Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 July 2017 Proverbs 15:13.

Proverbs 15:13.   A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance (face): but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Happy Saturday friends, whether you’re simply lazing about the house, doing household chores or getting ready to go out and do whatever you’re going to do, be it work or play! (smile) Just don’t stress yourself out. Whatever you do, do it calmly with the thought of God’s rest on your mind. 

Today is not a good day to get upset and fly off the handle, because that’s exactly what the enemy is standing on the sidelines waiting for. So please take it nice and easy today…all day. 

And since today is Saturday, it means we have to check out some of our friend Anselm’s quotes for this past week, as he aspires to inspire us to a better tomorrow. So without further ado let’s get into the first one, which is ever so important. ‘Let go of anger. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.’ 

And that is the gospel truth friends! Anger corrodes our insides like acid in a plastic bottle, so it’s not a very good thing to hold on to. Why do you think Bruh Paul told us through Ephesians: ‘Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath. Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph.3:26-27) 

Because anger is a powerful negative emotion which causes us to do stuff that offers open invitations to the enemy, if we hold it for too long. Note he didn’t say, don’t get angry, because anger is a normal human emotion, but don’t sin when you do, and don’t hold it for too long. 

And this second quote pertains very much to the now generation, and even to some of the older ones. ‘Release yourself from entitlement. Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.’ 

Ah friends, too many of the young people feel that the world owes them a living, and it’s our fault (the parents) for giving them everything they wanted, when they wanted it, without trying to instill some sense of appreciation in them. 

This next one is also very instructive. ‘Don’t focus so much on making yourself feel good. The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.’ And that’s no lie! When we’re feeling down, the best remedy for our blues is to find some other blue person that we can cheer up, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your blues will disappear. 

And from this last quote, I want us to set today’s stage. ‘Lighten up and have some fun. Humour is mankind’s greatest blessing.’ Hn! I don’t know if humour or laughter is mankind’s greatest blessing, but I do know that it is one of them. Laughter is one of the best medicines for all maladies; it’s free and easy to come by. 

And as Cousin Sol says so eloquently in our Bit: ‘A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.’  

Oh my people, we can all attest to that truth, because we have all encountered a broken heart at some time in our lives and know that there is no pain as devastating as that. But we have also experienced the emotional high that a merry heart brings, and nothing is as delightful and delectable as that.  

So, I believe that we should all endeavour to have our lives guided by a merry spirit and a positive attitude. Just look at our Leader, our Lord and Saviour Jesus: He was always pleasant, always light hearted, not given to excessive negativity, even in the toughest of times. 

Listen to Cousin Sol from Proverbs again. ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.’ (Prov.17:22) And the scholars explain it thus: ’17:22. A cheerful mind is revitalizing to the entire person.’ 

Now that is indisputable truth, because all the battles for control of our lives begin, are fought, and are decided in our minds. That means we have to learn to control our thoughts and focus on stuff that keeps us light hearted. 

And we’ll end with one more shout of wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘Heaviness (anxiety) in the heart of man maketh it stoop (causes depression): but a good word maketh it glad.’ (Prov.12:25) And the scholars enlighten us: ’12:25. A good word is a kind word that cheers the heart.’  More stuff that we also know from personal experience. So I don’t understand why so many of us Christians are so uptight, sour, sad and depressed. 

Yeh friends, if we’re true believers, then our spirits ought to be light, having the assurance that Christ is looking after our every earthly need, and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in heaven.  Oh, by the way, they also say that one of the best abilities we can have, is the ability to laugh at ourselves. Too many of us take ourselves too seriously. 

So let’s lighten up today nuh mih breddren, let’s just enjoy the day, and let laughter and levity be uppermost in our souls today. That’s the word of wisdom for today, as detailed by the Holy Spirit. He wants to see a joyful body of believers raising the level of joy and laughter in the world this day. Much LOVE!

…to every thing there is a season…including a time to laugh…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 February 2017 Colossians 3:13.

Colossians 3:13.   Forbearing (bearing with) one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Well hello there mih lovelies! This is the ole fella, alive and kicking…decently! (smile) If I wasn’t, then I wouldn’t be able to run from pillar to post to all these doctors for numerous tests. And they keep telling me that my heart is weak. Steups! 

