Psalm 72:7. In his days shall the righteous flourish: and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
Oh Friends, the snowstorm has come, and hopefully gone in my area. I don’t know how much fell, but I know that my driveway is covered to between my calves and my knees. Meanwhile the fellow who was supposed to come and plough it hasn’t shown up or even called, despite the fact that I called him about it yesterday. Sorry for that delay, roughly 40 minutes. But you’ll find out why as the story progresses. Now yesterday, I had no cause to go out during the day, but in the evening I had some matters to attend to, and though the snow was piled high in my driveway and lane I figured my ole limo could handle it. But lo and behold, I first got stuck in my driveway, then in the lane. Couldn’t move back nor forth, with just a lot of slipping and sliding and burning rubber. Steups! It’s a good thing my younger, stronger, non-Christian neighbour was outside shovelling his driveway and he helped me. Please note the non-Christian belief, but the very Christian action. For about an hour we were out there trying to get ‘Grey Matter’ (the car’s name) to move sensibly. Finally we managed to get it out of the lane and up the driveway, with its nose in the garage door and it’s tail in a snow bank by the side of the house. The important thing was to get it out of the lane before they came to plough it, otherwise that would have caused even more problems. Obviously I was frustrated by having to cancel all my plans, but I quieted my Spirit by telling it that the Lord was seeing the bigger picture, and there was a good reason He didn’t want me out on the road at that time. And that’s how it stayed until about an hour ago, when a tow truck from the C.A.A (Canadian Automobile Assoc.) came and helped me pull it off the bank. By this time they had cleaned the lane – after 10 p.m. last night- so it was easy to drive it into the garage. In any case, I doubt I would have been able to get on to the main road because of the nasty habit the ploughs have of just ploughing without regard for anything and thus blocking up entrances. The snow at the entrance to the lane was much higher than that in the lane. And now my poor neighbour, who shovelled his driveway will have problems getting out because they blocked up his driveway when they ploughed the lane. Ah Lord eh! This whole sorry episode just has me singing: ‘Oh Tobago, land of Crusoe. I am coming home to you. My poor ole spirit and body, can’t take this nonsense any more.’ (smile) And would you believe, to get back into the house after the tow truck left, I had to shovel a path from the garage to the back door, which took me about fifteen minutes, the snow was so deep. But as they say, after one time is really two yes, for a few years ago, I’d be out there happily shovelling the snow, bad back and all, with my car trunk open and the tunes blasting out, while I danced and shovelled, shovelled and danced. People would pass by and watch me quite amused. But unfortunately I can’t do that any longer. And it’s so hard to get reliable people to come and clear the snow. The latest scam going around is to pay a lump sum of money for snow clearance from say December to March, but when the snow flies, nobody shows up to clear it. My guy wanted a lump sum too, but I decided to err on the side of caution; when you clean, you get paid. I guess he’s so busy, he just couldn’t be bothered with my small money. But of one thing I’m sure; the Lord will see me through all these difficulties, one way or the other, cause He’s promised to work out all things for the good of those who LOVE and serve Him faithfully. (Rom.8:28) And I’m trying my level best to do just that. And our Bit, which I just found (Praise the Lord!), where I’d left my Bible open when I went outside to see about the car, assures of God’s care and concern. ‘In his days shall the righteous flourish: and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth (the moon is no more).’ Yeh mih people, as long as the moon continues to shine, the righteous in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will continue to flourish, cause that’s the kind of ever-LOVING, kind-hearted God we serve and worship. This Psalm, 72, titled; The reign of the righteous king, is only one of two attributed to Cousin Sol. The other is Psalm 127 – The need of relying on God. But according to the scholars Psalm 72 is so idealistic that the things it declares cannot be attained by a sinful human being. ‘Its aspirations become messianic in nature and point to Christ who alone can fulfill this ideal kingship.’ Yes Friends, only Christ can satisfy all its high ideals. No wonder our Bit has such strength and staying power! And we’ll close with an appropriate word from Isaiah, re the days of the Lord. ‘And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks (pruning knives): nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ (Is.2:4) And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Blessed is the name of the Lord our God!’ Yes Friends, many of us might not live to see that treasured day of no war, but it will come eventually as promised. So let’s go out and do our best to help it along nuh, by sincerely LOVING our God, LIVING our Faith, and SPREADING His Word. That’s what Jesus expects of us. Much LOVE!…when you truly LOVE Jesus…your only desire is to please Him…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 February 2013 Psalm 72:7
09 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: abundance of peace, as long as the moon shines, Christ, Christian action, christian belief, glory hallelujah, ideal kingship, LIVE your Faith, Love God, no more war, Oh Tobago, plough shares, pruning hooks, Psalm 72, quieted my Spirit, reliable workers, righteous king, shovelling and dancing, snowstorm, spread His Word, stuck in my driveway, the righteous shall flourish
Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 February 2013 Psalm 121:8
08 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: anointed one, bacchanal, blessed coming in, blessed going out, Carnival Friday, christianity, drunk or sober, fellowship, french west indies, Friday chant, God's sustaining power, Love of Jesus, mind yuh business, morning rush hour, New Orleans, religion, rest-relaxation, Rio, rush hour, snow storm, song of praise, spirituality, straight and narrow path, TGIF!, Trinidad & Tobago, weather forecasters, wonderful promises
Psalm 121:8. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday – Carnival Friday to boot!. So you can imagine the joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ that are being let loose in places like Rio, New Orleans, The French West Indies, and T&T, where the party is now getting into full swing. Mama Mia! But unfortunately we in the Great White North, in particular Southern Ontario and the North Eastern U.S. are expecting to be battered by a terrible snowstorm this Carnival Friday. It’s supposed to be a two-pronged storm; one coming from Texas and the other from Alberta, meeting and greeting in our territory. Ah Lord eh! What I wouldn’t give to be in T&T now! But I guess that’s why we have dreams. (smile) It’s already totally white outside, and they’re saying that’s just the start of something big moving through the area during the morning rush hour. So please be very careful my brethren, if you have occasion to go out. If you don’t have to, don’t go. This is one time I fervently hope that the weather forecasters are wrong. Anyway, with all that in mind, let’s chant our Friday Chant, with even more enthusiasm and prayerfulness than usual. As one vocal body now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ That should settle down those who have to drive in the stupid snow, allay their fears some, and put the assurance of God in their hearts. And for those in the party places, remember to go easy on the bacchanal, cause that’s when you tend to fall out of the frying pan and into the fire. Don’t forget our wise reminder: Drunk or sober, mind yuh business. Now turning to our Bit, which is rather appropriate for the weather we have outside: ‘The Lord shall preserve (keep) thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.’ Yes my people, that’s the unequivocal promise of our mighty and LOVING God to those who put their sincere trust in Him, to those who surrender their entire beings to His godly care! As the Psalm titled, God’s sustaining power, so emphatically declares before our Bit: ‘My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved (slip): he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper (protector): the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (keep) thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.’ (Ps.121:2-7) Oh Friends, none of the other supposed gods can promise anything even close to that, and keep it too! So why do we still insist on doubting our Creator, Controller, LOVING Father and Provider eh? From since the days of old, when Moses told the Israelites about the blessings of obedience, these were instilled in our consciousness. ‘Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shall thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten (defeated) before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.’ (Deut.28:6-7) My oh my! What wonderful promises my people! It couldn’t get any better than that! Consequently, I just can’t understand how we ignore those amazing promises to our own hurt and demise. And Cousin Sol, in his great wisdom, enthusiastically declares: ‘He keepeth the paths of judgement (guards the paths of justice), and preserveth the way of his saints.’ (Prov.2:8) We are those saints Friends! That means the Lord looks out for us wherever we go, and in whatever we do. Meanwhile, hear how Hannah, Samuel’s mother, proclaims it in her song of praise and joy, after the Lord struck down her barrenness and opened up her womb with fruit. ‘He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn (strength) of his anointed.’ (1 Sam.2:9-10) What strong words of encouragement my brethren! Our God is so strong and purposeful to those who LOVE Him and walk in his ways! And we’ll end with one more wise saying of Cousin Sol; one that all of us should know and diligently adhere to. ‘In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.’ (Prov.3:6) Yes Friends, when we give our lives to Jesus, then He leads and guides us in the proper direction we should go, through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. So please, today, let’s all consider if we have done that, and if we’re therefore walking the straight and narrow path that Jesus walks. If not, then let’s get right on it, and turn our lives over to the ONLY ONE who is able to save us from sinful death and eternal separation from Almighty God. That, my people, is the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!…we can only walk this earth safely…if we’re protected by the…LOVE and care of Jesus…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 February 2013 Job 34:21
07 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: darkness, discernment, do right, evil minions, excited believers, eyes of God, fellow believers, God's infinite wisdom, gospel truth, grin and bear it, grow old together, light, LOVE Revolution, peace and LOVE of Jesus, repent, search our hearts, spirituality, surrendered to God, Thanks Lord, the best is yet to come, the living Word, wake up, wickedness, wise money, witness for Jesus
