Spiritual Living | SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 April 2022 Matthew 27:46.

15 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a crown of thorns, all of our sins are washed away, crucify him, Eli Eli lama sabachthani, eternal life, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, Good Friday, Hail King of the Jews, Hosanna Son of David, if any man will come after me, Lenten season, let him deny himself, LOVE, My God my God, naked like a jay bird, pay our sin debt in full, put on him a scarlet robe, salvation, Simon the Cyrene, sufferation, take up his cross and follow me, the cross is the symbol of our faith, the cross of Calvary, they spit upon him, ultimate shame, why hast thou forsaken me

Matthew 27:46. ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’

A BLEESED GOOD FRIDAY!

And then it was Friday…Good Friday to be exact; the end of our Lenten season, the day our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross of Calvary to pay for our abominable sins! And why that name on one of the most horrendous days in History? There are all sorts of reasons, but I like this one. It’s a Good Friday in the sense that on this particular day, ALL of our sins were washed away! That’s not only what‘s good about it, but what is exceedingly and abundantly wonderful!

Yes, we know that Christ suffered terribly on our behalf, but that’s considering the glass half empty. However, looking at what that sacrifice entailed and accomplished – atonement, forgiveness of sins – means looking at the glass half-full. And no one wanted, or wants anyone to undergo such ‘sufferation’ as Jesus did – and that’s the only word that can truly explain what He went through for us undeserving and ungrateful sinners – but without someone sinless paying for our sins we would ALL still be headed for damnation and hellfire with no options of salvation and eternal life.

And since Jesus was the only sinless soul available, it was obvious that the Father had to sacrifice Him if He wanted our sin debt to be paid. And oh, how it hurts my heart when I consider the unfairness and misery Jesus went through on our behalf. Sometimes I don’t even want to read about the shame hurled on Him during the mock trials He went through. And the flogging, oh brother, that wicked beating that cut His back to tatters brings tears to my eyes.

Then the ignominy, the embarrassment and humiliation of dragging that heavy wooden cross on which He would be crucified through the streets of Jerusalem, falling under its weight, just like he would later fall under the weight of our sins that the Father would ultimately lay on His shoulders. It’s like our modern-day trait of having someone dig their own grave. Just listen to this description of Christ’s early suffering as told by Matthew, and if it doesn’t break your heart and bring tears to your eyes…then…I don’t know what to say about you nuh.

After Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified, ‘Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall (the governor’s headquarters where everyone could see), and gathered unto him the whole band (cohort) of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited (twisted) a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put on his own raiment (clothes), and led him away to crucify him.’ (Matt. 27:27-31)

Oh friends, can you imagine how Jesus must have been totally humiliated, especially after only a week earlier, the same crowd that had cheered His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, singing ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ was now shouting ‘Crucify Him!’ But yuh know what, our heavenly Father is always a kind and LOVING God, and even in the depths of Jesus’ despair, though He knew that He could not take away the cup that Jesus must drink, He could soften the blow somewhat. Thus, the following scriptures: ‘And as they led him (Jesus) away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.’ (Luke 23:26)

Oh my people, do you think that Simon just happened to appear there when Jesus was so exhausted and broken after all that He’d suffered in the last several hours. No, I don’t think so. I think the Father, knowing the terrible state that Jesus was in, placed him there for just that purpose. And isn’t it strange that the first three gospels all named Simon by name, a supposed casual passer-by? Mark even named his two sons, Alexander and Rufus. And every Good Friday since then, we too are also calling Simon the Cyrene’s name. As they say, people are not named in scripture without a purpose. So the story had to be true.

And I like what this one author, Chris Nye, says on importance of Luke’s words, ‘that he might bear it after him.’ That means Simon was walking behind Jesus with his cross. Nye writes: ‘Before his arrest and betrayal, Jesus said to his would-be followers, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To be a Christian is to live a “cruciform life,” a kind of existence that is shaped by and through the cross.

We bear the cross Jesus provides for us. This is precisely what Simon did and precisely what we must do too. As St. Paul wrote, we do this so that we may know Jesus “and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). Simon of Cyrene, following behind Jesus with the cross, is the picture of discipleship. Christ has gone first. He has gone and is going to where we cannot. Still, we follow in his steps, bearing the cross behind him.’

Ah mih fellow saints, the cross is indeed the symbol of our faith! Everything in Christianity points to it and leads away from it. Without the cross there’d be no solid foundation for us to build our lives upon. And we all know the rest of the story of that First Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified naked like a jay bird, the ultimate shame in His Jewish faith, between two thieves, with nails in his hands and feet, and left hanging on the cross for some five hours in the hot midday sun to die from dehydration and loss of blood. The ultimate cruelty ever devised by man!

But we also know that Jesus bore His ‘sufferation’ like the true Son of God that He was, mostly in silence too. His only complaint being at about the ninth hour, when He cried out to the Father: ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt. 27:46)

Yes, my faithful brethren, on that old rugged cross, bearing the sins of the whole world on His shoulders, that was the ONLY time that Father and Son had ever been separated, and apparently that was the only thing that troubled Jesus deeply. He was otherwise so in control that He promised the repentant thief crucified with Him: ‘Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’ (Luke 23:43)

Even in His misery, His dying moments, Jesus was cognitive enough to plead on our behalf. ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) He is asking forgiveness for the people who are unjustly crucifying Him, the same ones for whose sins He was sent to atone for! Now doesn’t that say everything about our magnificent Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? It certainly does! What a fine example He is for us to follow! And that’s all He’s asking of us this Good Friday, this immortal day on the Christian calendar; to take up our cross, just like He did His two thousand years ago, and faithfully follow Him to salvation and eternal life! Much LOVE!

…if you’re not faithfully bearing your cross…then you’re not following Jesus…

P.S. Sorry for the lateness of the Bit, but I had to go to church, because the 10 o’clock service was the only one we have today. But as always…better late than never. (smile) Much LOVE!

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 April 2022 Matthew 26:26.

14 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a compassionate heart, brake it and gave to the disciples, courage, creativity, curse, he that dippeth his hand with me, Holy Thursday Holy Communion, Jesus took bread and blessed it, LOVE, negative word, shed for many for the remission of sins, take eat this is my body, the bread of affliction, the gift of God is eternal life, the Last Supper, the passion of Christ, the Passover feast, the redemption of sin, the same shall betray me, the wages of sin is death, this is my blood of the new testament, Thursday Blessings

Matthew 26:26. ‘And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.’

