Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 October 2008 James 2:1‏

04 Oct 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

James 2:1    My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
 
Friends, James Chap.2, deals with impartiality, and by extension, partiality. This is a rather important topic, for it’s the way the world operates, and many of us believers, fall into the enemy’s trap; judging others by their outward appearance, their economic standing, or some other unfair worldly standard. James gives the example of two people coming to your gathering; one well dressed, the other shabbily clothed. Now, if you give the nattily attired person a good seat at the front, but hide the poorly clad one where he won’t draw much attention, as many of us would, ‘Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and become judges of evil thoughts?’ (vs.2-4) For sure! We’re judging others on insignificant, insubstantial grounds; the quality of their clothing, the way they carry themselves etc, and that’s not right. Friends, it’s discrimination. And discrimination of any sort, on any grounds, is wrong. It’s been outlawed since ancient times. ‘Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shall thou judge thy neighbour.’ (Lev.19:15) That’s the Lord speaking through Moses to the Israelites. Yet we still show an inordinate amount of partiality, and for foolish reasons too. James condemns it. ‘But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.’ (vs.9) Partiality is more than an error of judgement, it’s an act of sin. It shows inconsistency in our conduct, using inappropriate methodology, (smile) to arrive at biased opinions and decisions. James also points out that God makes a mockery of our partiality by spurning the comely, godless ones we choose, and choosing the unseemly, unlikely ones we spurn. ‘Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?’ (vs.5-7) Oh people, those are undeniable facts, yet we still tend to show excessive favour to the rich and famous, the godless, who abuse us and blaspheme Christ’s Holy Name, while we have little time for the downtrodden, who’re usually more godly than the society’s elite. That leads Bruh Paul to disdain the wisdom  of this world, of imperfect men, and talk instead of ‘the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of the world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.’ (1 Cor.2:6-8) Trust Bruh Paul to hit the nail on the head. Because Jesus had humble beginnings, and didn’t look  nor dress the part of the Messiah, as they envisioned it, they snobbishly assumed He could not be their Saviour. But how wrong they were! It’s been often shown how God confounds us with His choices. Very few of those He chose to do great things met our criteria for greatness; wealth, education, good family etc. Almost all came from humble beginnings, lacking in education and the finer points of etiquette. But the Lord, in His hidden wisdom, lifted them all up, increased their stature, so that they’d work wonders and glorify His Name. Just like He caused His Son, Jesus to be born poor, but then become the Saviour of this sinful world, and rise to sit beside Him on His heavenly throne. Oh Friends, please, let’s try our very best to be impartial, to hold ‘the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.’ It’s not easy, especially in a world built on partiality. But we have an advantage over most; as believers, our indwelling Holy Spirit, always guides us securely in God’s will. Much LOVE!…knowing good…but not doing it…that’s sin…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 October 2008 Matthew 6:9-13‏

03 Oct 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 6:9-13    After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
 
