Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 December 2012 Jeremiah 32:17

05 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jeremiah 32:17.     Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
 
Oh Friends, with the gracious and generous help of Almighty God, and some decent rest, the ole fella’s feeling somewhat better this morning. Praise His Holy Name! I’m not fully recovered, but I’m getting there. What amazes me though, is that in Tobago I never felt this tired. Can one day of travelling, from one climate to another, and one hour of gained or lost time, make such a big difference? I guess so, for there are no other variables that I can think of. Anyhow, here’s an interesting quote, attributed to Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third President of the U.S, one of its founding Fathers and writers of the Declaration of Independence. It says: ‘Happiness is not being pained in body nor troubled in mind.’ And if we could ever achieve that nirvana in these times, then it would be a veritable truth. But with the busy, stressful lifestyle that our world now dictates, and the aches and pains of old age, we need to learn to be happy in spite of those drawbacks. And the best way to do that my brethren is to surrender our souls, our very lives to the wisdom and guidance of the Most High God Jehovah. Why, you ask? Because as Jeremiah so rightly declares in our Bit: ‘Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard (difficult) for thee.’ Yes Friends, the Lord created the universe and all therein, and controls it in His infinite might and wisdom. We might not agree with His will or direction for it, but since it’s His creation, He can therefore do whatever He wants with it, and the contents thereof, including mankind. So if we’re smart, we’ll do our very best to get on His good side and then stay in His good books. (smile) Yesterday we began looking at some scriptures that reinforced the statements made in our Bit. Beginning with the first part, re God’s awesome power and creation of our world, we looked at Hezekiah’s prayer, (2 Kin.19:15) and the psalmist’s cry in distress, (Ps.102:24-27). Today we’ll continue with some more scriptures that deal with the might and glory of our wonderful God. Hear Jeremiah declare it in an earlier chapter about yokes and bonds of Israel. ‘And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto (proper to) me.’ (Jer.27:4-5) Yes my people, the earth and all it contains is the Lord’s, and He does as He pleases with it! Now listen to that great man of God, Isaiah, tell it in all its majesty and truth: ‘Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is.40:28-31) Oh Friends, what more do we need to hear to believe in the wondrous power and works of Almighty God eh? I can personally testify to His amazing grace just through my activities on Monday, and I’m sure many of you can also attest to His strengthening powers in your own lives. So why are we so hesitant and reluctant to let ourselves go, to surrender our all to the One who created us, still LOVES us a whole bunch despite our rebellious and sinful nature, and truly desires to make our lives interesting and fruitful, by bringing us to salvation and eternal life with Him, through belief in His Son Jesus? That’s certainly not wisdom, my brethren! No wonder our lives and our world are in such chaos. And now, moving on to the second part of our Bit; ‘and there is nothing too hard for thee,’ here are some scriptures that appropriately address the topic. One example which we all ought to know, comes from Genesis, when the Lord promised Abraham and Sarah a son of their own loins in their old age, and Sarah laughed, prompting the Lord to tersely declare: ‘Is there any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.’ (Gen.18:14) And she did bear a son, Isaac, in her nineties! Oh fellow believers, if the Lord truly created the world and everything in it, then it shouldn’t be a problem for Him to cause an old man and woman to have a child. That would be like child’s play to Him. Meanwhile, the Good Book, in the same chapter from which our Bit comes, later states: ‘Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?’ (Jer.32:26-27) And the obvious answer to that my people, is a very emphatic NO! And we’ll end, as we like to whenever possible, with the definitive words on the subject from Jesus. This comes from when He told the young, rich man to go and sell all his earthly possessions, then come and follow Him, which the fellow was obviously reluctant to do. That brought forth this statement from Jesus: ‘And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.’ (Matt.19:24-26) End of story my brethren! So Friends, let’s stop trying to live this life by our own will and power nuh. Instead, let’s wisely hand them over to the One who made us, and has a good plan for each and every life. When we do that, then we’ll have the peace that Jesus promised. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) Words of absolute truth and wisdom, my people! Words that I want us to truly consider today, so that our lives can be greatly improved in this evil and troubled world. Much LOVE!…to think that the creation can ever be greater than the Creator…is nothing but foolish pride and wishful thinking…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 December 2012 Psalm 3:6

03 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Psalm 3:6.    I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.

