Today’s Scrip-Bit   11 October 2023 Genesis 48:11.

11 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 48:11. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed (offspring).

And then it was Wednesday…somewhat cloudy, but still with a hint of sunshine. (smile) Thankfully though, it seems like there was some heavenly precipitation during the night, which the earth badly needed, for there’s been very little incidence of such precipitation during the last few weeks. 

And what shall we talk about today eh? I guess it’s time to get back to the story of Bruh Joseph for it’s not yet finished, there’s still more interesting and intriguing stuff to come. Now, the last time we saw Bruh Joseph he had been to see his father Jacob (Israel) in the land of Goshen where the family had settled in Egypt and had promised to take his father’s remains beck to Canaan to be buried there besides his fathers.  

The Bible then tells us: ‘And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself (collected his strength), and sat upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me. And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed (descendants) after thee for and everlasting possession.’ (Gen. 48:1-4) 

And if you don’t remember that incident at Luz where the Lord blessed Abraham, you can read it again in Gen. 28:10-22. And I’m chuckling here, as I consider the complex and complicated life of Jacob, a veritable schemer from the day he was born, holding on the heels of his twin brother Esau, then got Esau to sell his birthright for some lentil stew. (Gen. 25:24-34) Then to make matters even worse, in liaison with his mother Rebekah, he stole Esau’s firstborn blessing by dressing up in goat skins to assimilate Esau’s hairy skin. (Gen. 27) 

Oh, what wrongs some mothers cause their children to commit! And in spite of those schemes and several others he hatched during his younger years, the Lord till chose to bless him abundantly, even to making him the father of the nation of Israel. That just goes to show that our God is no respecter of people, in the sense that our wrong doings don’t prevent Him from using us in a big way, when it suits His purpose. 

Then the Bible continues, with Jacob saying to Joseph. ‘And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue (offspring), which thou begettest (are born to you) after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel (Joseph’s mother) died by (beside) me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in (on) the way of Ephrath: the same is Bethlehem.’ (Gen. 48:5-7) 

So Jacob tells Joseph of his mother’s death, the one true LOVE of Jacob’s life, and decides to call Joseph’s two sons his. Then the Lord ramps up the drama even more. The Good Library describes it thus: ‘And Israel (Jacob) beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he (Jacob) said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim with (for) age, so that he could not see. 

And he (Joseph) brought them near unto him; and he (Israel) kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed (offspring). And Joseph brought them out from between (beside) his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both. Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.’ (Gen. 48:8-13) 

Now, let’s remember how important the blessing of the firstborn, given with the right hand, was in that culture. They got more than the others and were the apparent heirs to the father. That reminds us of how Jacob tricked his father Isaac, who was also fairly blind, into giving him the firstborn’s blessing, when it really should have gone to his brother Esau, and the problem here is that once that blessing is made, it cannot be rescinded or changed. And the story escalates in eccentric intrigue. (smile) 

The Bible tells us: ‘And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly (knowingly); for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Jsoeph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, (cf. Gen. 28:10-19) bless the lads: and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s right hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.’ ( Gen. 48:14-20) 

Mama oh Mama! Is the intrigue and eccentricities never to end. But we must note that unlike Isaac unwittingly blessing Jacob instead of the firstborn Esau, Jacob had his wits about him when he blessed Ephraim before the firstborn Manasseh. Who knows why he did it. But the Scholars have some theories on the matter, however we’ll check them out tomorrow, God sparing life, because it would make the Bit much too long today. (smile) Now, let’s go home declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail to all the world, letting them know of our most wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

Altogether: ‘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!’ 

And it’s been further promised that if we endure to the very end with Jesus, that that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So please, let’s plan to meet right at the very end with Jesus nuh! Much LOVE!

…only when you live for Jesus…can you enter the eternal halls of heaven… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ        

Today’s Scrip-Bit    16 September 2023 Genesis 41:52.

16 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 41:52.       For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

And it’s indeed a cool but wonderful, sunshiny lazy-day Saturday morning friends! Just right for early morning lazing around, which I have already done. (smile) Unfortunately, I can only have so much lazy time in the morning because I have to be about my Father’s work, but once that’s done, I can have as much lazy time as I desire. And with that said, let’s get down to the Father’s business, beginning with our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

As one sincere and humble voice. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Wow! And I hope like me, your thoughts have been slowed, your soul quieted, your muscles relaxed and your breath deepened, so that you can get into the presence of our heavenly Father and rest completely in Him. And all God’s people said a loud and heartfelt: ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness to the children of men!’ 

