Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 March 2012 Psalm 78:32‏

08 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Psalm 78:32.   For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works

Oh Friends, yesterday was indeed a beautiful spring day in my neck of the woods, except for a somewhat blustery wind! And it’s expected to get up to about 12 Celsius again today. What a joy! But I’m still concerned and perturbed by this unseasonable weather, and all the other abnormal weather patterns that we’ve been experiencing around the world for the last few years. I guess abnormal weather is now the order of the day. But thankfully my brethren, we have the ONE and ONLY Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour to rely on, so that whatever comes against us, we can stand up sure and strong in His Holy Name and either defeat it or ride it out! And the true believers offered a sincere prayer of gratitude. ‘Oh thank you Lord, for your LOVING-kindness to the children of undeserving men!’ Oh, if those children of Israel had only been as thankful and true, then the whole course of History would have been changed. Unfortunately though, as our Bit says: ‘For all this they sinned still, and believed not the for his wondrous works.’ Ah Friends, I hope that yesterday we pondered on how those words related to our personal situations, as I asked, and that we made amends with our forgiving and merciful God for any shortcomings thereof. Now let’s continue looking at the Israelites journey. Yesterday we left them enjoying the easy life in the oasis of Elim, without any complaints. But then they entered the wilderness of Sin, a rather appropriate name, for they immediately began to complain against Moses and Aaron, saying: ‘Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots (pots of meat), and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ (Ex.16:3) Ah Friends, how we like to always have it easy and our way eh! But despite His disappointment at His chosen people’s lack of faith, after all that He had done for them, our God, being such a wonderful Deity, declared unto Moses: ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate (amount) every day, that I may prove (test) them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.’ (Ex.16:4) So the Lord tested them with manna, and they failed, because instead of gathering on the sixth day, enough also for the seventh, some went out to gather it on the Sabbath Day. But they found none, because, as per the Lord’s decree, it was only provided for six days. Obviously this displeased the Lord, and He asked Moses: ‘How long refuse ye (do you refuse) to keep my commandments and my laws?’ (Ex.16:28) Oh Friends, that’s exactly the same question the Lord is asking of us today? When will we stop being so ungodly and return to His fold eh? That’s part of the reason why our world is in such a confused and troubled state. And until we return to a state of godliness and obedience to His commandments, we will continue to live in a confused and troubled state. Thankfully the Israelites eventually learned about the manna. ‘So the people rested on the seventh day. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.’ (Ex.16:30-31) One more miracle for those unbelieving, ungrateful people. And that doesn’t sound like a bad tasting food either; ‘wafers made with honey.’ But I guess if you have it morning, noon and night, seven days a week, it can get somewhat tiresome. Will we eventually wake up though from our sinful, ungodly, lustful life before it’s too late? I certainly hope so. Now here’s what the scholars have to say about manna: ‘The manna literally means ‘What is it?’ Not only was it remarkable for its size, shape, colour, taste, and variety of uses (Ex.16:14, 23, 31; Num.11:7-8), but especially for its daily appearance at dawn, its tremendous abundance, its strange capacity for breeding worms at the end of each day except the sixth, and its sudden and permanent disappearance as soon as the Israelites entered Canaan (Josh.5:12). It taught the people to look Godward for their daily bread, and it pointed toward the One who claimed to be the true bread from heaven, even ‘the bread of life.’ (John 6:32,35) Oh my people, do we look to our God EVERYDAY for our daily bread, like the Israelites were taught to do, and like Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matt.6:11) I sure hope so, because that’s what the Lord expects from us, and also why He sends us new mercies and blessings every day. It’s all a part of His overall plan to have us trust Him anew each day, so that He can show His genuine and unconditional LOVE for us. Please, let’s accept His LOVING-kindness with joy and thankfulness and do our best to walk in His godly ways, so that He can continue to bless and keep us safe. That’s the only healing medicine for what ails us today my people, so let’s be wise and accept it with gracious thanks nuh. Much LOVE!…it is better to trust in the Lord…than to put confidence in man… (Ps.118:8) 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 March 2012 Psalm 78:32‏