Ah Friends, unfortunately it’s Monday! Steups! And as they say, an end to all good things must come. Chuh! The end of the weekend is here, as well as the end of my vacation on God’s L’il Acre of Tobago. This will be my last message from the cosy cottage at Store Bay. It’s certainly been a most wonderful vacation, and it’s somewhat heartbreaking to see it end. No more sea baths, cocks crowing, nor dogs barking – a big ‘confufulation’ is going on right now in the background; about eight or nine of them just barking their heads off. But as our faith so rightly teaches, when the Lord closes one door, He simultaneously opens another of even greater opportunity and blessing. So let’s praise His Holy and LOVING Name this Monday morning at the beginning of December, the time of Christmas celebrations, when He showed His great, unconditional LOVE for us by sending our Saviour, Jesus Christ to be born in a humble stable in the lowly village of Bethlehem. Instead of being miserable and downcast, let’s raise our voices heavenward in prayer and praise to the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD, Jehovah, Creator of this marvellous universe and all therein. Let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with real vim and vigour, so that the Father and all the heavenly host will sit up and take notice. All together now: ‘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!’ That was great mih people! Heaven sat up and took notice! Jesus was immensely proud, raising a fisted right hand in victory! Now let’s go out and work His work with faith, strength and fortitude, so that we can bring those lost souls with whom we come into contact, safely and LOVINGLY into His wonderful fold. And we have a Bit today that exemplifies true faith and trust in God; encouraging words of Bruh David from Psalm 3, A prayer of confidence in God, written when he fled from his son Absalom, who sought to overthrow him. ‘I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.’ Now that’s showing supreme faith, confidence and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! And the good thing about our Bit Friends, is that Bruh David didn’t just mouth those words, he lived his entire life by them. That means we have a perfect example of what the Lord can and will do in our lives if we submit wholly to His Will; a wonderful relationship, filled with LOVE, mercy, grace and forgiveness. What can be better than that eh my brethren? NOTHING! That’s why I don’t understand how people, once they know about Jesus, can ever turn away from Him, because He’s certainly the BEST thing to ever happen to mankind. Ah Friends, the unbelievers, and some of you doubting, fence sitting believers, really don’t know the awesome peace and joy that comes into your hearts and lives when you fully embrace Jesus and His way of life nuh. And here I can talk from personal experience, as sometimes I’m amazed at the peace that has flooded my soul in the last few years, as I try to walk faithfully with the Saviour. Now please, please note, that following Jesus is not an easy row to hoe, because there are all sorts of tests to pass, but Friends, it is definitely an exciting and adventuresome journey. Now listen to this marvellous verse from one of the most beloved and well known scriptures, Psalm 23; the Lord is my Shepherd, which memorably declares, with uncompromising faith: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps.23:4) Wow! Doesn’t that just build enormous strength and confidence in our souls? Of course! And we’ll end with the glorious words of faith and trust from Psalm 27, the Lord is my light and my salvation. Hear Bruh David tell it like it truly is. ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up (devour) my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.’ (Ps.27:1-3) Oh my people, let’s go out now, into the evil world that surrounds us, bolstered by those strong, encouraging exhortations, and make a positive difference for Jesus today! It’s the main purpose of our earthly pilgrimage. Much LOVE!…if Jehovah God is for us…then who can be against us eh…NOBODY!…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 November 2012 2 Corinthians 5:7

29 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Corinthians 5:7.     For we walk by faith, not by sight:

Oh Friends, I saw a most beautiful sight when I came out on the porch about 5.30 this morning! Looking out to the western sky, towards Store Bay, hanging a little above the trees, was a big, bright, beautiful full moon. I had to stand there and stare at it for a few moments, in awe of our God’s marvellous creation. Oh my people, I don’t care what anybody says nuh, but there are too many mysterious and highly engineered things in our world for them all to be products of mere evolution. Some magnificent Being of outstanding wisdom must have designed and created them. The forces of nature work, and have worked over endless time, too perfectly and precisely, like clockwork, for there not to be some awesome hand involved in their creation and constant operation. And that magnificent Being who created the universe and all therein, all those wonderful and mysterious things we’re talking about, is none other than the MOST HIGH GOD JEHOVAH; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! A God to whom we ought to bow down to and worship with much respect,  reverence and awe, because He not only deserves but also expects and desires it from His greatest creation; the human being. And to show how our God moves mysteriously and wonderfully, a green parrot just showed up on my porch saying ‘hello, hello!’ in a raspy voice. He escaped from the neighbouring compound and refused to be easily caught. So how can we not believe that there’s a Being higher and mightier than us eh? It’s all these little wonders that add up and give us the true perspective of the God of infinite wisdom, LOVE, mercy and forgiveness who rules our individual lives, as well as the natural habitat that surrounds us. Oh Friends, have you ever sat down and truly considered how intricately and precisely made you are? If not, please do that today. Check out how all the different parts of our body, both external and internal, of different sizes, shapes and functions, work in perfect precision and sync. Now that kind of perfect engineering couldn’t have just happened by chance. It must have been well thought out and then put into action by some rather ingenious Being, who just for that ingenuity, is worthy of being served and worshipped. But my brethren, the Lord God Jehovah has done, is doing, and will do above and beyond just creating us. He’s also involved in guiding, LOVING, forgiving and being merciful to all who call upon Him in true faith, and believe that He is who He says He is; the great I AM, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, existing from the beginning of time till eternity. Now that’s the quandary too many of us find ourselves mired in. We must see, feel and touch before we are able to believe. That’s why Bruh Paul declares to the Corinthians in our Bit: ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight:’ Our great God desires us to walk in supreme trust and confidence in Him, that’s why He’s imbued us with the characteristics that we possess. And He’s also shown, right down through the ages, that He is absolutely faithful and trustworthy to those who adore Him and are faithful to His way of life. He even sent His One and Only Son Jesus to die for us, so that in our horribly sinful state we could be reconciled to Him, by simply believing that Jesus was His Son and the only way to come to Him. Only a truly caring, exceedingly magnanimous Being would do something so wonderful for undeserving creatures. Now hear these words of absolute truth from Bruh Paul to the church at Rome: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) wait (eagerly) for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) Yes mih people, Hope stems from being able to comprehend stuff that we’re unable to see, stuff that’s in the future, so to speak. It’s just not logical to hope for something you can see or touch, since hope is the creation of a desire, a longing for something that’s presently outside of our reach, our scope, our physical grasp. But spiritually, we see it through our eyes of faith, and eagerly wait for it to come to pass, with patience and perseverance. And that’s well put by Bruh Paul in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, that famous treatise on Faith. He opens the chapter thus: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) Words of consummate truth Friends! For as we’ve already said, logically speaking, it’s impossible to hope for what you already see or possess. And here’s some enlightenment on that verse from the scholars. ‘Verse 1 is not so much a definition of what faith is, as it is a description of what faith does (cf. 11:6). Two truths concerning its activity are stated here. First, faith provides substance (Gr. hypostasis). Though broad in its usage, this Greek word normally has the meaning of “assurance” in the New Testament (cf. 3:14; 2 Cor.9:4;11:17) and this seems to be the best sense here. Second, faith provides evidence (Gr. elegchos). It is evidence in the sense of proof that results in conviction. The difference between assurance and evidence would be minimal were it not for the phrase qualifying each: of things hoped for and of things not seen. The first involves future hope; the second involves present realities that are unseen. The first includes the hope of the resurrection, the return of Christ, and the glorification of the saints. The second involves unseen realities, such as the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s sacrifice and the present intercession of Christ in heaven. Hope is faith relating to the future; conviction is faith relating to the present.’ By the way, the devil and his wife are fighting for the fish bone or ham bone, or something so. That’s what the ole people would say when the rain starts falling in a cloudless blue, sunny sky, as it just began doing. (smile) Anyway Friends, I know that the scholars’ explanation above is a bit heavy, but please  take your time, study and understand it, for that’s the only way to grow in the Word of our God. And we’ll end with some more memorable, encouraging and enlightening words from Bruh Paul on the subject. ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb.11:6) Yes Friends, today, let’s ponder the levels of our hope and faith in Christ Jesus, and do our best to raise them nuh, so that we can walk even stronger and more faithfully in His Name. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE!…the believers quest for faith…to hope…to hope…and yet to hope…with eager anticipation…and patience… Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.wordpress.com.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 November 2012 Ephesians 5:14

