Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 August 2019 Acts 1:5.

05 Aug 2019 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acts 1:5.    ​For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
 

And the Caribana celebration is still going strong this Monday morning, though many have gone back home or are in the process of doing so. In fact, today’s the day when a lot of the big parties will be held, but unfortunately, or otherwise, (smile) the ole fella will not be a part of any of those celebrations. I’m just going to spend a quiet day of rest and relaxation at home with the duchess. Yes, we getting old, and we value our quiet time at home now, much more than we ever did. (smile) 

However, some of us do have to go to work, and when we read about the partying and the rest and relaxation, only to realize that we’re not a part of either one of those preferable situations, understandably, we liable to get somewhat jealous and irritable. But fear not working friends, we have the antidote for whatever’s ailing you this Caribana Monday morning. It’s called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn; a mighty prayer of praise, of asking, of seeking and knocking on heaven’s door. 

So as time is of the essence, let’s get right to it nuh. All together now, in strong voice, sincerely believing, for though Jesus said ask and you shall receive, (Matt.7:7) He also specified: ‘And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ (Matt.21:22) So yuh see friends, the asking part is important, but the believing part is even more so. Therefore, let’s ask and believe and receive nuh. 

‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. 

We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. 

We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ 

And as always, you can tell those who not going to work today, because their voices were the loudest and hoarsest; residual effects from a lot of partying. But I’m sure that for those of us who sincerely prayed and believed, our attitude and perspective has now changed. Our batteries are suddenly fully charged, and our energy level is much higher than before, and we just dying to get out into the evil world and give the enemy heck in Jesus’ name! (smile) 

Oh my people, it’s so good when our spirits are raised and we are in full Jesus mode, because our lives run so much better and smoother. We’re not as short-tempered and irritable. Kindness and forgiveness come to us more readily and easily, and we’re not ashamed or afraid to share the gospel and LOVE of Jesus with others. And it all comes when we follow the leading and wise advice of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us for that very purpose. 

Consequently, Jesus warned the disciples to remain in Jerusalem after His ascension: ‘For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ And when, in their impatience, they asked: ‘Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?’ He calmly replied: ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (authority). But ye shall receive power, after that (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ (Acts 1:6-7) 

Yeh friends, Jesus just reiterated what we know as the Great Commission. (Matt.28:19-20) Our raison d’etre is to spread Jesus gospel to all parts of the world and the Holy Ghost is our lead and guide for doing that. And we all know how Jesus’ words came to pass on Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Ghost invaded the souls of the believers in the upper room, appearing like cloven (divided) tongues of fire and sitting on each of them, giving them such supernatural power that they were able to speak in other languages of which they previously had no knowledge. (Acts.2:3-4) 

And after that the Holy Spirit began indwelling EVERY believer, so that they could have the intimate and personal power of Jesus living with them. It couldn’t get any more personal or intimate than that my people! That’s the kind of hands on, always right there with you kind of person that our Jesus is! So how can we not do His bidding eh? 

We not playing fair if we don’t put out our best on His behalf because He gave His ALL; His very life; sacrificed it for us, so His blood could pay our sin debt in full. And now, so many of us want what He offers, but refuse to do what He asks. That just doesn’t compute my people. So sometime today, let’s take a moment or two and ponder our situation nuh, our relationship to Christ and see whether we are doing the best we can for His kingdom. Remember, there will be rewards for good work with good motives! Much LOVE!

…after all Jesus has done for us…how can we not LOVE Him eh…and strive to do our best for Him…

 

  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 October 2018 Matthew 7:12.

23 Oct 2018 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 7:12.    ​Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 

And then it was Tuesday – at least I think so. (smile) I don’t know one day from the next, because they just seem to morph into each other, forming one long eternal day. What a life eh! I could handle this forever; my only real responsibility being to write the Bit every day. But I know that’s just wishful thinking, so I’ll just enjoy the time I have before returning to the cold north land and both responsibility and the cold weather hit me with a harsh blow. 

