Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 April 2009 Proverbs 30:32‏

27 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 30:32    If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.  (The Words of Augur)
 
Ah my Friends, the Good Lord has blessed us with another bright, sun-shiny day, full of new mercies and forgiveness that we should gladly take hold of, for they are meant to improve our lives and raise our level of Christian awareness and maturity. Augur’s wise words will also help us do that. The scholars don’t know anything about Augur, and assume he was an international sage in Solomon’s time. His words though, certainly contain wisdom that’s very applicable to our times. ‘If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself…’ That’s the first challenge my Friends. Have we foolishly exalted ourselves? Our modern day society encourages and thrives on the egocentric. The enemy falsely leads us to worship at the altar of the ego; of self-aggrandizement; of boosting ourselves above our true capabilities, so that we can look good to others. We’re encouraged to prevaricate, and even outright lie about out accomplishments, re education, etc. Just read any resume, and you’ll understand; everybody’s an expert, has the world of experience. And with the advent of ‘computer-everything,’ fake Degrees and Diplomas can now be bought fairly cheaply. Some even look better than the real thing. I was certainly disappointed with the real one my young daughter recently got from U of T. It looked so cheap, even the paper seemed rather thin, nothing as solid and uplifting as the one I got from that venerable West Indian Institution, U.W.I. some thirty odd years ago. At least that had a regal, official look to it. Sorry mih D, but that U.of T one didn’t thrill me at all. Even cross dressers nowadays look better than the real thing, and you have to be oh so careful about whom you pick up, for what you see is not always what you get. (smile) Sadly, being real, being true to ourselves doesn’t cut it anymore in this super hyped world. Look at the ads that constantly bombard us. If everything was as wonderful and worked the way they say, we’d never need new stuff. Hn, hn! Talking about that, most of us know the ad about the Maytag repair-man, bored with nothing to do because the products never break down. Well, wonder of wonders! Today a Maytag technician is going to come and check out my fridge, because some aspect of the machinery is liable to start fires, and there’s been a wide recall. So much for that image of superiority. But please my people, please remember that sin of pride, especially when laced with falsehood, which our God intensely dislikes, but gives us plenty room to hang ourselves. And if we don’t smarten up within that time, then he kicks the chair out from under us; much to our chagrin. Please take note of all the things and people pretending to be what they’re not and their eventual fall from grace. We have so many glaring examples in our current economic dilemma. The fact that things were not what they appeared to be is what caused it in the first place. We should be intent on exalting the Most High God Jehovah and not ourselves. Any personal exaltation will come through His workings. Turning to the other part of Augur’s statement; ‘or if thou hast thought evil…’ Now that’s just compounding the problem my brethren. Have we devised wicked plans; thought or considered evil in our hearts; stuff that doesn’t jive with God’s Word? If so, we’re just leaving ourselves open to severe recrimination, both from God and those we’ve devised evil against. For the sowing of one thing only reaps the same thing. You can’t plant peas and expect to reap corn. So if we’re sowing the seeds of evil, then that’s what we’ll get back. And I’m sure we don’t want to be beset by evil. Finally, the last part of the Bit; ‘lay thine hand upon thy mouth.’ What wonderful advice my Friends! If you’ve been foolish enough to exalt yourself and get involved in evil, then just shut up now. Be silent. Don’t take it any further. As Job told his friends; ‘Mark me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.’ (Job 21:5) As he also said when the Lord called him to account and humbled him: ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.’ (Job 40:4) And there are many instances of those words, or words that convey that meaning through out the Good Book. What Augur is advising my brethren is if in our sinful, foolish human nature we’ve done or thought wrong, then we should just shut up and keep quiet now, because trying to force the issue will only cause strife. Or as he puts it: ‘ Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.’ (Prov. 30:33) Those are true words my Friends, and strife is definitely something we don’t want to cause, since it just opens up a whole new can of angry, divisive worms that eventually lead to destruction. As followers of Jesus, we’re entrusted with building, not destroying, so let’s concentrate on that nuh. How? By studying the Word and focusing on Jesus and all the good things He stands for. Much LOVE!…look ahead to Jesus…not back towards the enemy…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 April 2009 Psalm 26:1‏

26 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 26:1    Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.
 
