Psalm 14:1. The fool hath said in his heart; There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Ah Friends, we finally got a little white powder, enough that we can call it snow. Hn, hn! Sorry for those who hoped for a white Christmas but were disappointed. Now we’re looking forward to the New Year, and as we’ve been wondering recently whether things will improve, I heard a very disturbing piece of news today, namely that Iran is threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the East, where about 40 percent of the world’s oil passes through. Hopefully that’s only a rattling of sabres, because if it ever happens, you can be assured that serious warfare will ensue, since oil is the defining factor in our society these days, and without it, we’ll be facing even more hardship than normal. So let’s pray that the world leaders don’t do any foolishness and further upset the already very fragile applecart of world peace. Now to try and counteract all the folly of both our leaders and ourselves, here’s a prayer prepared by the Life Study Fellowship of Noroton, Connecticut, apparently for the 2005 New year. I found it on a pamphlet in my mother’s Bible, and it seems very appropriate for 2012. Actually, it’s a continuation of one I shared with you earlier on, but kept this part for just before the New Year. It says: ‘Dear Lord, how grateful I am to be able to turn to You for guidance and comfort when troubles come my way! If any situation arises that makes me feel discouraged, You let me know I can lean on You for support! And because of Your LOVE for me, somehow I seem to find the strength to keep going – even through the most difficult of times! I’m grateful, too, for peaceful moments like these when I’m all alone with You in prayer! Talking with You never fails to reassure and uplift me! Nothing I say to You goes unheard. You listen with great concern to everything I confide in You! For you truly care about me! As I look to 2012, I pray that You will continue to watch over me – and grant me even more of Your wonderful blessings! And may I serve You well in my every word, my every deed! Be my Guide hour by hour, I pray! Amen.’ Yes Friends, we all need that kind of encouragement and comfort for the coming year. This past one was pretty scary, so let’s hope the next one isn’t as bad, although the writing on the wall doesn’t look too encouraging. As believers though we need to remember that our God, the Lord Jehovah, created the universe and all therein, and still controls everything that goes on within it. We might not always understand His reasoning, but since we know that His mental capacity is much greater than ours, we trust and have faith in His awesome promise to work out all things for good to those who LOVE Him and are called to do His bidding. That means we cannot follow the foolishness of men and do as our Bit indicates: ‘The fool hath said in his heart; There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.’ Ah mih people, you’d better believe there are many – too many – fools in this world, doing evil, abominable works instead of encouraging and uplifting ones. That’s why our world is in such a sad state, filled with all kinds of wickedness, violence and ungodliness. Too many people are saying that there is no God, therefore they see fit to behave sinful and ungodly. But listen to how Bruh David continues the psalm: ‘The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.’ (Ps.14:2-5) Yes my brethren, the wicked are very prominent throughout all the earth, but that last verse is oh so important, because they will end up in fear, but please take heart, be encouraged by the very last line: ‘for God is in the generation of the righteous.’ That’s us Friends! And all God’s people vociferously sang: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Our God is indeed a great God!’ So please remember Friends, that Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, is indeed with us, the righteous of the earth, therefore there is no need to fear, once we stay safely ensconced under the protective canopy of His mighty wings. Let’s write that indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls and look forward in faith to blessed times ahead. That’s why Jesus sacrificed His holy, innocent life for us. Much LOVE!…the fool says there is no God…but the righteous and wise…know differently…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 December 2011 Psalm 14:1
29 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: abominable works, life study fellowship
Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 December 2011 Psalm 141:8
28 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: physical disasters, psalm 141, suicide bombings