07 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , ,

Psalm 78:32.    For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
 
Oh mih people, as I write this, another beautiful day on God’s wonderful earth is in the offing! And I’m serious, for in my area, in the first week of March, the temperature is supposed to rise up around 12 Celsius. And all God’s people in the northern climes emitted a loud and grateful; ‘Thank you Lord! You are indeed the greatest!’ Now Friends, there’s no disputing that our Lord is the greatest, for He truly is, and the initial revelation of today’s high temp is exceedingly wonderful, on the surface, but deep down, what does it really signify? It really signifies that our weather patterns have indeed gone haywire, no matter how some of us try to deny it. For this winter so far, we’ve gotten almost as many warm days with rain as we’ve gotten cold ones with snow. In the thirty odd years I’ve been in Canada, living in the same general area, I’ve never seen this phenomenon before. Meanwhile, consider the numerous tornadoes that ripped through the U.S. this past week. I can’t remember ever hearing about so many tornadoes in quick succession either. And to bring it full circle parts of Europe and Asia were recently hit by cold spells and blanketed with snow like they haven’t experienced in ages. And we haven’t even taken into consideration the warming of the waters in the Arctic and the melting of the icebergs. Putting it all together Friends, I don’t think it portends much good at all. Between our mishandling of the earth’s attributes, and God’s retribution for our disobedience, a period of climate change has been unleashed that can no longer be called subtle. But has it brought us to our senses? Unfortunately NO! And just like the Israelites, our Bit is a disgraceful condemnation of our modern society. ‘For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.’ Now let’s get some pertinent background on the Israelite situation, so that we can better understand our own. Oh my brethren, our God is so concerned about us that we don’t know the half of it. And why am I saying this? Because I just noticed something in the Good Book that I never noticed before, and it moved me. Don’t know if you ever noticed it, but I find it significant enough to mention. When the Lord took Israel out of Egypt, ‘God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent (change their minds) when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed (in orderly ranks) out of the land of Egypt.’ (Ex.13:17-18) But yuh know that made no difference whatsoever, for the Israelites still complained and disobeyed no end while going through the wilderness to the Promised Land, that’s why it took them forty long, hard years, and only Joshua and Caleb from all those who came out of Egypt ever set foot there. The Lord also having promised to lead and guide them, did just that: ‘And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.’ (Ex.13:21-22) He even used the cloud to prevent the Egyptian army camped behind them at the Red Sea from seeing them (Ex.14:20) But they showed no appreciation for that either and instead complained about the army back there ready to slaughter them. The Lord solved that problem by having Moses part the sea, allowing them to cross over on dry land, then engulfed Pharaoh’s army by returning the water to its original position. (Ex.14:21-30) ‘And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared (stood in awe of) the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.’ (Ex.14:31) But for how long my brethren? Only a short period, for after three days in the wilderness without water their complaints began again. And when they did find water, it was bitter and undrinkable (Marah). ‘And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance (regulation), and there he proved (tested) them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will bring none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.’ (Ex.15:24-26) Now that was the first incentive the Lord gave Israel to be obedient unto Him. ‘And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and three score and ten palm trees: and they encamped by the waters:’ Now at Elim, there were no complaints, not a word of dissatisfaction was heard, because the living at that juncture was beautiful. It was a true oasis; 70 palm trees for shade, and 12 wells of fresh, drinkable water. What was there to complain about? Nothing! But please note Friends, there didn’t seem to be any praise and thanks either. Doesn’t that remind you of us? How we complain when things get rough, but when God is generous with us, and things are going good, we forget to give Him praise and thanks. Oh Friends, that’s our ‘ponderation’ for today; where in our lives have we complained, but where also have we not given thanks for God’s goodness. Let’s try and make some amends for our ungrateful behaviour today. Much LOVE!…to return ungratefulness for kindness…is the mark of the unrighteous…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 March 2012 Matthew 22:37,39‏

06 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , ,

Matthew 22:37,39.    Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.
 