Oh friends, on this Holy Thursday morning of 2022, with the weather playing musical chairs out there; first wet and cloudy, then sunny, then cloudy, I want to open today with a big apology. I humbly apologize for labelling yesterday’s Bit as the 12^th instead of the 13^th of April. I don’t know how many of you noticed that, but I didn’t either. And the truth is that I scrutinize the Bit, especially the headings before I send it out. And I remember doing just that yesterday. But I guess that the Lord was trying to show me that I am human and thus liable to make mistakes even when looking for them. (smile)

But you can’t imagine my displeasure when I opened my computer this morning and found two Bits with the same date. I couldn’t see it yesterday, but it was quite obvious today. Ah Lord eh! Anyway, there are more important things to consider today, than my making a mistake yesterday. Let’s hope though that I learn from it. (smile) And today being Holy Thursday, it’s important that we consider the passion of Christ on that fateful evening before His crucifixion when He held the Passover supper with His disciples.

The Good Book tells it thus. ‘Now when the even (evening) was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: (Isaiah 53- The suffering servant) but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He (Jesus) said unto him, Thou hast said (it).’ (Matt. 26:20-25)

No doubt that set the tempo, the atmosphere for the evening. With betrayal in the air, and Jesus having already told them about His upcoming death, it could not have been a comfortable or joyful occasion, especially after Jesus acknowledged that Judas was His betrayer. And the scholars tell us that ‘the statement He that dippeth reveals the personal and intimate nature of the betrayal.’ And so it should, with such a close-knit group. The Good Book then continues: ‘And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.’ (Matt. 26:26)

Now that was a momentous occasion, for according to the scholars: ‘Jesus took bread: The head of the Jewish household was accustomed to doing this during the Passover feast. Jesus gave a whole new significance to the action, when He said, ‘This is my body,’ for during that meal, the head of the Jewish household took the bread in his hand and said, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt,” meaning, of course, that one represented the other. By His words the Lord changed the whole significance and emphasis of the feast from looking back to the typical redemption from Egypt to faith in the redemption from sin accomplished by His death.’

And that’s how we now view the breaking of bread in the Holy Communion. But it didn’t end there though, because according to the Good Book: ‘And he (Jesus) took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it (drink from it all of you). For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.’ (Matt. 26:27-30)

Yes my people, that ceremony now of breaking bread and drinking wine which we call Holy Communion is a celebration of what is, that’s Christ’s death, and what is to come, His triumphant return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when peace and LOVE will become a factual and established, not imagined way of life!

And the scholars offer a couple of interesting explanations. Re, ‘My blood of the new testament (covenant),’ they say that it’s taken from the Greek Septuagint version of Exodus 24:8., which reads: ‘And Moses took the blood, (of oxen) and sprinkled it on the people, and said, behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.’ (Ex. 24:8)

The scholars explain that thus: ‘The blood of the covenant is the terminology from which the Old Testament (or covenant) gets its name. Because Israel failed to keep this conditional covenant of works, God promised through Jeremiah the institution of an unconditional covenant of grace (Jer. 31:31-34), which will be fulfilled in Israel during the Great Tribulation. But this covenant of grace is based upon the atoning work of Christ, and for this reason the church also participates in it through His blood (Luke 22:20; Heb. 8:6-13, 9:15-18; 12:24).’

Please take a moment and read those scriptures, they are very interesting and help us to better understand the way which Christ changed up things with His death and resurrection. And it all just shows the amazing compassion of our great God! We could not do the works detailed in the old covenant, so He promised a new one, but this through grace, rather than works, accomplished through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ atoning for our disobedience.

And the scholars tell us that Jesus words in the Last Supper: ‘Shed for many for the remission of sins,’ is a clear statement that the death of Jesus was necessary to enable God to forgive sins. It, in fact, made it right or morally justifiable for Him to do so. Please remember: ‘For the wages of sin is death, (eternal separation) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom. 6:23)

And now that we have a li’l better understanding of the Holy Communion ceremony, (smile) let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Thursday Blessings that the Lord in His grace and mercy has so generously bestowed on us, remembering the passion of Christ and all that He suffered on our behalf. As one strong and confident voice. ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’

We are now expected to go out and share those blessings just as generously with others as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!

…the passion of Christ…should ignite in us…a passion for Him…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 April 2022 James 1:2.

13 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: according to His abundant mercy, blessed are they that have not seen yet believed, count it all joy, eyes fixed straight ahead, God uses problems to mature His people, hands on the plough, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, He'll never leave nor forsake you, hold on to Jesus, I am halfway home, let patience have her perfect work, LOVE, not looking back, only for a season, our salvation is assured, refining faith through trials, Ride out your storm, spiritual growth and maturity, testing can make Christians bitter and not better, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the present trials are of li'l account, the promise of salvation is so wonderful, the trials of life, the trying of your faith worketh patience, time on the potter's wheel, to a glorious future with Jesus, Wednesday Wail, when ye fall into divers temptations

James 1:2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials),

Well, this Holy Week Wednesday looks like it’s going to be a cloudy, stormy day, but that’s nothing to be worried about, because, as the song so rightly says, ‘Just hold on to Jesus and ride out your storm.’ Just remember His promise, that He’ll never leave nor forsake you. So don’t give up the fight, just hold on to Jesus, and ride out that storm that seems to be a brewing in your life. You’re not alone, Almighty God, the Creator of the universe and all therein is right there with you and will faithfully lead and guide you to safe shelter.

Now that’s not as easy to do as it sounds, and it recalls two tough passages from the Good Book: one from James and one from Peter. James said it thus: ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations (various trials), Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting nothing (lacking anything).’ (James 1:2-4)

Ah friends, those are indeed tough words to fathom, much less accept! How can we count our trials and tribulations joy when our usual response to adversity is escape eh? The truth of the matter though, is that God uses problems to mature His people. And the scholars explain. ‘1:2-3. In this epistle on Christian living, James opens with a most crucial topic: the trials of life. These verses describe the various testings – whether from the world and Satan, or from God – into which godly Christians fall. These “negative” experiences are to be accepted with great joy, not for the sake of the trial itself but because of the positive work God can accomplish through the testing.

The words in verses 2 and 3 (temptations and trying) are often regarded as virtually synonymous. If this were true, then trials themselves would produce spiritual maturity. But they do not. Often, testing makes Christians bitter instead of better, with no spiritual growth occurring. The Greek word for “trying” (dokimion) might be better translated as “approving.” It is not merely one’s presence in such trials but one’s victory over them that brings spiritual growth and maturity. Those Christians whom God can use the most are those whom God has bruised the most.’

