Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Oh Friends, the ole fella must be really getting old yes! Why am I saying that? Because this is Caribana week, sorry, it’s now officially called the Scotia Bank Caribbean Carnival, or something to that effect. There have been some lawsuits regarding the ownership of the name ‘Caribana,’ and whoever is running it now apparently can’t legally use that name. But Friends, from now until forever, it will always ring on in the minds of the local populace and visitors as Caribana. Anyway, as I was saying, Caribana week is in full swing and I’m not enthused or excited about any of the events. Even my beloved Pan Competition doesn’t awaken the usual enthusiasm. I suppose because I can’t jump and prance like I used to, due to my bad knees, I’ve just lost the excitement of the season. But don’t write me off just yet, for ole Lucifer has been whispering in my mind: ‘Go to the Caribana Parade. You can do it.’ And if I truly felt that excitement, I believe I could do it. However, it’s not only the state of my knees that have me unenthusiastic, but also the fact that these days when I go to the parade, I don’t see any of the people I use to party with over all those earlier years, Plus the young people’s attitude sucks, to put it mildly. They don’t know how to party in the streets, don’t know how to jump up without causing confusion. Unfortunately they only know about rushing and pushing, blatantly ignoring the space and rights of the other revellers. That’s why I understand they now have six foot barriers to prevent people from getting into the bands. Those barricades might just turn me off too, because as far as I’m concerned Caribana is a participatory event, not something to just stand on the sidelines and watch. Who knows though what will happen come the weekend? Only the Good Lord in His high heaven, and He’s not telling. But don’t be too surprised if you see the ole fella sashaying down the boulevard as best he can, for with our God, ANYTHING is possible. (smile)So saying, I guess I can slip in a quote from Gramps Schuller (Robert H) of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California. He says: ‘Blessed are those whose dreams are shaped by their hopes, not by their hurts.’ And that’s so very true Friends! When we concentrate on our hopes and dreams, rather than our hurts and disappointments, we always come out better off. That’s because hope entails positivity, reaching outwards and upwards to heaven and God, while hurts cater to negativity, looking down to Lucifer and Hades. And that’s why our Bit so rightly declares: ‘Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.’ Yes my people, if we don’t have hope then we’re lost; we become depressed, anxious and easily traumatized. But when hope invades our souls, then we’re revitalized, enthused, become excited about Life and LOVE again. As Cousin Sol says later in the same chapter: ‘The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abominable to fools to depart from evil.’ (Prov.13:19) And the extraordinary good thing about hope is that when it revitalizes us, it grows like a well watered tree. Everything around us takes on a completely different look; a more positive and amenable feeling comes over us. I know we’re not supposed to live by our feelings, like a yo-yo, but feelings are a part of our God-given nature, and at times the negative ones will lead us, but hopefully not for very long. And remember Friends, that hope is the basis of all Christian endeavour, as Bruh Paul declares to the Roman Church: ‘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 it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) That my Friends is the irreversible, unalterable truth! If we see it, why hope for it eh? But when we don’t, then we eagerly hope for it and persevere until it becomes a reality. And this scripture verifies all that: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) That means brethren, before we can have faith, we must first have hope. It’s the seed of hope, planted in the deep, dark recesses of the rich soil of our souls, that germinates when watered by the Word of God and bursts out into the bright light of Jesus as faith. It’s like the little acorn that through God’s marvellous engineering eventually grows into a mighty, towering oak tree. Oh my people, we Christians are the only ones who have the hope of salvation and eternal life built into our belief system. But unfortunately, too many of us allow the negative appraisals and feelings of the world to lead us, so much so that we’re in danger of losing our hope. Friends, that’s something we definitely cannot allow to happen, because if we lose our hope in God, then we’ll be totally lost, shipwrecked, done like dinner! We might as well be dead. So in these troubled and fearful times, one thing we have to dearly hold on to is our hope; our hope in Jehovah God, who’s created us, who LOVES us unconditionally, and has promised never to leave or forsake us. As Bruh David so rightly declares in his prayer for self-understanding: ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ (Ps.39:7) Please remember that my brethren! And furthermore, let’s write it indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls, so that we won’t lose our hope. Much LOVE!…once there is the breath of life in our mortal bodies…then there’s always the seed of hope present in our spirits…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 August 2012 Proverbs 13:12
02 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: Caribana, conviction, enthusiasm, excitement, faith, hope, hope in God, jump up, never forsake us, perseverance, spirituality, Word of God
Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 June 2012 Jeremiah 29:11
