Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 August 2010 Isaiah 26:3‏

08 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 26:3     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

Oh my wonderful Friends in Christ, another beautiful day is in the offing! And since we’re all alive to witness and experience its many joys and sorrows, let’s offer a heartfelt, ‘Thank you Lord!’ Now here’s an interesting quote from Mary Knowles. ‘Eat little at night, open your windows, drive out often, and look for the good in things and people…you will no longer be sad, or bored, or ill.’ Oh that’s excellent advice mih people! I agree with everything except eat little at night, because I’m a night owl and can’t stay up without some decent victuals. And I even opened my windows to day because it was fairly cool outside. The truth is Friends that nothing Mary says there is rocket science, just basic common sense; enjoying nature and taking a positive approach to life. We talk a lot about God but forget to enjoy the good and beautiful things He made especially for our pleasure, and our enthusiasm is further killed by the negative approach we take to life, always looking for the bad in both things and people. That is in effect a symptom of our lack of trust; first in ourselves, because we’re basically afraid that if we get too close, too soon, to certain things and people, we’ll get hurt. And secondly, it’s a lack of trust in Almighty God; not having enough faith in Him to lead and guide us safely, without too much pain and sorrow. Now that’s exactly where our Bit comes in my people. ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That’s pure gospel Friends, pure gospel! If we get nothing else from the Good Book and all the religious hoopla out there, let’s make sure we get that. Write it indelibly in our hearts souls and minds. Oh Friends I’m chuckling because instead of writing minds just now, I wrote behinds. But that’s also a good place to write them, just in raised letters, for since we sit on them so much, we’d always be reminded. (smile) Anyway, we need that Bit carved into us because it’s the basic premise of our Christian faith; supreme trust in and constant communication with the Father through His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If we don’t have that strong foundation my brethren, then we’ll always struggle with the faith, always be searching, unsure and insecure. Like everything else in life, we too need proper foundations to build on, and that’s what our Bit helps us to do. Oh my people, that perfect peace of mind we’re talking about is such a wonderful state of mind and soul, that the scholars dub it thus: ‘This emphatic expression indicates a peace that goes beyond human comprehension,’ which brings us to Bruh Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Jesus.’ (Phil.4:6-7) However Friends, to do that, our minds must be ‘stayed on’ the Lord, which means leaning on God in complete surrender, total, unwavering confidence and security. That in turn breeds the trust we’re talking about. The scholars label that trust as ‘the ultimate expression of that confidence.’ And they also note, truthfully, that the object of our faith is also as important as our act of trust, which in this instance is the Lord God Jehovah. Oh my brethren, I doubt if any of us will ever experience that perfect level of peace here on earth in these evil, ungodly times, but it sure is a worthwhile goal to shoot for. And I can tell you, from personal experience, the more you mature in the faith, the greater or higher your level of peace becomes. And Friends, peace in your soul is such a wonderful exhilarating, relaxing, refreshing experience, all at the same time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or concerns, but that the negatives in your life are not wearing you down, depressing and worrying you. As Isaiah says: ‘And the work of the righteous shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.’ (Is.32:17) Yes mih people, that’s what peace in our souls brings; ‘quietness and assurance for ever.’ You can’t beat that, especially in this mish-mash, confused, strife-torn, angry, resentful, greedy, selfish, ungodly world we now live in. Ah Friends, I know that it’s not easy to live righteously in this current world, and it might just get more difficult if we don’t reduce the enemy’s hold and power over it, but that’s exactly why we have faith and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for He has promised to see us through this life safely, if we believe in Him. And it certainly does take a great mental leap of faith to let go, to surrender your all to an unseen Being, no matter how powerful they are. But the fruit of the Lord’s Word, His faithfully fulfilled Promises, His unconditional LOVE for us that culminated in His Son Jesus’ Sacrificial Death, His Mercy, Forgiveness, Salvation and Eternal Life are all there on plain view for us to see. So don’t be afraid to let go and put your total trust in the Lord God Jehovah.  And although miracles can happen overnight, they usually don’t, because the whole faith and trust thing is a process of growth; gradual and maturing like a child growing up. So if you don’t see any real improvement at first, please don’t get worried and give up, since it’s often then that the Lord’s testing us to see if we really and truly believe and want to make Him our be all and end all. Till tomorrow then, God willing, when we’ll talk some more about that awesome, mountain moving topic of peace. Stand strong and relentless in the faith, and remember the Lord LOVES you unconditionally, and will never leave nor forsake those who sincerely seek Him. Much LOVE! … the Christian motto…NEVER GIVE UP…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 August 2010 Isaiah 26:3‏

07 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 26:3     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