27 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ephesians 5:14.     Wherefore  he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Ah Friends, I can’t believe that I’ve already been in Paradise for a whole week! Time sure does fly when you’re having fun! I can’t say that I had much fun  though yesterday, because all I did was write, eat, sleep, talk on the phone, read, eat and sleep again. But that’s good, for sometimes the body does need a day of rest and relaxation. However, too much of that is just as bad as too little. We need to find a happy medium, so we can both rest and rejuvenate our bodies and minds, but also be up and doing God’s work. As our Bit today warns: ‘Wherefore  he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.’ Yes Friends, we’re still on the very important topic of getting out of the Lucifer induced darkness to the brilliant, salvation filled light of Christ. Hear the scholars on our Bit: ‘Since exposing sin is beneficial, God invites the unbeliever (thou that sleepest) to turn from his sin (arise from the dead), with the promise that he will be granted the spiritual enlightenment and help needed (Christ shall give thee light). And is that ever so true! The enemy just delights in keeping us in darkness, so that we can’t see and rejoice in the glorious light of Jesus. But Friends, we need to fight, with all our might, that evil, cloud-like darkness that wants to keep us in subjugation to Beelzebub and his wicked cronies. And though many of us consider the Old Testament to be like its name; old, out of date, and of no use, that’s a terrible fallacy. It’s there to be an important example to us, a reminder of how it used to be. Both Jesus and Bruh Paul quoted the Old Testament extensively. And in today’s Bit, Bruh Paul is referring to Isaiah’s hymn of praise, where he confidently declares: ‘Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.’ (Is.26:19) Bruh Paul was also quoting from Isaiah’s future glory of Zion. ‘Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.’ (Is.60:1-3) And according to the scholars: ‘Isaiah foresees a time when Israel will arise out of her darkness and shine with God’s glory. Then the Gentiles shall come to her light. Thus the sons of strangers described in this chapter will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.’ And my people we’ve lived to see that prophecy come to pass with Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection! Yes Friends, we cannot ignore the teachings and prophecies of the Old Testament, but must use it in conjunction with the New Testament, for if you don’t know where you’ve been, or are coming from, you cannot plot a good and wise path for your future. And the Old Testament gives us the rich history of our faith, which in these days we desperately need to build on and keep going. Wherefore, Bruh Paul challenged the Ephesians to; ‘See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise.’ (Eph.5:15) Unfortunately though my brethren, too many of us are not walking circumspectly these days, but walking as certain fools, ignoring the rich Word of God, to foolishly embrace the worldly pleasures that Lucifer is tempting us with. However our need to walk carefully is becoming more important every day, especially with the recent explosion of the communications media and the ease with which every Tom, Dick and Harry can put forth their own biased, false and conniving views. We can be so easily led astray in these modern times it’s not funny, but  sadly, many of us are not taking the situation as seriously as it warrants. Fellow believers, I’m imploring us to wake up and smell the roses, see the destruction and disgrace that both the spiritual and physical forces of evil are planning and perpetrating upon our faith and those who embrace it. No wonder Bruh Paul continued by cautioning the Ephesians: ‘Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’ (Eph.5:16) And I like what the scholars say about that verse: ‘Redeeming the time (or, “making the most of every opportunity”): Contextually, the specific opportunity in view is that of exposing the sins of the lost and being a witness to them. Because the days are evil assigns a reason to seize each opportunity. It is because the sins being committed these days are so evil.’ Oh my people, that’s pure, pure gospel truth! These are some of, if not the most wicked and evil days in the entire history of mankind. In times gone by, we were rough and barbaric and didn’t know any better. Hn! But now…now when we’re claiming to be civilized, we’re even more brutal and evil than before, if that’s at all possible. We just do it in a more underhanded, subtle manner. We’ve turned evil into both an art and a science,  a field that too many are desirous of studying and becoming very accomplished in. Friends, oh Friends, it’s only through the strong, diligent, faithful and continuing efforts of believers that this world will ever see any positive changes. So if we truly desire to see it improve, if we truly desire a better world for our children and theirs, then let’s work together in the name of Jesus nuh, with each one of us, really trying to make some small difference in our own way, beginning in our own neighbourhood. That’s the only way any positive changes will ever come about. Much LOVE!…it’s time for ALL true believers…to stop the fruitless talking…and instead step up to the plate…and make a worthwhile, even though small difference…  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 November 2012 Jeremiah 20:13