Yes Friends, what an all encompassing prayer! Two days ago we stopped at ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Now, getting what we need daily to do the Lord’s will is important, but I think that this next aspect is possibly the most important one. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’ Oh people, on those words, on that principle of forgiveness our entire salvation is based. Those debts are our sins. We’ve been sinners from the time our forefathers disobeyed the Lord and fell from grace, and we’ll be such until the second coming of the Messiah. But our Creator, our Father, our Lord God, LOVED us so much, that He sent His only Son to earth to die a dreadful death, to sacrifice His sinless life to pay for our disgusting sins; our disobedience to His righteousness. And through His shed blood, all sin has been paid for until eternity. The Lord has forgiven us, reclaimed us, offered us salvation, a fresh start. But to attain that salvation, that forgiveness, we need to repent of our sins, admit that we’re unworthy sinners, believe on Jesus’ Holy Name, then try our utmost to be obedient to His will. And Jesus dislikes hypocrites. That means we can’t ask Him to forgive us, then don’t forgive those who wrong us. To show how seriously Jesus took forgiveness, when Peter asked how often he should forgive his brother, ’till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.’  (Matt.18:22) Yes Friends, that’s at least how often we should forgive those who wrong us. But, being such a self-indulgent animal, we like to be forgiven, but find it hard to forgive. Sorry Friends, that attitude doesn’t wash with our God. If we require His forgiveness, then we must also be willing to forgive others. So let’s think seriously about that aspect of our lives nuh, for it’s a major cause of the rampant attitude problems in our society. If we keep anger and resentment in our hearts and refuse to forgive, it not only jeopardizes our physical and emotional health, but more importantly our spiritual well being, since we’ll lose our connection to God. He won’t answer our requests if our hearts are filled with unforgiveness. And Jesus made that perfectly clear afterwards. ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.’ (vs.14-15) Friends, that’s as clear as day. So those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Then Jesus says we should implore the Lord’s help in resisting the daily temptations that accost us in this sinful world. ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ Though the Lord doesn’t tempt us to do wrong, He does test our faithfulness at times, and it’s especially in those times of testing that we need His help. As Peter says; ‘The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations…’ (2 Pet.2:9) He also knows how to deliver us from evil. Jesus prayed that for His disciples, and us too, before He was arrested. ‘I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.’ (John 17:15)  Ah Friends, from this simple, but content full prayer, it’s obvious that our God can support all our needs. Then, most appropriately, Jesus ends the prayer on a note of praise, just like how he began it. So though Jesus’ wording was unique and somewhat different from the old Testament prayers, He built it in basically the same manner: Opening with praise and adoration; acknowledging God’s promises and faithfulness, then introducing one’s request and ending with praise and adoration again. Oh Friends, there’s nothing our God likes more than our coming to Him in prayer, reverently blessing and praising His Holy Name. Let’s see if we can do that more often nuh; like in all our waking moments, everyday, keeping Him first place in our hearts. Much LOVE!…our joy in Jesus…brings joy to Jesus…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 October 2008 Job 42:17‏

02 Oct 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Job 42:17    So Job died, being old and full of days.
EULOGY FOR AUBREY BROWN

 Ah Friends, I know we were to continue with the Lord’s Prayer, but the Lord dictated a change of plans. It’s another time of mourning for the Brown family, that wonderful group of people who adopted me when I first went to Jamaica as a student at the U.W.I campus at Mona. The Matriarch, Aunt Amy, passed away earlier this year, now the Patriarch, Uncle Aubs, has also gone to be with the Lord. Ah Uncle Aubs, you’ll never know, and I doubt you can fathom my appreciation for the kindness, the unconditional LOVE, you and Aunt Ames, showed me. I guess when you all talk to the Father in heaven, He’ll explain what a godsend you were to me. I always admired your quiet demeanour. You never said a whole lot, didn’t lose your cool, just let Aunt Ames be the fiery one. Your temperament balanced hers nicely. That doesn’t mean you were a push over, far from it. It’s just that if things were running smoothly, you were smart enough not to interfere. And even when you all disagreed, you were never loud, or obnoxious, but your displeasure was quite evident. I remember the days when you and I were the only two males in the house, surrounded by at least six females. We never had as many one and one chats, as I did with Aunt Ames, but the few we had were always insightful. Come to think of it Uncle Aubs, you were the only man I’ve ever had a close, fatherly sort of relationship with. My real father and I never saw eye to eye, though now I’m beginning to appreciate him much more than I ever did. I guess age and hindsight do bring reason. Like you, he didn’t talk much, was cool and reserved, but friendly, wasn’t given to loud arguments either. But we just had different opinions on most subjects. I do believe that a bit of you rubbed off on me, for I was just approaching manhood, still wet behind the ears, my first time being so far away from home, knowing no one, in a fairly different society setup, when I came under your caring umbrella. I’m sure, subconsciously, I’ve modeled some aspects of my life on you, especially that of living the last thirty odd years, surrounded by a bevy of women. Hn! This time though I was the only man, and I doubt I’ve been as successful as you were. My patience level was never as high as yours, and they still don’t listen to me anyway. (smile) Obviously I didn’t learn well enough from you. Uncle Aubs, you weren’t a saint, but you did have some good influence on me. For that, the Lord will reward you handsomely. And though I haven’t seen you in about ten years, I know you always asked about me and I’ve done the same. You and Aunt Ames will forever remain in my heart. There’s only one way I can think of you all, and that’s fondly, for at a crucial point in my life, when I needed good guidance, you both provided it to me. I know that after Aunt Ames went home, you lost your zest for life, cause she was your life; she stoked your fire, and I’m sure that you’re happy now. I can see the big smiles on both of your faces as you all reunite in the place that’s heaven. And you’ve certainly received Abraham’s promise: ‘And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.’  (Gen.15:15) You certainly lived a full life. We’ll all agree that ninety something is a ripe old age for these times. Ah Uncle Aubs, words really can’t convey my loving feelings and gratitude to you and Aunt Ames and your entire family. Chuh! There go those stupid tears again. I’ll just let them flow this time. For as I keep telling my children, without you all, there might have been no them. I can look back now and see the gracious hand of God reaching out to me, showering me with loving kindness, when He brought you all into my life. Thanks ever so much. Much LOVE!…be not forgetful to entertain strangers…for thereby some have entertained angels…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 October 2008 Matthew 6:9-13‏