What a contention my people, but nonetheless a true one! You’ll notice that throughout the Bible, most of the people God used greatly suffered greatly, especially Jesus! It’s just that we become better witnesses when we’ve gone through tough times, when we’ve experienced some time on the potter’s wheel and have come out victorious, something better than we were before. Remember, the trial itself doesn’t make us mature, but how we behave under it, and how we turn out afterwards. Hopefully better and not bitter!

Meanwhile, Peter is a li’l more understanding, he butters us up first before bringing in the heavy artillery. He opens by declaring: (steups!) ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled , and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in in the last time.’ (1 Pet. 1:3-5)

Yes friends, Peter gives us the promise before he tells us the problem. (smile) We have the ‘lively or living hope,’ that’s sure salvation to look forward to, through the finished work of Jesus. It’s been saved incorruptible and undefiled for us in heaven. So, we don’t need to worry about the future; that’s assured. However, before we get to heaven and our future, there’s this li’l problem we need to work through:

‘Wherefore ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (distressed) through manifold temptations: That the trial (the genuineness) of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried (tested) with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing (revelation) of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye LOVE, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’ (1 Pet. 1:6-9)

Ah mih people, it’s a great ending, but as always, the middle is problematic. That’s where our faith; its genuineness and strength come into play. That’s when we separate the sheep from the goats; see who is truly serious about Jesus or are just riding the bandwagon. The scholars tell us: ‘1:6-9. The problem of salvation looks to the present . Earthly trials constitute a problem of our salvation, but they are only for a season, or temporary. Manifold temptations mean diversified trials. True faith cannot be destroyed though God is in the process of refining faith through our trials.’

Yes, though we have not seen Jesus personally, we still believe and rejoice and are unspeakably joyful because of His marvellous promises. Remember what Jesus said to Thomas, when he refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he personally saw Him? ‘Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29) Jesus is talking about us my fellow saints. People who haven’t seen Him in person but still totally believe and won’t give up!

Oh, life can be, and certainly will be difficult at times, but the power of Jesus, the works He’s already wrought for us, done on our behalf, gives us the faith, the strength, the staying power to live up to His desires and not be turned off by the trials and temptations of earthly living. Consequently, we are proud and overjoyed at our position in Christ, despite whatever comes against us. So, let’s go home now declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our glorious position in Christ Jesus!

As one, loud, proud and sincere voice. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’

And let’s not forget that if we endure to the end, that future will be even more glorious than we can either ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…the future promise of salvation is so wonderful…that the present trials can be considered of li’l account…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 April 2022 1 Chronicles 16:34.

12 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: deliver us from the heathen, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, ever-saving grace, fear before him all the earth, frail fickle and finite ability, glory and honour are in his presence, great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, great is thy faithfulness, heart is made of stone, his compassions fail not, his mercy endureth for ever, I am the beloved of god, I can trust my friend Jesus, in god's eyes, It is of the Lord's mercies, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, moving and grooving, my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, our devilish souls washed clean, sacrificed His only Sn, save us O God of our salvation, share His love with the world, sing unto the Lord all the earth, strength and gladness are in his place, the cocoon of God's love, the cross of Calvary, the depths of Hades, the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ, the price we pay, they are new every morning, to whom we belong, Tuesday Mantra, unconditional LOVE, wallowing in the Love of God, we are not consumed, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

1 Chronicles 16:34. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

And it’s a bright and beautiful spring Tuesday…getting warmer every minute too! (smile) Oh yes, it’s high time that we are blessed with some of the sun’s real warmth after such a long winter of hibernating. But that’s just the price we pay for living in the cold northern climes. Nothing that we can’t handle though with the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ moving and grooving with us. And one of those marvellous moves happened just now. I’m talking about where the Good Book opened this morning; at 1 Chronicles 16, which contains this beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving from the mighty pen of Bruh David.

And you know what means, we’ve got to declare it today. (smile) So, let’s do as Bruh David says nuh. ‘Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared (held in reverential awe) above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols (worthless things): but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear (tremble) before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory (triumph) in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord.’ (1 Chr.16:23-36)

Oh my people, my people, what beautiful, wise, true and sure sentiments! Bruh David surely knew how to pull one into the Lord’s sphere, to wrap one in the cocoon of God’s LOVE, mercy and greatness! If, after reading those true and worthy sentiments and you have not felt the LOVE, the nearness, the warmth and safety emanating from God’s Holy Spirit then your heart must really be made of stone. For the words just evoke a sense of totality, an all-encompassing serenity, stability and unchangeability that flows from the wonderful Creator of the universe and all therein. ‘For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.’

Now there’s no doubting His greatness if He can merely speak into existence this amazing world and all that’s in it. And just for that He definitely deserves praise and glory! Then when you add His goodness and mercy, His salvation, His saving grace…Oh friends, the honour and glory He truly deserves for all that He is, is way above our frail, fickle and finite ability. No wonder the Good Book tells us: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ (Is. 55:8-9)

We just are not in His league my brethren! And why should we be eh, when He is our Creator, the author of infinity, and we are just lowly, though highly adored minions with a finite existence? And that’s why we should be forever grateful and do like Bruh David says: ‘O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.’ And friends, not only the Lord’s mercy endures for ever, but also His amazing unconditional LOVE and ever-saving grace! Without His mercy, grace and LOVE, we’d be totally destroyed long ago!

Jeremiah said it so succinctly and wisely in His Lamentations. ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful shout of ‘Praise the Lord! Blessed be His Holy Name! Give thanks for His wonderful goodness to the undeserving children of men!’

And so we should my fellow saints, for without the Lord’s abundant faithfulness, patience and long-suffering, we would have already been ignited with hell-fire and damnation! Because He promised, the fire next time, no more simplistic water. (smile) But yet still we refuse to bow to Him, to be obedient to His holy law and live according to the guidelines found in His word. And that’s even after He sacrificed His only Son on the cross of Calvary so that our abominable sins could be forgiven and our devilish souls washed clean.

For whatever reason, the deceitful enemy still holds the reins of too many of our hearts and souls, desiring to take us down to the depths of Hades with him, forever separated from the God of our creation and salvation. But people, that’s the worst decision, the biggest mistake any created being can make, for eternity is a long, long time, and without Almighty God in our lives, for any time at all, much less such a long period, we will endure much ‘sufferation.’