Oh Friends, we’re down to four days now for the New Year and we can all sit down an pontificate about what’s going to happen, but as I asked yesterday, is anything new and improved going to take place, is much going to change? Not at the beginning, though hopefully by the time we get to the end and start looking forward to 2013, we’ll have some positive changes. The physical disasters like the flash flooding recently in the Philippines, neither the suicide bombings around the world aren’t going to end just because a new year’s been ushered in. In fact the Nigerian Islamists have just begun a new wave of bombings and violence against Christians and their churches in Nigeria this past Christmas week. Oh Friends, Christians are being horribly persecuted in Muslim countries all over the world simply because of their faith. And what are we Christians out here doing about all that nonsense eh? Apparently nothing. We allow them to come to our Christian, or should I say supposed Christian countries and bend over backwards to accommodate their faith. Why doesn’t this picture seem right eh Friends? It’s time we stand up and fight back people, else our faith will be pushed back into the dark ages when we had to hide and gather in secret to worship for fear of prosecution. The Western world was colonized on a Christian based foundation, why are we allowing others to bring their foreign ideology and change it so drastically eh? Serious inroads affecting our faith have already been made, and if we don’t stand up and fight back, Islam will eventually reign supreme here, either through peaceful or violent conquest. And please don’t be fooled into thinking that that’s not the eventual goal. It might not be for the ordinary man in the street, but the power brokers at the top certainly envisage that day and are working tirelessly towards it. Anyway Friends, we seriously need to do something, and soon too, about the erosion of our faith, especially here in our homeland. We need to stand together and purposefully fight against the encroaching enemy. That means at least two things: First we have to forget our petty, selfish infighting and divisiveness. We have to fight as one, else we’ll remain divided, as we are now, and thus easily conquered. And the second thing is that we have to look fervently to our God, do as our Bit says: ‘But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.’ Yes Friends, it’s only with God before, behind and around us that we can ever hope to win. When the armies of Moab came to invade Judah, what was King Jehoshaphat’s reaction eh? He prayed for deliverance: ‘And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.’ (2 Chr.20:3) And here’s how he ended his prayer. ‘O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.’ (2 Chr.20:12) Yes my people, if our eyes are not steadily and steadfastly focused on the Lord God Jehovah then we will be in serious trouble. In Psalm 25, a prayer for guidance and protection, Bruh David faithfully declares: ‘Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord; for he shall pluck (bring out) my feet out of the net.’ (Ps.25:15) And in Psalm 123, a prayer for mercy, the psalmist wisely proclaims: ‘Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden (maid) unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait (look) upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.’ (Ps.123:1-2) Oh my brethren, these are seriously troubled times in which we’re living. There are enemies all around us in various stripes and forms. It’s not always easy to spot them, but unless our eyes are on God, our hearts right, our faith strong, and our zeal and passion fiercely ignited, then eventually we will be defeated. It’s time for us to stand up strong and act. Enough talking, it’s getting us nowhere. And remember, as I keep reminding us, Christianity is an action based faith, so let’s get some serious action going in Jesus’ name nuh. Much LOVE!…only so much as our passion for God…is channelled into positive action…will our faith be truly successful…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 December 2011 Psalm 141:8
27 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: american geneticist, psalm 141, true change
And then there were five! Yes Friends, only five more days to the New Year of 2012! It’s interesting to note the amount of attention we pay to the coming of a new year. But does anything really change except the date on the calendar? Not a whole lot, because most of us abhor change, especially the significant kind. At the New Year, one year simply morphs into the other and within a few days all our good intentions to improve ourselves, our relationships and whatever else, tend to go through the window. The point being that we simply make a lot of arbitrary, frivolous, feel good, on the surface resolutions, with little or no serious thought behind them, and more importantly, no consultation with God. So how can we expect true change then eh mih people, if we don’t consult with our Higher Power, since it’s only through Him that real change can occur in our lives? We don’t need to wait for a new year to initiate change. We can do that at anytime with God behind us. So please, let’s not be carried away with all the token expressions of improvement and doing good in these next few days. If there are serious changes we desire, or need to make, so be it, but please, let’s talk to the Father first and ask His help, otherwise our efforts will most likely be fruitless. Now I’d like to share an interesting quote from an interesting novel I’m reading, interestingly enough right at Christmas time, because it does throw up a lot of interesting questions about our faith. And I’d strongly suggest that unless your