Oh Friends, it’s the weekend! Whoopee! But remember that the fellowship aspect is just as important as the fun and rest, so please don’t ignore it. Now hear this quote from Helen Keller. ‘Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.’ And that’s a tried and proven fact my people! The best remedy for unhappiness is helping someone else, and once we can lighten someone else’s pain, then our lives are not wasted. That ties in very nicely with the good deed we’ve promised ourselves to do every day. Remember to do it today, no matter how small, and make a difference, for that’s what Jesus expects of us. Turning to our Bit, which deals with Peace – one of the two most important things in the world, the other obviously being LOVE – we can talk about it for the whole day and not run out of scriptures. So let’s see where the Spirit leads us. In his hymn of praise, when the redeemed Israel enters New Jerusalem, Isaiah proudly declares: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That statement Friends has been true from day one, and will continue to be true forever. Peace is basically important for mankind in two ways; so that civilization can be advanced and enlightened, and also to live the good life ordained by our Creator. One of the first directions the Lord gave Moses, re Aaron and the priests, was the manner in which they should bless the Israelites, which included: ‘The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee (look on you with favour), and give thee peace.’ (Num.7:26) The psalmists too, especially Bruh David, talked a lot about peace. In Psalm 34:14 he solemnly advises us to: ‘Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ That doesn’t mean simply looking for peace, but more importantly, setting it as a goal of your life and actively pursuing it. Then in Psalm 29:11 he staunchly declares: ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.’ This rightly indicates that peace comes from God. And Jeremiah, when lamenting the desperate state of Israel mournfully stated: ‘…for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall (bitter or poisonous water) to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!’ (Jer.8:14-15) That solidifies the argument my people! There is no peace where sin reigns and ungodliness abounds. No wonder our current world is fraught with so much strife and turmoil, for we have become one of the most sinful, ungodly and idolatrous generations ever. Our state of sinfulness would totally amaze and sadly dismay our forefathers of just two generations ago. We’ve attained such heights of ungodliness in such a short time that it’s a wonder the Lord hasn’t wiped us off the earth as yet. There’s been ample warning though, which in our arrogant pride and fool’s wisdom we’re not heeding, so who knows what the final outcome will be. Oh Friends, the Lord promised perfect spiritual peace to the redeemed Israel in the New Jerusalem because as Isaiah joyfully declares: ‘Open ye the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.’ (Is.26:2) That’s right Friends! Israel had become an obedient, God-fearing, nation, deserving of His blessings of peace. And until our society does the same, we will never find peace; there will always be an inordinate amount of strife and war. Obviously we can’t completely remove the negatives that cause strife, for some of us are so inherently evil that only a miraculous zap from the Lord will ever change us. But we surely can reduce them to insignificant amounts if we seriously try. But are we trying, even half-heartedly? I don’t know mih people, but it sure doesn’t seem so, since the ungodly and the wicked appear to be getting more popular and powerful every day. Listen to this passage from Isaiah that describes a society like ours. ‘I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ (Is.57:19-21) Friends, we all know that the Word of the Lord does not change, so that declaration also applies to us today and to those who come long after us. What can we do about the sorrowful situation in which we’re enveloped? Lots! But the more insightful question is what are we prepared to do about it? Talk is dirt cheap, no, even cheaper than dirt, and you know that we Christians are great talkers but not such great doers. Anyway Friends, we’ll end here for today. I’ll leave us with the brightly lit scenario of our evil, ungodly society on our minds, knowing that we’re on a sure path to destruction if we continue in this direction. Destruction that will come either from an angry, fed up God, or by our own, stupid, selfish efforts. Let’s all sit and think seriously about the choices we have, and what we’re willing to do to alleviate the situation. Remember, if the situation is to improve at all, it will be strictly up to us believers to do so, since the iniquity workers are quite enamoured of the status quo. Oh my people, let’s think about the generations to come, is this the legacy we want to leave them? And all God’s people shouted in unison, ‘NO!’ Then let’s get up and do something concrete about it nuh!  Now go in peace, and may the Lord bless and keep us till tomorrow, when we’ll continue talking about that controversial, hard to find, but oh so important and invaluable state of peace. Much LOVE!…only those who sow peace…will ever reap peace…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 August 2010 Luke 24:11‏

06 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Luke 24:11     And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
 
Oh Friends, Sister Joyce, Joyce Meyer is in Toronto this weekend! Wow! And the ole fella went to see her last evening (Thursday). The Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leaf hockey team was rocking with about ten thousand souls, praising, singing and jumping for Christ. And hopefully, all of us who left there last night, plus those who go to the other three meetings, will leave so enthused, buoyed and fired up by the outpouring of faith and LOVE, that we’ll stir up the LOVE Revolution; light a blazing fire under the heathen, the godless and the unbelievers in our sinful, wicked world. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful! By the way, did you do your good deed yesterday as we asked? And all God’s people shouted, a resounding ‘YES!’ (smile) Now don’t forget today’s good deed. Remember we need to do it like we take our vitamins; at least one a day. And mih people, as we said, it doesn’t have to be anything big or earth shaking; even a smile, a kind word or a helping hand will do. You know in God’s thinking, it’s the small, simple, heartfelt things that impress and move Him the most. And Friends, if that ten thousand strong crowd went out and did one good deed everyday, you wouldn’t believe the multiplier effect it would have. And that’s all we need, each person helping another everyday. But being realistic, we know that not everyone will do it. I’m sure that just getting out of the arena, or going to get our transportation home, several of us lost the Christian feeling and jostled each other unnecessarily, or berated somebody for jumping a line or did some such unchristian thing. And though in and of themselves those actions are not noteworthy, we have to realize that it’s those small things, clustered together and shown to unbelievers that eventually build up a bad reputation for believers. And Friends, once a bad reputation is built in any area of life, hn! It’s almost impossible to break it down and build a good one, for human nature is such that it holds on to the bad, the suspicious and cynical much longer than the good. So let’s try to weed out those little negative things that don’t seem to matter much, but by which our faith and us, are in fact judged. And talking about cynicism aptly brings us to the continuation of our Bit. ‘And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.’ Now that was the unfortunate response of Christ’s followers to the women folk news on that first Easter morning, that Christ had risen, was alive, had conquered death. As we saw yesterday, it was difficult for them to believe, although it should not have been, for Jesus had warned them of it, more than once, and they saw, experienced and praised His awesome powers. But even now, with the benefit of hindsight and our enlightened thinking, that rising from the dead claim is difficult for many to accept. They will accept the crucifixion, because it’s a human reality. The spiritual resurrection though is a different story. But Friends, as we ended yesterday pointing out, without Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the whole idea of Christianity is worthless, since it’s those two aspects that give us the hope of brighter tomorrows, of salvation and everlasting life. Without them, there’s nothing but physical death period, end of story. But Jesus’ main purpose of coming to earth was to provide those two things. ‘And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.’ (John 6:40) That’s where strong belief and true faith comes in my people! And that’s also why Jesus admonished his disciples, in particular the two He joined walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the miraculous event in saddened, unsure terms. ‘Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.’ (Luke 24:25-27) Yes Friends, they ought to have understood it all because the prophets, especially Isaiah, recorded it in the Scriptures. But per the scholars, the disciples and other Jewish brethren were too caught up and focussed on the Messiah’s glory and not enough in His suffering, foretold very explicitly in Isaiah 53. So are many of us today caught up in the glory aspect. The excessive preoccupation of our society with the flash and dash of its members is a symptom of our idol worship, our lust for outward, worldly accomplishments. But when it comes to suffering, we can’t handle it, physically, mentally or emotionally. We try to run and hide from or deny it, always looking for some feel-good, unrealistic, short-term solution. But Friends, please note this; anyone who comes to glory have either already been beset by much suffering, or will be at some future date, because they’re both part and parcel of this earthly life. You can’t have one without the other, and our concentration on the glory side has made us weak and cynical, for it’s the suffering part that really builds strength, belief, faith trust and courage. Oh Friends, please let us not be too taken up in the glorious side of life, when there is so much ‘sufferation’ in our world that needs to be alleviated. That’s where we should focus our attention because it’s where our Lord and Saviour Jesus focussed His. And if we want to be a true reflection of Him, then we’ve got to do the things He did. Much LOVE!…to walk like Jesus…we have to TRULY BELIEVE IN Jesus…all that He stood for and accomplished…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 August 2010 Luke 24:11‏