Greetings my Friends and fellow believers! May the Good Lord look down upon us all with mercy, LOVING kindness and forgiveness, and at the sound of the last trumpet, bring us to salvation and eternal life with Him and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!  And all God’s people sang, ‘Hallelujah! Amen!’ (smile) Ah my Friends, it’s so good to be alive, to enjoy the rich fruits of friendship and fellowship, but as Job said, this is a balanced world, and you have to learn to take the good with the bad, for the Lord both gives and takes. It seems that Bruh David was wrongly accused, so he’s rightfully crying out to the Most High for vindication. ‘Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity.’ Oh Friends, all of us have at some time been falsely accused, and we know how it hurts when nobody believes us, so we can appreciate Bruh David’s predicament. It’s also reminiscent of King Hezekiah’s situation when he was sick and Isaiah came to inform him: ‘Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die. and not live.’ A distraught Hezekiah then ‘turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is perfect in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.’ (2 Kings 20:1-3) Oh people, it’s bad enough when we’re falsely accused, and nobody believes our innocence, but it hurts even more when our heart was right, and like Hezekiah and Bruh David, we’d walked in our integrity. That’s the part that hurts most; when we weren’t even contemplating doing wrong. But please my brethren, note what both men, men of great faith did; in the time of their injustice they appealed to the Lord. They didn’t take matters into their own hands and seek vengeance against their detractors, but put their cases before the Most Mighty and Merciful Judge Himself. And sadly, it seems like Bruh David was always surrounded by enemies. So this was not the first or the last time he called on the Lord for vindication. ‘The Lord shall judge the people: judge me O Lord, according to thy righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.’  (Ps.7:8) And note too, despite the injustice, he faithfully reaffirmed; ‘I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.’ Oh my Friends, even in sorrow, he declared his trust in the Lord and his intention not to backslide. And it was not a matter of pride, but the sincere denial of an innocent man crying out for justice. He was also not afraid to take his case to God, since he believed in his own innocence and God’s justice. ‘But I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.’ (Ps.13:5-6) Now having said all of that my people, the million dollar question is can we truthfully make those claims like Hezekiah and Bruh David? Can we cry out for judgement and honestly claim that we have been steadfast, upright and faithful? As true believers, we should be able to stand before the Lord and boldly declare; ‘Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart. For thy LOVING kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.’ (Ps.26:2-3) Oh my brethren, that’s not an easy claim to stake, especially in these very troubled times, but it’s one we should all aspire to. And a word of warning; don’t make that declaration unless you’re absolutely sure of it, for you know the Lord hears our words, but He listens to the truth of our hearts. That’s why I’m continually imploring us to cultivate a right heart; one filled with genuine LOVE and compassion, forgiveness and mercy on our human level. Remember Jesus said the heavenly Father will only show us as much of those things as we show others. And so Friends, though the ole fella might have rambled some, which anyway is a privilege of age, (smile) the message I want to drive home to us, is that we all endeavour to live right, walk in integrity, trust in the Lord, and when we’re wronged, cry out to Him for justice, don’t take it in our hands, because He’s stated that vengeance is His. He will repay any injustice done to us. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes either, because if we make none, it means we’re doing nothing, and our God, who created us, knows that we’re not perfect, but once our hearts and minds are constantly tuned to His wavelength in truth and righteousness, then He is merciful enough to forgive. As Sol wisely declared: ‘The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.’ (Prov.20:7) So my Friends, let’s do it nuh, if not for ourselves, then surely for our children. Much LOVE!  …trust and faith are built on…a right heart, a right spirit, and a right mind…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2009 Ecclesiastes 12:9‏

25 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Ecclesiastes 12:9    And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out and set in order many proverbs.
 
Yes my Friends, Sol was indeed wise, and did a marvellous job of compiling those pearls of wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and penning such beautiful poetry in Song of Solomon. The Book of Kings says; ‘He spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.’ (1Kings 4:32, 34) Sol was certainly a prolific writer, but he had more time and opportunity than most. And though in his wide search for the true meaning of life, he finally concludes; ‘Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity;’ because of his unique wisdom, he still taught the people knowledge, came up with worthwhile ideas and sayings, very useful for everyday living. He did a lot of thinking and pondering, arranging the proverbs and ideas in an orderly fashion that had never been done before. He put together a cohesive body of work outlining the duty of man, which has since become invaluable to all mankind, not only believers, for it’s hard to argue against most of his pronouncements, cause they’re simply everyday logic on everyday life. He taught what was upright and true, despite the note of cynicism and pessimism that ran through his writings. ‘The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.’ (Eccl.12:10)  To him it was a very serious undertaking, not to be taken lightly; ‘For the words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.’ (vs.11) Say ‘Amen!’ to that my people, for the preacher just made the most definitive statement there; that all the words of wisdom contained therein, is like a collection that came from one source, one shepherd; our God. He is the origin of all the wise teachings. ‘And further, by these my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.’ (vs.12) Most of us would agree with that. ‘For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.’ (Eccl.1:18) Now don’t go using that as an excuse not to study. (smile) In other words, God hasn’t given us the answer(s) to every problem of life, and we can keep on searching and writing but we’ll never answer it all, just get tired and weary. However, there is a divine purpose to everything. ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ (vs.13-14) Hn,hn! Sol must have written this at a young age, before he began cavorting with all those pagan women and worshipping their gods. But my Friends, that’s all we’re asked to do; reverence God and obey His dictates. And yuh know people, it’s now been scientifically proven by a neuro-scientist, Andrew Newberg, at the U. of Penn that those who believe in God, those who meditate, delve into the spiritual realm, regardless of their belief system, their brains are changed in a strong, fundamental manner. Here’s an excerpt from an interview in the T.O. Star. ‘When you look at God in a positive way, it turns on the part of the brain, (the frontal lobe) that makes us feel more compassionate, more LOVING, more forgiving to ourselves and others. People with these positive feelings about God, have lower levels of depression and anxiety.’ On the other hand, ‘People who think of God as vengeful, exclusive, angry at people who don’t believe the way they do, that activates part of the brain involved in those negative emotions. It turns up the heart rate. You’re ready for anger, you’re ready for a fight. It turns on a whole stress cascade that actually damages the brain, makes it work less efficiently.’ Now I don’t want to make it sound like only belief in God has a positive effect on the brain. ‘Ultimately, it’s faith in a positive outcome. When people have an optimistic, positive look on the world, it’s one of the best ways to maintain a healthy brain and body.’ Amen! Science is finally catching up, but God’s people knew that thousands of years ago. And now that it’s also been scientifically proven, I hope many more people are going to turn to a spiritual consciousness, preferably involving the Most High God Jehovah. In light of all that Friends, please, let’s keep looking on the bright side. Life might not be the greatest at the moment, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still firmly ensconced on His heavenly throne and thus in control, which means there is hope for a better tomorrow. Let’s believe that with all our hearts, minds and souls. Much LOVE!…for a healthy body and mind…ignore the enemy…focus on God…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 April 2009 Malachi 2:10‏