01 Oct 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 6:9-13    After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
 
Oh Friends, what a simple, but powerful, moving prayer! But it amuses me the way God moves in my life. Driving home on the highway, in the pouring rain, around ten o’clock tonight, my thoughts suddenly turned to what I’d do about the Bit if I had an accident. What might be a relatively easy Bit to write, and if I’m in bad shape, whom I’d get to write it? It’s unthinkable that the Bit doesn’t go out every day. (smile) In answer to my rumination, the Lord’s Prayer popped up. I chuckled, considered it for a moment, then put it aside and concentrated on the driving. On getting home though, I forgot all about it, and was about to write on another topic when my mind was jarred back to it. And here we are now discussing, probably the most enduring pronouncement of Jesus. Don’t you just admire how our God operates? But since time and space are at a premium, we might have to continue it tomorrow. It’s a part of His Sermon on the Mount, where He laid out His basic philosophy to His disciples and the large crowd gathered around. Concerning prayer, He advised them not to do it publicly for show, to seem righteous in the eyes of others, as the hypocrite Jewish elite were wont to do, but to find a quiet, peaceful place and pray thus: ‘Our Father which art in heaven…’ It’s unique from the start, since that wording was uncommon in the Old Testament prayers. And heaven seems to be both real and important to Jesus, for he continually refers to it: ‘…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ ‘glorify your Father which is in heaven…’ …the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ ‘…ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven…’ (Mat.5:10,16,19,21) Then He continues the prayer; ‘Hallowed be thy name.’ This does two things; turns the attention of the prayer to the Father, and also shows awe, reverence and respect for His Name and who He is. ‘For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name…for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.’  (Mal.1:11) Yes Friends, the Lord takes great pride in His Name. Jesus knew it and so included the reverential aspect with the name. ‘Thy kingdom come.’ An assertion of faith. God’s kingdom, under the Jesus, the Messiah’s rule, is yet to come, but come it will, and we’re to pray for it, while waiting expectantly. ‘Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.’ God’s will should be paramount in the universe He created. And here on earth, believers need to pray for the faith and strength to achieve that goal. Jesus exemplifies this in the Garden of Gethsemane, during His time of anguish, before the crucifixion, when He prayed, ‘O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.’ (Mat.26:42) Bruh David says; ‘The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.’ (Ps.103:19-20) Yes People, the Lord made it all, and all of it must do His will. ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Jesus is saying to ask for whatever we need or require on a daily basis; whether it be food, health or strength, to nourish our souls, minds and bodies, so we can do His bidding. Jesus’ listeners would surely have understood the concept of daily nourishment from the story of the Israelites wanderings in the desert, when the Lord fed them manna daily. As Solomon said: ‘…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.’  (Prov.30:8) That Friends is all we require. And I’ve given you enough food for thought today. (smile) Till tomorrow. Much LOVE!…if we ask in faith…the Lord will grant with mercy…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 September 2008 Psalm 119:165‏

30 Sep 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 119:165    Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
 