Aye mih people, a fine Tuesday morning to you and yours! Now we all know that our God moves in mysterious ways, so listen to this mysterious way He worked in me yesterday morning. Just before midday, He sent me this zeppo, this little message, by the Holy Spirit, and the strange thing is that when I sat down and really considered it, what He says makes oodles of sense. And it’s not rocket science either, but plain simple logic and common sense. Well enough suspense, (smile) the theory is…Oh sorry, this is no theory, these are hard, solid facts! Well then, the facts run something like this: Our world is presently in pretty bad shape, and if we don’t do something about it real soon, it’s liable to implode and/or explode. The forces of iniquity are winning the battle right now, but we believers in Jesus know that the powers of darkness are no match whatsoever for the brilliance of our wonderful Lord and Saviour. The iniquity workers, led by that old scoundrel Lucifer, are purveyors of hate, anger, confusion and strife. However, we Christians, led by Jesus Christ, are the purveyors of Peace, LOVE, and Human Kindness. And one thing for sure in this ongoing battle is that the powers of darkness definitely can’t overpower the forces of light. We, the soldiers of Jesus, work with the most awesome weapon ever invented…no, not invented, for you can’t invent LOVE. We, the followers of Jesus, work with LOVE, the greatest weapon ever created! Yes, that sounds better. And it is only a matter of time before the good guys, that’s us believers, come out victorious, because our omnipotent God has imperiously declared that: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is.54:17) He’s also incontestably declared that: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom.8:37) However Friends, though those promises are wonderful and will be kept, our victories won’t happen by chance, or by just sitting down and wishing them to happen by faith. No! Just like the iniquity soldiers, who work hard to promote and justify their cause, likewise, we, the children of the Most High God Jehovah, have to go out into the fields of evil and sow some good seed, in and with faith. We have to out work and out battle Lucifer’s boys, and right now I believe that they are outworking and out battling us. And that’s not a very good situation for our world my brethren. So since we have the biggest and most powerful bazooka in town, LOVE, let’s get out there and use it nuh mih people. The poor, the sick, the suffering, lonely, lost and oppressed are plentiful out there, yuh know. And they’re waiting to be delivered by us, the helpers of Jesus. Unfortunately we can’t do that by sitting on our comfortable rear ends. It’s certainly going to take a lot of effort and sacrifice, patience, strong faith and fortitude from all God’s soldiers to pull of this LOVE Revolution that He’s planned to save our fast deteriorating world. Oh my Friends, that is the only solution available to us who believe! It’s the only plan that will return our world to its senses and its rightful place, under the outstretched and protective wings of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the ONE, TRUE GOD of this vast universe! Please let’s wake up and smell the roses, or rather the pungent scent of the destruction that’s underway. LOVE is the ONLY WAY TO VICTORY! And as Bruh Paul so wisely told the Thessalonians: ‘But as touching (concerning) brotherly LOVE ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to LOVE one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more.’ (1 Thess.4:9-10) Yes mih people, to change our world, our LOVE Walk has to be ramped up much higher than it currently is. We won’t win any battles, much less wars with the puny attempts at LOVE we’re currently making. If we’re truly to be considered Friends and Followers of Jesus, then there’s only one way to win this ongoing war. As Jesus declared so long ago in our Bit: ‘Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…And Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.’ Yes people, that’s the winning formula! And since LOVE is an action word, please, let’s put it into serious action nuh. For our children’s sake, let’s do it nuh. Much LOVE!…simply talking LOVE…and not actively walking it…does not any battle win…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 March 2012 Matthew 20:16‏