Remember, that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. He’s our Creator and keeps the breath of life, His breath of life, going in us. He has the power to do whatever He wants with us through His omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-presence. And above all He is the God of our salvation! So, with all those things going for Him, doesn’t it make sense to bow down and worship Him, to give him much thanks and praise? I certainly think so!

And for those of us who also think that way, let’s go home now declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, proudly telling the whole world to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. Altogether now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’

Consequently, we must now go out and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, just as generously as He’s shared it with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Oh what a wonderful task that is my people! Much LOVE!

…there’s nothing better than…wallowing in the LOVE, mercy and grace of God…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 April 2022 Psalm 119:33.

11 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a barrage of angry voices, a day of rest, awesome grace and mercy, disrupt the best laid plans of mice and men, earthly behaviour conform to heavenly standards, give me understanding, God's revelation, hear our prayer, I have longed after thy precepts, I shall keep it unto the end, in the path of thy commandments, Incline mine heart unto thy testimonies, Jehovah Rapha, life happens, LOVE, make me to go, mass confusion in our world, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, not to covetousness, observe it with my whole heart, quicken me in thy righteousness, sincere repentance in our hearts, stablish thy word unto thy servant, strong faith in Christ, teach me O Lord, the God who heals, the Guide Book of Life, the Lord's renewal of our spirit, the throne of grace, the way of thy statutes, thy judgements are good, to do God's bidding, turn away my reproach which I fear

Psalm 119:33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Monday, oh Monday! How good it is to see you again! We’ve missed you…’ ‘Talk for yourself please!’ a barrage of angry voices responds. That tells me that others are not as fond of Monday as I am. (smile) But as I said some time ago, Monday ought to be our strongest day because on Sunday we receive the Lord’s renewal of our spirit through praise and worship with other believers, and the fire and passion stirred up through that divine activity should propel us forward with undaunting strength and power to do God’s bidding.

That’s an important part of why we worship on Sundays folks; for just like our mechanical engines need occasional cleaning and refuelling, so do our spiritual engines need replenishing, and the Lord has chosen His Day, that’s Sunday, for that divine purpose. But because we so often misuse Sunday, which is technically a day of rest, we are seldom at our best on Monday. So, it seems like we need to retool the way we use our Sundays, and instead of partying heartily till the late hours, make sure we get enough rest in the evenings so that we can be fresh and fruitful come Monday.

And do we ever need to be faithful and fruitful in these sad, evil and turbulent times my fellow saints in Christ! And yes, most of us want to do just that, but the strong pull of this world usually leads us astray. So here are some words from the Guide Book of Life, that I believe will help us to change our ways in that respect…and possibly many other respects too. (smile) We’re talking about the section of Psalm 119 that’s subtitled ‘Give me understanding.’

Please pray with me. ‘Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight. Incline mine heart unto (cause me to long for) thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity (from looking at worthless things); and quicken (revive) thou me in thy way.’ Stablish (establish) thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear (to fearing thee). Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgements are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken (revive) me in thy righteousness.’ (Ps. 119:33-40)

Yes friends, those are indeed powerful verses of scripture, which, if we sincerely heed them will give us the wisdom and understanding to bring our lives into full union with God, enabling us to live the best life possible here on this fallen earth. Now let’s see if we can further understand what we’ve just read by elucidating on the meaning of some of the terms used there. (smile) And the first verse speaks about ‘statutes.’ So what are they? The scholars tell us that ‘statutes’ (huqim) is related to a verb meaning “to engrave” and thus implies permanent and unchangeable regulations.’

Meanwhile, the second verse says, ‘I shall keep thy law.’ Now what’s that about? According to the scholars, the major topic of Psalm 119 is the ‘Word of God. The multifaceted character of God’s Word is revealed by at least eight key synonyms for it in the psalm. And Law (torah) is the most frequent one. It comes from a verb meaning “to teach,” and thus came to be applied to a wide range of revelation, from an individual directive to the entire Pentateuch. (That’s the five Books of Moses, the first five in the Bible). It emphasizes that God has taught us in His Word, what He requires of us.’ So ‘Law’ basically means all of God’s revelation, all that He’s inspired in His Holy Word.

Then the next verse talks about the ‘path of thy commandments.’ And per the scholars, ‘Commandments (mitswot) is a word assuming the authority of the commander and the inherent necessity of obeying the content of the charge.’ Nothing difficult to understand about that now! (smile) Then we talk about ‘incline mine heart unto thy testimonies…’ What is that eh? ‘Testimonies (edot) emphasizes the content of the Word as that which God has testified of Himself and His will.’ Just like we testify of God, so does God testify of Himself in His Word.

That brings us to ‘stablish thy word.’ ‘Word (dabar) here is an all-embracing term for God’s revelation in any form.’ Then we have ‘for thy judgements are good.’ ‘Judgements (mispatim) or ordinances refer to decisions God has made as judge in order to make earthly behaviour conform to His heavenly standard.’ And the final term is ‘I have longed after thy precepts.’ ‘Precepts (piqudim) refer to instructions from a superior regarding the duties of those under him, in this case from God to man.’

So friends, we see that it’s all intertwined, but in the final analysis it’s all about God’s Word and how we ought to study it, so that we can learn it and then keep it, make it an active part of our lives, in order that we can have all that the Lord desires for us, and all that Christ died for us to possess; that is abundant life, in and with Him! And since everything begins and ends with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let’s go to the throne of grace with our petitions right now nuh, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn.

Therefore, in contrite but confident voice. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems.

Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems.

And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’

The next move is to now show our sincerity by putting our words into actions! Much LOVE!

…one can only understand and appreciate God’s Word…when one reads, studies, and keeps it to the end…

P.S. My sincere apologies for the unusual lateness of the Bit. Let’s just say that life happened. We all know how it can disrupt the best laid plans of mice and men. (smile) Much LOVE!

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 April 2022 Revelation 19:16.

