Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 June 2019 Ephesians 5:19.

23 Jun 2019 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 5:19.    ​Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
 

Well, well, well… the first Sunday in this summer season of 2019! And it’s shaping up to be a beautiful one, so there can be no weather related excuses for not heading towards the Lord’s sanctuary at some time today, to praise, worship and exalt Him, fellowship with other believers, and receive the confidence and assurance of His Holy Word that will enable us to go back out and face the enemy mano a mano in the upcoming workweek. 

Let’s be obedient for a change nuh, and do as the Good Book says: ‘Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God day: in it thou shalt not do any work. …For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.’ (Ex.20:8-11) 

Ah friends, yuh see that rest and fellowship and spiritual renewal were so important in the Lord’s plan that He enshrined them in the Ten Commandments! So who are we to say otherwise eh? And as always, we’ll open the proceedings with a song of praise and adoration to soften up our hearts and put us in the mood to receive all that our wonderful God has to offer us. 

And today’s song is one that pays tribute to God’s creation of the earth and the majestic nature that He’s created thereon. It’s the old Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) classic: ‘Morning has broken.’ So without further ado, let’s sing it out from deep within our hearts and souls, with much thanksgiving and feeling, like we really believe and mean what we singing nuh. 

As one glorious choir now: ‘Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing Praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass 

Mine is the sunlight Mine is the morning Born of the one light Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning God’s recreation of the new day Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing Praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world.’ Short but sweet!

And isn’t it just amazing my faithful brethren how this morning has broken just like the first morning did eons ago, and as every morning has done in between, and like every morning will continue to break until the Lord decides otherwise! And likewise how the birds greet each morning like the first one with their songs of joy, praise and thanksgiving! Mama Mia! Only a Deity of omnipotent power and wisdom can create such a constant happening down through the ages! 

And yuh see how He created the beautiful Garden of Eden to house Adam and Even, and the other marvels of nature for their descendants. And it’s the very same sunlight and morning that our forefathers saw in Eden so long ago. And He’s such a wonderful God that although our forefathers were disobedient He didn’t destroy us completely, but kept mankind around until it was time for His Son Jesus to make His marvellous appearance as our Lord and Saviour, sin-bearer and Redeemer. 

That’s why, as the song says we ought to praise Him with elation, every morning that we open our eyes to a new one with birds singing and the sun shining down from heaven. Oh, and don’t forget to also praise Him when the sweet rain falls gently on the ground, because that is also His doing, and it does serve many useful purposes in our lives. 

That’s why there are so many scripture passages praising the Lord and also advising us to praise Him. And yuh know what friends, it’s all for our benefit. So let’s check out a few of them in the time and space we have left nuh, beginning with these awesome words of truth from the psalmist Asaph from Psalm 77. 

‘Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (in holiness): who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.   Selah.’ (Ps.77:13-15)  

And hear Isaiah when talking about the servant (Jesus) coming to glorify the Lord. ‘Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles (coastlands), and the inhabitants thereof.’ (Is.42:9-10) 

Meanwhile another psalmist declares (wrong again!) ‘O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory….Make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise (break forth in song), and rejoice, and sing praise.’ (Ps.98:1,4) That’s just like we did earlier on friends! 

And we’ll end with this wonderful advice from Bruh Paul to the Ephesians, as he talks about the ways of the true believer. ‘Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit. 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph.5:17-21) 

Oh friends, if we take that wonderful advice, we can never go wrong in our LOVE walk, because it will just raise our faith and keep us tripping on top of the world! Wow! And do I ever LOVE that last part of our Bit: ‘singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;’ It just touches the soul of the writer and musician in me! 

Anyway, it’s time to go home now, we done late already, going to church spoil mih business. (smile) So please have a blessed Sabbath day, singing and praising and fellowshipping and hearing and reading the immortal Word of God, as we faithful saints of Christ are meant to do! Much LOVE!

…let the whole earth…all of creation…praise the Lord…for it is His just dessert…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 December 2017 Psalm 4:8.