05 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Luke 24:11     And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Oh Friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! And here’s a quote from Grenville Kleiser, (1868-1935) a Toronto born but North American famed author of success and positive thinking material, that will help us to fulfill that desire. ‘Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed.’ Those certainly are words of wisdom my people, for there’s no better way to further God’s kingdom than by doing some good deed. It uplifts us, uplifts the recipient, and also boosts the credibility of the Word through our worthy actions. And I know that we all have some good things in mind, but just never get around to doing them. Well today’s the day that we break out of that procrastinating mould. Let’s try and do at least one of those good things today nuh mih people! And hereafter, one every day. (smile) Can you imagine if all Christians would do just one good deed everyday, what a resounding improvement it would have in our world! Oh Friends, that good deed could be anything, to anybody, including ourselves, for many of us ignore our own needs for whatever reason, but please remember, if we’re not good for ourselves, we can’t be truly good for others. The good deed could be giving of your time and talents in volunteering or donating money to some needy cause, as well as cleaning up our own lives, taking inventory and throwing out the useless stuff. But seriously mih breddren, let’s try and do something worthwhile today, and everyday, that will please our Leader Jesus, because it’s Him to whom we look for acceptance and verification, not man. Now let’s turn to our Bit. ‘And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.’ Oh Friends, that was the negative response garnered from the disciples and the other believers by the women folk who had been to Jesus’ tomb and told them that He was alive and kicking. Now doesn’t that sound sort of strange and unbelievable; all those people, especially the disciples, walking so closely with Jesus during His ministry, hearing His words, seeing His miraculous deeds, and still not believing? The women who found the empty grave were greeted by two angels, who asked why they looked so sad, and ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words. And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.’ (Luke 24:6-9) But sadly, they were met with doubt and scepticism, despite Jesus fulfilling the other two works, of being arrested and crucified. In one respect this response is good, because it shows that the early Christians were not just naive, simple-minded, gullible religious people, ready and willing to believe every and anything, but tough, cynical folks who saw and heard of Jesus’ death, and weren’t about to believe such fanciful tales like rising from the dead unless they had empirical evidence, proof positive. ‘Then arose Peter and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.’ (Luke 24:12) I like the scholars’ take on Peter’s action; that he doesn’t necessarily believe in the Resurrection as yet. His mind has simply moved along the continuum, from positive sceptic to bewildered, and ‘sometimes profound uncertainty precedes live-changing faith.’ This is all very true, but it still detracts somewhat from the faith and belief they all claimed when Jesus was alive and well in their midst. Unfortunately Friends, the same thing is happening today, two thousand years later. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are still too many sceptics and unbelievers. And sometimes our embellishment of the story, plus our natural enthusiasm makes it come over like a fairy-tale, hard to believe. Now if the close followers of Jesus found it hard to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead on that first Easter morn, how could they, or how can we expect others to believe it eh? Yes, too many people today still find it hard to believe. But as we said yesterday, truth is stranger than fiction and more contrary than any fairy tale. And this truth of Jesus’ Resurrection is possibly the biggest stumbling block in getting others to come to the faith. They can accept His crucifixion, but not resurrection, for it sounds too much like a fairy tale. However, if we don’t believe that, then the whole Christianity thing is a farce, for without Christ’s Resurrection, there can be no salvation or eternal life, since His conquering death is what gives us the hope and faith that we too can and will conquer it one day when our physical body dies. Without the Resurrection Friends, there’s no spiritual being, no heavenly kingdom, just mere physical death and nothing thereafter. But let’s stop here for today, and think seriously, contemplate and cogitate on those things that we’ve said, for if we continue with all I’ve got to say, it will end up being too long for one Bit. And contrary to what some of you might think, I don’t set out or want to make it long. I personally would like to keep it short, but somehow or the other, whatever is planted in me by the Spirit seems to take up a lot of space and time. (smile) Anyway, tomorrow, God willing, we’ll continue that Resurrection trend of thought. And remember to do that one good deed today. Much LOVE!…He was alive…He died…He rose again…He ascended…and so shall we…if we believe…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 August 2010 Psalm 84:12‏

04 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 84:12    O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
 