10 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a conquering hero., a name above every other name, a name written, All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name, all power is given unto me in heaven and earth, at the name of Jesus, became obedient unto death, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, Christ has universal sovereignty, church disunity, crown him Lord of all, every knee should bow, faithful and true, hail him who saves you by his grace, he hath on his vesture and on his thigh, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to the son of David, I am Alpha and Omega, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, join the everlasting song, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, let angels prostrate fall, LOVE, no more tears sorrow pain, on his head were many crowns, out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, Palm Sunday, sacrifices of praise, strictly peace and love, the blessed and only Potentate, the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, the former things are passed away, the Messiah, the new heaven and earth, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee, ye chosen seed of Israel's race, ye ransomed of the fall, your God is a God of gods

Revelation 19:16. And he hath on his vesture (robe) and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Another Sunday has rolled around my people! And this is a very blessed and special Sunday in the Christian calendar. We call it Palm Sunday, recalling Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem two thousand years ago, the week before He was crucified, riding on a donkey, like the kings who brought peace, the fateful day when He officially offered Himself to the nation of Israel as her long awaited Messiah!

Wow! It was a marvellous day with the many visitors to Jerusalem thronging the streets to see Jesus, spreading their clothing and tree branches in His way, greeting Him like a conquering hero. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.’ (Matt. 21:9-11)

Yes, it was a great day friends, but yuh know what, Palm Sunday also foreshadows Jesus’ return to earth to set up His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. So, it’s both a triumphant day of the past and one that will again erupt with joy when Christ returns to rule the world. But enough talk, as we’re all looking forward to singing a wonderful song in Christ’s honour this Palm Sunday morning. And it’s indeed a popular hymn, so popular that it’s often called ‘The National Anthem of Christendom,’ and is aptly titled ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.’

‘The lyrics were written by Edward Perronet (1721-1792) a prominent British Pastor at one time affiliated with the Wesley’s of the Methodist persuasion, but afterwards became a pastor of a dissenting congregation.’ Another sad instance of church disunity, that just keeps on increasing the enemy’s power and lessening its own. Anyway, we know all about that and are working diligently to correct it, and the best way to do that right now is to lift up our voices in sweet sacrifices of praise, letting heaven an all earth know how much we LOVE and adore our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

So, in a soulful, scintillating, mid-tempo, joyful version, let’s sing: ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed of the fall, Ye ransomed of the fall, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all.

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all. O that with yonder sacred throng We at his feet may fall; We at His feet may fall; We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown him, crown him, crown him, And crown him Lord of all.’

Oh, certainly my fellow saints, Jesus must be crowned Lord of ALL, because He is indeed Lord of ALL! That’s what the Good Book says, and the Good Book doesn’t lie. Listen to how Bruh Paul explained it when he wrote to the church at Philippi. ‘And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every other name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil. 2:8-11)

Mamma Mia! What power resides in our Jesus! For His undaunted obedience, the Father made His name the highest name therein all the earth and heaven, to whom all knees must bow and confess that He is Lord. Jesus Himself said it to the disciples before He gave them the Great Commission: ‘All power (authority) is given unto me: in heaven and in earth.’ (Matt. 28:18) Even the heathen king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, recognized the might and power of Almighty God, after Daniel revealed the secret of his dream. He said to Daniel: ‘Of a truth, it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.’ (Dan. 2:47)

Meanwhile in 1 Timothy, Bruh Paul tells the young preacher: ‘That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable (blameless), until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show (manifest) who is the blessed and only Potentate (Sovereign Ruler), the King of kings, and Lord of lords.’ (1 Tim. 6:14-15) And if you still don’t believe, then let’s go right to the end of the story and get all the facts straight! (smile)

Right at the opening of John’s vision recorded in Revelation, Jesus said to him: ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which was to come, the Almighty.’ (Rev. 1:8) That set the scene for John’s later recounting of the rider on the white horse; ‘And he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself…

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture (robe) and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ (Rev. 19:11-12, 15-16)

Yes, all you beautiful saints of Christ, those mighty words describe our Lord and Saviour when He shall come in all His glory to rule the earth! As the scholars tell us: ‘He is the revelation of God Himself. In His first advent (coming) Jesus especially revealed the LOVE and grace of God. But in His second advent, He will reveal the holiness, justice and judgement of God. Christ will smite the nations, that is destroy all unbelievers, and will subject all nations to Himself, and destroy all His enemies. He has universal sovereignty. The many crowns mean He is King over all who call themselves kings, and Lord over all who call themselves lords.’ Glory Hallelujah my faithful brethren!

That’s how the story plays out; with Jesus the conquering Hero spreading God’s wrath far and wide, cleaning up the earth in anticipation of a time with strictly peace and LOVE, no more tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things (the negative things of the previous world) are passed away. (Rev. 21:4) And that’s how it’s going to be people. Now let’s hope that we will all be amongst that marvellous crowd on that thrilling day. Much LOVE!

…will you be in the new heaven and earth…only if you sincerely believe in Christ Jesus…it’s glorious ruler…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 April 2022 1 Corinthians 12:6.

09 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a righteous man falls numerous times, aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow, awesome munificence, be without flavour, cease to be life, Christian faith, delight thyself also in the Lord, don't let rejection create self-doubt, don't stress on what was, enjoy the abundant life, eternal disaster, every great dream begins with a dreamer, fight for what could be, given to every man to profit withal (all), God's lavishly generous nature, he shall give thee the desires of thine heart, if life were predictable, incentive to stay abed, it is the same God which worketh all in all, jack of all trades master of none, keep Jesus close beside you, LOVE, method to God's madness, no ending without a beginning, our friend Anselm, reach for the stars, receiving the Holy Spirit, stay on the straight and narrow path, the breath of life, the light of the world, the manifestation of the Spirit, the salt of the earth, there are diversities of operations, there's no giving up in Christ, what's life all about -living for Jesus, working towards God's divine plan

1 Corinthians 12:6. And there are diversities of operations (different activities), but it is the same God which worketh all in all (works in all things).

Here’s Saturday my people; cloudy and chilly! But some of us will like it like that since it gives us more incentive to stay abed and enjoy the early morning rest that we’ve been deprived of all week. (smile) And nothing’s wrong with that. There are rewards for getting up early five days a week, and one of them is sleeping in on Saturdays. So, if you’re one of those late risers this Saturday morning, please enjoy it.. Just make sure you keep Jesus close beside you, in your spirit and your soul, don’t let Him slip away from you for even one moment, for that could spell eternal disaster.

Now, let’s do what we do every Saturday morning that God blesses us with the breath of life and strength to read His word; we check out the quotes our friend Anselm sent us the past week and see how they fit into our setting of Christian faith. And this first quote says it all. ‘If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.’