03 Dec 2017 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 4:8.   I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

And after Saturday, comes Sunday… the first day of the week; the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath; the time we gather for great fellowship in the Lord’s sanctuary, be it a majestic cathedral or a lowly hovel! The physical aspect of the place doesn’t matter that much, just the feeling of friendship and LOVE we bring to it.  The Lord is more interested in what’s in our hearts than our surroundings. 

Yuh see where He allowed His Son Jesus to be born at the upcoming Christmas time? In a smelly, rundown animal barn. Don’t you think, if He wanted to, or if He thought it that important, Jesus could have been born in a palace, or somewhere much better than the manger. For sure! But Jesus wasn’t coming to earth to live in royal splendor…at least not this first time… but as a lowly servant, so His birthplace did fit His station in life. 

Anyway, let’s get to the matter at hand, opening our ceremony with some sacrifice of praise, with the old Cat Stevens tune, ‘Morning has broken.’ In full voice and beautiful harmony now, letting heaven know that we’re serious about our praise and worship. ‘Morning has broken like the first morning  Blackbird has spoken like the first bird  Praise for the singing Praise for the morning  Praise for them springing fresh from the world  

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven  Like the first dewfall on the first grass  Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden  Sprung in completeness where his feet pass  Mine is the sunlight  Mine is the morning  Born of the one light Eden saw play  Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning  God’s recreation of the new day  Morning has broken like the first morning  Blackbird has spoken like the first bird  Praise for the singing  Praise for the morning  Praise for them springing fresh from the world.’ 

Yes friends, a brand new day has indeed dawned, just like the first one did eons ago, and will continue to do until the Lord decides otherwise! And I do hope that we are thankful for being allowed to see this new day, especially knowing that so many good things can and will happen to us, and through us to others. Glory to God! 

What a wonderful Deity we serve and worship! There is NO other like Him! Give Him much deserved thanks and praise for all that He’s done for us, my brethren, especially when He didn’t have to! But the undying and unconditional LOVE in His heart wouldn’t allow Him to just let us be destroyed in sinful turmoil without giving us a chance to be redeemed and spend eternity with Him. 

That’s why Bruh David could write the last two verses of Psalm 4 – An evening prayer of trust in God – with such boldness and authority. ‘Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn (grain) and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ (Ps.4:7-8) 

Wonderful words of assurance friends, which carry over even in to today’s tumultuous and evil world for each and every believer in Jesus Christ! Yes, if we are true followers of Jesus, then we can make the same boast on His glorious name! 

And Bruh David wasn’t shy to declare his trust in God. Listen to him from Psalm 3 – A prayer of confidence in God. ‘I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps.3:5-6) 

Ah mih people, are we brave and bold and faithful enough to make such declarations? We ought to be, if Christ is our Lord and Saviour. But I guess too many of us supposed believers are smitten by fear of what the world can do to us, but the Bible tells us oodles of times, ‘FEAR NOT!’ Somebody says it’s listed there 365 times, one time for each day of the year. 

And Jesus specifically said to the disciples: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt.10:28) That’s the Lord God Jehovah my people! If we need to fear anyone, that’s whom we should be afraid of because He has the power to destroy us six ways from Sunday. 

But then listen to Bruh Paul’s words as he encourages Timothy on the subject. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7) God has given us the ability to do whatever he wills, my brethren, so there is no need to let fear overcome us. And if we do become afraid, then just do whatever it is afraid. (smile) The Lord will see you through. 

Oh people of Christ, our world is in a sad, cruel and evil mess, and only we Christians can clean it up. But to do so successfully, we have to stand together strong and steadfast in Jesus name, unafraid of what the world will do or say. Otherwise we’re just wasting our time and energy. So today I implore us to get together in our local communities and get a move on nuh, with establishing Jesus’ LOVE Revolution. It’s the only hope for our world! Much LOVE!

…enough talk now…time for more serious action from Christians…