Oh Friends, is that ever so true! And Bruh David is a cardinal example of it. He knew the law, found pleasure in it and consequently reaped the rewards of peace and rest from fear, that abiding by it brings. We all are human and therefore liable to stumble at times, but never fall. And it seems the enemy’s trying to make me fall, for I’ve been losing the internet connection and having problems with it all evening, and talking to the techs in India doesn’t seem to help either. No wonder the country’s losing it’s technical advantage, even tech support has been outsourced, all in the name of profits.  But Friends, once we have the Lord’s Word in our hearts, and valiantly try to live by it, as I’m doing now, our fears will dissipate like a breath of smoke on a gust of wind. Just hope that it’s my fears that dissipate and not the Scrip-Bit. (smile) But that’s the purpose, the beauty of the Word; it strengthens us and gives us peace of mind that enables us to carry on in faith, in spite of any obstacles in our way. Solomon exhorts us to obedience this way. ‘My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.’ (Provs.3:1-2) Oh Friends, that’s such a marvellous promise! If we’re obedient to the Lord’s dictates, it will bring us peace and longevity. It stands to reason. Just living decently creates less worry and fuss and bother in your lives, consequently less stress, today’s giant killer, giving you better odds for a longer life. Now imagine if you add belief and faith in the Most High God, Jehovah to that. Wow! Your peace level and life line will increase even more. The prophet Isaiah says; ‘Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.’ (Is.26:3) Yes Friends, it begins with trust and and faithfulness in The Lord, which then leads us to peace of mind. There’s no chicken or egg confusion here. Belief and trust must first be present in our hearts, before we find peace of mind. Isaiah also states: ‘And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.’ (Is.32:17) Ah people, that’s exactly what we need in these perilous and troubled times, with our world crazily crumbling around us, through natural disasters, fraud, economic downturn, immorality and all the evil works of the enemy, including decreased belief and trust in God. Oh Friends, we don’t need less God now, but more, MUCH MORE! When surrounded by fear, uncertainty and confusion, like now, it’s imperative we move towards God, not away from Him. Please people, don’t let the enemy tempt you into doing the wrong thing, moving the foolish way, for when the chips are down, there’s only one Being in this universe who can definitely help us, who can keep us upright, and that’s the one who created it: the Most High God Jehovah; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Friends, in wisdom, and in the search for world peace and peace of mind, let’s stay with, return to, or come anew to Him. He’s our ONLY HOPE! Much LOVE!…sorrowful times…they call for a…merciful, reliable God…
P.S: The enemy didn’t beat me though. I called India and went through the same rigmarole again. At least now I’m not losing the signal, and I can finally send the Bit. And Friends, you’d be proud of me; I never lost my cool. I was nice and polite to the lady who dealt me me. (smile) Praise His Name! Much LOVE!
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 September 2008 Proverbs 14:26‏

29 Sep 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 14:26   In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
 
Oh Friends, that’s gospel! But hard times are back upon me, meaning that I’ve got to look for Bits every day again. (smile) The past week, I knew exactly what I was going to write about; Bruh Joseph. But isn’t his a most amazing story! The way the Lord caused him to be rudely uprooted in his teen years, taken away to a foreign land, to suffer so much injustice, then become a saviour to his foreign masters and his own Hebrew people. Wow! Only our God could concoct such an awe inspiring, dramatic tale. I knew the story, but never paid attention to all the nuances involved, until now. That’s why Friends it pays to study the Word. You learn something new every time, that opens your eyes even more to the wonders of our God. And Bruh Joseph’s story is a most fitting acknowledgement of Today’s Bit: ‘In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.’ Did anyone show more reverence than Bruh Joseph? And I greatly admire that his confidence in his God was not only strong and secure, but apparently quiet too. He didn’t seem to verbalize much about his faith. He let his actions do the talking. Unlike Bruh David, who lived a very active life; running and fighting and loving; writing his music and poems, being a sort of early days Renaissance Man, Bruh Joseph seemed to prefer the quiet, more background lifestyle. To find him, you’d have to deliberately go looking for him, while Bruh David would be popping up at you on posters all over the place. And don’t talk about Bruh Paul; he was so rambunctious and ornery, that he would come looking for you. But Friends, despite their different natures, they all exhibited one thing in common, and that to the nth degree: a reverence in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; such an unshakeable belief in His promises; that He was whom He said He was, and would do what He said He would, which raised their confidence to an awesomely high level, which in turn allowed them to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and obstacles, and also to thrive in spite of them. Oh Friends, theirs is a faith to die for! Bruh Joseph’s understated, serene outlook; that of a dreamer. Bruh David’s more outgoing, demonstrative passion, and Bruh Paul’s aggressive, in your face attitude. It does take all kinds to make a world, and we each have our unique make up; one of the three personality types, or some combination thereof, but whatever it is, we’ve all been called upon to exhibit a great amount of faith, a high degree of reverence, appreciation, gratitude and belief in the Most High God, for it’s only under His awesome, sprawling wings can we find safety and shelter from the storms of life. Those three stalwarts believed it, lived it and besides finding shelter and safety, received worthy rewards. And people, our world is currently being battered by an avalanche of storms, both literally and figuratively (Hurricane Kyle is now hurtling up the east coast of N.America) and it might just get worse before it get’s better. But Friends, for those of us who’ve put their trust in Jehovah, there’s no need to fret or worry, for as one translation of the Bit says, ‘He who fears the Lord, has a secure fortress.’ And as Margaret Fishback Powers writes in her book, Footprints, ‘Neither the sun, nor the Son, have gone out of business. He is still with us. A new day will dawn, and the Lord will bring himself to the center of our problems.’ Oh Friends, please remember that, and let it boost your faith. The Lord is still in control, so nothing evil that comes against us will prosper. Much LOVE!…his mercies are new…each and every day…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 September 2008 Genesis 50:20‏