24 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Malachi 2:10    Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
 
Ah my Friends, those are certainly interesting questions. Note though, that this passage of Malachi referred to God’s unique relationship with Israel at the time. However, with the coming of Jesus, that relationship was also extended to the Gentiles, and I’m using it as God being the universal Father. The sad part is that we don’t even have to make the Lord universal to ask those questions; we can just talk about offspring from the very same womb, brothers and sisters of the same parents, who deal so deceitfully with each other, like they were total strangers and/ or enemies. Many a day I’ve thanked the Lord for making me an only child, after seeing the way siblings abuse and ill-treat one another. And for many, there isn’t even the lame excuse that they grew up poor and unloved. Most times the contention between them is pure jealously and selfishness. I’ve seen siblings inform the Immigration Dept. of other siblings being in the country illegally, over petty nonsense. And if ill-treating our siblings isn’t bad enough, take a look at how some of us, so called believers, treat our elderly parents. Some just deposit them in the nursing homes, happy to be rid of the burden of caring for the elderly, and never even go back to visit them. Others just leave them to get along as best they can in the run down, two by four apartments. And it’s not like the parents treated them terribly or anything like that, but our society has become so busy, so taken up with the challenges of earning a living, of getting ahead, so concerned about the material things, that we’ve forgotten, ignored, or become immune to the things of the heart that really matter, like sibling and parental relationships. We’ve become a cold, hard hearted, selfish, jealous, petty society, only concerned with me and I. But if you ask us, we’d all claim to be good, solid Christian citizens. Hn! Ah Friends, everyday I ask the Lord not to let me ill-treat my ole mother, for judging by some of the horror stories I’ve heard about other parents, she’s the best ever. And though I talk to her and read prayers for her every day, I still feel guilty because I don’t visit her enough. However, she still thinks that I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. (smile) And who knows, she might just be right; now no rude comments from the penny section.  But seriously my people, ‘Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?’ Bruh Paul declared it. ‘But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.’ (1 Cor.8:6) And Job rightly asks? ‘Did not he that made me in the womb, make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?’ (Job 31:15) Yes my Friends, one Creator, created us all, in the same basic form and fashion; gestating in our mother’s wombs for a certain period before we see the light of day, and our only differences are cosmetic, the basic outward appearances, which, with modern technology, we can change to anything. Otherwise, we are all exactly alike; made of the same flesh, blood, bones and dust, to which we shall all return. So why then all this animosity, strife, anger, hatred, resentment etc, amongst siblings, amongst parents, siblings and parents, leaders and people of all sizes of groups and cities, between cities in the same nations, between nations, between religions, within religions…? In fact, why is there such great negative emotion in our entire world? And this current economic crisis is just making it worse. But still, why is there such a dearth of positivity eh? I can only conclude it’s because we all lack the true Christian feeling and fellowship that Jesus displayed. Friends, it’s the only thing that will ever bring some semblance of peace and stability to our tumultuous world. All the religions supposedly preach Peace and LOVE, but we don’t even carry that out within separate religions, for each one has different offshoots that don’t see eye to eye. This obviously limits even the working together of the whole palate of religions. Then my brethren, Christianity is the only one that teaches LOVE for neighbours as well as enemies. It’s the only one that calls its followers to LOVE unconditionally, unselfishly, to treat everyone with respect, regardless of colour, creed or race. That ‘s what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ taught, and expects us to continue teaching and spreading, cause it’s the only way we’ll ever have any hope of lasting peace and prosperity in this world. Until us hardy band of Christians not only preach, spread, and LIVE the gospel of Peace, LOVE and True Brotherhood throughout the entire world, the negative emotions and elements will remain dominant. So my people, if Christianity is the only belief system that teaches true Peace and LOVE to all, then it’s our serious and divine responsibility to teach and LIVE it to the very best of our ability, cause Jesus is depending on us to bring a much greater sense of true brotherhood to our troubled world. And remember, in the immortal words of Bruh Paul, there is only, ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.’ (Eph.4:5-6) Much LOVE!…the only way to lasting peace…is through Christ…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 April 2009 Psalm 20:7‏