Now let’s get back to that amazing and intriguing saga of Bruh Joseph; a story line that only God, our omnipotent dramatist could have imagined and successfully brought to life. And yes, it seems like it’s never going to end, but it’s ever so important to the founding and the fortunes of the Jewish people. So, yesterday we left off where Bruh Joseph was promoted to Second in command of Egypt through the goodness of the Lord’s hand upon him. 

The Bible then tells us: ‘And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharoah king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls (abundantly). And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and he laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn (grain) as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left of numbering (stopped counting): for it was without number.’ (Gen. 41:46-49) 

Ah friends, you will have noticed how diligent and businesslike Bruh Joseph was from the time he entered Potiphar’s employ, all through the tough times in jail, and finally that diligence, as well as the experience in handling people, though only as a servant, now served him in very good stead as the second ruler of Egypt. As the saying goes, you can’t be a good leader, unless you are a good follower. And that is exactly why the Lord had him experience those tough times, otherwise he would not have been able to do the job the Lord had planned for him. 

And according to the scholars: ‘Thutmose III gave the following charge to his newly appointed vizier (Prime Minister or Second in Command): “Look thou to this office of vizier. Be vigilant over everything that is done in it. Behold, it is the support of the entire land. Behold, as to the vizierate, behold it is not sweet at all, behold it is bitter as gall.” And I’m sure that was the very truth, for although Bruh Joseph had Pharaoh’s complete blessing, there must have been those who found it irresponsible and downright disgusting to be lorded over by a Hebrew. 

And if it wasn’t his Hebrew background, then simply the fact that the citizens were being told how to handle their food and to bring their grain to the king’s storehouses. You know how we are suspicious of anything or anybody that’s involved in hoarding, especially if some of it belongs to us. But for whatever reason, the job that Bruh Joseph inherited was not an easy one. And he most definitely would not have been able to handle it if the Lord had not put him through the school of the Holy Ghost. 

So my brethren, when the Lord places us in some sore spots, before He promotes us, it’s not that He wants to harm us, but more to test and grow us, so we can be ready for the destiny He’s planned for us. Therefore, it’s essential that we go through those tough times with a good attitude, waiting patiently on God’s timing, and keeping Him first place in our lives, not complaining about why such hard times have befallen us while we’re trying to live right, and getting angry at God. 

Remember there’s always method to God’s madness; always a purpose behind His actions, for He doesn’t do anything willy nilly, without thinking things through right to the very end. As the prophet Jeremiah records: ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) And if we claim to believe and trust in Him, then we must be prepared to wait on His timing and go through whatever lessons or hard knocks of life that He chooses to allow to come upon us. That’s the true test of faith and discipleship! 

Now here’s another important aspect of Bruh Joseph’s life in Egypt. The Good Library kindly informs us: ‘And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of the famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (Making Forgetful): For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim (Fruitfulness): For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.’ (Gen. 41:50-52) Aren’t those names and sentiments behind them just wonderful my brethren? They surely are! 

And I like this commentary on that situation by the scholars. They tell us of Bruh Joseph’s two sons and what their names mean. Then say: ‘The reference to all his toil, and all my father’s house only means that the hardship brought upon him by his brothers was a thing of the past. Ephraim, meaning “Fruitful,” signified God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. What a sweet, pleasant, and thankful spirit he showed in interpreting the events that had transpired in his life! The fulfillment of Pharaoh’s prophetic dreams set the stage for the final scene in the fulfillment of Jospeh’s own dreams.’ 

Mama Mia! And you won’t’ want to miss the upcoming marvellous episodes in Bruh Joseph’s story! So please tune in next time. And until then, please, let’s try and live the faithful life that Bruh Joseph lived nuh, even while undergoing trials and tribulations. Most of us are not suffering the way He did, so we should be able to show more faithfulness. Although, as they say, the worst Christian is a comfortable Christian. But let’s put the lie to that statement nuh! Much LOVE!

…without trials and tribulations…a Christian won’t grow in Christlikeness… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ     

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 August 2014 Psalm 31:20

28 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

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

 Psalm 31:20.   Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence (the secret place) from the pride (plots and plans) of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (shelter) from the strife of tongues.

And then it was turtle Thursday! Turtle Thursday in the sense that Thursdays always seem to go slowly. We want them to rush on into Friday, but they just seem to take their own sweet time to get there. But remember Friends, patience and perseverance are the things that get us where we really want to go.
 