05 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Matthew 20:16.    So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Oh Friends, another bright and beautiful Monday Morning is upon us, so let’s be up and at ‘em! Hn, hn! No, I haven’t been doing anything to distort my perspective of reality. (smile) The true reality is that all God’s days are bright and beautiful! Sometimes not physically, (only -14C now) but always spiritually, since He clothes them all in new mercies and blessings. Thus I’m luxuriating in the grace of God that has miraculously enabled me to see another day on this amazing planet earth, which sadly we are doing our level best to destroy – doing a very good job of it too. But fellow believers, please remember that it’s our God-given duty to stop the iniquity workers from destroying God’s handiwork, whether it be earth, sky, man or beast. To therefore boost our spirits and bring out the holy warrior in us, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with mucho gusto. On three now; one, two, three: ‘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 we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the 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!’ Hopefully Friends, that got your adrenalin a pumping and you’re now rearing to battle in Jesus’ Name. Now let’s check out our Bit: ‘So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called but few are chosen.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth! Not only in the spiritual realm which Jesus was referring to, but in so many walks of earthly life; namely cattle-calls (auditions), job interviews, sports teams etc, where many people show up for a handful of positions, and where being amongst the first doesn’t guarantee you anything. The same goes for the heavenly kingdom Friends. Jesus spoke those words after relating the parable of the vineyard workers, where the last ones hired got the same pay as the first, but the first figured that was wrong because they had put in more hours of work. This caused the vineyard owner to rebuke them, saying: ‘Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny (in wages)? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?’ (Matt.20:13-15) He reminded them that he’d paid them the amount agreed on, and it was his prerogative to do as he pleased with what was his. Then Jesus declared our Bit. It’s going to be the same way in heaven my brethren. Not because you were a believer first means you’re going to automatically be blessed more than the last ones on board, for the Lord offers us all equal blessings, the same way He LOVES us all equally. You might get more if you banked more heavenly rewards from here on earth. But by the same token a latecomer could also bank more rewards if you were simply sitting down here on your laurels, while he was busy doing God’s work. Friends, that was Jesus’ way of warning us against jealousy and impure motives in serving Him. Sadly though, His church is full of jealousy, petty rivalries and divisions. Obviously we didn’t get the message, thus allowing Lucifer to make a mockery of Christ’s church. And my people, Christ said those same words at least two other times. The first time was back in Matthew 19, where he told the rich young ruler to go and sell his possessions and come and follow Him, if wanted to receive salvation. The young man went away sad and despondent because he had much earthly possessions, which led Jesus to make the statement re it being easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eyes that for a rich man to enter heaven. Then in the last two verses He further clarifies the situation re when He comes again in glory: ‘And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.’ (Matt.19:29-30) Oh Friends, the sacrifices we make in Jesus’ name here on earth are ever so important, and then we’ve got to do them with a right heart and good motive, otherwise we’re liable to lose out on the blessings He’s stockpiled for us. Then in Matthew 22, Jesus talks about the parable of the marriage feast, where the invited guests disdain his invitation, so people off the street are invited. This one unfortunate however isn’t dressed in wedding attire, and when the king asks him why, he can’t answer. ‘Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, For many are called, but few are chosen.’ (Matt.22:13-14) Now we’ll let the scholars explain the parable. ‘The bidden guests are the people of Israel, whereas those in the highways are the Gentiles. Both bad and good (vs.10) refer to the moral and immoral sinners who alike need God’s gracious invitation. The man without the wedding garment came to the feast but disregarded the propriety of the king’s provision, since such garments were normally supplied by the host. The reference seems to be to the ‘robe of righteousness,’ which we must receive from the Lord in order to attend the marriage feast. Casting the unclad guest into outer darkness symbolizes the eternal judgement of the lost.’ With that explanation in mind Friends, I implore us to take hold of all that our gracious God has provided for us, and to do all that He asks, so that we don’t end up like the unprepared, improperly dressed guest and suffer the negative outcome. Much LOVE!…living amongst the damned in purgatory with Lucifer, is true hell…so be wise now…change your evil ways while there’s yet time…that you may live forever in heaven…with Jesus…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 March 2012 Psalm 119:89‏

04 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , ,

Psalm 119:89.     For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Oh Friends, ‘Do you want to know what is on the mind of God? Then look at Jesus! Do you want to know the will of God? Then Look at Jesus! Do you want to know what is in the heart of God? Then look at Jesus! Jesus is the exact revelation of what is on the mind and in the heart and in the will of God!’ Those are words of awesome truth from my current favourite book, ‘My Jesus is …Everything,’ by Anne Graham Lotz. She breaks down her topics so simply and nicely that I’m being led to share several of them with you. Yes my people, if you want to know anything about the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, LOVING, faithful, kind, merciful, forgiving God we worship, then all you have to do is look at Jesus! For He was and is the earthly incarnation of the Most High God Jehovah! Only because He came to earth in a body like ours and lived amongst us, do we have some true semblance of what our God is really like. Until that time, though God communicated with us through His prophets, no one had ever seen Him in living colour. And such is the human mind that it tends to believe only what it sees, stuff in the physical realm. However with Jesus’ coming, our spiritual dealings with God were now also made manifest in the flesh, and thus more understandable. It also gave greater meaning to the words of the psalmist in our Bit and the two verses that follow: ‘For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled (stands firm) in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth (endures). They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for they are all thy servants.’ (Ps.119:89-91) Without a doubt Friends, the heavens and earth work for the Lord and operate on the solid foundation of His Word! In Ethan the Ezrahite’s contemplation on God’s sure promises to Bruh David, he solemnly declares: ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy (LOVING-kindness) shall be built up for ever; thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.’ (Ps.89:1-2) Meanwhile, Isaiah gives it a more earthy feeling: ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.’ And that’s the undeniable truth my brethren! The Lord’s Word is the solid, immovable, unchangeable rock upon which we can totally build our lives; both earthly and heavenly, without fear of ever being misled, misguided or deceived. And if you don’t believe me, then listen to Jesus: ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.’ (Matt.24:35) We couldn’t ask for it any plainer or simpler than that Friends. And that’s one of the things I admire about Jesus and His teaching; He never gets into any long discourse or diatribe, but breaks it down as simply and plainly as possible, so that even the dumbest of us can understand, (smile) except in some of the parables where He intentionally tries to confuse His listeners. Then we have Peter’s words on the subject, where he calls for Christian dedication: ‘Being born again, not of corruptible (perishable) seed, but of incorruptible (imperishable), by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the (spoken) Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.’ (1 Pet.1:23-25) Yes Friends, strong, and true words from one who walked with Jesus! In verses 24 and 25, he even quotes Isaiah’s words on the subject, keeping that connection between the Old and New testaments that Jesus Himself forged. Now here’s the last word on the topic from the scholars: ‘Being born again (lit. having been born again) refers to all believers having been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, which communicates His offer of salvation to mankind. Thus, our salvation rests, from the human perspective, upon our willing reception of that offer.’ Oh my brethren, have we willing received that free offer of salvation and eternal life from Jesus? I sure hope so. And if we have, then let’s go out and tell the many others who haven’t even heard about it, so that they too can hear the Word, believe it, and humbly bow before the cross of Christ, accepting Him as their ever-LOVING Lord and Saviour, for that’s what we’ve been called to do. Much LOVE!…our great commission…Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you… (Matt.28:19-20)