26 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jeremiah 20:13.    Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers.
Ah Friends, please accept my humble apologies for the Bit being this late, but it’s due to circumstances beyond my control. (smile)  I got up this morning to go to church all the way in Scarborough for 7.30 and never got back home until late in the afternoon. It’s the first time I’ve been to this newly built St. Andrews Anglican church since 1972, for my father’s funeral. It’s nice in the modern way, and has a newish sheen to it, but to me it lacks the praise and worship ambience, the cathedral feel, with stained glass windows etc. that the old one had. It was over a hundred years old when it got blown down by Hurricane Flora in 1963. Oh, I met Harry in church. He seems to be feeling better, and thanks you all for your prayers. Obviously after church I had to talk to some people I haven’t seen for forty odd years. Then we went around visiting a couple of other old school chums. And in between all of that the rain just kept intruding. It would rain for a while, then stop, then start again. At one point in church, it was falling so hard that you couldn’t hear the minister. Yesterday afternoon when it began to fall, it fell with an intensity that I haven’t heard in a long while. But it didn’t interrupt my birthday celebrations, which wasn’t anything big anyway; just a couple of family members eating, talking and listening to music on my porch, watching and enjoying the falling rain. I was happy, since I didn’t feel like dressing up and going out in the inclement weather. The only drawback was that I didn’t get my daily dip in Store Bay, doesn’t seem like I’ll get it today either. But that’s okay, because I know it’s right next door, so I can go anytime I want. So as far as I’m concerned, I had a good 65th birthday, being surrounded by family, in the LOVING presence of Almighty God. It couldn’t get any better! That’s why I can agree with Jeremiah when he staunchly declares in our Bit: ‘ Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul (life) of the poor from the hand of evil doers.’ And that’s the truth Friends! Our God is very concerned about the souls of the poor, downtrodden and oppressed. Granted, sometimes it doesn’t seem so in the reality of the real world, but make no mistake, He does care for all His children very much. Listen to Bruh David tell it: ‘And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth (plunders) him.’ (Ps.35:9-10) The only problem Friends, is that there are so many who are not strong enough to resist being plundered by their enemies. And too many of them refuse to put their trust in the Lord God of Hosts, the mightiest General in the universe. But how can He help us, if we don’t put our complete trust in Him eh? We can’t be half and half, or sitting on the fence like too many of us choose to do. The only way the Lord can fight on our behalf is when we totally surrender our pitiful lives to Him. And in Psalm 109, a prayer for punishment of the wicked, Bruh David again proclaims his undying faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ‘Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice, Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame; and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn (judge) his soul.’ (Ps.109:28-31) Ah my people, I know it’s difficult to put our complete trust in a spiritual Being we can’t see. But that’s the whole idea of faith; believing and trusting in a non-mortal power, that we can’t see or touch. And if the mortals that we can see and touch are not willing to take care of us, but rather take pleasure in using and abusing us, where else are you going to turn, but to a higher spiritual Being, who has over the ages proven Himself to be strong, faithful and trustworthy. Take it from me Friends, it’s worth taking the plunge and putting your whole life in the protective arms of the Lord God Jehovah! I can personally vouch for that life changing strategy, for since I’ve done it, my life has become much better. Now it doesn’t mean you won’t have problems and adversity, but then you won’t be always worried and fearful, because you’ll have the peace and comfort that God will handle it, and also work it all out for the best. And we’ll end with some more encouraging words from the psalmist. This comes from Psalm 111, titled, ‘Praise the Lord for His care.’ And that’s something we ought to do more often and with much more intensity. ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah). I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of (studied by) all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious; and his righteousness endureth for ever.’ (Ps.111:1-3) And that’s the awesome truth Friends! So please, let’s get ourselves together and concentrate seriously on the great God we serve and worship nuh. You will not, no never regret it. Much LOVE!…Praise Him, praise Him…for He is LOVE…He is LOVE… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 November 2012 Psalm 91:5

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 91:5.     Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.