23 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 20:7    Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
 
And isn’t that the awesome truth my Friends? We staunch and faithful band of believers shall always remember the name of our God and put our sincere and whole hearted trust in Him, not in animals and man made things. Oh praise and glorify His Holy Name! Yes mih brethren, today we have Bruh David singing and plucking away on his harp strings, as he lays down this psalm of intercession by the people, on behalf of the king, before he ventures forth into battle. The mood is soft and mellow as the scene is set: ‘The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion. Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt offering. Selah!’ (vs.1-3) Then the tempo slowly picks up my people: ‘Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy counsel.’ (vs.4) Now getting louder and quicker: ‘We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: The Lord fulfill all thy petitions.’ (vs.5) And hear comes the great crescendo Friends: cymbals crashing, horns blaring, the drummer man going crazy on his skins, the harps and viols just dancing sweetly in between. Now sing heartily my brethren; lustily, with power and conviction, show you really believe and mean it: ‘Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.’ (vs.6-9) Glory Hallelujah! Amen!’ Oh my people, wasn’t that heart rending and earth shattering. That’s the way we ought always to worship our God; with strength, and power, thanksgiving and true gratitude, all bundled up in an enormous LOVE, for we don’t deserve all He’s done for us, and can never repay it. And He doesn’t want repayment Friends; just our LOVE and obedience; that we spread His Word, worship, praise, glorify and give Him thanks. That’s such an insignificant thing compared to His overwhelming generosity, guidance and protection. We know better than to trust in chariots and horses cause long ago the Lord directed Moses thus: ‘When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’ (Deut.20:1) And He did it with such awesome majesty and timing, for as He says, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit,’ (Zech.4:6) That exodus was so amazing and awe inspiring that no army should put fear into our hearts once our God is in our corner. And just before the battle is drawn, the priest shall say to the people: ‘Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts be faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ (Deut. 20:3-4) Oh my Friends, that is an everyday occurrence! We’re in a constant battle with the enemy; the prince of darkness and his stooges, every day of our lives. But like the Good Book says, we should not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord has promised to stand and fight with and for us. And yuh know, once He’s on our side, nothing, or no one, can defeat us. That’s an incontestable fact we need to carve into our hearts, minds and souls, so that the enemy doesn’t infiltrate our spirit with his evil lies and innuendo. But before I get more excited and enthused and go off track, (smile) let’s hear a few passages dealing with the trust in horses, chariots and human strength, starting with Bruh David. ‘There is no king saved by a multitude of a host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.’  (Ps.33:16-17) That’s obvious my people! Now hear Sol: ‘The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.’ (Prov.21:31) And all God’s people said, ‘Hallelujah!’ And Isaiah staunchly declares that God, not Egypt, will defend Judah. ‘Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord.’ (Isa.31:1) Oh my Friends, how can I not LOVE the Lord eh, when He looks after me so well? And tonight, He was really in my corner yes, for after spending too much time playing my favourite game on the computer, be quiet children, the ole fella is entitled to some leisure and pleasure, I came to do the Bit, not having a clue, but in His LOVING kindness and mercy, He soon guided me to Bruh David’s words and enlivened my heart and spirit so that we could sing that joyful song of thanks and praise. Oh my people, our God is for us, that means no one can be against us, so please, let’s surrender our all to Him nuh, and let Him lead and guide us in His wisdom and grace. Till next time, Much LOVE!…oh what joy we gain…when in sweet surrender…we come to Him… 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 April 2009 Acts 11:26‏

22 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Acts 11:26    …And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
 