So true my fellow saints! We might not like the quality of our life right now with all its ups and downs and dramatic sequences, but believe me, if life was just sure and placid all the time, we would not enjoy it, not be satisfied, because the human spirit was made to be constantly moving, in other words, drama filled. Yes, that’s why our Creator gave us free will and not robotic animation. Life would indeed be flavourless. Note Jesus’ admonishing to His followers nuh: be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That means we need to add a tasty flavour and brilliant, overflowing joy to the world. (smile)

Therefore, this next quote should play a significant part in our lives. ‘Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ Oh my people, what would dreams be without a dreamer and vice versa eh? Our world would be devoid of so many wonderful things, because its dreamers who put dreams into creation, even if they don’t see them to fruition.

And remember you cannot get an ending without a beginning. So, if the dreamer only dreams the dream, he is indeed an important, if not the most important part of the scenario. And that was certainly God’s desire for all of us when He placed whatever dreams we have in our hearts. That’s why Bruh David could confidently say in Psalm 37, titled – The true state of the wicked: ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.’ (Ps. 37:4)

Yes my fellow believers, our great and wonderful God places a dream, or several dreams in each heart that He creates, and expects us to fulfill it, or them, by accepting the anointing of His Son Jesus Christ, and thus receiving the Holy Spirit that enables us to acquire ‘the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ And please believe that it’s only through sincere association with Almighty God, and with His awesome munificence, that’s His lavishly generous nature, or amazing grace that we can ever acquire the things we need to make a difference in our world.

And when we have wisely hooked up with Christ, then the following quote becomes important. ‘Play to your strengths. If you aren’t great at something, do more of what you’re great at.’ Now that’s the gospel truth my people! Too many of us try to be a Jack of all trades and masters of none! But Christ gave us special gifts at which we are particularly good for a reason. He anointed us with grace to do certain things well because that’s what He wants us to concentrate on most.

Those gifts enhanced by His awesome power dovetail perfectly with His plans for us and for the world. As Bruh Paul says in 1 Corinthians re spiritual gifts. ‘And there are diversities of operations (different activities), but it is the same God which worketh all in all (works in all things). But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (profit everybody).’ (1 Cor. 12:6-7)

So please, let’s stop fooling around with stuff that we possibly will never get good at nuh, and instead focus on the few things that we know we are good at, that we’ve been anointed to excel in. Remember, there’s always method to what we consider God’s madness. He does nothing without a good reason. And I can vouch for that because I am now writing these words some fifteen years after He approached me with the outlandish, seemingly impossible task of writing on His word. But now, we see that it was not total madness at all, (smile) for through His awesome faithfulness, and much perseverance and faith on my part, His dream, His plan for me has eventually come true.

What more can I say eh? Nothing…except this next quote: ‘Don’t let rejection create self-doubt. The founder of Starbucks was turned down by 217 of the 242 investors he initially spoke with.’ Remember friends, the Good Book says that a righteous man falls numerous times, but he keeps getting back up until he succeeds. (Prov. 24:16) And we all know that in Christ’s kingdom there are no words like giving up, so we are not expected to lay defeated on the ground, but to rise and shine again like our Lord and Saviour did on the first Easter weekend some two thousand years ago.

And believe me, whatever dream(s) the Lord has put in your heart, it (they) will not be easy, because He desires to always test our faith to see if we truly believe the words we speak so flippantly; in other words, to see if we can walk our talk. Jesus did not have it easy, but He accomplished His awesome task with the Father’s help, and likewise, as followers of Jesus we won’t have it easy either, but if we stay in faith and sincerely trust Him in whatever happens, then we will eventually succeed.

That brings us to this last quote: ‘Every day the clock resets. Your wins don’t matter. Your failures don’t matter. Don’t stress on what was, fight for what could be.’ I don’t totally concur with those sentiments nuh, because I believe that our failures and our victories are very important. They provide very valuable life lessons, as in what to do and what not to do as we journey through this interesting, complex and ofttimes difficult earthly voyage. However, we must not become so fixated on them that they take away from our forward motion, that’s always learning and always working towards God’s divine plan for our lives.

And to help us stay on the straight and narrow path, we’ve been given the invaluable attributes of the Holy Spirit as our Guide and Leader. And if we listen to Him and closely follow His righteous guidance, we will do wonderfully well (smile) and enjoy the abundant life that Christ died for us to have! And that’s the general goal! Much LOVE!

…what’s life all about…in three words…living for Jesus…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 April 2022 Proverbs 3:19.

08 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a crown of glory, avoid serious setbacks, bring thee to honour, by his knowledge, by understanding he established the heavens, discretion shall preserve thee, forsake her not, Friday chant, from the way of the wicked man, give to thine head an ornament of grace, if any would not work, knowledge is plesant unto thy soul, LOVE, love her and she shall keep thee, meditating on God's holy word, motives of our hearts, neither shall they eat, omnipotent help, shouts of joy, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the ability to distinguish between true and false, the beginning of the weekend, the clouds drop down dew, the depths are broken up, the drudgery of work, the end of the work week, the Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, the skill to live life successfully, the unrest in our streets, to be wise in this unwise world, to deliver thee, understanding shall keep thee, walk in ways of darkness, who rejoice to do evil, wisdom entereth into thine heart, wise guidance

Proverbs 3:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth: by understanding hath he established the heavens.

And the shouts of joy and relief rise up over the land: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Heralding the end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend, our short break from the drudgery of work that so many of us detest, but which is oh so necessary for our survival. As Bruh Paul said to the Thessalonians: ‘if any would not work, neither should he eat.’ (2 Thess. 3:10) (smile) And though the day has opened somewhat cloudy, the sun is fighting through that darkness, just like we believers in Christ must fight through the darkness and evil of this ungodly world, by meditating on God’s Holy Word and following the guidance of His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

But I like how Cousin Sol puts it in Proverbs 2. ‘When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward (perverse) things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness: Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness (perversity) of the wicked. Whose ways are crooked and they froward (are devious) in their paths.’ (Prov. 2:10-15)

Yes friends, the purveyors of evil are fighting a serious battle against the light of Jesus, and we, purveyors of that light, desperately need to return their fire through the amazing goodness and mercy, the salt and light, the wisdom and knowledge that are supposed to emanate from us, faithful believers in Christ Jesus, keeper of His mighty name and everlasting flame in all the earth!

Oh my people, the wicked and perverse are very devious and scheming and it’s only through the wisdom and knowledge acquired by close association with Jesus that can give us the victory over them. That’s why Cousin Sol was so insistent on the matter of acquiring wisdom and understanding.