Oh Friends, it’s Friday, and sadly many workers can’t rejoice over the coming weekend, because many are still in darkness, cold, confused and frightened by the natural disasters of the past week. That means there’s not much mouthing of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ And that’s as it should be. But that also means we, the lucky ones, who still have a roof over our heads, and are warm and comfortable, with full stomachs, need to help however we can, but most importantly, to pray diligently, and keep praying diligently for the unfortunate ones. And to add a modicum of circumspection to our enthusiasm, in godly respect for those beset by tragedy, let’s chant our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Yes my people, those of us who are lucky to still have all the benefits of life, must act responsibly on the weekend, so that Lucifer doesn’t have a chance to invade our space and lay his evil eggs. That brings us to our Bit. ‘Thou shalt not be afraid for (of) the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.’ And that’s something all true believers need to write indelibly in their hearts, especially if you’re currently undergoing some real difficult times. Too many of us get scared as soon as any misfortune strikes. We shouldn’t though, provided we’ve bought into the Psalm from which our Bit is taken, that God is our refuge and fortress. And as believers, we desperately need to do that, so we can be free from fear and terror. Remember the Lord, through His servant Isaiah, guaranteed that: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is.54:17) That’s a mighty promise of God, upon which we can all stand assured my brethren! Now hear how the psalmist continues after our Bit: ‘Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth (lays waste) at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation (dwelling place).’ (Ps.91:6-9) Yes Friends, when we take up residence in the Lord’s enclave, then no evil shall be able to destroy us, cause we’re under the Lord’s protection. Hear how Job describes it: ‘He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power (hand) of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league (have a covenant) with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle (your tent) shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin (find nothing amiss). Thou shalt know also that thy seed (descendants) shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth (plentiful). Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is, hear it, and know thou it for thy good (for yourself).’ (Job 5:19-27) Oh my people, it cannot get any better than that! Now let’s end with one more mighty promise from our wonderful, ever-faithful God, the Lord, the ONLY Redeemer. Listen to Isaiah tell it. ‘O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon (scorch) thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:’ (Is.43:1b-3a) Ah Friends, with that kind of backing from the Lord God Jehovah, Creator and Controller of the universe, we ought not to fear anything in this life! We ought to be concerned and act responsibly, but fear of circumstances and people should not stop us from doing the Lord’s work, neither from living the way He desires. We have enough fulfilled promises from the Almighty over the ages, and in many of our own lives, that’s more than sufficient to boost our faith and make it supreme over any fear that Lucifer tries to instil in us. So my fellow believers in Christ, please, let’s stand strong on the wonderful promises of our magnificent God nuh, and diligently do His will without fear, in true faith and upstanding LOVE! Much LOVE!…to acquire true faith…so that we can conquer fear…means we have to be fully engaged in the trenches of action…not cowering weakly on the sidelines…

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 November 2012 John 3:36

07 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 3:36.    He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
 