28 Sep 2008 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 alive.
 
That’s  God’s way Friends? People intend to do us harm, but our ever faithful, merciful God turns those same evil intentions to our advantage. Exactly what He did with Bruh Joseph. Yes, he deserves elevation to the status of Bruh. (smile) His brothers sold him into slavery to hurt him, but the Most High concocted an ingenious plan that eventually saves the lives of those same wicked brothers and their families. And even after experiencing Bruh Joseph’s great kindness and mercy, when they return to Egypt, after burying Jacob in Canaan, their guilt makes them sore afraid. Thinking that Bruh Joseph hates them, and without their father to keep him in check, would exact his revenge, they send him a message saying that before Jacob died, he decreed that Bruh Joseph forgive them of their sin against him. ‘And now we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.’ (vs.17-18) The many times Bruh Joseph wept, and his brothers bowed before him, surely caused a lot of tension. I wonder, if in all their obeisance, they remembered how they laughed him to scorn when he foretold it as a boy. Don’t ridicule the dreams of others, Friends. It has a bad habit of coming back to haunt you. They also did not take into account the powerful spirit of God moving within Bruh Joseph. ‘And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?’ (vs.19) Oh Friends, what a most worthy answer! Is he God, to be taking revenge? Hn,hn! I chuckle because all along I’ve been reading that line as ‘I am,’ instead of ‘am I’ and wondering what it meant. But when it mattered most, the Lord set me straight. Praise His Holy Name People! And Bruh Joseph continued in forgiveness. ‘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. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.’ Wow! He wasn’t God, but he sure acted as magnanimously, through God’s Spirit moving within him. And Bruh Joseph lived to the ripe old age of one hundred and ten, enjoying God’s favour to rock his great grand children on his knees. At the end, he said to his family, ‘I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’ (vs.25) And he made them promise to take his bones to the Promised Land with them. Remember children. (smile) ‘So Joseph died…and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.’ (vs.26) Ah Friends, what a wonderful story! It shows the lengths the Lord would go to for us; both to teach us some lesson and to prove His LOVE. He chose a simple, dreamy, Hebrew shepherd boy, made him suffer much injustice, then made him a beloved icon in a foreign country, while weaving in the necessary fabric to create His Chosen People, the Children of Israel, and their holy grail; the Promised Land. Oh people, this is the last instalment of Bruh Joseph’s story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, for every time you read the Word, you glean something new, get a deeper understanding. That certainly happened to me with Bruh Joseph. I’ve certainly developed a greater appreciation and higher respect for him. Do you realize Friends, that not once, through all his suffering, did we hear of him doing any serious wrong. All God’s other devotees did: From Abraham right down to Bruh Paul. Why is that eh? It reminds me of a reggae song I recently heard, called The Promised Land, which suggests that it’s not so much a physical entity, but more a state of mind. I tend to agree. For we walk by faith, not by sight, so making a conscious effort to live now, the way we’d expect to live then, assures us of a better life. I think Joseph discovered that secret and lived it; holding that constant vision, through faith, even till the end, when he confidently assured his brethren that God would come and lead them to the Promised land; which He did. Oh Friends, may we develop such a state of mind, through faith and the Holy Spirit’s help, until, like Bruh Joseph, we reach that Promised Land. Much LOVE!…walking in, through, and by faith…sure works wonders…in the human spirit…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 September 2008 Genesis 48:20‏

27 Sep 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Genesis 48:20    And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh: And he placed Ephraim before Manasseh.
 