Job 34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Oh my fellow believers, our great God in His infinite wisdom and mercy has done it again.! Yes Friends, He’s blessed us with another day of life on this earth. And though the earth’s a mess, we believers have been given the honourable task of fixing it in Jesus’ Name. Isn’t that wonderful? But mih people, like every other project in life, if we’re not excited to do it, then we won’t give of our best. The same goes for the work of Jesus. If we’re not excited to live a life of faith, and good works in action, backed up by the Word, then we’re wasting our time and Jesus’ too. In the first place, it’s not an easy job, with Lucifer and all his evil minions fighting against us. In the second, only as much as we put out, will we get back. It’s the old story of you reap what you sow. And Friends, I don’t have to tell us that in these trying times our witness for Jesus, both in words and deeds is certainly not good enough! So today, let’s each one of us, search our hearts and ways, and see where we’re falling down on the job, and sincerely try to improve it nuh. That’s the only way we’ll ever improve the situation, ever get the LOVE Revolution really ‘revoluting.’ (smile) Anyway, I have a serious invitation for you, from the famous British poet and playwright, Robert Browning (1812-1889). And the invitation is to ‘Grow old along with me! The best is yet to come.’ And that’s gospel Friends! I’m finding these latter days to be the best days of my life. I’ve done most of what I’ve always wanted to do. Not necessarily to the level I’d hoped, but I now know how to do all the things I’ve imagined. I’ve achieved a fair state of economic well-being. My children are grown and on their own, and I’ve found a peace so peaceful in Jesus, that in spite of the problems I still encounter, I don’t worry about them no more. I do the best I can, then leave the rest to the Lord. That doesn’t mean I agree with all God’s decisions, or don’t have concerns, and oftimes serious ones too, but the difference now is that I’ve found a level of faith to truly believe that the Lord will bring me out of them, sometimes battered and bruised, but usually better off and with stronger faith than before. Having surrendered my soul to Him, all I can do nowadays is say ‘Thanks Lord,’ then grin and bear it as best I can. So my brethren, I’m asking us to grow old together in the peace and LOVE of Jesus. It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread! (smile) And why shouldn’t we, since it’s the wisest choice in light of our Bit? ‘For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.’ If our God sees everything we do, then we’d be foolish to do stuff that doesn’t sit well with Him. For as Cousin Sol says in Proverbs 15: ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.’ (Prov.15:3) It’s just like when we were young and wanted to do mischief, we’d try to hide from our parents. With them we could have been successful, because they couldn’t see us all the time. But even then, as they kept telling us, the things done in darkness usually come to light, and eventually they’d find out, and we’d pay the price. However Friends, the difference with our God is that we simply cannot hide from Him because He watches us ALL the time. So the wise money should be on doing good in His awesome, all seeing sight. Listen to how Jeremiah puts it in his prayer, re our God: ‘Great in counsel, and mighty in work (deeds): for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.’ (Jer.32:19) Oh my people, it couldn’t be any plainer than that. Yet we still insist on doing what we know is wrong, somehow hoping to get away with it. But hear how Hosea says it, re Israel’s rebellion against God. ‘When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered (uncovered), and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood (fraud); and the thief cometh in, and the troop (band) of robbers spoileth without (plunders outside). And they consider not (do not say) in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings (deeds) have beset (surrounded) them about; they are before my face.’ (Hos.7:1-2) And please remember Friends that the Lord has not changed, from day one to the end, He is and will be the same. So what makes us think that we’re so special eh, that our wrongdoings won’t be looked upon with judgement and justice like the Israelites of old? If the Lord can punish His chosen people, why would He spare us, some of the most ungodly and evil humans who ever walked the earth? And we’ll end with this poignant and powerful scripture that encapsulates all we’ve been talking about. It’s from Hebrews 4, re the present danger of unbelief. ‘For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight (hidden from Him): but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (must give account).’ (Heb.4:12-13) Now here’s the scholar’s explanation of those verses. ‘For the word of God: The reason given for one’s careful scrutiny of his life involves the reality that God is intently scrutinizing it. His word is quick (living). This word is first in the Greek and is the emphasis. God’s Word is not old or archaic; it is alive. It is not inept or inactive; it is powerful (active). It reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eyes sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuses or pretense.’ Amen mih breddren! And if that doesn’t wise us up, then I really don’t know what will nuh. Much LOVE!…the awesome power of the Word…and the all seeing eyes of God…should cause us to wake up…repent…and do right…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 February 2013 Job 34:21
05 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: Candid Camera, disappointment, eternal life, falsehood, fat fannies, glorious service, God sees all, hypocrites, integrity, Jesus is alive, Jesus' words, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, loyalty to God, Peace and Love, ponder our goings, price of justice, prince of peace, pull the wool, rebuked by God, Sacrifical Lamb, sacrifice, salvation, straight and narrow path, The eyes of the Lord, ways of man, Wonderful Counsellor