Oh Friends the summer is fast finishing and I feel like I’ve not really done any summer things! We’re already into the first week of August, and right after Labour Day the chilly September winds will start to blow. But that should not be cause for believers to worry because life goes on whether it’s spring, summer, winter or fall, and those who sincerely trust in the Lord God Jehovah will be protected no matter the weather or situations they face. Praise the Lord! But before we get into the Bit, let me share an interesting quote from Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) the Danish Fairy Tale writer, who says that ‘Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.’ And if anyone should know, he should. But it’s true mih people, since real life throws up such combinations of good and evil, joy and pain and all the other human emotions and experiences that no fairy tale can match. That’s why they say truth is stranger than fiction. And it surely is, because when you hear some true stories they just boggle your mind, the way no fictitious tale can. That’s because the imagination of man can never combat the reality of real life that our God overseers, since His mind and ways are that much higher than ours. Consequently, we’ve got to enjoy and fully participate in life, wherever we’re physically stationed, and whatever our emotional and spiritual states. And yuh know the wonderful thing Friends; when we put our total trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we open ourselves and our lives up to a whole new theatre of experiences, some of course troublesome and painful, but others so exceedingly powerful and fulfilling that we just have to sit and wonder in disbelief and astonishment. That’s where life proves itself better than any fairy tale we can concoct. Oh my people, if we truly want to live life to its fullest and richest, there’s only one way to do so, and that’s to put our total trust in Almighty God. As the psalmist confidently says: ‘O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ And my brethren, I’m here today to testify to the absolute truth of that statement. I wouldn’t be where I am now, doing what I’m doing, enjoying a fairly comfortable lifestyle, if I had not put my sole trust, surrendered my all to Yahweh. Now it hasn’t all been easy or fun, but it’s certainly been interesting! And I know that many of you can testify to the same thing. If we had not given our souls to God, we would probably be having a rougher time of it than we currently are. Why? Because ‘The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate (condemned).’ (Ps.34:22) Now what I want to remind us of, and enlighten others about is that putting your trust in God doesn’t mean that everything in your life will always be hunky dory. Certainly not, since Jesus promised that His followers will face trials and tribulations in this world, but we shouldn’t be worried cause He’s already overcome the world. (John 18:33) However, what trust and faith in the Lord does is give us the courage, energy, discipline and fortitude to see and fight through our problems, with the certain knowledge that the Lord will bring us out safely on the other side of those problems, often more mature and Christ-like than before, which is His eventual goal. Hear this passage from Psalm 2 about why the heathen are raging. ‘Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son (an act of homage and submission), lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.’ (Ps.2:11-12) Oh Friends, we need to submit ourselves in reverence, honour and worship to the Lord, so that His anger does not bubble up against us, if and when we stray from the right path. It’s only in trusting Him unconditionally that we’re blessed and guided along the straight and narrow. Now listen to how Bruh David declares it in Psalm 5, a prayer for protection. ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest (protecteth) them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘All praise and thanks be to the Lord of Hosts, our God, King, Guide and Protector, who blesses us with new and abundant mercies each and every day!’ Yes my people, that’s the beauty of putting your trust in the Lord; you always know where you stand, without a doubt. He’s laid out all His conditions and promises in His Word, the Good Book, so there’s nothing hidden or underhanded about it. We have oodles of evidence, both personal and from other believers that He’s true to those promises. We’ve also experienced His great unconditional LOVE for us, His unworthy and undeserving children, in the awesome fact that He sacrificed His only Son Jesus so that we could be reconciled to Him out of our sinful nature, and promises salvation and eternal life if we believe in and follow in the footsteps of His Son. Wow! What more can we ask or imagine eh mih breddren? Not much! And to cement it all, we’ll let Bruh David take us home with some true and encouraging words from Psalm 40; Praise for answered prayer. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps). And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up (recounted) in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’ (Ps. 40:1-5) Wow mih people! That’s the way our God works! And there’s no better way either! So let’s put our energies into trusting Him while we tell others about His goodness and mercy, and live a life that will unequivocally glorify Him and further His kingdom. That’s our bounden duty as Christians. Much LOVE!…it’s high time…to LOVE our God… Spread His Word…And Live our Faith…in a bigger and brighter way…to incite a LOVE Revolution…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 August 2010 Proverbs 6:16‏

03 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 6:16     These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.
 