Oh my wonderful Friends, greetings and salutations ladened with blessings of peace and prosperity from the Most High God Jehovah, our Creator and Provider! You can see the ole fella’s enthused tonight. As they say, you can’t keep a good man down. But my enthusiasm is partly due to my recent reading of a novel that provided a rather apt analogy of the ideal characteristics of a mature Christian. The book’s name is ‘The Persimmon Tree,’ by one of my favourite authors, Bryce Courtenay. Some of his better known titles are ‘Tandia,’ ‘The Power of One,’ and the truly incredible Australian Trilogy of ‘The Potato Factory,’ ‘Tommo & Hawk,’ and ‘Solomon’s Song.’ Oh Friends, that’s just an amazing, exciting, adventurous series, as are all of his books. But out of all that I’ve read, ‘Tandia’ is still # 1. Yes, ‘The Power of One’ is good, but it doesn’t come close mih young D. (smile) Anyway, ‘The Persimmon Tree is set in the Pacific area during World War II. This particular part takes place in Indonesia when the Japanese captured the islands. A Japanese Colonel takes a liking to a beautiful 17 year old young lady of Dutch and Indonesian descent. He sets out to teach her the Japanese language and culture. Listen to this: ‘Konoe Akira picked up a chopstick and balanced it in his hand. "In the heartwood of the sacred persimmon tree is ebony, the hardest, most beautiful of all woods. It is created by nature and will last longer than the katana, the layered and folded steel of the everlasting samurai sword." Aye my people! Doesn’t that sound like what we were meant to be? Tough, beautiful and created by God, not man, to last longer than man-made steel. "To the Japanese this is the symbol of life, a heartwood that will outlast everything man can make, a core within that, come what may, cannot be broken and represents our inner strength and divine spirit." Yes my Friends, that’s what a true Christian needs; a solid core, spirit, heart, or whatever within us, that represents our many divine gifts and blessings that will never be broken by anything man makes. I got all excited when I first read that, knowing it was a good parallel for our faith. But the best is yet to come. I’ll just quote the appropriate parts, cause my explanation won’t do it justice. The couple is walking in a garden on their last night together. ‘Konoe Akira stopped and pointed to a slender sapling, no more than a metre high. "This is a persimmon tree, now three years old. With luck it will live to be one hundred years. I have planted one of these wherever I have found myself. I was a small child when instructed to do so by my esteemed and venerable grandmother. "The heartwood," Anna said remembering the chopsticks and the Colonel’s description of the persimmon tree at the time…. "Your metaphor of orchestral performers and those who play jazz music was a worthy one. For me, the persimmon tree is just such a metaphor for life. It has many metaphors. The outside wood, which is very beautiful, has several characteristics. It is strong, but has the capacity to absorb shock and if it strikes a hard surface it will not splinter. This is the metaphor of resilience. Then, when its trunk is light and smooth it is young, but when it grows older it is veined with purple. This is the metaphor of youth growing into maturity with calm and dignity. In the summer, its leaves are arched and overlap to provide shade for others: animals, birds and humans who labour in the field. This is the metaphor of caring about all creatures and helping others. In the autumn, the leaves drop and the fruit ripens; they are fiery red balls the size of my fist and hang like glorious lanterns from the tree. This is the metaphor of passing on the sweet fruit of life, its joy and tenderness because, before it is eaten, the fruit must be soft beyond a softness that any other fruit can endure without corruption… I have already spoken of the metaphor of the centre, of the heartwood, more resilient than steel, the core that cannot be defeated. These are the metaphors: the core, beyond strength of will; the resilience of the outer wood that will not splinter but always keeps to its resolve; the leaves that, in providing shelter, consider the convenience of others beside themselves; finally, the ripened fulfillment, when the autumn of life comes and with it the soft fruitfulness of wisdom and LOVE to be passed on." He reached into the pocket of his military tunic and withdrew a tiny envelope. "In here are eighty seeds of the persimmon tree Second Vase. Plant one seed every year of your life. May you live to plant the last seed when you reach one hundred. In all things, may your heart be soft and sweet and generous as the fruit of the sacred persimmon tree, your body as resilient as the outer wood, and your mind as strong as the heartwood." He turned and bowed.’ Oh Friends, I don’t think we can ever give a fellow human a better blessing or words of advice. It’s an ideal to which we should all try to attain. And yuh know those first followers of Christ, at Antioch and elsewhere had all those attributes. They had to, else they would not have survived all the hardships they suffered. Note too, the name Christian was at first a derogatory term, denoting the people of Christ. The people of Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas spent a year teaching, continually hearing them talk of Christ, suitably named them Christians. But, per the scholars, the Jews would never label them thus, since it would be like saying that they were the people of the Messiah. But we are! And it’s interesting to note that the term ‘Christian’ only occurs two other times in the Good Book; Acts 26: 28, and 1 Peter 4:16. Oh my people, let’s remember the numerous trials and tribulations, the first Christians suffered, the many sacrifices they made so that the Gospel of Christ could be preached, preserved and propagated. Now it’s our turn to do likewise. The Word itself is like the persimmon tree; sturdy and true, and we should try to emulate them both. Remember all those esteemed and venerable grandmothers who tried to show us the right way, and let’s do them proud, by living righteous lives and spreading the Word. Much LOVE!…a true Christian is…soft, sweet, generous, resilient and strong…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 April 2009 Psalm 119:116‏

21 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 119:116    Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
 