Job 34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Ah Friends, I don’t have a soul-stirring intro for you this morning, (smile) but I do have some wonderful news: Jesus is alive and kicking! Kicking very strongly too! Not no mickey-mouse business. What can be better than that eh? Nothing really, for that means His followers, which we are, will also be alive and kicking strongly, since as He goes, so do we. And all Jesus’ followers proclaimed a powerful proclamation: ‘Jesus is alive! He is alive today and forever! Blessed be the name of Jesus! Amen.’ But Friends, if we’re His followers, then we have to get up off our fat fannies and actually do some strong kicking, do our job to help the LOVE Revolution that Jesus began to make some serious progress, cause it won’t be done for us. Jesus has already done His part, it’s now time for us to do ours. We can’t ride on Jesus coattails and hopefully get by either, because as our Bit reminds us: ‘For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.’ Yes mih people, Jesus’ eyes are forever on us, and He’s also constantly monitoring the motives of our hearts, so it’s even worse than being on Candid Camera. We can’t get away with anything; neither external nor internal. But in spite of that, many of us still try to pull the wool over Jesus’ eyes. What a joke friends! And we not only make ourselves look foolish when we do that, but we also reveal the low level of our faith, and our lack of true understanding of Jesus. But don’t despair my brethren, for it doesn’t mean that Jesus will push you aside and leave you to flounder aimlessly, because it’s the lost, the sick, the lonely, oppressed and misunderstood that He came to save, as He so poignantly declares in Matthew 18. ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ (Matt.18:11) Ah mih breddren, what a wonderful person is our Jesus! Words certainly can’t describe Him adequately. What do we call Him? Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Heavenly Advocate, Sacrificial Lamb, etc. etc! Wow! No one entity can play as many roles as He did, and still does. Please praise Him for His glorious service and sacrifice to the children of undeserving men! But as our Bit explains, there’s one drawback for us to Jesus all embracing powers; He sees all that we do, all the time. And in these evil, ungodly times, we definitely need to buckle down and start behaving like true followers, not like the hypocrite Pharisees of old. For remember that Jesus experienced the same problems and emotions that we do, when He sojourned here on earth. That means when we don’t do as we should, He will experience great disappointment. It’s just like how we’re disappointed when those close to us do wrong. And I believe that disappointing Jesus is one of the worse things we can ever do. After all He’s done, the sacrifices He’s made on our behalf, the least we can do is try to please Him, since we can never repay the LOVING-kindness that He’s shown us. But getting back to our Bit, I want to share some scriptures that also declare that the eyes of our Creator are constantly on us. Now there are so many that most likely I won’t be able to share them all today. Anyway, let’s begin with the time that Asa, king of Judah, was rebuked by the seer Hanani, for relying on the king of Syria for help in war, rather than on the God of his fathers. ‘For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward (loyal, at peace with) him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore henceforth thou shalt have wars.’ (2 Chr.16:9) But instead of turning to the Lord and repenting, Asa got angry, threw Hanani in jail, and oppressed some of his people at the same time. Now listen to Asa’s end: ‘And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but to the physicians.’ (1 Chr.16:12) Oh Friends, when we are rebuked by the Lord, please let’s not get angry and do foolish things that we’ll live to later regret. For our God only rebukes us because He LOVES us. It’s always for our own good. Just like when we rebuke our children for wrongdoing, it’s not so much to punish them, but to make them see the error of their ways, because we care for them, and want them to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life. That’s the same thing our God wants for us. As Job says, in speaking of his integrity. ‘Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity (falsehood), or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed (let Him weigh me) in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.’ (Job 31″4-6) Ah Friends, living in this fallen, ungodly world is difficult at the best of times, and we will make mistakes, but overall the motives of our hearts should be right with God. Integrity is one of the pillars on which Jesus built His church, but unfortunately, today we’re seeing that pillar of integrity slowly crumble as we either turn away from Jesus, or pay mere lip service to His challenges. How can we expect others to believe in Jesus when we don’t follow through on our promises eh mih people? When we say one thing and do another? When we fight amongst each other over petty stuff, then go out and preach Peace and LOVE? It just doesn’t work like that my brethren. And we’ll end with some wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth (observes, weighs) all his goings.’ (Prov.5:21) Oh Friends, please, let’s do like the Lord today nuh and ponder our goings, and make sure that they are on the straight and narrow path, for that’s wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!…to those who know right…but do wrong…the price of justice rises even higher…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 February 2013 Psalm 8:9