In a later chapter he admonishes: ‘Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline (turn away) from the words of thy mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: LOVE her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver thee.’ (Prov. 4:5-9)

Ah my fellow saints, words of indisputable truth! For it’s only wisdom in, and understanding of Christ’s dictates that will allow us to rise to great heights and defeat the enemy, the purveyor of evil and darkness. And I guess that many of us are wondering what are these marvellous and miraculous things called wisdom and understanding? (smile) Well, wisdom, as used in Proverbs basically means ‘the skill to live life successfully.’ While understanding denotes ‘the ability to distinguish between true and false, good and bad, what matters most and what does not matter at all.’

And if you’re still wondering why those things are so important, then listen to these enlightening verses from Proverbs 3: ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth: by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths (deeps) are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.’ (Prov. 3:19-20)

Yes mih bredrin, the Lord used wisdom and understanding to create the universe and all therein! And if, with all His omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-presence, God still needed wisdom and understanding to create the world, then why shouldn’t we frail and fragile minions that we are, not need them also to live a successful life? No reason whatsoever!

And with our world in such a sad and sorry state, it’s high time that we believers in Christ Jesus get up and seriously and sincerely seek wisdom and understanding so that we can enlighten the world and make it a better place for our children and our children’s children. And that ought not to sound strange and out of place because that’s one of the reasons we were placed on the earth at this particular time. Serving and worshipping the Father and bettering the world are our two basic duties!

And they all begin with prayer, the marvellous and exciting communication method between heaven and earth. Therefore, as we so badly need to do, let’s communicate with heaven nuh, through our Friday Chant. As one strong but humble and prayerful voice. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix it on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help.

Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks.

And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’

Now, let’s set about keeping those promises and showing the Lord that our motives are right when He checks our hearts. For that’s ever so necessary to get positive answers from heaven! Much LOVE!

…to be wise in this unwise world…is the greatest talent of all…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 April 2022 Isaiah 65:24.

07 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a compassionate heart, a great family, about the time of the evening oblation, all in God's good time, because he hath known my name, because he hath set his love upon me, before they call I will answer, being caused to fly swiftly, confessing my sin, curse, God is never late, good friends, I will be with him in trouble, I will set him on high, it shall come to pass, it takes two to tango, like a spring of water whose waters fail not, like a watered garden, LOVE, make fat thy bones, negative word, one hand washes the other, satisfy thy soul in drought, show him my salvation, speaking in prayereven the man Gabriel, success, supernatural strength, the new Jerusalem, the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, then shall thy light break forth as the morning, therefore will I deliver him, thine health shall spring forth speedily, thou art greatly beloved, Thursday Blessings, understand the matter and consider the vision, when they are yet speaking I will hear, with long life will I satisfy him

Isaiah 65:24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and when they are yet speaking, I will hear.

It’s a beautiful Thursday morning out there my people! Only wish there could be a li’l more heat in the sun though. (smile) But that will come eventually; all in God’s good time. That’s one thing about our great God, He might not come exactly when we want Him to, but He is aware of all our situations, and rest assured, He’s NEVER late! Glory be my faithful brethren!

The promises of our God are ever so important because oftentimes that’s all we have to base our faith and trust on, remembering that He’s never broken one in the past and has both the desire and power to never break any at all. So today, let’s look at one interesting promise made by the prophet Isaiah on the Lord’s behalf, when he spoke to his people about new heavens and a new earth. ‘And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and when they are yet speaking, I will hear.’ (Is. 65:24)

Yes friends, that’s how quick the communication will be! The Lord promises to answer before we even call, and to answer while we are still speaking! Wow! That’s how it will be in the New Jerusalem! Can you imagine that beautiful and serene scene, where ‘The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock (ox): and dust shall be the serpent’s meat (food). They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.’ (Is. 65:25) Oh, I know some of us won’t believe it until we see it, but that’s what it takes to live in God’s kingdom; you believe it before you see it!

Now, let’s look at some other promises that branch off from that one nuh, where the Lord assures and reassures of His faithfulness. And Isaiah in his true description of religion, reiterates God’s promise. If his people will give up their wicked and idolatrous ways and do what God desires of them: ‘Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health (healing) shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward (rear guard).

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth (pointing) of the finger, and speaking vanity (wickedness). And if thou draw out (extend) thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity (darkness), and thy darkness (gloom) be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought (famine), and make fat (strengthen) thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.’ (Is. 58: 8-11)

Oh my people, who wouldn’t want to enjoy such a beautiful life eh? But it requires keeping our promise to live for the Lord. He will do almost anything for us if we live the way He desires, with Him being FIRST in all we do. Yes, we all LOVE the good life, but we don’t want to work for it. Unfortunately though, the good life only comes through obedience, hard work and sacrifice!

Now listen to these wonderful words of promise from Psalm 91 – God is a refuge and a fortress. The psalmist confidently declares of the Lord: ‘Because he hath set his LOVE upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life (length of days) will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.’ (Ps. 91:14-16) You couldn’t get a better promise than that my people! But then again, it requires some serious and sincere effort on our part towards our heavenly Father.

And what about this miraculous happening in the answer of prayer from the words of Daniel? He says: ‘And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly (being weary with weariness), touched (reached) me about the time of the evening oblation (offering).

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and (in) understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment (word, order) came forth, and I am come to show (tell) thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand (give heed to) the matter, and consider (understand) the vision.’ (Dan. 9:20-23)

Now doesn’t that just warm the cockles of your hearts my fellow saints? It ought to, for before Daniel was even finished praying the angel Gabriel came to talk with him; exactly what the Lord promised in those other scriptures we’ve read this morning. He even showed him a vision of Israel’s future. But that was because Daniel was an obedient servant of the Lord. And He would do the very same with us, if we truly became His obedient servants.

And the scholars offer this interesting explanation on those verses. ‘9:20-23. The answer of God to Daniel’s prayer came immediately through the angel Gabriel. Although Daniel’s prayer was primarily for God’s forgiveness and restoration of the Jews to their land, his initial concern for God’s programme for Israel (vs.2) caused the Lord to reveal to him an outline of Israel’s future from that point on.’ And that vision of Israel has held true right down through the ages.

But friends, receiving the goodness of God, almost always depends on us doing what He requires. It’s as simple as that. As the ole people would say, ‘it takes two to tango, and one hand washes the other.’ One person can’t tango by themself, neither can one hand wash itself, and we need to remember that we are in a partnership with God, which means both sides have their parts to do. Our part is to serve and worship the Lord fervently and obediently. His is to look after us when we do that.