Oh my Friends, the ole fella’s shaking it a bit rough today; tired, both in body and mind, but more so a somewhat fallen spirit, because something I’ve long hoped for, doesn’t seem any closer to fruition than when the hope was born. But our God is a mighty good God! Let there be no doubt of that, for I can truthfully testify to it. Today was one of those days when I didn’t know what to write about, so as usual I asked Him for some guidance, and like He always does, He led me to something. And I tried every which way to fathom what the Lord wanted me to say, but believe me Friends, my brain and spirit just could not, or would not wrap around it. Finally, I had to say, Lord, yuh know the ole fella’s state right now not conducive to writing on that topic. I need something different. And being the understanding God and Father that He is, He led me to Bruh David’s words on Hope. Ah my people, our God is so amazing, amusing and works in such mysterious ways! I doubt that was just chance or coincidence. My reasoning is He saw my low spirits, the drop in my level of hope on that particular subject and figured it would be good therapy for me to write about it. For my sake I certainly hope so. And since the Lord knows how much I admire Bruh David, he’s my favourite biblical character, besides Jesus of course, it’s a logical assumption that I would find more encouragement, inspiration and hope from his words than any other mortal in the Good Book. Hn, hn, hn! I have to chuckle yes mih brethren because people claim the Lord doesn’t know what He’s doing. Well tell them I say deh wrong yes! Because, after writing those last few lines in a sad frame of mind, I just received a sudden jolt, an immediate boost to my spiritual level. Just thinking about how Bruh David encouraged himself in the Lord when times were rough, and how he fought through so much adversity, never forgetting that his bread was buttered by the God of his forefathers and no one else, my brain and spirit once more became loose and functional. I wasn’t reaching, or fighting for words again. My pen is no longer sluggish and dragging, but is now flowing quickly, like a racing, babbling brook. Now don’t take that literally. (smile) But my people, it just goes to show the ups and downs, the quirkiness of life. About an hour ago I was feeling fine, bright and bubbly, not overwhelmed by my tiredness, getting ready to write the Bit. Then, for whatever reason, I picked up this document, read it, and immediately my mind began working some negative overtime and my spirits sank. That means we have to be oh so careful when dealing with the eccentricities of life, otherwise they’re liable to drive us loco. And the sad fact is I know that what I’m hoping for will eventually come to pass, but it’s just the waiting, what I consider an overlong passage of time. But as Bruh Paul says, if you can see it and believe it, then with patience you’ll wait for it. Anyway my Friends, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being down in the dumps every so often. It’s all a part of the crazy life we live. However, it does become problematic when we get down there too often, or stay down too long. Like Bruh David, we’ve got to go to the Lord asap and plead; ‘Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.’ Oh my Friends, it’s the only sure way to rejuvenate your crestfallen spirit quickly, without getting whatever caused it to fall. For as I keep saying, contrary to what many think, the Lord does hear our sincere cries for help, and even if we don’t notice an immediate improvement in our situation, He is always there looking out for, and over us, keeping His solemn promise never to leave or forsake us. Remember yesterday we talked about God never letting those who sincerely trust and obey Him be ashamed of anything? That’s the gospel truth! We might never reach the lofty heights of fame, faith and power that believers like our three Bruhs, Joseph, David and Pablo reached, but never forget my Friends, that the foot soldiers in any movement are very important too, cause they are the ones who do the dirty work, fighting in the trenches etc. We might not create policy, but it’s us foot soldiers who carry it out. Without us, no policy would ever get implemented. So as usual, though it’s difficult, have faith, trust, obey, stand strong, and encourage yourself if there’s no one around to do it, cause in the long run we are all accountable for our own actions. In the meanwhile, we can use Bruh David’s words and plead to the Father; ‘Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.’  (Ps.119:117) But be careful, if you make that promise and the Lord upholds you, then you’d better keep your part of the bargain and observe those statutes. Remember what the Preacher said: ‘Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.’ (Eccl.5:5) Oh my Friends, I certainly hope that this little negative episode of mine that the Lord caused me to share will benefit us all, and bring the Word home to us in a present day sense; showing that it’s still viable, reliable and unbeatable as it was when it was written eons ago. Much LOVE!…shaking it rough is human…but that’s the time…to wait on the Lord…and be of good courage…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 April 2009 Romans 10:11‏

20 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Romans 10:11    For the scripture saith, Whoseoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
 
