends, one thing we’ve inherited from our forefathers is a hard headed stubbornness. Isaiah said those words thousands of years ago, and over time, there’s been numerous instances showing man’s frailty and untrustworthiness, yet we still insist on placing him on pedestals, looking up to him as a shining star and guiding light, of which he’s not worthy. Just take a look at the cult of celebrity we’ve built. People with little or no intrinsic value are continually held up as role models or pillars of society, even though everyday another one is found sadly wanting, either through constant debauchery or criminal activity. Isaiah alluded to this in Chap.2:11-12. ‘The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.’ Oh people, why can’t we remember that and shelve our overreaching and arrogant pride. We do need to have pride in ourselves and our accomplishments, but there’s a certain level, a fine line when it becomes too much, gets out of hand, and we start thinking we are the be all and end all, thus losing sight of our frailties and imperfections. Friends, that’s when we get in trouble. And remember one thing; in our mad rush for glory, we all do things that we’re not proud of, and we’d like to remain in the dark, but in scrapping and scratching to reach the top of the ladder, these unsavoury things are liable to become public knowledge, especially with the current invasive and intrusive nature of the news media. Jesus said that anything done in darkness will eventually come to light. And sadly, some of the deeds aren’t so bad, they wouldn’t even be noticed if done by an ordinary person, but because of the high profile, the esteem and awe in which the so-called celebrities are held, it substantially detracts from their superior image and status. Lest we forget, mankind takes greater pleasure in destroying, than creating, not only things, but people too. So the small burr is usually great fodder for the masses. They’ll pull you down even quicker than they put you up. That’s why the ‘Prince of Prophets’ warns: ‘Cease ye from man.’ And Jeremiah adds. ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ (Jer.17:5) Yes Friends, we are only flesh and bones, easily blown away like a leaf in the wind; here today, gone tomorrow; ‘whose breath is in his nostrils.’ We should be saying like Job: ‘All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.’ (Job 27:3) It’s the spirit of God that should be in our nostrils while we’re alive. ‘For wherein is he to be accounted of?’ So true Friends: Who is man, why should he be so esteemed eh? Esteem the Lord thy God, who made us, cares for us, and provided us with salvation and everlasting life through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour. Man couldn’t do what He did for us. Much LOVE!…trust not in man…for he withers like the vine.
 

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