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 March 2012 Psalm 18:20

03 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Psalm 18:20.  The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Oh Friends, I can’t seem to come up with a bright or witty intro this morning, (smile) but I’m going to do even better by sharing some words of enormous truth and wisdom that someone else wrote. I found both quotes on the fly leaves of my mother’s Bible, so I don’t know where she got them from or who said them, but whoever said them undoubtedly knew what they were saying. The first quote says: ‘The Bible is God’s Word to us. Still fresh through all the ages. And if we read it, we will find God’s wisdom on its pages!’ And isn’t that the gospel truth my Friends? God’s Word though written many centuries ago is still as fresh and applicable today as back then, because neither our God nor His Word ever changes. Selah. And the second quote says: ‘One truth from the Bible is worth more than all the wisdom of man!’ There’s more gospel truth my brethren! Since the Lord’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours, it follows that even one truth from His Word is more valuable than all of man’s wisdom combined. That’s how powerful the Word of our God is! Consequently, Bruh David, who tried his best to adhere to God’s law and truth, after he was delivered from his enemies, especially Saul, he could therefore truthfully say in our Bit and beyond: ‘The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before (with) him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.’ (Ps.18:20-24)  Yes Friends, when we consciously and diligently try to obey the Lord, He eventually rewards us by lifting our weighty burden from our shoulders and giving us peace. One of those instances where Bruh David restrained himself before the Lord was when he had opportunity to kill Saul at the cave in the wilderness of Engedi, when he came hunting him like a wild animal. In spite of his associates’ encouragement to kill Saul, he refused, saying: ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.’ (1 Sam.24:6) As Saul left, Bruh David called out to him and made obeisance to him, pleading his innocence. (1 Sam.24:8-15) When Saul realized his error, he said: ‘Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast showed this day how thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away (get away safely)? Wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hadst done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.’ (1 Sam.24:16-20) Oh my people, we are considered victorious in the Lord’s sight not only by overcoming our enemies, but oftimes more by showing them mercy in the Lord’s name, by dashing down their pride and arrogance and humbling them before Him. So remember that not every conquest calls for the physical destruction of the enemy, sometimes just destroying his lustful pride will win more kudos from the Lord, especially if the enemy worships Him thereafter. And we’ll end with an appropriate scripture from Job, where his friend Elihu reasons with him, re God calls men to repent. ‘’If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter (a mediator), one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness; Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom (an atonement). His flesh shall be fresher than (young as) a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him (delight in him): and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render (restore) unto man his righteousness.’ (Job 33:23-26) Oh Friends, it all comes right back to God’s universal law of what ever we sow, the same we shall reap. So please let’s make it a habit to sow good seed in the Lord’s sight, so that in His time, we might be suitably rewarded. Much LOVE!…if we sow in righteousness…then in righteousness shall we reap…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 March 2012 Matthew 18:11‏