Oh Friends, please join me in praising our wonderful God for His goodness and mercy, because my knees are holding up most admirably after that bout of partying with Fab Five the other night. I expected to be almost lame, but the Lord obviously showered me with blessings for they’re actually feeling better than they did before. Much thanks and praise to the Lord God Jehovah! Today we’ll conclude the series on those seven deadly sins of Cousin Sol’s, which are: ‘A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’ It’s that last one; ‘he that soweth discord among brethren,’ that we’ll look at today. Now what does it mean? Discord is basically negative disagreement; the fomenting of strife, quarrels, disharmony, contention, where various opinions clash detrimentally, that sort of negative atmosphere. Therefore, the one who sows discord among his fellow man is like a rabble-rouser. He goes around seeding strife and discontent amongst a group or several groups, causing quarrels and contention or disharmonious situations to arise, either where there were none previously, or unnecessarily stirs up whatever was there simmering before. And sadly Friends, we all know someone like that, who just goes around stirring up trouble, whether it’s with their words or their actions, but wherever they go, a storm of discontent usually rises or follows. He or she is usually a negative person with some sort of axe to grind, for whatever reason. Cousin Sol describes them thus: ‘Frowardness (perversity) is in his heart, he deviseth mischief (evil) continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.’ (Prov.6:14-15) Yes Friends, that’s the reward of the sower of strife and discord, in fact of every evildoer; their own trouble shall come upon them suddenly and with no remedy for it either. Like humpty dumpty, when he fell, they couldn’t put him back together again. That’s the plight the wicked will suffer for sowing evil. And like I said, the sad part is that we all know persons who fit that description, and it’s often some disgruntled family member going around stirring the pot of strife, anger and resentment through either greed, jealousy or some perceived slight. I’ve seen brothers and sisters report each other to the Immigration Department because of some petty squabble, which simply divides the family even further, creating real strife and discord when it could have been easily avoided through less perverse means. But unfortunately that’s the way of the human animal. Now Abram and Lot are a good example of how to avoid these confrontations that usually end up being blown out of all proportion to their true gravity. When they moved away from home, they ended up very wealthy with plenty animals and workers between them, but the land could not support both sides equitably, so controversy ensued among the workers. But wisely, ‘Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.’ (Gen.13:8-9) And that’s exactly what they did, preventing serious discord between family. Oh Friends why can’t we assume more satisfactory solutions like that to our problems and disagreements eh, instead of all the infighting and backbiting we tend to nourish?  Meanwhile Bruh David proclaims in Psalm 133, the joy of brotherhood: ”Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.’ (Ps.133:1) However there are too many of us who seem to think otherwise, and just derive a perverse pleasure from seeing and engendering strife and contention amongst others. But here’s a defining word from Bruh Paul about the seeds we sow. ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ (Gal.6:7) And that’s gospel Friends! Whatever seeds we sow, in due time we shall reap a harvest of the same. So if we sow evil and discontent, bet yuh bottom dollar that’s what we’ll reap. If we sow seeds of mercy and goodness, then mercy and goodness is what we’ll harvest. It’s just a natural law of nature; the way God set it up when He created the universe. Some of us though, steadfastly refuse to believe it until it’s too late; after we’ve already sown the negative seed, and can only wait for the negative harvest that’s sure to follow. Oh my people why is it so hard for us to accept eh? And also why is it so difficult for us to live in harmony and dwell in unison eh? I hear of so much disharmony and dysfunctional behaviour between siblings and siblings, parent and parents, parents and siblings when it could all be so easily avoided if we’d just try to understand each other and everybody decide that the ultimate goal is to live as one, regardless of the underlying circumstances. We’d do so much better then, instead of stirring up unnecessary strife and confusion and living separate, distant and contentious lives. That’s why our world is in such a dreadful state of disrepair in spite of the great wealth, technological and medical advances we’ve made in the last hundred years. The biggest and most serious wars have been fought during that time, and now religion is once more becoming the focus of our disagreements and strife. Oh Friends, I won’t get into all the wasteful stuff that will eventually wipe us off the planet if we don’t soon stop the nonsense. Instead, I’ll leave us with two verses of scripture that point the way for all humanity. They’re simple, but powerful. The first is: ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue.’   (Heb.13:1) The second is: ‘And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.’ (James 3:18) Oh my people, as usual the human mind can’t seem to appreciate the simple things. Unless it’s complex we think it has no value, but that’s not true. It’s the simple things in life that get us the furthest, and only if we follow those two scriptures will we ever dwell together in unity. So please let’s try and follow them for they are important instructions from our Leader, Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That’s how He wants His followers to live, for then we won’t have too many problems with those seven deadly sins. Much LOVE!…you can’t plant corn…and expect to reap peas…constant sin will only lead to death…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 August 2010 2 Corinthians 12:9‏

02 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Corinthians 12:9      And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
 