04 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: battle hymn, enthusiasm, glory hallelujah, God's glory, gospel truth, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, Jesus, jobs, lies, LOVE Revolution, man's honour, Praise the Lord, protective aura, rejuvenation of spirit, renenwed vitality, sincere fellowship, steadfast faith, sunrise, sunset, sure conquerors, taunts, TGIM, Thank God it's Monday, ungodly world, vanity of idols, wiles
Psalm 8:9. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Oh Friends, it’s Monday…! And my pronouncement brings a sudden burst of joyous shouts of ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday! Time to get out there and work for Jesus!’ Wow! Wonders never cease, but daily they increase! Ah mih people, I’m not idly day-dreaming, for if we live long enough, sooner or later we’re going to get that energetic and enthusiastic response on a Monday Morning. Right now the response is not as good as it could or should be, but it’s getting better with each passing week, and when the LOVE Revolution gets into full stride, that’s the genuine response Christ’s people will have. They’ll be ever so eager to get out into the wicked world and join the battle with Beelzebub and his evil cohorts. But until then, we still need to sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to put us in the mood, to kick start our motors. So let’s raise our voices in song to heaven with much enthusiasm. Fake it if you have to. (smile) But do raise your voices loud and clear. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once your powerful, protective aura hovers over us. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that your Holy Spirit lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now that wasn’t too bad, but definitely not as good as it has been. There were too many obvious fakers. Anyway, the most important results were obtained; it got our adrenalin bubbling, and our minds focused on Jesus. Now let’s turn to a most appropriate Bit for today. ‘O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!’ And all God’s people declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Our God is indeed great! He is the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, and most worthy to be praised!’ And that’s the gospel truth Friends! Our Bit comes from Psalm 8, where Bruh David talks about God’s glory and man’s honour. But my people, are we truly upholding those two principles? When you look at the evil, ungodly way our society behaves, you tend to doubt it very much. But it’s what we ought to do, how we ought to behave. It’s our bounden duty as believers to exalt and glorify our God, and to live honourably with each other. But sadly in these evil, disastrous times, those are two other things that have become the exceptions rather than the rule. When we should all be running to God for succour and solace, foolishly, we are running away from Him. My brethren, please listen to what our actions should rightly be, coming from Psalm 113 – God’s mercies are many. ‘Praise ye the Lord (Sing Hallelujah). Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praise. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!’ (Ps.113:1-6) Yes Friends, that’s what our words and behaviour ought to proclaim! Now let’s reinforce that with more truthful words from Psalm 148 – All creation to praise the Lord. The psalmist first calls out individually to each of God’s creations to praise Him, then ends: ‘Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent (exalted); his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn (strength, dominion) of his people, the praise of al his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord (sing Hallelujah).’ (Ps.148:13-14) Oh my people, why aren’t God’s creations praising Him the way we should eh? And don’t say because we’re too busy living our daily lives, for that’s hogwash, since our God desperately wants to get involved in all that we do, morning, noon and night. If anybody should be involved in all aspects of our lives, it’s Him! The truth I believe, is that we’re too taken up with false glitz and glamour of the world, and are constantly pursuing and acquiring its wealth and material possessions. That obviously leaves little or no time for God. Plus we feel that if we are true to God, then we’ll have to give up the things of the world. Now that’s true to a certain extent, especially when we begin to worship them, to see them as the be all and end all of our lives. But true believers, as I keep saying, have nice worldly things, not in spite of, but because they are blessed by God for their faith and sincere fellowship with Him. Remember Jesus also told us in no uncertain terms that if we set the kingdom of God as our first priority, that all of our needs would be met. (Matt.6:33) Obviously we all won’t live in wealth and splendour, but we won’t lack for anything in our day to day existence. But that doesn’t seem good enough for too many of us, so therefore we keep running down the things of the world. And don’t forget what the preacher told us in yesterday’s Bit; that it’s useless, futile, and vain to spend our lives amassing worldly possessions, since we can’t take any of them with us, when we return naked to the dust from whence we came naked. (Eccl.5:15) And we’ll end with some more truthful words from Psalm 113 – The greatness of the Lord and the vanity of idols. ‘Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praise unto his name; for it is pleasant…. For I know that the Lord is great, and that out Lord is above all gods.’ (Ps.135:1-3, 5) That says it all Friends! So today, let’s seriously ponder our reactions to the things of the world and to the things of God, and begin having them lean towards the latter nuh. That’s the ultimate in wisdom. Much LOVE!…a fool and his earthly possessions…are soon parted…but a wise man in tune with Jesus…lives richly forever…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 February 2013 Ecclesiastes 5:15.