02 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , ,

Matthew 18:11.    For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
 
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, it’s Friday! Yes, the weekend’s here at last. But uncharacteristically the shouts of ‘TGIG! Thank God is Friday! aren’t as loud and lusty as usual because we seem to be adding a little more decorum to our Lenten behaviour. (smile) It reminds me of the days when you couldn’t hear a calypso on the radio in T&T – the land of carnival and calypso – during the entire Lenten season, except on St. Patrick’s Day, because they were thought to be too immoral and sinful, inappropriate music for that particular period. Granted some might have been, but the whole genre suffered because of a few. And isn’t that the way life seems to move; where because of a few miscreants, a whole body is negatively labelled and punished? Anyway, we’ve got Jesus – our be all and end all – so there’s no need to worry. With that security in mind, let’s then chant our Friday Chant to get us set for the weekend. In one loud, persuasive voice 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.’ Yes mih people, what a joy it is to believe in a God who LOVED us so much that He sent His only Son to save us worthless beings! Our Bit states it plainly and simply: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ Now it wasn’t Jesus alone who declared this saving grace of His, for Isaiah prophesied it way back when: ‘Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).’ (Is.7:14) The angel of the Lord also appeared in a dream to Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, while he was wrestling with the problem of a pregnant fiancée, telling him: ‘And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus (Saviour): for he shall save his people from their sins.’ (Matt.1:21) This was done so that Isaiah’s prophecy above could be fulfilled. Now Jesus wasn’t bashful about saying it either for it was the truth and He wanted to make sure that people really understood why He had left His comfortable home in heaven to come to hell on earth. Listen to Him expound on the subject: ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17) And all God’s people raised their heads, eyes, hearts and hands to heaven and uttered a grateful, ‘Thank you Father God for sending your Son Jesus to redeem us from our sins! We LOVE you, and bless and praise your Holy Name!’ What would we have done without Jesus eh Friends? As the ancients would say, ‘crapaud would surely smoke we pipe,’ our eternal lives would certainly be in great jeopardy, having to spend eternity in Hades with Lucifer. Oh what a horrible thought! But thank the Lord there’s Jesus, ever on the lookout for the lost, hurting, sick and oppressed. And He shows this so plainly in Luke 15 where He tells the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, where the shepherd, the coin’s owner and the father of the lost son diligently seek for what they’d lost. And when they’d found it, they rejoiced with their friends and neighbours. It’s only fitting to end with Jesus’ words after each parable: ‘I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just (upright) persons, which need no repentance… Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth…It was meet (right) that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’ (Luke 15:7,10,32) Oh Friends, are we on the lookout for the poor, hungry, sick and suffering too? If not, then we’re not following in Jesus’ footsteps. So let’s get a right perspective and change it all, so that we can truly deserve to be called Christians – followers of Christ. Much LOVE!…you’re not a true follower…unless you truly follow your leader…


Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 March 2012 Matthew 18:11

01 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: ,

 Matthew 18:11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Oh Friends, it’s March 1st! Wow! That means spring will be here in another three weeks, and the cold weather will be minimized. Thank the Lord! Hn! But don’t bet on that nuh, because we haven’t had what you’d call a real winter this year. It’s been up and down; cold temps with some snow for a couple days, then warmer temps with rain for a few more days. Oh Friends, there’s no doubt that for whatever reason, and through whosever’s doings, the earth’s climate is changing, for while North America has been fairly snow free, Europe and Asia have been bitten by severe cold spells and tons of snow, conditions that haven’t been experienced in ages. Even the mighty Danube river has been frozen solidly in several places, causing untold damage and hardship. But Friends, I have the answer for all our earthly problems: His name is Jesus! Now listen to this synopsis of His persona and powers from Anne Graham Lotz’s book, ‘My Jesus is…Everything.’ ‘No means of measure can define His limitless LOVE… No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply… No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings… He forgives and He forgets. He creates and He cleanses. He restores and He rebuilds. He heals and He helps. He reconciles and He redeems. He Comforts and He carries. He lifts and He LOVES. He is the God of the second chance, the fat chance, the slim chance, the no chance. My Jesus is…Everything!’ Please note Friends, that it’s the same title, but a different poem from the one I shared last week. There are several like that in the book and I will try to share one each week. And if you believe the stuff above about Jesus, then you’ll surely understand when He declares in our Bit: ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful, ‘Thank you Lord Jesus!’ That’s because there are so many lost souls still on planet earth. And if you’ll look back at the poem above, you’ll notice that it does dovetail nicely with our Bit, for everything it says points to the lost and hopeless, like we once were. Yes my brethren, salvation and eternal life were not meant as a privilege for a select few, but for all the inhabitants of earth. Note too how Jesus rebuked His disciples after a particular Samaritan village was inhospitable to their party, because they saw that Jesus was intent on eventually going to Jerusalem. ‘And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? (see 2 Kin.1:10,12) But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.’ (Luke 9:54-56) Yes my Friends, unlike Lucifer, who is a resolute destroyer, our Jesus is a builder and Saviour! He’s genuinely concerned about the lost, the sick, the suffering, the hurting, the fearful and the oppressed; all those writhing under unfavourable circumstances and conditions. And since we’re His followers, it means that we should also be concerned about the same things and people. Now I wasn’t planning to include this piece from the My Jesus is…Everything book, but I read it just before I began writing the Bit and it seems so appropriate concerning what we just said. Hear the author asking of herself: ‘I wonder how many opportunities to meet the needs of others God has given me when I was: too self-absorbed, too self-centred, too self-conscious, too self-defensive, too self-pitying, too self-protecting, to notice. Who would be helped, who would have his or her needs met, if we just opened our eyes and really saw those around us?’ Ah my people, fellow believers in Christ, that poem provides us with an excellent opportunity to sit and contemplate and evaluate our Christ-like acts! Are we truly mirroring Jesus, or are we simply mouthing words and not paying serious attention to the lost and needy, as we ought to, with acts of LOVE? That’s our ‘ponderation’ for today Friends. And I’m being very serious, because everyday of our lives brings opportunities for us to behave like Jesus, but sadly, too many times we either don’t see them, or like the priest and the Levite, we pass by on the other side, which is totally unacceptable from followers of Christ. So please let’s evaluate ourselves and make the necessary changes, so that we can bring glory to God and further His righteous kingdom. Much LOVE!…if you’re not doing the deeds of a Good Samaritan…then you’re not truly following Jesus…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 February 2012 Psalm 66:18‏