Oh Friends, without a doubt, our God is the greatest! And that’s no lie! I’m here to testify to it, for on this third day of the Caribana weekend He blessed me splendidly, not only by allowing me to greet another beautiful day in Paradise, but also to fill it full of fun, frolic and fellowship. Wow! Praise His Holy Name my people! Yes mih breddren, after being the only male amongst seven females at the early service this morning, that’s why I like it; it ‘s much more personal and friendly, without all the well dressed, heavy praying, serious believers around. (smile) Anyway, after that fine fellowship in the morning the Lord caused the ole fella to end up partying with the best dance band on planet earth; Fab Five out of J.A. Just imagine it nuh Friends: out on Lake Ontario in the middle of the night, watching the brightly lit and beautiful Toronto concrete skyline with Fab Five belting out a storm of music from the bowels of the good ship Enterprise. That deserves another Wow! For there could not be any better way to spend a Caribana Sunday evening since the food, fun, and camaraderie were also excellent. Right now though mih people, I just want to offer much thanks and praise to our Lord God Jehovah for His LOVING-kindness, mercy and grace, allowing me to go out and party after all. Ah Friends, it’s just another way that our Lord works in mysterious ways, for though He cramped my style with the Pan Alive show and the Caribana Parade, He in fact kept the best for last. He knew what He had coming up for me, though I was getting a bit antsy, thinking that I’d be homebound all weekend. That’s why we always say to never give up on Him, because He’s a last minute kind of guy, but He’s never late. And if you’d asked me which of the three events I’d like to attend, if I could only attend one, the Fab Five Boat cruise would have been the obvious answer. Oh Friends, from the time Fab Five break out with that old favourite, ‘Long, long time, we no have no nice time,’ I knew the party would be hopping. And their versatility is simply awesome: it was some great old time rockers, followed by some hot, pumping soca, then they tuned it down to some sweet, old, rent-a-tile, locks down soul…and the duchess squeezed me tighter. Yes mih children, me and the Duchess were at our partying best, cause it brought back some other dancing memories of long ago. My physical ebullience wasn’t at its normal level, but the emotional and spiritual sides were surely jumping. And after the soul, came the funk; all segued into one another, no breaks, just constant jamming musica. And yuh know Friends, throughout all that time I was carrying on, though in a somewhat subdued state, because drunk or sober you’ve got to mind your business, I paid no attention to my knees and any pain they might have been producing. Why? Because I knew that my God is such a wonderful Deity, He wouldn’t allow me to go out and party, with Fab Five no lees, my favourite dance band, and then cause my knees to give out. During that time I remembered and felt His awesome promise that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness.’ So I gloried in my infirmities for I knew that the power of Christ was resting on and in me. Oh mih people, I don’t think there’s enough time or space to talk about that seventh deadly sin as we’d promised nuh. That’s because the Lord threw a wrench into the works, but what a beautiful wrench. Hn! And to think that I was almost convinced of spending the entire Caribana weekend at home like an old hermit! But not when the Lord God is still in control and looking after His followers. Friends, please join me now in a short prayer (smile) to the Most High God Jehovah. ‘Oh Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we your humble servants humbly come before you to offer much praise and thanksgiving for your LOVING-kindness, mercy, forgiveness, grace, salvation and eternal life to us undeserving children of men. We adore, revere and worship you because you’re such a magnanimous and magnificent Being; all powerful, all seeing and ever present. There’s no one else in the whole wide world like you. And how could there ever be eh, when you’re the one who spoke the universe and all therein into existence, then with that same LOVING-kindness, with your own hands, moulded man from the clay of the earth in your own image? O Lord, we promise to faithfully follow you, surrender our souls and lives to you, though it’s not an easy task to accomplish in this evil, sinful, ungodly world. But we are assured in your promises that you will never leave or forsake us, and will always be there when we cry out to you in faith. That’s why I’m asking you to remind all of your people who have to go out and face the evil minions of Lucifer this Monday morning, to attire themselves fully in your spiritual armour, so that they can be protected from any evil approaches by the enemy. Oh Lord, help us to daily glorify your Holy Name and further your kingdom here on earth, that all your children will eventually come to repentance, salvation and eternal life. We pray all this in your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus’ name. Amen!’ Wow mih people! All yuh thought I’d forgotten it was Monday morning nuh. But not to worry, Alzheimer’s ent capture the ole fella yet. Here in Ontario we’re lucky that today is a Civic Holiday, so we don’t need to go out and face the iniquity workers on the job, but Friends, if we going out to party and have fun, we still need to be suitably armoured, because yuh know the enemy never sleeps, is always on the prowl for some weakness or lapse of integrity that he can use to pursue his own evil purpose. But Friends, please don’t allow him even one iota of space to get into your soul, for he’s only pure destruction. Till tomorrow then, God willing, we’ll do that seventh deadly sin. I don’t think the Lord is going to allow me to go out and party again. It’s time to rest the knees now. But I’m not worried or put out, for I’ve learned, as Bruh Paul said, to be contented in whatever state I’m in. And I certainly am, for Fab Five was most excellent. Oh Friends, that’s my testimony, and I’m sticking to it! (smile) Much LOVE!…trust in the Lord…do good…and He will give you the dreams of your heart…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 August 2010 Proverbs 6:16‏

01 Aug 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 6:16     These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.
 
Ah Friends, two down, two to go! And would you believe, the ole fella still has not ventured forth to participate in the Caribana festivities. All I can say is a sad, Wow! The old people were right; after one time is certainly two yes! But there are still two more days to go, and remember, once you’re working with the Lord God Jehovah, anything’s possible. So hope is still alive and well. (smile) In this series of messages we’re looking at the seven deadly sins that Cousin Sol identified. So far we’ve done five; ‘A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations and feet that be swift in running to mischief.’ Today we’ll consider the sixth deadly sin: ‘a false witness that speaketh lies.’ What can I say about that eh Friends? Not a lot, because we all know that our society abounds with false witnesses in all areas. The lying tongue is prevalent in a whole lot of false witnesses. Lies, falsehood and prevarication (partial truth) possibly rank as the number one sin in our society, for its perverse tentacles spread from the very top – the leaders, power brokers, business men and the wealthy – right down to the very poor, including the church and many organizations that function somewhere in between. It’s surely a sad time when you can’t trust your leaders, your church and your supposedly helpful organizations to tell you the truth and lead you along truthful paths. In too many instances we receive outright lies, or some spin on the truth that advances their purposes and agendas. Like we’ve forgotten those Ten Commandments given to us by God, in this particular case, the one that clearly states: ‘ Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbour.’ (Ex.20:16) And especially in these rough political and economic times, everybody seems willing to bear false witness against somebody. All that’s needed is some money, some extra perks, or a promise of political power and we’re ready to sell our souls. How sad mih people. And we see it in our courts, police departments and general justice system everyday. There are possibly many more lies and prevarications than truth that flow through our justice system nowadays because the system is being abused for personal gain and political power. Again we intentionally ignore the words of the Good Book. ‘Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.’ (Ex.23:1) And yuh know what mih breddren, this thing will only mushroom further with the wealth of technology, communication devices and information outlets we have. Why? Because it just creates more talk, twitter and a wider spread of almost instant information, and anywhere you have lots of unnecessary talk and unverified information, you’re going to have a whole lot of lies, false information and false witnesses. The greater the avenue for information dissemination, the greater the prospects for falsehood. We can already see it happening with all the confusion generated by facebook, twitter and all the other info media. One of Bruh David’s pleas to the Lord was: ‘Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty (violence).’ (Ps.27:12) And in Psalm 35, a prayer for rescue from his enemies, he states: ‘False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge (asked me) things I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling (sorrow) of my soul.’ (Ps.35:11-12) But the person who deals with false witnesses the most in the Good Book is Cousin Sol himself. Listen to some of his admonitions on the subject. ‘He that speaketh truth, showeth forth (declares) righteousness: but a false witness deceit.’ (Prov.12:17) Meanwhile in Prov.19:5 he declares: ‘A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.’ Praise the Lord for that my people! And if we check out Prov.21:28, we’ll hear him proclaim: ‘A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly (endlessly).’ Now here’s some more fodder to corroborate that a false witness is an abomination to the Lord. ‘A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul (club), and a sword, and a sharp arrow.’ (Prov.25:18) It’s obvious that Cousin Sol recognized the grave danger that false witness can cause throughout a society, a family, or any group of two or more people. That very fact is taking a great toll on our lives today my people. If we were to eliminate even a third of the lies, false witness and prevarication that currently consumes us, we wouldn’t even recognize our society, because so much of what’s happening now is based on falsehood. And don’t fool yuh fat Friends, it’s also in the church, very much so. Jesus solemnly warned of it. ‘Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening (ravenous) wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?’ (Mat.7:15-16) Certainly not mih people! But unfortunately we have too many people in the church, clergy and laypersons, who deny or distort the gospel’s truth, all to serve their own dubious purposes. Jesus also stated on the subject: ‘For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’ (Mat.24:24)Yes Friends, they’re so good that they can fool the most faithful, knowledgeable and mature believer. That’s why we have to pay very close attention to whom we listen to and follow, ensuring that their policies coincide with those of the Good Book. And we’ll end with the classic case of false witness; that brought against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hear Mark tell it. ‘And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness (testimony) against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness (testimonies) agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so (not even then) did their witness (testimonies) agree together.’ (Mark 14:55-59) Yuh see Friends, even though everybody was ganging up on Jesus, they couldn’t get their stories straight. And that’s the problem with false witnesses and falsehood; they cannot stand up to deep scrutiny, because they are untrue. Only the truth can withstand the rigours of critical examination. Therefore my people, please let us not be numbered amongst those who bear false witness. It’s a deadly sin, whose rewards are also deadly. Much LOVE!…the truth…and only the truth…shall set you free…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 July 2010 Proverbs 6:16‏