25 Jun 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: believe the awesome promises of Jesus, encouragement, faith, hope, humble servants, invincible, jeremiah 29 11, light burden, LOVE, sacrificial lamb, spiritual armour, stand up for Jesus, sure conquerors
Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Well hello there mih Lovelies! Rise and shine to greet a brand new beautiful day, full of joy and unconditional LOVE! Unfortunately it’s called Monday, (smile) which means that we have to go back out and labour for massa to earn a paltry living. Now that’s the bad news Friends. But here’s the good news, the gospel news: It’s simple, but oh so powerful! All of us who are staunch, true, faithful believers in Jesus Christ, the ONE and ONLY SUPERSTAR, have nothing whatsoever to worry about, because He’s already taken care of everything for us. He’s paid for our disgusting sins by sacrificing His holy, sinless life on the cross at Calvary, even though we didn’t, and will never deserve it! He’s promised us His perfect peace, very different and much more refreshing than that of man! He’s called us to lay down our heaven burdens at His nail scarred feet, and instead offers His easy yoke and light burden! He’s promised to be always with us, wherever we go, and to never leave or forsake us, which He’s faithfully done by sending His Holy Spirit, His Comforter to live within us, to lead and guide us along the straight, narrow, righteous but difficult way! And above all He’s promised the magnificent but free gift of grace through salvation and eternal life! Wow! A place where there’s no more pain, suffering, sorrow, darkness, hatred and tears, but till eternity, His brilliant light will light our golden paths, with joy, fellowship, and an exceedingly good life filled with LOVE! Mama Mia! And all we have to do to receive His generosity is believe in Him; believe that He is indeed the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIGHT and the LIFE, and that no one can come to Father God besides through Him, the SON, the SACRIFICIAL LAMB, our LORD and SAVIOUR, to whom ALL Power has been given, both on earth and in Heaven, and to whom ALL knees must eventually bow. And all God’s people raised a mighty shout to Heaven! ‘Praise be to Jesus Christ, who is indeed worthy to be praised!’ Yes Friends, what awesome promises, most of which have already been fulfilled and are continuously being fulfilled every single day in our lives! How much more do we need before we can trust Him, surrender our lives totally to Him eh? How much better can it get? The gospel truth is that it cannot get any better than that mih breddren! So with all those great things going for us, why are Christ’s people still so sad, miserable, scared, resentful and lacking true joy? Because we either don’t truly believe His Word, or we’re allowing the enemy, the evildoers to bamboozle us with false info. Anyway, on this historic Monday morning, let us all rise up and remember that the joy of the Lord God Jehovah is our strength! Yes, ALL God’s people, let’s rise up and reclaim that joy that so many believers have sadly lost, or simply set aside because of their rough and unfortunate circumstances! Let’s let the whole wide world know that Jesus’ people are ready to ride into battle, even to the death, for Him! And we can start the process by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with overwhelming exhilaration, in loud, tuneful, soaring voice. 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!’ Oh Friends, I was looking for something to stir up our spirits today, something to get us actively participating in the ongoing LOVE Revolution, and this is where the Spirit led me. I sure hope it has the desired effect, of encouragement, hope, trust and faith, and that we’ll readily and gladly accept, without any reservations, the awesome promised contained in our Bit: ‘ 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 (hope and a bright future).’ And I want to testify here Friends to the Lord’s true and awesome power, because I wrote all that stuff without a Bit in mind, then within a few seconds of contemplating what would be an appropriate one, the Spirit flashed that one in my mind, and not only that, I knew exactly where to find it. (smile) So please put all your trust and faith in Him, for He will NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Much LOVE mih beautiful people!…STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS…THE TRUMPET SOUNDS OBEY…TILL EVERY FOE IS VANQUISHED…AND JESUS HOLDS ETERNAL SWAY…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 May 2012 Isaiah 42:1
24 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: faith, Gentiles, good health, holy spirit, humility, messiah jesus christ, new mercies and blessings, old testament prophets, precious blood, servant, unconditional LOVE
Top o’ the morning to all you godly Friends and neighbours in Jesus Christ! I sure hope this missive reaches you all in good health and wealth. And if perchance it doesn’t, then when you read it, you will be buoyed by the good news it brings, and the Holy Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus will course through your mind, body and soul to bring healing and cleansing. This is my prayer for all of us this beautiful Thursday morning, as new mercies and blessings rain down from heaven through the exceptional grace and unconditional LOVE of our Creator, Provider and Holy God. Now, without further ado, let’s turn to our Bit; one of the most powerful and prophetic prophesies (smile) found in the Good Book. ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ Yes Friends, it’s all about Jesus; His coming to earth to save our sinful souls. Listen to the scholars’ take on it. ‘My servant is identified here as a person rather than a personification of the nation of Israel. With all the traits of King, Prophet, and High Priest. He is none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself. He is also called mine elect (bechiri; set apart for a definite purpose) and the One in whom I have put my spirit. The New Testament quotes this prophecy as being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt.12:8-21) The ministry of the Servant of the Lord will be to bring forth judgement (or justice) to the Gentiles and in the earth. His kingdom knows no barriers of nationality or race. Of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah saw this fact the most clearly. While Jesus’ early ministry was to the house of Israel, His ultimate commission extended to the Gentiles as well.’ What a truly wonderful God we serve my people! It boggles my mind when I think of how His LOVE for us was so great that He sacrificed the holy, sinless life of His only Son to bring redemption and reconciliation to our worthless, sinful souls. And all God’s people raised their voices heavenward in a mighty shout of joy, praise and gratitude: ‘Oh thank You heavenly Father! Thank You for sending your Son Jesus to shed His precious blood as a sacrifice, so that our sin debt could be pain in full! We praise You, and bless Your Holy Name! Amen!’ Ah mih people, the story of Jesus, Holy God, coming to earth and doing what He did, is the most awesome and amazing one ever told and also fulfilled. Wow! And Jesus was the sure personification of that prophecy, as Matthew 12:17 declares: ‘That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying…’ And Matthew goes on to quote Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:3, as evidence for the fulfillment of the prophecy. (Matt.12:18-21) Now let’s touch on the first important point in our Bit: ‘Behold my servant…’ Yes Friends, that word ‘servant’ is ever so important in our Christian faith, because that’s the way Jesus came a calling; as a humble servant. ‘And whosoever will be chief (first) among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (served), but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.’ (Matt.20:27-28) That definitely means, my fellow believers, that we should ALL have that spirit of servanthood in us, if we’re true believers! And if we don’t, then our faith is false, it’s not a true reflection of the character of Jesus. Now let’s close with this definitive statement on the matter from Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘Let this mind be in you, (keep thinking this, constantly maintain this attitude) which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (didn’t assume God-like qualities); But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ (Phil.2:5-8) Friends, oh Friends, it’s that kind of humility which our world so sadly lacks and so badly needs today! Instead of everybody wanting to be el numero uno, the first, the most powerful and popular, and sitting at the highest seat, let’s bring back the true spirit of Jesus nuh, where He desires to see us graciously and humbly serving each other, not always jockeying for the top spot. That way others will truly see His wonderful character shining out from us like the bright Morning Star which He so avidly personifies, and will come to LOVE and serve Him just as much as we do. Oh my brethren, that’s how we should be winning souls for Jesus! More on this tomorrow, the Lord willing. Till then, please let’s come down off of our high horses and walk the humble walk of Jesus. Much LOVE!…without the attributes of humility and servanthood…no man can be a true believer in Jesus…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 May 2012 Psalm 81:13
21 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: battle hymn, encouragement, enthusiasm, faith, LOVE, prosperity, Queen Victoria, renewed vitality, spirituality, stewardship
Psalm 81:13. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
Oh Friends, it’s Monday, that day we all LOVE to hate! And luckily, for many in the British Commonwealth of nations, it’s a public holiday, commemorating the birthday of that powerful, strong minded Queen Victoria, (1819-1901) whose rule over British territory has been the longest, 64 years (1837-1901) and under whose stewardship the Empire spread and prospered like never before, raising the claim of an empire on which the sun never set. However, many others around the world, and here too in our 24/7 society, still have to go out and labour to keep the wheels of commerce spinning. So to encourage and energize those folks, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much verve and enthusiasm. 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!’ Yes my people, today, we are placing our faith and trust in God’s hands, surrendering our bodies and souls to His wise guidance, unlike many others, both from this current age and of all those gone by. Of one thing we’re certain, God won’t be able to say of us, like the psalmist Asaph did of his people Israel in our Bit: ‘Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!’ Ah Friends, that comes from the psalm titled, God’s goodness and Israel’s waywardness. Now that was so silly of Israel, God’s chosen people, whom He had blessed above all other nations, to whom He had showed such signs and wonders, made such extraordinary promises to, and then faithfully fulfilled them! One would think that under those circumstances their way of life would have been one of integrity, one of walking steadfastly in God’s way. But unfortunately it was not so. As soon as they became prosperous, they forgot who brought them to the dance; the Lord God Jehovah, and turned away from Him. Neither is the majority of today’s world living a godly life, following the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life, but are foolishly following the wide path designed by the liar and cheat Beelzebub, a path which leads directly to death, destruction and eternal damnation in Hades. Listen to the prophet Isaiah conveying the Lord’s rebuke to Israel: ‘Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to (heeded) my commandments! Then had thy peace been like a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels (body) like the gravel thereof (grains of sand); his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.’ (Is.48:17-19) Oh my people, it’s the same thing the Lord’s saying to this evil, ungodly, adulterous generation, who are bowing down to idols and other man made Gods, while doing their very best to eradicate the ONE TRUE GOD, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from our society. But Friends, we, the united band of brothers and sisters in Christ cannot allow that to happen, for the tribulation, some of which is already befalling us, will be real terrible. We have to turn this thing around, by constantly promoting our LOVE Revolution and bringing the nations back to God, who is so wonderful that He’s offering us a second chance to return to His fold, just like He offered Israel another chance to do so. ‘I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.’ (Ps.81:14) But my brethren, if we don’t grab this chance to return to serving and worshipping our Creator, then: ‘There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.’ (Is.48:22) Oh Friends, our world is already consumed by much ungodly and ever increasing strife, and returning to God is the only way to reverse it. The choice is ours. Please, I implore us to choose wisely, for that decision between serving God and Lucifer will affect our lives from today, right through eternity. Much LOVE!…as for me and my house…we will definitely choose to follow Jesus…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 May 2012 Matthew 7:7
19 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: anniversary, ask, close contact, faith, God is real, knock, opportunities, pain, painful experience, physical life, prayer, prostate cancer, scourge of life, seek, spiritual life, trust, unfortunate occurrences
Matthew 7:7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Oh Friends, today is the one-year anniversary of my prostate surgery. May 19 2011 was indeed a noteworthy day for me, having the scourge of our generation removed from my insides. And thank God so far I am still cancer free! It was by no means an easy go. That night afterwards in the hospital was rough. I remember trying to get up from the bed, and not being able to. Eventually, after several unsuccessful tries and crying out to God, I finally managed to get up. Hn! Neither was the recovery easy, though the wound itself caused fewer problems than the ancillary stuff, like bladder and bowel movements. Now it seems unreal that a year has since passed. But Friends, the knee surgery some six months before and the prostate surgery were certainly two turning points in both my physical and spiritual lives. Through an eye-opening faith, I found peace in both instances and truly learned to talk to and listen to God in those painful, uncomfortable experiences. And to celebrate it all, the Lord guided me to two quotes to share with you today. The first comes from Henry Ford, who enabled us to have that wonderful invention, the motorcar. He says: ‘Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize.’ And that’s very true Friends, as most of us can attest to. Each experience in our lives makes us bigger, and often better people, though at the time we don’t realize it. It’s only in hindsight that we really realize our growth. And it’s something that I can personally vouch for too, because after the two surgeries, then the unexpected death of my mother soon after, my life seems to have moved up the ladder of faith and trust a step or two. Then there’s this quote from another great builder, Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. He tells us that God never let’s anything happen to you, unless it’s loaded with opportunities. That’s also gospel truth Friends! For whatever God allows to happen to us, there’s always something good and worthwhile we can take away from it. My surgeries and my mother’s death, all within about nine months, though they appeared to be negative, unfortunate occurrences, yet I took away positive things from them. My faith and trust in God certainly increased, along with a closer personal relationship. I began talking to Him more and also getting more answers to my prayers. It’s no lie Friends, that when you go through hard times, you develop a greater appreciation for your Creator and definitely realize that He IS REAL! Amongst those things I learned was the reality of our Bit: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Oh Friends, it wasn’t once or twice that I cried out to God for a bligh in both my spiritual and physical pain! Neither was it once or twice He gave me the bligh! This obviously convinced me of the truth of our Bit; whatever we need, we must ask for it, seek it out or knock confidently on the door behind which it is hidden. But remember, we shouldn’t only go to God for material, worldly stuff, it should also be consistent with His will for our lives, else we won’t get it, or He’ll allow something that will teach us a hard but worthwhile lesson. But ask, seek and knock, we must do. Jesus reiterated that principle after He spoke to the unfruitful fig tree: ‘Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ (Matt.7:19-22) Yes my people, it is