29 Feb 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

 Psalm 66:18.   If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
 
Oh Friends, this leap year seems to be just leaping along on us. Imagine it’s already the leap day of February, when we just finished singing Auld Lang Syne! (smile) But seriously though, 2012 is really moving along at a fast clip. That means there’s no time for us to waste in being about our heavenly Father’s business. And here are five ways to stay securely and sincerely connected to Him. They are the Life Study Fellowship’s Five Golden Rules To Live By. I recently discovered them on a card in one of my mother’s devotionals, and though dated 1989, they are still excellent rules by which to pattern our lives. 1. Be Thankful Always! 2. Be Giving Always! 3. Be Forgiving Always! 4. Be Self-Helpful Always! 5. Be Faith-full Always! Oh my people, those are very simple, yet very powerful rules, and if each human being would only live by them, what a wonderful world this will be! Okay, so I’m dreaming some when I consider it possible for humans to live in Peace and LOVE, but that’s what dream are made of and for; to attain things which in the natural seem out of our reach, but are certainly doable with God’s help. And remember too, that it’s always better to dream big, rather than small, to give God a chance to show His real power and glory. Oh my brethren in Christ, I implore each of us now to dream this big dream; that our world will soon be stabilized, with the bitter strife and confusion gone, so that both our children and ourselves can live out our days in Peace and LOVE, for that’s the way the Lord desires it! Consequently, to achieve this humongous goal, we have to work diligently and wisely, successfully combining those five golden rules above into our everyday lives, cause as our Bit so rightly says: ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.’ Yes Friends, those are words of absolute wisdom and truth. It’s highly illogical for a Holy and Righteous God to answer the prayer of a terribly unholy and unrighteous person. The two just don’t go together. How can the Lord genuinely answer us when He sees the iniquity and serious wrongdoing we have hidden in our hearts eh?  And remember He sees it, because it’s our hearts and not our outward actions that He monitors for right motive and sincerity before answering our prayers. So no wonder some of our prayers don’t get answered, since many a time we come to Him in prayer with evil purposes and intentions lurking in the depths of our souls. My Friends, we do need to seriously clean up our act, for our faith walk will not move ahead unless we approach the throne of grace with a right heart and clean spirit. Obviously the Lord doesn’t expect us to be perfect, since we’re imperfect beings, but He does expect us to be much better than our current state. Now let’s listen to some scriptures that corroborate our Bit. And we’ll begin with Job talking about the hypocrite’s hopelessness. And we all behave hypocritically at some time or other, so don’t get self-righteous and think that it doesn’t apply to us. (smile) ‘For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God?’ (Job 27:8-10) The answer to all those questions is a definite NO! Now hear Cousin Sol’s take on the subject: ‘The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.’ (Prov.15:29) And also: ‘He that turneth away his ear from the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.’ (Prov.28:9) Certainly no mincing of words there my people! Meanwhile John says it thus: ‘Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.’ (John 9:31) Note the important proviso there Friends; not only do we have to worship God, but we also need to do His will. And James wisely declares: ‘Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.’ (James 4:3) Now why would the Lord grant us stuff when our intentions are to use it in evil, fleshly pleasures eh? And Isaiah will take us home with words from his call for repentance in Israel: ‘And when ye spread forth your hands (pray), I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgement (justice), relieve the oppressed (reprove the oppressor), judge (vindicate, defend) the fatherless, plead for the widow.’ (Is.1:15-17) Oh my people, those standards are just as important today as they were back in Isaiah’s day. And it’s full time that we rise up and meet them instead of holding on to Lucifer’s evil, lowly ones. It’s high time we meet the Lord’s call for cleansing, for without it, all our prayers are exercises in futility. So today let’s sit and sincerely search our hearts, minds and souls for any sinister and evil doings that lurk therein, and then sincerely ask the Lord to cleanse us of them. It’s the only wise approach for us to take in these troubled times. Much LOVE!…until we reach out in sincere repentance…the evil that taints us…will keep us from God…and God from us…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 February 2012 Jeremiah 3:25‏