Ah Friends, that’s a source of serious problems in many families. Now Joseph hears that his father is sick and goes to visit him with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob, always the patriarch, wills his strength and sits up in bed to greet them. He tells Joseph of how the Lord blessed him and promised to multiply him fruitfully and give the land of Canaan ‘to thy seed for an everlasting possession.’ (vs.4) Then his sight being dim, he did not recognize Joseph’s sons, and asked ‘Whose are these?’ Joseph replied, ‘They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place.’ He tells Joseph to bring them to him so he can bless them. Joseph does it, he kisses and embraces them, saying to Joseph: ‘I had not thought to see thy face: and lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.’ (vs.11) Then Joseph takes his sons from between Jacobs knees, bows his face to the earth, and rearranges them with the eldest Manasseh to Jacob’s right hand, and Ephraim to his left. But the wily Jacob puts out his right hand and places it on Ephraim’s head, and his left on Manasseh’s. This displeases Joseph, and he points out the mistake to his father. Jacob refuses, saying he knows that, and though Manasseh would also multiply and be great, ‘but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.’  (Gen.48:19-20) Joseph also received one more portion of inheritance than his brothers. It seems that in Abraham’s lineage, the youngest became the greatest: Isaac over Ishmael; Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his brothers, Ephraim over Manasseh, right down to Bruh David and Solomon. Then Jacob calls his twelve sons to his side; ‘Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob, and hearken unto Israel your father.’ (Gen.49:2) And then, in beautiful, flowing language, he goes on to tell them all, from Reuben his first, to Benjamin, the last, what their lives would be like: Reuben, unstable as water: Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations: Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…Joseph is a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the mighty God of Jacob;’ Oh Friends, Genesis 49 is a must read; Jacob describes his sons in such lovely language. And after he tells them to bury him in Canaan, Jacob gets into the bed and gives up the ghost. Joseph kisses his father’s face and weeps, then orders the doctors to embalm him. ‘And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.’ (Gen.50:3) But the best part Friends is this: ‘And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt.’ (Gen.50:7) Wow! All Jacob’s family, except the small children went too. ‘And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.’ (vs.) Yes Friends, if we live obedient to God’s Word, like Joseph, anything’s possible. He was so beloved in Egypt, that Pharaoh sent a whole host of people up to Canaan to bury his father Jacob. Can we muster such respect in our circles? Let’s all work towards that goal nuh, and so bring great glory to God’s name. Much LOVE!…in all we do…let’s put Him first…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 September 2008 Genesis 48:21‏

26 Sep 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Genesis 48:21    And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
 
Oh Friends, ever noticed whenever you visit the land of your ancestors, a nostalgic feeling overtakes you, especially if you’ve never lived there? Just seeing where they walked and talked, lived and loved, awakens memories of stories you’ve heard. That’s the lure of the land: The land which our forefathers cherished, held sacred, from which they earned their livelihood, on which solid dreams were built. That’s why Jacob said those words to Joseph, the land gets into our blood, becomes a part of us. And though Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt, he never wanted to be buried there; ‘I am to be gathered to my people,bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite.’ (Gen.49:29) But those last five years of the famine were quite rough,although Joseph looked after his family. No bread in the land. The people used up their money buying corn from Joseph, enriching Pharaoh’s coffers. Then they brought their animals and Joseph gave them bread in exchange. And when that was exhausted, they pleaded with Joseph; ‘Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land be not desolate.’ (Gen.47:19) So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, except the priests’ portion, for Pharaoh fed them, and he moved everybody to the cities. Then he decreed that from thence, a fifth part of their produce would be Pharaoh’s, the rest theirs. ‘And they said, Thou hast saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.’ (Gen.47:25) Wow! That’s why they revered Joseph, although he was an outsider. He at least kept them alive, which gave them HOPE. Now my question Friends; where’s our modern-day Joseph? The interpreter of dreams, the far seeing, caring administrator, who’s not only out to rob the people for his and his cronies benefit? Where was that keeper, the People’s safeguard, when the crooks on Wall Street, and those other streets of deals were setting the people up to fail, while enriching themselves and living extravagantly? How come there was no government overseer checking these schemes? Where was the People’s guardian? Hobnobbing with those same crooks or turning a blind eye to their evil endeavours? And now that everything crash, the house of cards tumble down, the People’s guardian coming to them, expecting them, who already seriously suffering from the aftermath of the crooked schemes and the numerous natural disasters recently befallen them, to ante up more to bail out the crooks, or else the nation will fall. Tough! They’ve bailed out enough! Let those who profited from the schemes bail out the remainder. Buffet’s put five billion in Goldman Sachs. Let the many others do likewise. It’s about time the rich pay for their crimes against the common man. And if the nation crumbles, so be it. Hopefully they will rebuild on a solid foundation this time. And who’s to say the 700 billion they’re asking for will stabilize the situation eh? Originally it was just a few billion, but every day more fallout comes to light. Someone termed it a financial Pearl Harbour. Nonsense! The Japanese came upon Pearl Harbour stealthily. This situation’s of their own making. Any sensible, non-greedy person knows that you can’t build on lies and fraudulent schemes forever, it must implode sometime. And these are the keepers of the gates? No wonder the world’s in such a mess, during the most prosperous and advanced times ever. Oh Friends, I never meant to talk about the financial meltdown, but seeing Joseph’s handling of the situation in Egypt, and how we’re handling this one, it struck a sensitive nerve. And it does have something to do with our greedy, selfish, evil, materialistic society, that’s turning away from God. For when you turn away from God; He turns away from you. Let’s hope all these disasters wake us up and lead us back to the God of our fathers. Much LOVE!…when yuh doh hear…yuh does feel…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 September 2008 Genesis 45:16‏