03 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a present, accumulation of things, dust to dust, futility, happiness, joy, loving kindness, material possessions, mere mortals, naked, pain and suffering, reggae tunes, ride a donkey, righteousness., speed society, stress, the present, vanity
Ecclesiastes 5:15. As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
A blessed Sunday morning to you my Scrip-Bit Family and Friends! The Lord in His wisdom and LOVING-kindness has seen fit to grant us another day of life on earth. Paradoxically, today is considered both A present and THE present. It’s A present, in the sense of it being a gift from Almighty God, one which we ought to appreciate, value highly, use wisely and enjoy. And it’s also THE present, meaning a moment in time. In fact it’s the only time that we are sure of, because yesterday has already gone, and tomorrow has not yet arrived. That’s why we’re always encouraged to make the most of THE present time, that time we currently have before us. We ought not to waste it by constantly putting things off for tomorrow, things that we can do today or in THE present time, for who knows if tomorrow will ever come? So Friends, let’s get busy and use NOW as best we can nuh, since it’s all we’re guaranteed, for THIS NOW will never come again. And having tried to encourage us to get busy with the things that God has planned for us, let me share two lines from two different songs I heard yesterday that struck me as being very wise. Now don’t ask me the names of the songs or the singers because I wasn’t paying particular attention to them. I just know that they were two rollicking reggae tunes. The first line that jumped out at me was ‘the patient man rides a donkey.’ Now it took a couple seconds for the statement to percolate in the old mind, but then I said, ‘Hnnnn!’ That makes a lot of sense because a donkey travels slowly. And I guess that’s why very few of us use donkeys for travel nowadays, since we want to get everywhere like yesterday. Waiting or taking our time no longer cuts it in our fast-paced, nuclear speed society. But the wisdom my brethren, is that sometimes it’s best for us to just ‘Ride yuh donkey..’ (smile) And the second statement that struck me as being very perceptive was ‘the road to righteousness is sorrow,’ or something like that. I don’t agree with the statement as it’s written there, because though righteousness entails some sorrow, where one’s faith is tried, and hopefully strengthened, it doesn’t mean that to be righteous, one must always be sorrowful or face great sorrow. I’d probably say that the road to righteousness definitely encompasses sorrow, for a righteous life is also one filled with joy and moments of happiness, though we all need some pain and suffering to keep us pliant and humble in God’s eyes, as well as remind us that we are mere mortals made from dust and to which dust we shall all eventually return. That means chasing the material things and pleasures of the world in order to hoard them is basically senseless, since we cannot carry them with us, and generally speaking our families, friends and foes end up fighting and squabbling for those material things when we die. That’s exactly why the Preacher in our Bit warns us of the vanity, the futility of running down earthly things. ‘As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.’ But we’ve been so brainwashed by Lucifer and his evil, worldly minions that though many of us know the truth of the statement, we still kill ourselves to get and/or accumulate the things of the world. Consequently, stress is the biggest killer in our society today, because we’re all so busy running down the almighty dollar for what it can purchase, or the status symbol its accumulation represents. Yuh ever notice though Friends, that when we rode donkeys, stress wasn’t a much used word in the vocabulary? That’s because we were patient, took our time and wasn’t always in a hurry to get somewhere or do something, or trying to multi-task. Steups! As the Preacher, most likely Cousin Sol continues, for back then he was the only one who had the time, money and wisdom to conduct the necessary experiments. ‘And this is also a sore (severe) evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he hath laboured for the wind?’ (Eccl.5:16) None whatsoever my brethren! But unfortunately that doesn’t seem to matter to mankind today, for we still keep on struggling to be rich and powerful when it can all be taken away in a matter of seconds. And one of the best examples of that is Job, when tragedy strikes him down at the height of his wealth and power. But what is his response? He tears off his clothes, shaves his head falls down ad worships and says: ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.’ (Job 1:21-22) Now Job was obviously devastated, but he understood the principle, while knowing deep down that he had not committed any serious wrongdoing to bring such punishment to pass, as his friends later intimated. Bruh David also understood this, as he warns in Psalm 49 – Trust in God, not in wealth. ‘Be thou not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.’ (Ps.49:16-17) And we’ll end with some immortal words of Bruh Paul to Timothy on the subject. ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.’ (1 Tim.6:6-7) Yes Friends, our God, in his infinite wisdom planned it that way, so we can see the relative insignificance of material wealth, and the great importance of spiritual things. Please listen to Him. Much LOVE!…but thou, O man of God…flee these things…and follow after…righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness… (1 Tim.6:11)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 February 2013 Isaiah 10:1
02 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: 2nd Amendment, bribery, Carnival, corruption, fear mongering, gun-lobby, human-rights, Lent, Long Gun Registry, Mardi gras, mind yuh business, old adage, peverting justice, prayer fasting, reward for righteousness, spiritual armour
Isaiah 10:1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness (misfortune) which they have prescribed.