Oh my wonderful Friends, the Lord dictated that we continue talking about trusting Him, a topic we can never outgrow or overdo, for every day of a believer’s life depends on our fervent trust in our Creator, the Most High God Jehovah. As is his custom, Bruh Paul uses his vast knowledge of the Old Testament to prove his points in preaching the new gospel of Christ. ‘For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.’ These sentiments are documented throughout the Good Book, so let’s take a look at a few, starting with Abraham, who left his home in Haran at seventy-five years of age when God commanded him. ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.’ (Gen.12:1-2) Abraham didn’t mutter and complain about moving to an unknown land at his advanced age, his trust in the Lord was complete, cause he knew that He who promised was faithful. And now he’s known as the father of us all. Then there was Bruh Joseph! ‘Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have surely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.’ (Gen.49:22-24) That was his father, Jacob’s blessing. Yes friends, all the trials and unfair tribulation Bruh Joseph went through, though he didn’t understand what was happening, he had this dream from God in his heart, so his faith and trust never wavered, and he was never put to shame. In fact, in God’s perfect timing, he was royally exalted to the second highest position in Egypt. The same thing goes for Moses. The Lord gave him the task of leading His people out of bondage in Egypt, and though Moses was doubtful and fearful, the Lord promised: ‘Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.’  (Horeb) (Ex.3:12) And even when Moses complained that he stammered and otherwise, I like how the Lord asked him: ‘Who hath made man’s mouth? or who make the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what to say.’ (Ex.4:11-12) And yuh know my brethren, though the Lord eventually sent Aaron with Moses as his spokesperson, Aaron never spoke to Pharaoh. It was always Moses. As the Lord promised, He was with his mouth. And we all know the great works Moses accomplished with the Lord’s aid. And so it was too with Joshua, who took over the leadership of the Israelites after Moses died. Obviously it was a difficult, unrewarding job to lead such stubborn, rebellious people, but hear the Lord’s promise to Joshua: ‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, not forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage…’  (Josh.1:5-6) Joshua was never put to shame because he believed the Lord and obeyed His commands. Bruh David was another man of faith who experienced unfair, life threatening situations, but his great trust in the Lord saw him through them all safely. But his was a more outgoing personality than the others, a singer, songwriter, which led him to be very vocal in singing the praises of his God. ‘Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth forever. I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do to me?’ (Ps.118:4-6) Yes my people, it was the unshakeable trust and reverence that those early believers had for the Lord, that enabled them to be so strong and accomplish such great deeds. That trust also led Isaiah to declare: ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.’ (Isa.28:16) Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is that sure foundation, that precious corner stone! Those who believe in Him shall never be put to shame. And like all the other scriptures that pertained to Him, Jesus quoted this one too. ‘Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ (Mat.21:42) Oh my Friends it’s an incontestable fact that who ever believes in Him shall not be ashamed. Bruh Paul was also a great example of trust and faith, after the Lord cornered him on the road to Damascus. Though he suffered many misfortunes, he never stopped believing and working in Jesus’ name. Now he’s an icon to us all. And Jeremiah’s take on the blessedness of trusting the Lord will take us home. ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer.17:7-8) And all God’s people shouted: ‘Hallelujah! Amen!’ Yes my friends, let’s put our trust in Him, and be like that tree planted by those fertile waters. Much LOVE!…trust and obey…for there’s no better way.. to be happy in Jesus…than to trust and obey…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 April 2009 Proverbs 28:25

19 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 28:25    He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

 

Yes my Friends, more comparisons, warnings and instructions from Sol; the wisest man ever. Hn, hn! Every time I consider that fact, I remember the old Derrick Harriot song, ‘Solomon was the wisest man, but he didn’t know the ‘wiles’ of a woman.’  Now ‘wiles’ is my insertion because I forgot the word Derrick used. It might have been ‘strength,’ but ‘wiles’ fits perfectly. (smile) And come to think of it, the Bit admirably fits Sol’s life, though in reverse. At the end of his life, pride got the better of him. I very much doubt that it was senility, since he went through a complete role reversal. ‘But king Solomon loved many strange women…of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as was the heart of his father David.’ He worshipped the gods of his wives and built high places for them to burn incense and sacrifices. ‘And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord…’(1 Kings 11:1-8) Oh Friends, can you imagine that; Sol doing evil in the Lord’s sight after the wonderful relationship they shared in earlier times? But he certainly did, with a sad result; ‘And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing; that he should not go after other Gods, but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.’ Thus began the strife. The Lord promised to take away the kingdom from Sol, and give it to his servant, not in his days, but out of his son’s hand. And even then, He would not take it away completely, but leave one tribe for his son. Why? ‘For David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.’ (I Kings 11:9-13) Oh my people, I don’t know what got into Sol; possibly too much wine, women and song. That would certainly addle a man’s brain. (smile) But whatever it was, he screwed it up royally, after all the good work Bruh David and he, himself had done in the Lord’s name. Note though, God did not ruin his line completely, because He’d promised Bruh David a continuous royal lineage, from which The Messiah, Jesus, would be born. So the peaceful, secure, wealthy kingdom that Israel had become under Sol’s righteous guidance was now turned asunder through Sol’s stupid pride. And hear these words of his earlier days nuh: ‘Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.’ (Prov.13:10) I guess he wasn’t well advised in later life. ‘But he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.’ Yes my Friends, when we put our entire trust in the Lord God Almighty, we are made to prosper. Sol reiterates it in the next verse. ‘He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.’ (Prov.28:26) I still don’t understand how he could have undergone such a complete change of heart, after being such a prominent voice for God. Listen to the Queen of Sheba: ‘It was a true report which I had heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.’ (2 Chron.9:5-6) Wow! Can you believe it people? The Queen of Sheba, wealthy and powerful in her own right, even more amazed in person, at Sol’s majesty and righteousness than the stories she’d heard. And how did Sol get to that zenith? Because he’d put his trust in the Lord God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and walked in obedience to his commands. ‘And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.’ (2 Chron.1:1) Yuh know mih brethren, Sol was such a lovely, selfless young man, that even when God asked him what he wanted, he said: ‘Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great. And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.’ (2 Chron.1:11-12) Now that’s the magnificent and magnanimous God we worship my people! When we trust and obey, and don’t always put our selfish instincts and interests first, He rewards us with even more than we can ask or imagine. And He kept His word, just like He always does. The Queen of Sheba was held spellbound by Sol’s wisdom and splendour. And Friends, there’s never been another monarch as wise or wealthy as Sol, and most likely will never be, since the Lord God Jehovah decreed it thus. Oh my people, I implore us to let Sol’s life be a living example to us all. Let’s put our trust and faith in the Lord, and keep it there. Obey Him, and leave all the consequences to Him. He looked after Sol admirably when he walked with Him, but quickly allowed strife into his hitherto peaceful life, and took away his kingdom. Remember Friends, the wicked who repent, shall be saved, but the righteous who backslide shall be destroyed. Sol is an excellent example of the latter, let’s not fall into that evil trap. Much LOVE!…to enjoy God’s best…keep your heart right with Him…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 April 2009 Psalm 125:1‏