31 Jul 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 6:16     These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.
 
Aye Friends, it’s Saturday morning; day two of the Caribana weekend, and the ole fella has already missed his Cousin Harold’s funeral and the Pan Alive competition. Ah Lord eh! But Uncle John, just imagine yuh nephew sitting down home while so much sweet pan music licking in Lamport Stadium nuh. Is enough to drive a body mad yes! But what to do eh? Just grin and bear it. For if the Good Lord decrees that’s the way it’s going to be, then I have to band mih belly and take it like a man, and even go so far as to say, thank you Lord, though the pan competition is the one event of Caribana that still thrills me. And the way things are going the Caribana Parade later today also seems to be a no go affair, though missing that doesn’t bother me as much as missing the sweet pan. However people, there’s still time for the Lord to work a miracle, so I’m not giving up all hope, for He’s been known to do greater things in lesser time. And all God’s people said, ‘Spoken like a man of true faith!’ (smile) Anyhow, let’s get to the task at hand; Cousin Sol and his seven deadly sins. We’ve already covered four of them, namely; ‘A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, and a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. Wow! Just looking at them Friends can stir up plenty emotions, for they are all still very prevalent today, including this fifth one; ‘feet that be swift in running to mischief.’ Yes mih people, we talking about feet that are quick to run around and spread mischief, spread evil. And we all know people like that; those who just can’t wait to jump from one situation to another, either carrying bad news, gossip, etc, or to do some negative act that will stir up further negative emotions and situations. But Friends, one fine day those busybodies will pay for their evil acts and intentions, just like all other evil doers. Cousin Sol said it plain and clear: ‘He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief (trouble, evil), it shall come unto him.’ (Prov.11:27) And the sad part is that some of them are so naive and stupid that they actually consider themselves doing others a favour, or a valuable service by running around and stirring up trouble. Hn! But my people that can never be so, for our God does not delight in or reward evil. Hear what Isaiah says of those mischief-makers: ‘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: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.’ (Is.59:7-8) And that’s the Lord’s truth my Friends! Cousin Sol also sounded an ominous warning earlier on, re walking with that type. ‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not…walk not in the way with them; refrain (keep) thy foot from their path. For their feet, run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.’ (Prov.1:10,15-16) Nothing could be plainer and more truthful than that my brethren, so why do we still run with sinners who embrace evil eh? Hear another warning from Cousin Sol: ‘It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.’ (Prov.10:23) And that’s no lie mih people! A lot of us nowadays propagate evil and consider it fun, but sadly it really is a fool’s wisdom, and all who participate shall surely pay. Meanwhile, Bruh David, in Psalm 28, a prayer for God’s help, pleads with the Lord: ‘Draw (drag) me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief (evil) is in their hearts.’ (Ps.28:3) Now that’s the proper way to tackle the situation Friends; plead for help and mercy to be kept away from the dangerous iniquity workers and not be swept up in their comeuppance. Oh mih breddren, if the ancients could only see the heightened state of evil and wickedness that mankind has developed and attained…hn! They’d surely hold their heads and bawl. Unfortunately in this enlightened age and time, Lucifer and his minions have raised the power of evil to such astronomical heights, and with such bench strength too, that good has been sadly dwarfed. And when Bruh Paul talked about none being righteous, and quoted scripture (Rom.3:9-20) to prove his contention, he was definitely talking about our current world. One of those quotes was from Cousin Sol’s writings (Prov.1:16) ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood.’  (Rom. 3:15) Oh Friends, I don’t know where it’s all going to end, but let’s hope that good eventually wins out and overcomes evil, for if evil keeps on winning, our world will ultimately be destroyed. And it won’t need any help from God either, for its overwhelming evil and wickedness will simply cause it to implode on itself. Consequently Friends, I can only plead that those of us who are for good, heed Peter’s advice. ‘For he that will LOVE life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile (deceit). Let him eschew (turn away from) evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue (pursue) it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.’ (1 Pet.3:10-12) That needs no further explanation mih people. So, until tomorrow, God willing, Much, Much LOVE!…good builds…but evil destroys…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 July 2010 Proverbs 6:16‏

30 Jul 2010 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 6:16     These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.