Oh Friends, it’s all over now, bar the shouting! Barack Obama has been re-elected as President of the U.S.A, and I believe he was indeed the better of the two candidates. However my people, the next step will be the most important in this era of U.S. politics, meaning unless there is some UNITY, some give and take, some compromise on either side of the two major parties, the U.S. will continue to slide into the abyss of poverty and disenchantment, where they are now headed. The staunch holding on to party ideology is nothing but a selfish, egotistical, ploy for political power, and helps the country in no manner whatsoever, but drags it down, and makes it a laughingstock of the rest of the world. Everybody claims to have God and the country’s best interest at heart, but that’s only empty rhetoric, when the two sides of the government, one controlled by either party, would rather see the country embarrassed, and the government brought to its knees because of their intransigence over budget cuts and deficits. And who ran up the deficit through unnecessary wars and tax breaks to the undeserving wealthy? The last Republican President! He took eight years to make a mess of the country, but then they expected Obama to fix it in four, especially when hindered by the economic depression caused by the unrelenting greed and crookedness of that same wealthy elite. Ah Lord eh! Anyway Friends, as we’ve already decided, this is a time of prayer, not only for the U.S and its leaders, but also for the whole world. So let’s pray diligently that all leaders, as well as citizens, will wake up and realize that our world is spinning out of control, and that only repentance and a return to sincerely worshipping and serving the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will bring any reprieve. And the fact that over the last forty or so years America has become one of the most sinful, if not the most sinful nation on the planet doesn’t help matters, because as we keep saying, as America goes, so does most of the world. To be honest, the whole Western world has moved so far away from the God of their ancestors, that we’re now being likened to Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities of evil in the Old Testament, which the Lord finally destroyed with brimstone and fire when He could no longer stand their evil abominations. When will we understand eh Friends, that the Lord will give us a leash to do as we please for only so long, and if we insist on constant disobedience and rebellion, He’s going to pull that leash tight and call us to account? And our Bit clearly reminds us of that. ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.’ It doesn’t take a rocket scientist mentality to understand that my people. And the sad part is that we’ve had so many examples over the course of history, from the Israelites of old, to all the modern Western colonial powers, who began as godly societies, but once they got big and prosperous by the hand of the Lord, perished by that same hand, when they later got too big for their breeches, figuring that it was their own power that allowed them to rise to the top. But somehow or other, every nation that finds themselves in that predicament always thinks that they are the exception to the rule. Unfortunately Friends, there are no exceptions, and we still won’t learn that. As the old people would say, like what ever Lucifer gave us to rub, we ate instead, then became disoriented and foolish. But anyway my brethren, please listen to the truth of the matter from Jesus Himself. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that (the) light is come into the world, and men LOVED darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth (practices) evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (exposed). But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.’ (John 3:16-21) That says it all Friends! And you can’t dispute that right now our world revels in darkness and the things that relate to it. Just look at the movies, books and video games that are currently being favoured, too many of them are based on darkness and the evil stuff that flows from it. Meanwhile, the things to do with LIGHT, LOVE and GOD, have all been placed on the back burner or being slowly but methodically phased out and/ orerased. That certainly does not say or do very much for us re being godly nations. My people, I can only encourage us to pray sincerely for the strength and determination, the faith and LOVE of God to powerfully rise up in us believers, that we might go out into the world and make a big and positive difference. Otherwise…crapaud soon smoke we pipe. Much LOVE!…only when good intentions…are turned into positive action…are they of any true value…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 October 2012 Deuteronomy 31:6

31 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deuteronomy 31:6.    Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail nor forsake thee.

Oh Friends, the negative saga of ‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy continues. Thankfully it’s been toned down some, but the unfortunate effects are still being felt all over Central and Eastern North America. Hopefully in a couple more days it will finally dissipate and leave us to recover and rebuild. Deaths and damage are still piling up, but that’s par for the course. And if we consider that it could have been worse, then we’ll have a sliver of daylight to hang on to. The Lord in His LOVING-kindness must have heard the prayers of many righteous and mitigated the disastrous effects that Sandy could have caused. Let’s hold on to that thought for good measure nuh. Now here’s a rather significant quote from Mayor Bloomberg as He assessed the damage wreaked by Sandy on the mighty City of New York. He rightly declares: ‘Nature is an awful lot more powerful than we are.’ And that’s an undeniable truth Friends! I only wish a whole lot more of us, especially those in positions of power would recognize that. And then, I ‘d like to ask Mr. Bloomberg and all the leaders of the nations, whom they think controls those powerful forces of nature? Oh my people, there’s ONLY ONE RIGHT answer to the question: ALMIGHTY GOD! The same ONE who created the universe and the very forces of nature. And yuh know Friends, until the majority of the world’s population wakes up and realizes that fact, then attempts to live in harmony with it, our world will be under constant attack, because our righteous and just God WILL NOT allow us to continue wallowing in the mire of sin, as we’re so effervescently and happily doing today. Last year we experienced Hurricane Irene who did billions of dollars worth of damage and caused many lives to be lost, but we never used that as a wake up call. Now we have Sandy, who first rose up from the South, then came North on an unfamiliar path to meet two other storms coming from other directions, to become the first storm of that kind we’ve ever experienced. And I ask Friends, will our response be any better than it was to Irene, or will we continue in the same, evil, sinful, ungodly manner as before? Ah mih people, I sure hope we use this as a wake up call, otherwise the next disaster might just be much worse. And did you notice Sandy’s timing; a week before the Presidential Elections in the U.S.? That’s going to cause even more confusion than there already was. But my faithful brethren, with all that negativity surrounding us, there’s still no need to fear, because our mighty, wise and ever-LOVING God is still in control of His universe. And He WILL definitely do as He promised long ago in our Bit, if we acknowledge and live by it. ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail nor forsake thee.’ Now can you imagine the natural fear and despair that gripped a large portion of the Caribbean and North America before Sandy landed, and is still gripping us after this overwhelming catastrophe? Yes Friends, it’s only normal to fear what we don’t know and/or understand. However, true believers in Jesus Christ won’t allow any fear to stop their progress, because they have the awesome promises of Jehovah God to stand on. And as Sister Joyce ( Joyce Meyer) likes to say, even if we’re fearful, but it’s God’s command, then we should do it afraid. And that makes sense. But now let’s check out some scriptures on fear, that also give us the ONLY antidote for it, FAITH. We’ll begin with Isaiah, as he talks about the final restoration of Israel. ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Is.41:10) And if that doesn’t lift your spirits, then listen to these true and stirring words of Bruh Paul to Timothy, words that we all know, but don’t seem to take very seriously. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7) And if that still doesn’t move you, let’s hear Peter, as he declares: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7) Yes Friends, our God does care greatly for us, otherwise He would not have sacrificed His ONLY Son Jesus for us, but we have to live according to His directives, for He’s the BOSS! Just like our earthly bosses will reprimand or fire us if we don’t do as they say, our God will reprimand and punish us if we’re not obedient to His dictates. And we’ll end with the last words Jesus said to His disciples as He gave them the Great Commission. ‘…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:20b) Oh my people, if you can’t believe and take comfort in the words of those men of great faith, and also in Jesus’ promise, then I don’t know what else to say, except may the Lord have mercy on you, and work a miracle in your soul, so that you can truly believe in His faithful promises, and sincerely act on them without fear, but rather – in FAITH. Much LOVE!…do be aware…and do care…but please, please don’t fear…or despair… P.S. Due to time and space constraints, I couldn’t include these scriptures, but please read them on your own, as they will be very valuable, re the fear aspect. (Is.43: 1-5; Phil.4:6-7) Much LOVE!
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 October 2012 Deuteronomy 31:6