18 Apr 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 125:1    They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
 
Oh my Friends, ain’t that good news; in fact wonderful news? It certainly is! All those who have faith in, believe in and obey the dictates of the Most High God Jehovah, shall never be moved. They shall stand strong like Mt. Zion. Wow! And why is that? Because God surrounds and protects His people. ‘As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.’ (vs.2) Ah my people, what more can we ask eh? That’s excellent information and knowledge as well as encouragement. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so too does our God surround each and every one who puts their trust in Him. If we look to  Him in faith, He will protect us with His all-encompassing powers of surveillance and His majestic might. This promise should lift the spirit of all believers, giving us good reason to continue our earthly pilgrimage on His behalf; to keep us staunchly keeping on, though the times be rough and uncertain. ‘For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.’ (vs.3) Do you hear that my brethren? The sceptre of wickedness won’t fall on land allotted to the righteous, that’s us believers, lest it encourages us to reach out to the enemy and do evil. And you know what happens to the wicked? ‘He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.’ (Prov.22:8) Yes my Friends, the wicked shall reap trouble and they shall perish in their anger and iniquity. But those who sincerely seek and serve the One, True God, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, shall be protected forever, because, ‘The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked and the sceptre of the rulers.’ (Isa.14:5) Chuh! Our Lord likes to test our spirit and resolve at some rather inopportune moments yes! I just got a rude, invasive phone call from someone I usually get along with, but he’s one who knows what everybody else should do, but doesn’t know his own role. There was absolutely no need for the rudeness, and Friends, I gave him a piece of my mind, cause I refuse to let hypocrites like that bully me. At some time or another you’ve got to stand up to that type, else they’ll just continue to ride roughshod over you. Now I’ve got to calm my spirit before continuing. I guess I failed the test, but you win some and you lose some. Anyway, my spirit is back in equilibrium, and I’m reconnected to the Most High, (smile) so we can continue. Now that’s exactly the kind of person we don’t want to become, or associate with; those who know everything, can’t help opining on every topic, but don’t do a blooming thing themselves. We can certainly do without the busy mouths, but passive hands and bodies. However, the Lord does seem to send them to test us. Oh Friends, I know that ideally we should just ignore them and leave them to God, but sometimes that’s much easier said than done. Sometimes you just have to stop them in their tracks, let them know you won’t put up with their nonsense. I can now see the Lord’s hand all over this. (smile) He was simply building me up so that I could declare like Bruh David: ‘Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.’ (vs.4) I’m trying Friends, I’m trying. Sometimes though the spirit is willing but the sinful flesh is weak. Thankfully, the Lord knows this better than anyone else. However, it’s very important when we lose our godly connection, we try to reconnect asap; quickly ask forgiveness and get back under His protective aura. Oh my people, although our God surrounds us and will not let us be moved, He still sends trials to test us. Sometimes we can’t see or don’t understand why. But believe me, He always has a good reason for allowing those disturbances in our lives, though we think otherwise. Like that rude phone call just now; I don’t see it’s purpose, besides irritating my spirit, but I’m sure He had one. However, the moral of the story is to try and stay under the Lord’s protective umbrella as much as possible. Let Him surround us with His LOVE, mercy and forgiveness. It won’t all be wine and roses, though ‘For such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.’ (vs.5) Yes Friends, if we stay under the Lord’s yoke, peace shall prevail upon us. Much LOVE!…to stand strong…stay protected…
 

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