Oh Friends, it’s already the 2nd of February, (smile) 9 days to Carnival and the Mardi Gras festivities, and a further two to Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season. So I guess everybody’s going to be busy in this coming week to get in as much celebrating as possible, before they are locked down with prayer, fasting and meditation for Lent. But whatever your actions in this time of upcoming bacchanalia, just remember the old adage, drunk or sober mind yuh business. That’s because when you’re doing that you’re less likely to get in trouble and give the wily and always lurking Beelzebub a chance to break through your spiritual armour. I know some of you are tired hearing me say that, but if we’d mind our own business a little more closely than we do that of others, there’d be far less problems in our world. And having said that, let’s see what our Bit has to say. ‘Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness (misfortune) which they have prescribed.’ Yes Friends, we’re continuing the message on the rampant corruption that has our world in a strangling bear-hug. And it seems to run from captain to cook in every walk of life. Why is that eh? Have we recently become that evil, or is it simply that the depth of our perfidy and unsavoury practices is only now coming out? Whichever way, it’s simply too much. Now yesterday we were talking about the legally crooked scheme of lobbying and ended up mentioning the gun lobby as the one with the highest profile right now in the U.S, canvassing politicians of all stripes and colours, going on talk shows and taking out expensive ads to keep the lax gun controls they favour in place, when the situation and the majority of people are calling for more stringent gun control. Unfortunately one of the ploys they are using is the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which they claim enshrines their sacred right to bear arms. Technically speaking they might have a bit of a point, but I doubt very much that the recent escalation of gun ownership and their illicit use are what the founding fathers had in mind when they drafted that law. Anyway, don’t be surprised if they get their way, because money and fear mongering do a lot of persuasive talking. Meanwhile, up here in Canada the corrupt Harper government has already kow-towed to the gun lobby, read American dollars, and killed the Long Gun Registry that cost so much to set up, and which all the Police Departments and many others cried out to keep going. But a few corrupt, self-serving officials deemed it unnecessary, claiming that it would cost too much to maintain and the savings from shutting it down would be in the billions which could be put to much better use. Hn! Wonder of wonders! Only in the last couple weeks it’s been announced that it would not have cost that much to keep the Gun Registry running because most of the cost had already been absorbed in the set up, and the savings from shutting it down will only be a paltry 2 million dollars. So where did all the supposed savings vanish to eh? It was pure sleight of hand, no, sorry, sleight of mouth. The powerful gun lobby which supports the government didn’t want it, so to get further support the government had to get rid of it. But my brethren, let’s pose this most important question from Isaiah: ‘And what will ye do in the day of visitation (punishment), and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?’ (Is.10:3) Yes Friends, what’s going to happen to those corrupt administrators and defilers of justice? Isaiah also tells us about their sorry lot. ‘Without me they shall bow down under (among) the prisoners, and they shall fall under (among) the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out (in judgement) still.’ (Is.10:4) It is a proven fact my people, perpetrators of injustice WILL NOT get away scot free! And we’ll end with further words from Bruh David on the wicked and corrupt. ‘Break (away) their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. Let them melt away (flow) as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth (stillborn child) of a woman, that they may not see the sun…. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.’ (Ps.58:11) Selah! Yes Friends, ponder that, because it is all coming to pass. Much LOVE!…only fools believe they can get away with wrongdoing forever…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 January 2013 John 12:49
31 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: cavorting with friends and family, God is true, holy spirit, Jesus, John the Baptist, mental health, mental health benefits, our God's great, Pharisees, promises, reality, religious hypocrites, sunny Tobago, testimony, The Father loves the Son, the will of the Father