faith is fairly strong, you don’t read it, because it’s likely to cause all sorts of doubts and questions that will confuse you. Anyway, the name of the book is ‘the Sacred Bones,’ by Michael Byrnes, and in this scene an Irish priest at the Vatican is talking to a newly arrived female American geneticist, who’s come there to do some work for them. And while enquiring about her faith, the priest realizes that religion is a touchy subject with her. Unbeknownst to him, she was suffering from the early stage of bone cancer, stuff that really tests our faith, especially if we’ve been seemingly living right, and he ventures to say. ‘You know, back in Ireland we had a saying: ‘I believe in the sun when it’s not shining, I believe in LOVE even when I feel it not, I believe in God even when he is silent… Sometimes the things we really cherish just need to be remembered.’ And that’s the gospel truth Friends! In this busy, impersonal, material wealth and possession-seeking world, where we’re constantly on the go, the things we truly cherish often don’t get any, or enough consideration from us. And that’s a major reason why our society is in such shambles. We don’t have time to truly appreciate our friends, families, pets, etc. because we’re always in such a rush to do the next supposed important thing. Unfortunately that makes our hearts cold, inconsiderate and without the passion we need to truly appreciate life. Please remember Jesus; He always had time for the things and people He considered important. He was never in a rush, and never turned away anyone who asked for His help along His paths because he was too busy. For this New Year, or even right now (smile) let’s make a serious resolution to become like Jesus in that respect nuh. Let’s promise God and ourselves, to slow down and enjoy what we already have, including the people around us, and to spend some quality time smelling those beautiful roses that we all talk about doing, but never do. Friends, it’s time we get back to being people persons, rather than the cold, busy, unfeeling, selfish, robot-like creatures we’ve become. And the only way to do that successfully my people, is in concert with our mighty God. Thus shall we say, like Bruh David does in our Bit, taken from Psalm 141, a prayer for help in trouble: ‘But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins (traps) of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape (while I escape safely).’ (Ps.141: 8-10) Yes my brethren, only by looking to our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, ever-LOVING, kind, gracious, merciful and forgiving God, can our paths on this rough and rugged earthly journey be made straight. So let’s look to Him today nuh. If not for our sakes, then for our children’s, and for their children. Much LOVE!…I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills…from whence cometh my help…My help cometh from the Lord…which made heaven and earth…(Ps.121:1-2)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 December 2011 Psalm 64:10
26 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: boxing day sales, goodwill to all mankind, humble servants, peace and goodwill, psalm 64
Psalm 64:10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Oh Friends, Christmas Day is over – too bad – but not the Christmas Season! So please don’t stop the LOVE, the joy, the peace and goodwill to all mankind that you’ve been recently exhibiting. Let’s see if we can’t carry it straight through till next Christmas nuh. (smile) Now wouldn’t that be something! Unfortunately though, today is Monday, Boxing Day, and many of us have the day off, but a lot of folks still have to go out and face the workweek battle, and some are going out to face even more confusion and greater battles – the Boxing Day sales. Ah Lord eh! What a highly commercialized society we’ve become! Everything now revolves around the almighty dollar. Chuh! But since we have to live in the world, yet not be a part of it, we will always need our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to help us fight Lucifer and his evil flunkies. So let’s sing our Battle Hymn with much feeling and in loud voice, begin the fight mentally, by scaring those evil demons away with our praise. In unison 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 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!’ Oh Friends, I sure hope that gives us sufficient ammunition, sufficient faith, sufficient focus on our omnipotent God, to go out and fight the good fight, for we desperately need to do that in this increasingly evil and destructive world. That’s why we have to pay serious attention to our Bit: ‘The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.’ Yes Friends, if we desire to make a good and positive difference in this world, then we have to follow Bruh David’s advice; trust in God, be glad in Him, and celebrate His glory. Otherwise all our efforts will never amount to much, since it’s only with Almighty God in our hearts, guiding and directing our paths, that we are capable of anything really worthy. In Job 22, his supposed friend, Eliphaz while accusing him of sin declares: ‘but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.’ (Job 22:18b-19) Yes my people, the righteous see the ungodly devices of the wicked for what they truly are, then scorn and resist them with God’s help. It’s sad Friends, but in these dire times we need to be very perceptive in what and whom we let into our lives, because there are so many predators out there in sheep’s clothing, and it’s very easy to get caught in their deceitful lies and traps, since on the surface they seem so true and worthy. However, beneath the pretty facades, they’re all evil and rotten to their very core. Unfortunately, as our civilization has advanced, so has our evil character, by using those same advances to fuel ungodly, unrighteous deeds and causes. What a crying shame Friends! The only way to conquer those evil forces is for us to stand strong and steadfast in the Lord God Jehovah! So as we wind down this wonderful 2011 Christmas Season of LOVE, peace and goodwill, fully knowing that the ever spreading tentacles of evil will soon come to the fore again, let’s listen to some sound advice on how to resist them. In Psalm 32, the blessedness of forgiveness, Bruh David tells us ‘Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.’ (Ps.32:11) And again in Psalm 68, God has gone before his people, he declares; ‘But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.’ (Ps.68:3) And finally in Psalm 97, the Lord is far above all gods, the psalmist defiantly proclaims: ‘Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of (for the memory) of his holiness (his holy name).’ (Ps.97:12) Oh my brethren, it’s only by having hearts abounding with righteousness, joy and overwhelming faith that we can ever rise above the evil that currently has our world in a vice-like grip. Please, let’s do it for our God…and our children. Much LOVE!…to believe and hope…to trust and surrender…to remain ever faithful to Jesus…that’s a believer’s creed…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 December 2011 John 3:16
25 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: glory hallelujah, jehovah god, newborn babe, peace and goodwill
John 3:16. For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY SCRIP-BIT FAMILY
Oh Friends, the big day is here at last! It’s Christmas morn! The day God’s incarnate child was born of a woman in a lowly, filthy stable! Glory Hallelujah! And the choir sang: ‘Away in a manger, no crib for His head, The little Lord Jesus, lay down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky, looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.’ Yes Friends, even as a newborn babe, Jesus was imbued with a sense of peace and calm. How many of us would have lain there quietly in the stinky stable with frightening animal noises all around us eh? Not too many, I believe. And just for being such a beautiful baby child, let’s give Him some adoration nuh. Sing it out loud now: ‘O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.’ Ah mih people, what a momentous day in man’s history the birth of Christ was, and what a transition it ushered in., because LOVE, and Peace, and Goodwill then became more prominent and significant, morphing into true watchwords in our lives. How could it be otherwise when our Bit declares this amazing, this most awesome tale: ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Wow mih breddren! What a sacrifice on the part of Jehovah God! He must have LOVED us a whole lot to do such an unexpected, undeserved, ‘unrequitable’ thing, won’t you say? But that’s the unselfish majesty of our God! Though He knew we didn’t deserve it, and could never repay it, from the never-ending source of His LOVING-kindness and concern for us, He still extended that gift of LOVE, of Grace, of Salvation, and of Eternal Life to us, embodied in His Son Jesus. That certainly deserves another ‘Wow!’ mih people…and some singing too. ‘Silent night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright. Round young virgin, mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. Shepherds gaze at the sight. Glory streaming from heaven above. Heavenly Host sings Hallelujah! Christ the Saviour is born. Christ the Saviour is born.’ Truer words were never spoken Friends! Now let’s check out some scripture re this auspicious occasion. As regards God’s LOVE, Bruh Paul confidently proclaimed to the Roman Church: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom.5:8) Then to the Ephesians, he pointed out: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great LOVE wherewith he LOVED us…For by grace are ye (you have been) saved, through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.’ (Eph.2:5,8) And to the Thessalonians: ‘Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath LOVED us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.’ (2 Thess.2:16-17) Now listen to John’s take on the subject: ‘In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ (1 John 4:9-10) And in Revelations it’s revealed thus: ‘And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten (born) of the dead, and the prince of (ruler over) the kings of the earth. Unto him that LOVED us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.’ (Rev.1:5) Oh Friends, without a doubt, it’s all about that glorious emotion of LOVE, that overwhelming feeling of care and consideration that the Holy Trinity has for us, that we can safely say we’re on the road to peace, joy, salvation and eternal life. There’s nothing else like LOVE in existence. It’s the very nature of our God! And we can’t end today without sharing the most amazing bit of scripture, of prophecy that was ever written, centuries before it came to pass too. Listen to Isaiah: ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ (Is.9:6) And as it was said, so it was done my Friends, some two thousand years ago. Now let’s go home with some praise in song. ‘Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Hark the herald angels sing, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King.’ Yes Friends, let’s give our God some most deserved glory, this Christmas Day 2011. And remember, drunk or sober, mind yuh business. (smile) Much LOVE!…the reason for the season…Jesus’ birthday…so please pay Him some homage today…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 December 2011 Jeremiah 13:16
24 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: christmas eve, dark mountains, glory to the lord, selfless life, spiritual kind
Jeremiah 13:16. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
And then there was one! Yes Friends, it’s Christmas Eve! One day before the big ONE! There are such great expectations in the air, let’s hope people aren’t disappointed after the big build up. Although how could we ever be disappointed in Jesus eh, with all the wonderful, selfless, life saving things He’s done and endured for us? We’d be somewhat ungrateful if disappointment shows up on our radar screen at all. That would only prove we’re not really interested in Jesus, but the things of the world. Just think back some two thousand years ago nuh, to poor Joseph trudging along the country roads in the cold, with pregnant Mary, close to term, possibly riding a donkey, all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay taxes. I have to laugh when I consider the irony, for in the next couple of months we too will be rushing to make sure our taxes are in order. So apparently the person who declared that there are only two things in this life we cannot escape, death and taxes, did know what he was talking about. But thankfully Jesus was born, died and resurrected so that we could escape one kind of death, the spiritual kind. Therefore Friends, let us be very thankful as we celebrate His Birth, and do as our Bit cautions: ‘Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ Sadly though my people, darkness – spiritual, emotional and physical – is currently covering much of the earth and its people, because in our selfish, egotistical, conceited ignorance and independence, we have turned away from the Lord God Jehovah to worship instead the things of Lucifer and this fallen world. We have become as Isaiah says when he talks of national corruption and consequent suffering. ‘Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgement (justice) in their goings (tracks): they have made them crooked paths: whomsoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgement (justice) far from us, neither doth justice (righteousness) overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity (darkness); for brightness, but we walk in darkness (gloom, blackness).’ (Is.59:7-9) Yes my brethren, that’s a very true and accurate picture of our world today. No wonder the Lord is asking, like he did in Jeremiah’s time? ‘Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity (injustice) have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of desserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?’ (Jer.2:5-6) Now those are very good questions Friends, which we should all individually ponder, asking ourselves why we have personally gone astray? That’s because we can’t answer for anyone else’s deviation from God’s path, only our own. Oh my people, this is a most opportune time, with Christmas and the approaching New Year, for all of us, believers and non-believers to consider our ways and see where we have fallen away from God and ascertain the reasons why our world so closely resembles this word portrait of Isaiah: ‘And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (are mediums), and unto wizards that peep (whisper), and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead (should they seek the dead on behalf of the living)? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (they have no dawn). And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead (hard pressed) and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves (be enraged), and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness (gloom) of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.’ (Is.8:19-22) Yes Friends, this is the perfect time for serious contemplation and change, if we expect out world to come up aces again. Much LOVE!…to open their eyes…and to turn them from darkness to light…and from the power of Satan unto God… (Acts 26:18a)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 December 2011 Jeremiah 13:16
23 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: even keel, gross darkness, high water mark, jesus christ our lord, prince of peace