30 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deuteronomy 31:6.     Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee nor forsake thee. 
 
Ah Friends, another chapter in our calamitous times is being written, thanks to ‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy. She’s had a hand in at least ten deaths in the U.S. and one so far in Canada, where in Toronto yesterday, a Staples sign blew down in the 60 kilometres per hour winds and struck her. What a sad way to go. Meanwhile Sandy came ashore in New Jersey yesterday, lashing the Eastern U.S. coast with merciless winds and rain. Millions of people are without power now, and flooding is escalating. And the sad part is that though Sandy has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, she’s not done yet. To put it nicely, we still have a couple days of inclement weather left. Now can you imagine if Sandy had retained its hurricane status? The whole Eastern coast of North America is being lashed with powerful winds and much rain, snow is even predicted in some areas. That would just put the icing, both literally and figuratively on the cake. Thankfully, so far in my area it’s been mostly gusting wind since yesterday afternoon, though still at a level we can handle, and hopefully it won’t reach epic proportions. The wind seems to have been blowing away some of the rain. I went out on my porch around 4.30 a.m. and surprisingly found my Toronto Star newspaper out there as usual, though they had warned that it might be late because of the weather. But Friends, while we on the East Coast of the continent have been perplexed and perturbed by Sandy, the residents on the northern part of the West Coast have been worried about a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that took place some 40 kilometres off the coast of British Columbia on Saturday. A tsunami warning had been issued, but thankfully nothing came of it, except bickering and confusion in B.C. where it’s claimed the U.S. warning came a whole half an hour before the Canadian, although they knew about the earthquake and its possible repercussions at the same time as the U.S. Obviously the Provincial Government and its agencies claim that they acted responsibly, while the local governments and the people who would have been targeted by the tsunami, claim otherwise. Oh mih people, what’s happening to us eh? In these supposedly modern and revolutionary times, when we can do all sorts of technological wonders, we still can’t get together rationally and solve common problems. As someone told me last night, the Lord’s sending us a message, but we’re not listening. And that could certainly be gospel Friends! Times have become so fearful that many are afraid to walk the roads even in broad daylight, because evil is no longer hiding under the cover of darkness, but has become so emboldened that it’s operating openly in the light now. However my brethren, there’s ONE, and ONLY ONE antidote for Fear, that’s FAITH! FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD! As our Bit so encouragingly and appropriately declares: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee nor forsake thee.’ What part of that don’t we understand eh Friends? If we truly believe in the all-powerful, faithful God we profess to worship, then we should calmly accept such an awesome promise, and consequently there shouldn’t be any fear in our souls, for the Lord has proven His power and faithfulness time and time again. I guess the problem is that a majority of the population don’t believe in the Most High God Jehovah, and those who do, don’t have sufficient faith to stand the rigours of these troubled times. So without further ado, let’s check out some scriptures, re handling fear with faith building. And we’ll begin with Moses reminding the Israelites of their sad, fearful behaviour on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. ‘Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare (carried) thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God.’ (Deut.1:29-32) Oh Friends, that’s certainly a telling reproach against the Israelites! The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is possibly the greatest exhibition of our God’s great powers, His unending LOVE, and also His powerful anger at continual sin and disobedience. That’s shown in the wandering of Israel for forty years in the desert, culminating with the death of all but Caleb and Joshua of the old generation that came out of Egypt. If anybody in this entire world should have believed in Almighty God, it should have been them, having seen the mighty works He did on their behalf. But obviously they did not, and sadly today we are doing the same thing my people; living in fear, when we have God’s awesome promises to stand faithfully and secure on. We talk up a storm about God, but don’t reflect that talk in our actions, that’s why we’re still so fearful. Now listen to Bruh David’s advice to cousin Sol, when he handed over the throne of Israel to him. ‘Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfill the statutes and judgements which the Lord charged (commanded) Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.’ (1 Chr.22:12-13) Oh Friends what absolutely wise words from a father to a son, especially from one who actually lived the words he spoke, under the calming umbrella of God’s faithfulness. And when Cousin Sol followed them, he became the greatest, wisest and richest king that ever lived! However, in his old age, when he strayed from his father’s words and rebelled against the Lord God of his fathers for the heathen gods of his wives, he lost God’s favour. It’s ever so simple and true Friends: stay faithful to God, and He will stay faithful to you, and under those circumstances, there’s no reason to be overwhelmed by fear. Please, let’s write that indelibly in our hearts, minds and spirits, so that we can continuously recall it, and thus not live in fear. Much LOVE!…we say again…the ONLY thing to conquer fear…is TRUE FAITH in Jehovah God…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 October 2012 Deuteronomy 31:6

29 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deuteronomy 31:6.     Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
 
Oh Friends, blessed greetings on this cold, wet, uninspiring Monday morning! (smile) And plenty thanks be to our wonderful God also, He who so LOVINGLY looks after all our needs! I do hope that all of us who are slated to receive some of ‘Frankenstorm’ Sandy’s wrath have battened down our hatches and made good preparations to withstand the onslaught. Meanwhile, for those of you who have already experienced its ravages, I hope and pray that you are being strong in faith and doing your best to get yourselves back together again. And the rest of you, please pray some righteous, earnest, heart-felt prayers that Sandy doesn’t do nearly as much damage as he or she is scheduled to do. Now Sandy hasn’t even gotten close to me as yet, and I’m already experiencing a bigger leak than normal in the laundry room of my basement. Ah Lord eh! And to make matters worse, the wind and rain is not allowing my fix-it-all guy to get up on the roof, where we suspect the problem lies. But if that’s the biggest damage I suffer, then I’ll gladly live with it. And remember Friends, in the simple, but oh so wise words of the old sage – this too shall pass. So let’s invoke our Bit right now to help us in our time of anxiety. ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ Yes Friends, fear is a major factor in all of our lives these days, it’s just that some handle it better, through FAITH and PRAYER, than others. And with that in mind, this first day of our new workweek, when many are afraid of the pending calamity, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, so that our fearful, lazy, bluesy spirits can be lifted, that they may soar like eagles heavenwards together with our prayer, and embolden us, regardless of the circumstances we face, to go out into the unfriendly, ungodly world and make a significant mark for Jesus. All together now, as the harmonious earthly choir that we are. (smile) ‘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!’ There we go my People! All of heaven was pleased with our heady effort! No excuses now for not getting out in a good, strong, faithful, courageous frame of mind. Oh, before we go any further, let me apologize for a typo yesterday. When I quoted the Lord’s command to Joshua, that His Word should constantly be in his mouth, I associated it with Josh.1:9, instead of Josh.1:8. Mea Culpa! Ah Friends, when sin came into the world, it brought fear with it; a sad lack of confidence in many aspects of our lives. But the caring and understanding Deity we serve and worship, realized our human frailty and gave us an outlet to conquer fear through His Holy Word. And throughout the Good Book, especially in the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of God’s assurance to His chosen people. Possibly the most reassuring of all God’s assurances on fear is when Pharaoh’s army was about to overtake the Israelites as they approached the Red Sea, on their journey out of centuries of bondage in Egypt. Although they had witnessed the calamities that the Lord had rained down on Egypt because of Pharaoh’s refusal to let them go, they nonetheless cried out in great fear to Moses, saying it would have been better to remain in slavery in Egypt than to die in the wilderness, cruelly slaughtered in their helpless state by the Egyptian army. But what was Moses’ response? ‘And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace (be quiet).’ (Ex.14:13-14) And we all know how the Lord instructed Moses to lift his rod over the Red Sea, and it was parted, allowing the Israelites to walk over on dry land. However, the Egyptian army was totally annihilated when they tried to cross over, as the Lord rejoined the waters. Up to this day Friends, I believe that’s the most awesome miracle the Lord’s ever done, both in terms of emotional drama as well as sheer physical size. I’ve forgotten the exact figures quoted by people who studied the situation, but it required several miles of space between the waters for some two million Israelites, plus all their animals and household belongings to cross in one night. Now Friends, if you had personally experienced such a miracle, would you have ever had any further doubts in the amazing power, strength and LOVING-kindness of the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? I’d hope not. But unfortunately the Israelites were so fickle and faithless that they complained all the way to the Promised Land, even though the Lord miraculously led them by a pillar of fire at nights, and a cloud by day and also provided food (manna) and water for them along the way. Then when they finally arrived at the border of the Promised Land, they were too scared to go over the Jordan and fight for it, as the Lord instructed. They listened to ten of the twelve spies they sent to reconnoitre the land, who claimed that though the land was fruitful and prosperous, the inhabitants were too big for them to conquer. That’s why they wondered in the wilderness for forty years until all of the generation that had left Israel had died. ONLY Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who voted to go in and fight, ever set foot on the Promised Land. Even poor Moses, after so much struggle with the Israelites, was only allowed to see it from a far off hill, because of his disobeying God’s order to talk to the rock and not strike it at the waters of Meribah-kadesh. (Num. 20:11-13) Ah mih people, such is the negative effect of fear. Please, let’s not allow it to conquer us. Much LOVE!…the only thing that conquers fear…FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD…

 

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