As they say, the race is not for the swift, but for the sure of foot. That’s why the turtle beat the hare in the race. He was slow and steady, while the hare was in a hurry and somewhat capricious, guided by whims and feelings.
 
And I don’t know whether I’ve shared this bit of wisdom before, but even if I have, I believe it’s worth another go round today. It comes from a small four by five inch card I have sitting at the front of my desk in my study. Ostensibly you should see it as soon you enter the study, but that rarely seems to happen. It did sometime yesterday though, and I had to chuckle when I noticed it.
 
These are the refreshing words it displays. ‘God’s tape measure goes around hearts NOT heads.’
 
And that’s an indisputable fact, my brethren! The Lord doesn’t judge us by the size and cleanliness of our heads, but by the LOVE and right motives in our hearts. God isn’t looking for big heads, but rather big hearts! Hearts that can encompass His LOVE and goodness, then share them with others who are in need of His LOVING-kindness.
 
So my people, I ask you now, which group do you belong to, the big heads, prideful, boasters group, or the big hearts, humble, LOVING-kindness group? I certainly hope you all will instantly jump up and shout: ‘The big hearts, humble, LOVING-kindness group of course!’
 
And that’s the right answer, but for your sake I hope it’s the true one, because you can fool me and those around you, but remember you cannot fool Almighty God, since He doesn’t take your words and outward actions as proof of your genuine character.
 
So I would strongly suggest that today we take a genuine look at our internal attitudes and make sure that we do have a big, godly heart and not a big, proud head.
 
Remember too that ‘a proud look… and a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (devises wicked plans and schemes)’ are two of the abominations that our wonderful God greatly despises. (Prov.6:16-19)
 
That’s why Bruh David unequivocally declares in Psalm 31, from which our Bit is taken, his certain trust in the Lord. ‘Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
 
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence (the secret place) from the pride (plots and plans) of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (shelter) from the strife of tongues.’ (Ps.31:19-20)
 
Yes my brethren, the ONLY antidote for human pride that’s so prevalent in these prideful, ungodly times, is sincere trust and surrender to Almighty God! For as our Bit says, He shall hide us in a secret place, where the pride and plots of man will not touch us. But before He can do that, we have to give our entire lives over to Him.
 
And just to show how our God dislikes pride, let’s look at few scriptures that point it out. First up is Cousin Sol, who in his marvellous wisdom declares: ‘In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.’ (Prov.14:3)
 
Now listen to Isaiah as he condemns Ephraim. ‘Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on (at) the head of the fat (verdant) valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
 
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast (them) down to the earth with the hand.
 
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden (trampled) underfoot… In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.’ (Is.28:1-3,5)
 
Then hear Jeremiah in his prophecy concerning Edom. ‘For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen (nations), and despised among men.
 
Thy terribleness (fierceness) hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord.
 
Also Edom shall be a desolation (an astonishment): every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.’ (Jer.49:15-17)
 
Yes Friends, the Lord doesn’t make joke when it comes to the prideful dealings of man!
 
And we’ll close with some beautiful and very instructive words from 1John. ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.
 
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:15-17)
 
Oh my people, truer words were never spoken!
 
So today, let’s sincerely check our hearts and souls and see whether there be any pride and worldly lusts therein nuh. Then, as usual, let’s call out to our mighty, merciful and forgiving God for help to cleanse them. That, my Friends, is heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…pride goes before a fall…and the haughty shall surely feel the wrath of God…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 October 2013 Hosea 13:1

03 Oct 2013 Leave a comment

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

Hosea 13:1.   When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
 
Oh Friends, I can’t believe it nuh! But ignorance is a helluva thing yes! Can you imagine it? The leaders of the U.S. have really shut down most of the Federal government’s business, in classic blinkered style, in partisan support of their selfish, foolish, petty, hang-ups!
 
And the sad result is that thousands of government employees have been sent home, until only the Lord knows for sure, without pay, because the leaders have not voted the money necessary to pay them. But yuh know what, the same selfish, petty, foolish leaders in congress are still going to get paid, in spite of their bumbling! What hypocrisy!
 
Ah Lord eh! And as always, it’s the poor and needy who suffer, while the rich and powerful continue to profit, regardless of their evil and greedy ways.
 