 

Oh Friends, it’s Friday; time for fun, frolic and fellowship! It’s also Caribana weekend in T.O. But unfortunately it doesn’t seem as if the ole fella’s going to have much, if any fun and frolic, just some fellowship, because my knees are not in the best shape, and I don’t really need to make them any worse before I get some medical insight into the problem, and hopefully some restorative help. In any case, the Caribana scene doesn’t hold that much fascination for me anymore because I think the quality has dropped, and even if my knees were good, I doubt I’d be doing much partying anyway. But it would be nice to have the choice. The Good Lord must have a good reason for whatever He’s allowing to come upon me, but since He hasn’t let me in on it, I’ll just have to grin and bear it, faithfully claiming that this too shall pass, and anytime one door closes, another opens. (smile) But who knows God’s plans eh? He might just decide to make me whole, so that I can get in some fun and frolic too. As the old people would say, ‘while there’s life, there’s hope.’ So I’m not giving up just yet Friends. (smile) However, let’s turn to our very interesting subject; the seven deadly sins of Cousin Sol, three of which we’ve already covered; ‘a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. It’s now time to consider; ‘A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.’ That’s a heart that devises wicked plans. Oh Friends, that’s the grand daddy of them all, for all sin basically comes out of an evil, wicked heart. And there’s so much written about the wicked and wickedness in the Good Book that we could talk about from now till next never. Some might even wonder why it’s called the Good Book then? My people that’s because it’s written to show the good way, and you can’t show the good way without commenting on the bad. It’s just that since Adam was a boy, mankind has been revelling in evil rather than good, so the paragon of all books is filled with the many misdeeds of men to remind us of what not to do and the various negatives that occur when we do evil. That means we can only get in a few of those models of wicked hearts due to our limited time and space. But before we do that, let’s get some idea of what believers are battling against when we talk about wickedness. Here’s how Bruh Paul put it. ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (spiritual hosts of) wickedness in high places.’ (Eph.6:12) That, my Friends, is the definitive statement on wickedness. It includes stuff like divination, an illegitimate means of determining God’s will; necromancy, efforts to communicate with and interrogate the dead; magic, using formulas and incantations; sorcery, witchcraft and astrology. Check Deut.18:10-12 for the Lord’s proclamation against those occult dealings. And that’s why we need to ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (sly schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph.6:11) Now we can look at some wicked dealings. We’ll begin with the destruction of the world by the flood. Why did God destroy the world and all His wonderful creations? ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination (thought or intent) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (all the day). And it repented the Lord (the Lord was sorry) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.’ (Gen.6:5-7) Oh mih breddren, what a hurtful heartache that must have been for the Lord eh! But He never did quite destroy everything; Noah found grace in His sight and went on to replenish the earth after the flood. However we went right back to our original wicked selves, immersed both our flesh and spirit in Lucifer’s evil ways. God’s chosen people, Israel, who should have known better, led the way despite much captivity and punishment brought on them by the Lord. Many a time they turned from the God of their fathers and worshipped idols and false gods of heathen nations. We’ll mention one particular time, under the rule of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The Good Book says: ‘But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up (incited). And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.’ (1 Kin.21:25-26) Luckily Ahab eventually saw the light and the Lord did not destroy him personally, but brought trials and tribulations to his offspring. Now Friends, I want to look at two situations where wickedness could have been perpetrated but because of two faithful men, it never happened. I’m talking about Bruh Joseph when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, but he refused her advances, saying: ‘There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ (Gen.39:9) And we all know the outcome of the story; she lied to her husband and Bruh Joseph was innocently imprisoned. Nothing much has changed since then, except it’s more common place now, entrenching the saying that ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And the next story is that of Saul and Bruh David, whom Saul spent a fair amount of time trying to kill because of wicked imaginations in his heart. This is when Bruh David had Saul at his mercy outside the cave, but he refused to kill him though his followers wanted him to. And his basic reason for not doing it? ‘I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ (1 Sam.24:10) But the strange thing is that Bruh David was also the Lord’s anointed, but that did not stop Saul from chasing him like a wild animal. Furthermore Bruh David informed Saul: ‘As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee…The Lord therefore be judge between me and thee, and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.’ (1 Sam.24:13,15) Oh Friends, that’s the difference between a true believer and a not so true one; though you’re caught between a rock and a hard place you still opt to do the right thing. That’s because you revere your God so much, you trust and believe that He will always bring you safely out of harms way when He’s good and ready. The wicked can’t make that connection though with Lucifer or the false gods and idols that they follow. And we’ll end with some words on the subject from Jesus: A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, but when he saw that Jesus didn’t wash before dinner he was amazed. Jesus read his thoughts and said to him: ‘Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening (grasping or robbery) and wickedness.’ (Luke 11:39) Yes my brethren, so it still is with many of us today; we put on the clean and right persona on the outside, but inside, in our hearts, where it really counts, we’re as wicked as all hell. Please my people, this should not be so, and like Ahab, we can change our wicked ways if we seriously repent and surrender our lives to God. Let’s all look at the deepest parts of our hearts and see what’s there, and if there happens to be any wicked imaginings, please, let’s try and root them out immediately by turning to God, asking Him to forgive us, then trying to live with a right heart. Otherwise: ‘Upon the wicked he shall rain snares (burning coals), fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest (a burning wind): this shall be the portion of their cup (their portion to partake of)’ (Ps.11:6) Your choice my people. Till tomorrow then, God willing; Much LOVE!…he who doesn’t hear…shall surely feel…

 

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