25 Sep 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Genesis 45:16    And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
 
Wow Friends! It’s obvious that Joseph was well liked and respected in Egypt. But for his brothers’ coming to have created such joy, means his stature was extremely amazing; in reality, second only to Pharaoh, who told him; ‘And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.’ (vs.18) Friends, that deserves another Wow! It had to be the Lord’s spirit moving in Pharaoh’s heart. Praise His Holy Name people! Imagine an Egyptian ruler nuh, a demi-god, being that kind to Hebrews, people they couldn’t even eat with, especially with five years of severe famine left to go in his own land? But Friends, our God, moves in mysterious and mighty ways. Pharaoh even said to Joseph. ‘Now thou art commanded…take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father and come.’ (vs.19) Pharaoh’s largesse was second only to God’s. But Friends, that’s what happens when we put our entire lives and complete trust in the Lord. He works wonders on our behalf, opens doors we don’t even know exist. Joseph followed Pharaoh’s orders; gave his brothers wagons loaded with food, and clothes to all. But to Benjamin, he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment. To his father he sent, ‘ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.’ (vs.23) Can you believe all that stuff going out of Egypt in the midst of a famine to feed and clothe Hebrews? Brother! Joseph certainly found favour in their sight through his righteousness. Wish we could all be more like him, Christianity would be in much better shape now; no setta divisions and senseless internecine strife, causing unbelievers to move even further away from the faith. Friends, how did we get from one church, under Jesus, teaching one thing, to numerous religions, teaching, God alone knows what? And everyday we hear of some new splinter group. Where will it end? However, when the brothers get home and tell Jacob that Joseph’s alive, and his exalted position in Egypt, he refuses to believe them, till he sees the wagons Joseph sent to bear him, then his spirit revived. ‘And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.’  (vs.28) Imagine the joy in Jacob’s heart nuh Friends! After thinking for twenty odd years that your favourite son’s dead, you suddenly hear that he’s alive and doing famously in another land. It’s enough to burst the cockles of any parent’s heart with joy. So they all set out for Egypt: sixty six direct descendants of Jacob, not counting his son’s wives; add Joseph, his two sons and Jacob himself, the household numbered seventy. The start of God’s promise when He changed his name to Israel: ‘ a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee; and kings shall come out of thy loins.’ (Gen.35:11) And we know the Lord kept His promise, anytime we speak of ‘the children of Israel.’ And Joseph rode his chariot to meet them in Goshen, and wept on his father’s neck for a while. His tear ducts must have been sorely overworked, but who can blame him for those tears of joy after all he’d suffered? ‘And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.’ (Gen.46:30) What a happy reunion people! Only because the two principals stayed faithful and true to the God of their fathers. Friends, if we too remain faithful to the Most High God, Jehovah, He will cascade, rain down blessings on us, till we turn fool. (smile) Much LOVE!…showers of blessing…showers of blessing…He’s promised…to those faithful and true…
 

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