So you don’t like ‘Obamacare,’ the medical plan recently instituted to help millions of Americans who can’t afford to go to the doctor. But if you want to chop it up, do you have to do that on the backs of the poor and helpless, by shutting down the government and putting even more pressure and suffering on the masses? I don’t think so. Especially not when the nation is just trying to fight its way out of one of its worst recessions.
 
But we’re behaving as if the rich and powerful have ever truly cared about the masses, except as a pedestal, a footstool on which to build their power and material wealth. They spout a lot of rhetoric and make grandiose promises, but in the long run, it’s always what’s in their best interest that gets the green light.
 
And sadly, too many of the masses fall for the lies, sweet words and deceitful promises of their leaders. But as some wise man once said, we get the leaders we deserve. And that’s gospel, people! 
 
We complain about our leaders and governments, but who put them there eh? We the people! And we the people can also remove them! I do hope the people of the U.S. do wake up soon and see the very low esteem in which their current leaders hold them, and vote them out of office.
 
But my brethren, when we disobey the laws of God and turn to the things of man and the world to lead and guide us, what else can we expect eh?
 
As Cousin Sol so wisely declared long ago: ‘Where there is no vision (prophetic vision or revelation), the people perish (cast off restraint): but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.’ (Prov.29:18)
 
Unfortunately my brethren, God has been removed from too much of our world, especially in the U.S. and the law of God, to all intents and purposes no longer reigns there.
 
Anyway, let’s pray loud, long, and sincerely that the those ruthless and insincere leaders will soon come to their senses and realize that their small-minded actions are hurting the entire country, in fact the entire world, for though their world status has recently dropped, it’s still remains, as the U.S. goes, so does the rest of the world.
 
Ah Friends, I don’t want to even think, much less talk about it, because it just gets me going, and unfortunately my displeasure won’t change a thing, except raise my blood pressure, which is already too high. So let’s turn to our Bit, and ease up the pressure some. (smile)
 
‘When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.’
 
And the scholars have this to say about it. ’13:1-16. When he offended in Baal, he died: Under Ahab, the nation gave itself to the worship of Baal, and the result was spiritual death. The nation’s spiritual decline also resulted in political decline (cf. 1 Kin.16:31).’
 
And that’s exactly what’s happening in the U.S. and most of the world today, my brethren! The spiritual decline of the Western World is causing all sorts of political and economic decline. And I’ll quote the reference from 1 Kings, so we don’t to look it up. (smile)
 
It talks about when Ahab marries Jezebel. ‘And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.’ (1 Kin.16:31)
 
Oh Friends, it all comes right back down to our worshipping idols, the things of man’s hands, the things which do not fall under the law of God.
 
And the scholars’ rightly point out. ’16:31. As in the case of Solomon, political state marriage was to have a disastrous effect for Israel (cf. 21:25). Ahab’s reign was to bring Israel to its spiritual depths. Jezebel’s name means ‘Where is the Prince?’ (Baal)’
 
And the Good Book further states about Ahab. ‘And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above (more than) all that were before him.’ (1 Kin.16:30). Now that’s saying something about Israel’s sad state… and also our own!
 
Ah mih people, we’re just wrong, so wrong in turning away from Almighty God, especially at this most crucial and critical juncture in the history of mankind, for it augurs no good whatsoever. But the good news is that there’s still life, thus there’s hope that we can turn this unbelievable fiasco around. How, you ask?
 
As the Good Book wisely advises: ‘Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy (LOVING-kindness or faithfulness) and judgement (justice), and wait on thy God continually.’ (Hos.12:6) It’s the ONLY way out of our misery, my people.
 
And we’ll end with this verse that confirms that statement. ‘Yet I am the Lord thy God from (ever since) the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside(s) me.’ (Hos.13:4)
 
Ah mih breddren, until the nations of the world take that statement to heart, and return to living by it, there will be nothing but disaster, calamity and gross ‘sufferation’ all over God’s great earth!
 
And what boggles the imagination is that we have numerous examples of just that fact happening all down through the ages. But apparently as man evolves, gets more advanced, technologically etc. he begins to feel that he needs God less and less. But that’s the biggest lie and self-deception, my brethren!
 
And as usual, in this ungodly world, it falls to us, the true believers in Jesus Christ, to try and rectify the situation. So please, let’s put our hands to the plough nuh, and don’t look back, but move straight ahead and try our best to remedy the sad situation we’re in, for that’s our bounden duty. We are the world’s glorious ray of hope! Much LOVE!
 
…when will mankind ever learn…that it’s not possible to live peacefully and prosperously…without the gracious hand of Almighty God upon us….