Anyway the lateness for the Bit was caused by one of those early morning forays into the big city for more tests, and by the time I got home it was early afternoon and the ole bod was crying out for rest. 

But we’re up and about now, and we’ll begin the proceedings with this essay from our ‘One year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin.’ It’s titled ‘Forgiveness,’ and I just could not pass up sharing it. 

Please read with me. ‘Forgiveness. What does it do for us? In an amazing way it creates a fresh beginning. It lifts us out of the tangled seaweed of resentment. A miracle is performed! It may not happen in a moment or a day. We may have to forgive at six o’clock on Monday and start over again at two o’clock on Tuesday. 

There is no magic wand to simplify forgiveness. Forgiveness is a deliberate setting of our will, often with no emotional high whatsoever. But once having genuinely forgiven, our soul is washed clean. We walk in dignity again. We sense a new vitality. We’re no longer concentrating on hurts; we’re concentrating on God. 

If we would only forgive, our lives would undergo transformations beyond our highest expectations. Above all, Jesus Christ would be exalted, for it is His forgiveness that makes the difference. 

Forgiveness is a beautiful word. It is God’s word passed to us to use freely, joyfully. When we ask for the gift of forgiveness, God always says yes. He gave His Son to make us free, and forgiveness is the secret key to freedom.’ 

Oh friends, isn’t that beautiful? It surely is! It’s one of, if not the best writing I’ve ever heard on forgiveness! And would you believe, I don’t remember ever seeing it before in the two or three years that we’ve been using this devotional. 

Hopefully it’s just my mind is a tad foggy, and I’ve shared it before. It’s too beautiful not to be shared again and again. And what I like about it, is how it covers every aspect of forgiveness; from what it does for us, to how we came by it; through God and His Son Jesus. 

So much of it is true: ‘there is no magic wand to it.’ It’s a definite decision we have to make to forgive, and then work painfully through it. ‘But once we have genuinely forgiven, our soul is washed clean.’ 

Oh how precious that feeling of being washed clean is, my precious people! It’s like when you take a shower after rolling around in the mud. You just feel refreshed and exhilarated; like a new you has been born. 

And believe me when you truly forgive, a new you is really born, because then you stop focusing on yourself and begin to focus on Almighty God, your Creator and benevolent Provider! 

And if we would only concentrate on forgiving, rather that holding anger and resentment in our hearts, our lives would truly undergo such beautiful transformations, transformations beyond all that we can ask or imagine. 

But instead too many of us, (Christians included) choose to foolishly hold on the negative emotional aspects of life, that’s why our lives are so topsy-turvy and we have so little peace and contentment. 

And certainly, our constant use of forgiveness exalts and glorifies our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, because that’s one of His foundation themes. As He says plainly in Mark. ‘And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought (anything) against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.’ (Mark 11:25-35) 

Oh friends, it couldn’t get any simpler or more straightforward than that! Forgive, and you will be forgiven! Don’t forgive, and you won’t be forgiven! 

However, many of us go to God crying out for forgiveness, but are still harbouring unforgiveness in our hearts towards others. God won’t answer those prayers. God forgave us our sins against Him, by sacrificing His Son Jesus for us, therefore He expects us to forgive others of their wrongs against us. There are no ifs ands and buts about it!  

And before I forget, (smile) let’s check out the promise for that writing, and also our Bit for today. ‘Forbearing (bearing with) one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.’  

Yeh mih people, forgiveness is one of the foundation blocks of Jesus’ philosophy and eternal kingdom! If you don’t practice it, then it won’t be practiced on you. Now let’s go home, energized and refreshed, burning inside with forgiveness, (smile) and gratitude and thanks and praise, as we declare our Wednesday Wail. 

In all sincerity and truth now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Oh my fellow believers, I can’t find appropriate words, words that truly reflect the wonder and glory of sincerely following Jesus nuh! You won’t believe it, until you experience it! Why don’t you open your heart to Him today, and see the wonderful difference He’ll make in your life. Much LOVE!

…forgiveness is the secret key to FREEDOM…