Jeremiah 13:16. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! Yes, the most important Friday of this year, because it begins the most important weekend of the year. It’s the eve of Christmas Eve! Yes Friends, only two more days till we celebrate the most auspicious birth ever; that of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Advocate, Prince of Peace, etc.etc. Wow! And can you imagine the amount of praise and music, of all varieties, in all kinds of languages, that’s rising from all over the earth up to heaven. Brother! The party in heaven must also be gathering steam because they know that many lost souls will be saved this upcoming weekend. But as usual my brethren, though the celebration is important, we still need to be circumspect in our dealings and don’t give the enemy any leeway to infiltrate our godly souls. To that end, let’s chant our Friday Chant, in one, loud, unified, sincere voice: ‘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.’ Hopefully that will keep us on an even keel, a decent rein, though I doubt it, when the food, drinks, music and good times with friends and family hit the high water mark. (smile) But just don’t forget the reason for the season, Jesus’ Birth, not shopping, and spend some time ruminating on Him and His unsurpassable goodness to us sinful children of men. And for sure, this is a time to do what our Bit so faithfully declares: ‘Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ Yes Friends, this is definitely one particular time that we don’t want the Lord to rain on our parade. For as Malachi rebuked Israel in their unfaithfulness, by saying to the priests: ‘If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay (take) it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.’ (Mal.2:2) Now this doesn’t apply only to the priests nuh people, but to all of us who disobey and don’t take the Lord’s Word, His Honour and Glory seriously to heart. Neither do we want this judgement of woe on the faithless to befall us. ‘And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow (distress), and the light is darkened (by the clouds) in the heavens thereof.’ (Is.5:30) Ah mih people, this is the season of light, that’s what Jesus came to bring, therefore let’s do what will enable light to come to our distressed and misguided world nuh. And that’s as the psalmist proclaims in his call for praise to our great and most worthy God. ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give (ascribe) unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear (tremble) before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen (unbelieving nations) that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be (is firmly) established that it shall not be moved (shaken): he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof (all that is in it). Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.’ (Ps.96:7-13) Yes mih people, that’s the attitude, the colour, the prominent behaviour we want to see this season, for the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was, and still is the first step in the Lord coming to judge us with righteousness and truth, so that those of us who believe can bypass death and destruction and instead receive salvation and eternal life. Please, let’s show our appreciation of God’s great and generous gifts this Christmas season and thus avoid the death and darkness of sin. Much LOVE!…there’s much joy in light…but only sorrow and heartache in darkness…so choose light…that ye may live…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 December 2011 Jeremiah 13:16
22 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: difficult decisions, glory to the lord, gross darkness
Jeremiah 13:16. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
And then there were three! Yes Friends, only three more days to the biggest celebration on earth; Christmas Day! What a pleasure and a privilege we Christians enjoy since our God sent His Son Jesus down to earth to live amongst us in human form, so that we could see and experience exactly what He’s like, as well as give us an example that we can understand and follow. Our God sure is a kind and caring Deity! No doubt about it Friends. And while we’re on the subject of caring, here’s a prayer I wasn’t planning to share today, but was guided by the Spirit to do so. It’s a prayer for the church leaders, a group we truly don’t pay as much attention to as we ought. We simply take the running and guidance of our churches for granted, forgetting that it takes a fine group of dedicated and devoted people, working mostly in the background, to keep them functioning properly. So here’s this prayer I found in the front of my mother’s Bible, in their honour. It says: ‘Thank you Lord for the gift of church leaders. Guide them as they face difficult decisions. Give then courage to contend for the faith. Fill them with Grace and Truth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.’ Yes Friends, especially in this busy season of Christmas, our church leaders are doing lots of wonderful things on our behalf. Let’s make a special effort then to thank them whenever we encounter them. And I would like to say a special thanks to the group at my local church who are currently in the midst of securing a new priest for our parish. May the Lord bless and guide them in their search and grant them the wisdom and understanding to choose the best person available, so that our parish can grow and further His kingdom. Now turning to our Bit: ‘Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ Oh Friends, that’s a serious bit of business, a serious warning from our kind and considerate, but also just and righteous God, who cannot allow sin to run rampant amongst His people. And today we’ll look at one example of God’s justice system, from way back in Joshua’s time. After the fall of Jericho, the Israelites were warned not to take any prisoners or spoil, just save Rahab and her family and the precious metals for the Lord’s treasury. But a little later on they suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the men of Ai, which caused Joshua to fall on his face before the Lord and ask why? (Josh. 6,7) Unfortunately, the Lord informed him that Israel had sinned by taking spoil from Jericho, although expressly forbidden to do so. Eventually it was discovered that a young man by the name of Achan had committed the crime. “And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted (desired) them, and took them; and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tenth, and the silver under it.’ (Josh.7:19-21) The spoil was found exactly where Achan said it was hidden, then they took him, all his family and all their possessions out to a valley called Achor. ‘And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, the valley of Achor (trouble), unto this day.’ (Josh.7:25-26) Oh Friends, that sure seems like a harsh punishment for the crime, but God’s proclamation was disobeyed, and the crime had to be paid for. It’s just like Saul disobeyed Samuel and usurped the priest’s office (1 Sam.8-18), and thus lost the crown of Israel. Oh my people, let’s understand once and for all that our God is a most wonderful God, but because of His holy and righteous nature constant sin and disobedience cannot be tolerated under His justice system. There’s no sugar-coating it. And we just have to look at the havoc that our turning away from Him has caused in our world, to know that eventually divine justice and retribution will fall upon those who insist on disobeying God’s edicts. Oh Friends, please let us learn from those gone before us, as well as from what’s happening around us today, and repent and turn back to the God of our fathers, so that our world will be saved from total destruction. It’s the only way to prevent our eventual annihilation. Much LOVE!…a word to the wise…is usually sufficient…but those who don’t hear…will certainly feel…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 December 2011 Jeremiah 13:16
21 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: abraham isaac, dark mountains, gross darkness, jehovah god, prophet jeremiah, saviour jesus christ
Jeremiah 13:16. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. Four more days Friends! Just four more days to the big day, Christmas, when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was born lowly and humble, in that rickety, old, broken down stable, amongst all the crude and foul smelling animals. But what a mighty man He became despite His less than auspicious beginnings! Only our Lord God Jehovah could have devised such a complicated and mind boggling but ever-LOVING plan to save His sinful earthly children. That means my people, that although we were also born in lowly circumstances, we too can rise to great heights by placing our faith, hope and trust in Jesus. And they say that our God isn’t wonderful and wise! Chuh! That’s total chupidness mih breddren! That’s simply Lucifer’s lies, to get us to follow him. So Friends, this Christmas season, let’s show the world what we believers in Christ, Christians, are truly about nuh. Let’s allow Jesus’ LOVE, compassion, care and kindness to be front and centre in our lives, so that He can be glorified and win the hearts of some of the many who don’t know Him, but desperately need Him. Oh Friends, it’s imperative that we do as the prophet Jeremiah declares: ‘Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken.’ (Jer.13:15) And what has the Lord our God said? The words of our Bit: ‘Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.’ My brethren, that’s not an idle threat, but a solemn promise of Jehovah God. And we know that He keeps all of His promises. Back then, God’s people, the Israelites were running amok in sin, glorifying Lucifer rather than the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, sadly, just like we’re doing today Friends. And furthermore, the Lord declared unto them: ‘But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.’ (Jer.13:17) And Friends, that’s exactly what happened to Israel when they refused to heed God’s warning. Note too, that just as it hurts our earthly parents when they have to punish us for disobedience, the same way it hurts God, His soul weeps when He has to inflict punishment on us, because He LOVES us so much. Oh my people, unfortunately the Lord’s saying the same thing to us today that He said to the Israelites in Jeremiah’s time. ‘Glorify me, instead of Lucifer. Turn from your evil ways and accept my easy yoke and light bondage. Otherwise you’ll be plunged into darkness, death and destruction.’ And we all can certainly acknowledge that what’s taking place in our world today is not simply as the world turns, but there is definitely and element of divine retribution involved in the macabre madness that’s terrorizing our entire planet. For there’s no peace, only endless strife; no LOVE, only anger, resentment and hatred; no joy, only sorrowful hearts and souls; no light, only gloom and darkness. Oh my brethren, is that the way we truly want to live, or the kind of world we want to bequeath to our children? I sincerely doubt it. So let’s pick up the pieces of our fallen and broken selves and turn back to Almighty God, who will gladly put us back together again; make us whole and clean in His sight once again. For though all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put the fallen and broken Humpty Dumpty back together again, our wonderful, omnipotent, LOVING and caring God can, and will make us whole if we turn to Him in true conviction and repentance. So if we truly want to improve the woeful condition of our world, our souls and our lives, then I implore us today, to do just that. Much LOVE!…in darkness there’s only fear…but in light…the God of LOVE is there…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 December 2011 Ecclesiastes 7:19
20 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: earthly pleasures, peace and goodwill, smile jesus, true wisdom
Oh Friends, oh Friends, the breath of life is still flowing through us this brand new morning! All thanks and praise be to our most wonderful heavenly Father for thus blessing us! And it’s only five more days to Christmas! Wow! I think we should devise a way to bottle this festive season and sell it, or preferably just give it away all year round, for it’s the only time that our world has some semblance of LOVE, Peace and Goodwill to each other. It’s really the only time we sort of fulfill the second great commandment of LOVING our neighbours as ourselves. But I guess that dream is never going to come true because it would go directly against everything Lucifer and his evil cronies stand for – that is unless they can make money from it. Anyway Friends, let’s never stop trying to make this world a better place than it now is, because it’s what Jesus requires of us, and what our children, and their children badly need. And the best way to do that is through Wisdom. As our Bit so rightly declares: ‘Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men (rulers) which are in the city.’ So if Wisdom strengthens the wise, making them mightier or wiser than ten city rulers, why aren’t we all desperately seeking it then eh? Possibly because true Wisdom is a God thing, and many of us, though we refuse to admit it, are simply afraid of God and things concerning Him, mostly because we feel that it infringes on our earthly pleasures. But Friends, we all know that we can’t have both the things of heaven and those of earth simultaneously preeminent in our lives; it has to be either one or the other, though it doesn’t stop us from trying. (smile) Jesus was very adamant about that: ‘No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to (be loyal to) the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly riches).’ (Matt.6:24) And therein lies the crux of the matter my brethren. However, since we’ve chosen to be believers, to serve God come what may, let’s look at some scripture that proclaims Wisdom; where it comes from, and how it benefits us. Psalm 111 tells us: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.’ (Ps.111:10) Yes Friends, that’s gospel! Here fear is described as the ‘awe filled reverence toward the Lord.’ And sadly, until and unless we develop that kind of admiration, adoration with a touch of awe filled wonder in it, where we go: ‘Wow! What a majestic Deity!’ we will never truly understand or attain wisdom. And we can never leave out Cousin Sol’s words whenever we speak of wisdom, since he’s considered the wisest man that ever drew breath – except Jesus of course, who was really God in human form. (smile) Now listen to Cousin Sol expound on the subject of Wisdom: ‘Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline (turn away) from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: LOVE her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.’ (Prov.4:1-9) Oh my people, those aren’t only the words of Cousin Sol, but also of our heavenly Father. That’s how He wants us to live. And I can’t put it any better so I won’t even try. In fact it’s self-explanatory. So today, when we’re in the midst of celebrating our Master’s birth, let’s ponder those words nuh, let’s think seriously on them, and see how they fit the situation in each of our lives, and then make the necessary corrections so that we can begin to acquire true wisdom, that mighty intangible that allows us to live this earthly life with pride, joy and godly fulfillment. Much LOVE!…if you’re not reverencing the Lord…then you’re not…and will never be wise… P.S. And it is truly short today my young D, so please, no lip about it’s just shorter than normal. (smile) Much LOVE!