John 12:49. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Oh Friends, our God is a great God yes, but sometimes He can be a bit harsh. Imagine this scene nuh: The duchess and the ole fella in sunny Tobago, cavorting with Friends and family. We hanging out with mih favourite uncle, Uncle Foster, up by the old house where I use to live, at the corner of Main and Bacolet Streets. The ole fella even expatiating to a poor mentally challenged lady about the poor mental health benefits even in the rich countries. Meanwhile she is sitting by the window where my grandfather sat every evening, watching the fowls go to sleep in the soursop tree, before he went to bed too. I’m even in Miss Armstrong’s parlour across the road, looking to buy goodies from Cowie’s bakery down Carnbee. Then all of a sudden reality hits! I wake up in cold, wet, miserable Canada, where all night, a wicked wind has been forcing the naked, unprotected, defenceless trees to dance to its merciless up-tempo tango. Hn! I can tell you it sure was a major let down. And the strange thing is that usually I hardly remember any of the details of my dreams when I awaken, but this one in Tobago was burned, etched in stone in my mind. Now Friends, I can either look at that dream as a tease or a promise. But as far as I’m concerned it IS A PROMISE! Thank you Lord! And having received the promise of a promise (smile) and having stored it safely in my heart, let’s turn to our Bit. ‘For I have not spoken of myself (my own authority), but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.’ It’s the same as yesterday, so I can share those scriptures I promised, cause I want to be as faithful as our God, when I promise something. (Heb.10:23) And to introduce it all, listen to the thrilling testimony of John the Baptist. ‘He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth (bears witness to); and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal (certified) that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father LOVETH the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.’ (John 3:31-35) There John the Baptist sets the stage for Jesus’ coming. And when Jesus came and healed a man at a pool in Bethesda on the Sabbath, the hypocrite Jews set out to persecute Him. But Jesus in His calm manner informed them: ‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.’ (John 5:17) Well that only got the religious zealots even more fired up, for Jesus had not only committed a cardinal sin of working on the Sabbath, but was now also blaspheming by claiming He was the Son of God. Mama Mia! That certainly wouldn’t do! But I can just imagine Jesus standing there, looking the hypocrites straight in the eye and answering: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father LOVETH the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.’ (John 5:19-20) Then later in that same speech, Jesus further declares: ‘I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just (righteous); because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true (valid as testimony).’ (John 5:30-31) Yes Friends, though Jesus was God incarnate, He didn’t give Himself any unnecessary airs and graces, but constantly deflected all glory to the Father. Now later on, in talking about Abraham’s descendants, He tells the Pharisees: ‘I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.’ (John 8:37-38) Meaning, we usually do the things our fathers do, but unfortunately they didn’t have the right Father like Him. Then, when Jesus teaches the disciples about the way to the Father and Philip asks Him to show them the Father, (John 14:8) Jesus gently rebukes him. ‘Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words I speak unto you I speak not of myself (of mine own authority): but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.’ (John 14:9-11) Ah mih brethren, it’s amazing that despite all the awesome works that Jesus did, the religious leaders still doubted His authority. It reminds me of the man, blind from birth, that He healed and the Pharisees kept harassing the man about it. Finally he got fed up and simply told them he didn’t know anything about Jesus, just that He healed him, and if they didn’t like that too bad. But as far as he was concerned, He was a man of God, otherwise He couldn’t have healed him. Matter fixed! (John 9;30-33) And our last scripture comes from when Jesus promises the Holy Ghost to the disciples. Judas, (not Iscariot) asked how He would show it to them and not the rest of the world? (John 14:22) Jesus replied: ‘If a man LOVE me, he will keep my words: and my Father will LOVE him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (home) with him. He that LOVETH me not keepeth not my sayings (words): and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.’ (John 14:23-24) So Friends, having heard the word of the Father, through the Son, let’s go out now and put it into action nuh. It’s our bounden duty as believers. Much LOVE!…if you LOVE Jesus…then you automatically LOVE the Father…and He automatically LOVES you back…what a glorious arrangement…
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