And yuh know what, He’s so good, that He even gives us stuff that we don’t deserve, like what we call our Thursday Blessings, but they enable us to do His work. So, we don’t even have cause to complain that we don’t have the tools to do His work. (smile) Now let’s declare those blessings in loud and proud voice, so that they can take effect in our souls, and thus in our everyday lives.

‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection!

I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’

And if we want to see real benefits in our earthly walk, then we need to go and put those blessings to work in the lives of others, just as generously and unselfishly as the Lord did in ours. Much LOVE!

…what’s in a promise…one’s heart and soul…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 April 2022 Matthew 6:24b.

06 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a bounden duty, a state of shambles, aimless, alive and kicking, always drifting, babies can live on milk, be conformed to the image of Christ, be not conformed to this world, be singled minded, be ye transformed, by the renewing of your mind, catch our second wind, changing the way you think, conform to the things of God, fed you with milk not solid food, for ye are yet carnal, God longs to root cultivate and water us, God will only accept first place in our lives, Grow Up, grow up in Christ, grownups need solid food to thrive, hands on the plough, I am halfway home, know the good pleasing and perfect will of God, living for Christ, living for Jehovah God, LOVE, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, negative sentiments, no man can serve two masters, no set purpose, not looking back, our one goal, play both ends against the middle, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Word of god, to a glorious future with Jesus, Wednesday Wail, Ye cannot serve God and mammon

Matthew 6:24b. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly wealth).

Brother, are these early days of spring ever passing by quickly! Can you believe it was just April Fool’s Day, and now it’s already the sixth day of the month? But the good thing about today, besides that we’re alive and kicking (smile) is that it’s Wednesday, the middle day of the work week, when we catch our second wind, and then blast forth again into the universe, all on the behalf of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

What a privilege that is my people; living for the One and Only True Living God Jehovah! Let’s also remember that it’s not only a privilege but even more importantly a duty, a bounden duty; one that we most certainly need to improve upon in these sad and fateful times. If we take a true look at ourselves, we will all find that our efforts on behalf of Jesus have not been as good as they ought to be, otherwise our world would not be in such a state of shambles, flooded with negative sentiments like fear, resentment, hate, war, strife, division, disunity…

And that’s only what we bring to the table! Imagine how our world looks when we add the numerous natural disasters that have been occurring over the last few years, and look likely to continue! It doesn’t look pretty, or even close to what God created several eons ago. And unfortunately, I believe this picture of the spiritually immature Christian, set forth in the poem titled ‘Grow Up,’ found in our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin is a very accurate description of our current Christian walk.

So, as the poem says: ‘Picture it with me: a piece of gnarled bark tossed to and fro over the crashing breakers. First one direction, then another, back and forth, over and under. Aimless. No set purpose. Drifting…always drifting. What an accurate picture of an immature Christian. Nothing but spiritual puttering. Up and down, in and out. One study group for a few weeks, then another. One church for a while, then another. Undisciplined, unsteady, one day soaring, the next day wading in self-pity. No consistency.

The apostle Paul tells us to grow up! Not grow older, but grow up in Christ. What we are today is more important to God that what we were yesterday. Our life journey with Jesus is now…this very day, this very hour. Why yearn for change if we’ve made no effort to follow the direction God has already given us? To grow spiritually we must be single-minded. Our one goal? To be conformed to the image of Christ. He longs for our willingness to let Him root us, cultivate us, water us. He will take anything we give Him except second place.’

And that’s the God-awesome truth my Christian brethren! Offer whatever you have; God will take it… but He desires…and will accept ONLY FIRST PLACE in our hearts and lives! And sadly, that’s the very thing that we have kept from, not offered Him as supposed believers in His Son, Jesus Christ. We put all sorts of stuff and people before Him, but that’s totally unacceptable. Instead of being in the world, but not of the world, many of us have one foot on either side of the barrier, trying to play both ends against the middle.

But friends, that’s a fool’s paradise! As Jesus so rightly said, a long time ago: ‘No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to (be loyal to) the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly wealth).’ (Matt. 6:24) However, that’s what a lot of us are foolishly trying to do. It won’t work friends. You either have to be all in for the wealth of the world, or all in for God! And I beg to offer that the latter is the wiser and much more beneficial choice.

But to do that sincerely, we must do like the poem says: ‘GROW UP!’ And how do we do that? Bruh Paul gives the basic advice in Romans 12:2, which is the Bible Promise for our poem. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ Yes friends, to be good and true Christians, we must avoid being poured into the mold of the world’s current thinking!

And the NLT (New Living Translation) puts it thus: ‘Don’t copy the behaviour of the world, but let God conform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.’ Now, if you can’t understand either one of those versions, then things are really bad with you!

And if Bruh Paul was amongst us right now, I believe he would have accused us of this very transgression, that he accused the Corinthians of in his first letter. ‘I have fed you with milk, and not with meat (solid food): for hitherto until now ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions (dissensions), and ye not carnal (fleshly), and walk as men (according to men)?’ (1 Cor. 3:2-3)

Now that’s the indisputable truth my fellow saints! All the dissension and disunity amongst us makes us behave like the world; meaning, like babies, we are still in the milk drinking stage of Christianity. We have not grown up enough so that we can be fed with solid food, and consequently that’s why our Christian walk is not good enough. And until we stop conforming to the world and conform instead to the things of God, then we will never grow up, and will keep on drinking milk, much to the dismay of our heavenly Father.

Anyway, I’m not here to chide, but to encourage us, to make us realize that we have to dramatically change our ways if we want to receive all that our great and wonderful God has to offer. That’s just a fact of life that we cannot escape! And now, for those of us who have woken up and are sincerely trying to grow up, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus.

So, with much gusto and sincerity: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’

And it now behooves us to go out and show the world the wonderful results of holding such a position, by truly living for Christ! Much LOVE!…babies can live on milk…but grownups need solid food to thrive…that’s the Word of God…

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SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 April 2022 Matthew 27:46.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 April 2022 Matthew 26:26.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 April 2022 James 1:2.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 April 2022 Psalm 119:33.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 April 2022 Revelation 19:16.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 April 2022 1 Corinthians 12:6.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 April 2022 Proverbs 3:19.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 April 2022 Isaiah 65:24.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 April 2022 Matthew 6:24b.

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