I guess today is a rest day, as the duchess’ ying and yang don’t seem to be in sync. But that’s okay with me. I came to rest and to enjoy the sea, sun and sand, but they have had me traipsing up and down the place, so a quiet day is welcome. Oh, and I forgot to tell this most amazing story. On Sunday I took some of my Mo Bay family to Kingston to meet some of my Kingston family. And was it a blast! We laughed the whole way to Kingston, along the new highway. 

And when we arrived at the sister who was holding the gathering, there was even more laughter and merriment, as the two families and few other friends whom I hadn’t seen in donkeys’ years just meshed right away, and the evening turned into one hilarious time of reminisces and the making of new memories, which I hope won’t take another fifty years for us to reminisce on. (smile) Good sentence that. I call it a Bruh Paulian one; long winded and ofttimes confusing to the reader. 

The food and drink were good, and also plentiful, but unfortunately the ole fella couldn’t quite do them justice, because food and I don’t seem to get along very well this last meeting. What a change eh! As the old people would say, ‘what ent meet you, ent pass you!’ And that’s the gospel truth, because something can’t get hold of you until it meets you. (smile) 

And I liked how it took quite a while for us to say our goodbyes; at least a half an hour. After we got up from the covered back porch, we gathered in the living cum dining room, sharing hugs and kisses and thank you’s, and making promises to see each other again, and that right soon, not another half century. Then when we finally got outside it was another pleasurable leave taking; more hugs and kisses. And it was not until the night had fallen that we finally dispersed. 

And believe me, there was even more laughter in the car coming back to Mo Bay than going to Kingston. Everybody was in a jolly mood because the gathering had gone off so smoothly and effortlessly, the two families had taken to each other like a duck to water, (smile)and the endless reminisces were quite hilarious. 

Now if you think that was all, yuh lie! The Mo Bay contingent had a family gathering last night, Monday, at the home of a family member. More food and drink and fine reminiscing and making of new memories. Now that’s the way families ought to live most of the time, not embroiled in resentment and strife as so many modern families are doing. 

And sadly, if the smallest and most important part of our society, the family, isn’t a cohesive and together entity, then it’s obvious that the larger entities, like towns and cities, and nations, and the world will not be cohesive either. And that’s exactly what we are seeing; the demise of the small family group, and the strife-filled atmosphere of the larger entities. 

So whatever happened to those immortal words of Jesus eh, that we so hypocritically call ‘The Golden Rule? ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.’ Ah mih people, if we’d only treat others like we want to be treated our world would be such a wonderful place! 

But for some unknown reason, one which boggles my finite imagination, we’re not following that rule, even in the smallest unit of our society, the family. So how can we expect the world at large to be receptive to it, and therefore representative of it eh? It’s not that difficult to treat one another decently mih breddren…I suppose if we want to. 

And the scholars offer this explanation. ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, is the biblical injunction often called the “Golden Rule.” ‘This is the law and the prophets indicates that the statement made here by Jesus is not intended to be novel, but rather a summarization of the second table of the law.’ Yes friends, Jesus wasn’t saying anything new, just reiterating what had been said long ago. 

And Bruh Paul in his letter to the Galatians, on the subject of living by faith, confirmed Jesus’ words. ‘For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by LOVE serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled (obeyed) in one word, (one statement) even in this; Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.’ (Gal.5:13-14) 

Yeh friends, the liberty we have obtained under Jesus should not be abused; in other words, used as a license to sin, to indulge our carnal nature, but to serve each other in LOVE! So with God’s help, let’s sincerely try and do better nuh my fellow believers, because it’s strictly up to us to try and make our world a better place. End of sermon! (smile) 

Now let’s go home declaring who and whose we are strongly and sincerely voicing our Tuesday Mantra. As one now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ And so said, so let it be done! Much LOVE!

…LOVE is so easy to come by…and express…if you truly have Jesus in your heart…