28 Feb 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , ,

Jeremiah 3:25.    We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.
 
Oh Friends, our kind, LOVING and omnipotent God is weaving ever more miracles, mercies, blessings and forgiveness into another wonderful day for us, His faithful children! And all His grateful children shouted a joyful song of thanks and praise: ‘Oh thank You most heavenly Father for creating, protecting and so generously providing for us. And we are especially grateful for the eternal gift of your wonderful Son, Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour! You are definitely the GREATEST!’ Yes my brethren, all those things are gospel truths; facts we cannot dispute. But unfortunately they don’t tell all of the truth, for our Bit tells us a completely different story: ‘We lie down in our shame, and our confusion (disgrace) covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.’ Ah mih people, sadly, those are also words of indisputable truth. We can deny them all we want, but they vividly portray the very sinful and ungodly nature of our current world. I don’t have to spell out our iniquity- in fact I can’t, because it’s so plentiful and perverse, but we all know them, even willingly participate in and enjoy some of them. It brings to mind Ezra’s prayer of confession on behalf of Israel’s abominable sinful condition. ‘And at the evening sacrifice I arose from my heaviness (fasting); and having rent (torn) my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and out trespass (guilt) is grown up into the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil (plunder), and to confusion of face (humiliation, shame of face), as it is this day.’ (Ezra 9:5-7) Oh Friends, how I wish there was someone like Ezra today, mighty enough in the sight of God to make such confession for us! However my people, our world is now too vast and diverse for any one person to take on that job, so of necessity, each one of us will have to implore our God on the matter. Confess our sins as a society, a nation, a world, then ask for mercy and forgiveness, a la Bruh David in Psalm 51, A prayer for cleansing: ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified (found just) when thou speakest, and be clear (blameless) when thou judgest.’ (Ps.51:1-4) Yes Friends, until conviction and sincere repentance are made, we will continue to struggle and live in strife and confusion. Lemme ask a couple questions here. Why did Israel wander around in the wilderness for forty years when the Promised Land was about a three-month journey from Egypt? And why is our world currently enmeshed in such fear, hatred, anger and confusion? Oh Friends, the answer to both questions is simple and the same: because they, then, and we, now, have drastically disobeyed the voice of God. And our many troubles will only get worse if we pursue our present sinful, ungodly path. And the sad part is that there’s plenty precedence, both in the Good Book and History, about civilizations being destroyed because they disobeyed God. So why we seem to think that we’re different, I really don’t know. But hear what the Lord said to Israel through Jeremiah: ‘I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. The wind shall eat up all thy pastors (rulers), and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded (humiliated) for all thy wickedness.’ (Jer.22:21-22) Oh my brethren, it’s the same thing the Lord’s saying to us today, and there’s no denying the shame and confusion that’s besetting our world. So why are we so stubborn and hard headed eh? At least let’s give God a try, since nothing else seems to be working, and we have nothing to lose but a whole lot to gain. My fellow believers, the ball’s solidly in our court. If we want to see improvements, then we’ll have to get seriously involved and bring it about, since the iniquity workers thrive on the strife and confusion. So for our children’s sake, let’s get cracking nuh. I won’t even mention future generations, cause there won’t be any, if we continue our diabolical, fiendish ways. Let’s allow the fire and passion of Jesus to invade our souls and spirits so that we can set the world aflame with our LOVE Revolution, for it’s only LOVE, the predominant essence of our great God, that will prevent us from completely sinking into the quicksand of sin. Much LOVE!…Christianity has survived two thousand years…let’s give it a fighting chance to survive two thousand more nuh…
 

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries