crazy world | SCRIP-BITS

Daniel 9:9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.

Ah mih friends, Black Friday is over – Praise the Lord! And as always, we had the unruly leggo beast behaviour, the fights and the shootings. What is this life coming to eh? But if you think all the rigmarole is over, you’d better think again, for come Monday, it’s the online frenzy on what has now become known as Cyber Monday.

Ah Lord eh! How many more new days can we get in the shopping calendar, especially when so many people are out of work and can barely make two ends meet? But the captains of commerce don’t care, they just want to sell their stuff, regardless of whom it impoverishes or bankrupts.

I don’t know why we can’t resist these so-called sales, although we know that a lot of the things have not really been marked down, and for the few prices that have been lowered, several others have been raised. The sale talk is just a ploy to get us to come into the store, because they know once we are there we will buy other stuff at the marked up prices.

I guess it’s just the greed in human nature that propels us to these things, and I thank the Lord that I don’t get involved in the madness.

Now it’s Saturday, so it’s time to share a couple of quotes from our friend Anselm, who aspires to inspire us to a better tomorrow. And the first quote of today says: ‘It’s a long time until the next election, but it starts now. And if you truly want to see things change in the direction that our country is headed, you have to stay involved. You cannot quit now.’

Oh friends, truer words have never been spoken. It’s the civic responsibility of each citizen to get and stay involved in day to day politics and events in their country, especially if you want to see change.

And that is rather appropriate in these times to the U.S with the unconscionable stuff that is taking place down there after the election of Donald Trump. If the people seriously want change at the next election in four years, they have to begin NOW to make their voices heard.

And today’s second quote from our friend Anselm is one of pure truth. ‘Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.’ That’s wonderful advice my people!

So often in this negative and crazy world we tell people stuff that just kills whatever little hope they might have. Sometimes we do it on purpose, but ofttimes we do it unknowingly, then go our way rejoicing, not knowing that we have just caused someone else’s joy to plummet.

No wonder Bruh Paul told the Roman church: ‘Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.’ (Rom.14:19) Yes my fellow believers, our words should always be chosen to build up and not tear down our fellow man.

That brings us to the portion of the Prophet Daniel’s prayer for his people Israel, which contains our Bit. Before our Bit, he confesses. ‘O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face (shame), to our kings, our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.’ (Dan.9:8-10)

Oh friends, those three verses are so applicable to our world today that it’s not funny. We should indeed feel ashamed for the overwhelming amount of sin that has befallen our society in the last 25 years. We obviously have not obeyed God’s directive to walk in His laws. Instead we have foolishly chosen to walk in the ways of the prince of darkness, Lucifer.

But thankfully, for our sakes, we have a God who is not only magnificent, but also magnanimous; He is ever merciful and all forgiving, despite our rebellious and ungodly behaviour. But don’t fool yuh fat, don’t get complacent and doh care, for although our God is merciful and forgiving, He is also a God of judgement and justice and there will be consequences for our continual rebellion and sinfulness.

Now do you think that all the dreadful disasters that are happening in our world, one after the other, both natural and man-made, are simply coincidence or bad luck? I doubt it very much. I’m sure that there is some amount of divine retribution involved. I just don’t know how much.

If the Lord, down through the ages, starting with His people Israel, could wreak havoc on ungodly nations, why do you think He won’t wreak it on us eh, as sinful as we are? There is no reason why He won’t.

As they say ‘time longer than twine,’ and our God just has plenty patience, He is long-suffering, and in the fullness of time, if we don’t smarten up and repent, change our evil ways and return to His fold, we will see and feel His judgement.

And listen to Daniel a few verses later. ‘As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil (disaster) is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil (kept the disaster in store), and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.’ (Dan.9:13-14)

There you have it friends; the same things I just mentioned. And hopefully, if you didn’t believe me, then you will believe the man of God, the prophet Daniel… otherwise things will be extremely rough with us. In other words, crapaud smoke we pipe! Much LOVE!

…this world can only be saved…if we sincerely repent and return to diligently serving the Lord God Jehovah…

1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

And sadly my people, it’s Thursday. Steups! That means I only have one more week of this wonderful vacation left. Chuh! I can’t believe that two weeks in Paradise have already gone by. But it seems that even in Paradise, time passes quickly. (smile)

So what good memories did we make yesterday eh? Not many really nuh. I had my constitutional at Store Bay… and even that wasn’t so hot, because the water was a little choppy and I wasn’t feeling up to scratch. On the way home, we stopped for a brief chat with the Duchess’ old pen-pal at her business place.

But I wonder if the young people even know what a pen-pal is or was eh? Those were the long ago days of pen, paper, ink and writing, before the internet and all the other social media nonsense.

Oh, I just remembered that before going to Store Bay, we passed through Pigeon Point, another popular beach close to Store Bay, but I’ve been biased against Pigeon Point from my youth (smile) and it seems that nothing has changed in that respect.

For though the physical surroundings are better planned and more colourful and interesting than Store Bay, the beach itself still does nothing for me. And anyway, the Duchess would never be comfortable bathing there. End of Pigeon Point Story! (smile)

After leaving Rosalind, we came home and crashed, because we were both tired. We read and ate. I had my first roti in Tobago, which unfortunately had more potato than goat. That caused me to remark. ‘If I’d wanted so much potato, I would have both a potato roti yes!’

But that was really small potatoes (smile) in the grand scheme of things. And it helped support a British sister, who runs the Curry Shop on the road to Pigeon Point. When I first heard her British accent I was amazed at the connection between a ‘Britisher’ and curry, although curry is popular in Britain.

Anyway, I asked how she’d gotten from Britain to Tobago? She claimed that she wanted a change, and I believe that Tobago is all the better for it, because she seems to be providing a good service.

Anyhow, around 8 p.m. my body and soul being out of sync, I decided to rest for a spell. Hn! That spell lasted till after midnight, that’s why I’m writing a rough draft of the Bit at minutes after three in the morning. Don’t think I’ve been up at this ungodly hour since I got here.

And that’s basically what I saved in my memory bank yesterday. I have to chuckle here, because I just got up and reached for a piece of pawpaw, only to find the dish empty. Like I’d eaten it all with realizing it.

And we have a very interesting and helpful Bit today. As if they’re not all interesting and helpful eh? (smile) Listen up. This is John talking about trying spirits. ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’

And that Friends, is the undeniable, indisputable, recognizable, gospel truth! And if you don’t believe it, then your life will always be a mess! That’s because you’re allowing the evil rogue, Lucifer, who is in the world, to be stronger than the Holy Spirit of Almighty God that’s supposed to dwell in you.

And that makes no sense whatsoever my people. For why would a staunch believer in Jesus Christ, knowingly allow that cunning, deceitful villain Lucifer, to steal, to usurp the place of Christ’s Spirit in his soul and life eh? That’s total madness and undeniable stupidity!

Now hear what the scholars have to say about our Bit. ‘4:4. Christ indwells believers. Satan is likewise the lord of his own followers. But Christ is greater than he who wreaks havoc in the world. Have overcome is in the perfect tense, stressing the abiding nature of their victory. Their strength lies in the fact that they are (born) of God.’

Yes my brethren, unless we are spiritually born of God, we lack the strength to overcome the enemy. And how does John arrive at this position? Because at the beginning of the chapter he tells us: ‘Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.’ (1 John 4:1)

And that’s no lie my people! There are even more false prophets today than in John’s time. He would certainly have held his head and wept sorely, if he saw what was happening in today’s false and crazy world.

Now listen carefully to the scholars’ note. ‘4:1. The Spirit gives assurance (3:24). But how do believers know it is God’s Spirit, and not a lying one, who is assuring them? John acknowledges the presence of numerous spirits. Christians must be wary that they be not misled. The Greek grammar here may indicate that John is calling for a halt to belief in spirits that was already in progress. This could have been a residual effect of those who had already left (2:19).’

And to complete the understanding of the scholars note, here is what 2:19 says. John’s here talking about the dangers of the antichrists. ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all (none of them were) of us.’ (1 John 2:19)

And the scholars further explain: ‘2:19. Some in the church, but now departed, were never really part of it. Here is a clear distinction between those who merely appear to be Christians, based on outward affiliation, and those who really are, whom the Lord knows and claims as His own.(1 Cor.8:3; Gal.4:9; 2 Tim.2:19).’

Oh my fellow believers, please take a moment and read those scriptures, for they will enhance your understanding of the Word. And we’ll end there, for you have enough on your plate to ponder and rectify today.

So till we meet again tomorrow, God in favour, please let the peace of God rule in our hearts and minds, and let’s work diligently on behalf of Christ. Now that’s wisdom at its highest level! Much LOVE!

…where the LOVE of Christ rules…no evil spirit can ever enter there…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 November 2016 Daniel 9:9.

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