necessary to ask in prayer, with great faith, for whatever we desire. As Jesus pointed out, faith is the great catalyst, so great that it can cause us to move mountains. And I surely hope that this Bit will encourage all who read it, to get into a closer relationship with God, to fervently seek Him, especially in rough times, and pour out your hearts to Him. He will listen, and He will heal, because He’s the best medical practitioner there is. And finally, when those rough times have passed, don’t simply forget God, but keep seeking and talking to Him, with thanks and praise. Also, please sit and ponder those rough times and try to learn from them. There’s always something we can learn, whether it’s something we should or shouldn’t do. Oh Friends, there’s no need to fear, for the Lord will guide you to where He wants you to be, if you’ll just surrender your all to Him, and walk with Him in trust, faith and LOVE. My brethren, God’s ways are not our ways, therefore we won’t always be happy with the outcome of some situations, but it’s in those unfortunate times where we truly learn that there’s a great and powerful Spiritual Being out there ruling the universe, and if you stay in close contact with Him, overall, your life will certainly be blessed. That’s wisdom at its very best, so please follow it. Much LOVE!…through sincere trust, faith and belief in Jesus…ANYTHING is possible…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 May 2012 Acts 10:38
16 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: anointed, blessings, eternal life, faith, free gifts of God, grace, Holy Ghost, Jeus Christ of Nazareth, mercies, praise, redemption, sacrifice, salvation, spirit of jesus, straight and narrow paths, thanksgiving
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 May 2012 Psalm 41:9
05 May 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: Advocate, beautiful day, betrayal, christ jesus, disappointment, don't give up, faith, fulfill the scripture, human sensibilities, stand steadfast, trust, wait on God.
Psalm 41:9. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Well hello there mih LOVELIES! How goes it on this bright, beautiful, bounteous day, so LOVINGLY created for our enjoyment by our heavenly Father? I sure hope it goes well with all of us believers in Christ Jesus. But just in case all’s not going too well, I want to remind us not to fall apart, not to give up, because we have an Advocate with the Father, namely Jesus, to plead our case. So whatever’s wrong, let’s stand strong in faith, do our best, while looking to Him for guidance and help. Remember He either personally experienced or saw the stuff we’re going through, during His sojourn here on earth in human form. So He knows and understands the human problems and frailties from both sides now; as God, as well as man. That brings us to our Bit: ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against (has betrayed) me. ‘ And amongst those human problems that Jesus faced and experienced was the most hurtful one of betrayal by a close friend. In fact several people close to Him betrayed Him. So although He was the Son of God, He wasn’t immune to human disappointment. And though He knew beforehand what the script called for, since He had a hand in writing it, those betrayals still inflicted hurt, pain and disappointment on His human sensibilities, like it does on ours. Over the last couple days we’ve discussed the betrayals of Bruh David, Job and Jeremiah, today we’ll look at some Jesus suffered. Now we said that Jesus knew the betrayals would come and after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus told them about it. ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.’ (John 13:18-19) Jesus quoted our Bit there, knowing that many who had been with Him during the good times would desert Him, when things got rough, but it had to happen to fulfill the scripture. After that ‘he was troubled in sprit, and testified and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.’ (John 13:21) Obviously all the disciples wanted to know who it was. Then Simon Peter looked at John, who was leaning back against Jesus, and motioned him to ask about the betrayer. ‘Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop (piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.’ (John 13:26-27) The scholars state that during Jesus’ time, a host would often distinguish an honoured guest by giving him a choice morsel dipped in the sauce and placing it on his tongue. And according to the rest of that passage, (John 13:28-30) it seems only John and Judas heard or understood Jesus last words to Judas. Then Judas went out and plotted with the chief priests to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matt.26:14-16) And that night in Gethsemane, Judas showed up with soldiers of the chief priests and a lynching mob, just as Jesus was telling the three who had gone apart to pray with Him: ‘Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.’ (Matt.26:46) And Judas was so boldfaced, that after telling the soldiers; ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, hold him fast (seize him) (Matt.26:48) he approached Jesus and said: ‘Hail, master; and kissed him.’ (Matt.26:49) That possibly began the since oft used scheme of betrayal with a kiss. But notice Jesus’ cool and somewhat sarcastic response: ‘Friend, wherefore art thou come?’ (Matt.26:50) Yes people, though Jesus was well aware of the betrayal, He still called Judas ‘friend.’ What a wonderful man Jesus was! And still is! And will always be wonderful! Oh Friends, we don’t have time to talk about how most of the disciples forsook Jesus and fled, when He was arrested (Matt.26:56) or when Peter betrayed Jesus by denying three times that he knew Him. (John 18:15-27) But no doubt those things hurt Jesus a lot, even though he knew beforehand that they’d happen, for betrayals always hurt regardless of how or when we know of them. Anyway, we’ll end with some very wise words of Micah when he spoke of the moral sin of Israel, which, compared to ours today, is like a small lake to the ocean, so terrible is the immorality in our society. ‘Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide (companion): keep (guard) the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.’ (Mic.7:5-6) And far too often that is the gospel truth my people! Let us try to undo that nuh, cause if we don’t, we’ll just continue on the downward slide to destruction, to Hades and Lucifer, a rather unpleasant thought. Much LOVE!…therefore I will look unto the Lord…I will wait for the God of my salvation…my God will hear me… (Mic.7:7)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2012 Hebrews 6:15
25 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: believing in jesus, best friend, blessings, Christians, faith, friend jesus, glory, God is good, joy, living for Jesus, mercies, patience, persecution, rain from heaven, rightousness, rough road, sacrifice, spritual wisdom & understanding, staunch believers
Hebrews 6:15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Oh Friends, it’s a wonderful morning, with all those new mercies and blessings pouring down like rain from heaven on us! Do you feel them? I sure do! So much so that ‘I’ve got a joy deep down inside of me that makes me want to shout how good God is to me!’ Wow! That’s the way all believers ought to feel my people! Those words are the chorus of a reggae song I heard last night, and though I think I’ve shared it with you before, the feeling is so right that I felt compelled to share it again. Yuh know, we talk constantly about the joy of living in and for Christ, but not enough of His followers actually experience it and then show it to an evil, ungodly, unfriendly world. Too many of us Christians go about looking sad and miserable, as though we’ve lost our best friend, instead of being joyful that we’ve found our Best Friend, Jesus, who sacrificed His sinless life for us, and promised never to leave or forsake us. Remember His words to His disciples: Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) Well that’s what He did, and thus considers as friends, all who believe in Him. Consequently, the problems of the world should never be too big to hide, to conceal, or destroy the well-being and wonderful future that faithfully living for Jesus provides. We know it’s not an easy path to tread; one filled with numerous potholes and dangers lurking around every bend. But as our Bit says: ‘And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.’ Oh my brethren, that’s a guarantee which applies to all staunch believers, from Father Abraham, through Jesus, right up to us today and those to come! If we stand steadfast, strong and true, trusting and believing in Jesus and His Word, then regardless of what calamity we encounter, we will be well rewarded in the end. We know that no great thing can be accomplished without some failure and heartache, but if one perseveres, instead of quickly giving up, then eventually our efforts usually meet with success. The same goes for the Christian life my Friends. Living for Jesus is a great and worthwhile endeavour, but it also means there will be bumps of various sizes along the way. But with Jesus’ help, we can surely overcome them. Hear this apt scripture of Bruh Paul to the Thessalonians, re encouragement in persecution. ‘We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet (fitting), because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity (LOVE) of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in (boast of) you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure; Which is a manifest token (plain evidence) of the righteous judgement of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense (repay with) tribulation to them that trouble you.’ (2 Thess.1:3-6) Yes Friends, that’s the kind of witness believers must be prepared to undergo for Christ’s sake. Remember what He suffered on our behalf, and also that we can never repay Him. In fact He doesn’t desire repayment, just a little thanks and gratitude, shown by our behaviour towards Him and each other. Now listen to this scripture of Bruh Paul to the Colossians, where he’s talking about prayer for spiritual wisdom. ‘For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified us to) be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in (the) light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated (transferred) us into the kingdom of his dear Son (the Son of His LOVE):’ (Col.1:9-13) Oh my people, are we sincerely working towards and praying for those godly attributes? We surely should, because it’s noted again where believers ought to suffer trials with patience and joy. Jesus did it, and though we’re not in His class, we can all try to attain to a high standard in that respect. And we’ll close off this series of Bits on patience and all its variants with some thoughtful and encouraging words from James, re patience in affliction. ‘Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman (farmer) waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish (establish) your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (has come near)….Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy (blessed) which endure. Ye have heard of the patience (perseverance) of Job, and have seen the end of (intended by) the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (compassionate), and of tender mercy.’ (James 5:7-8,10-11) Yes Friends, let’s get out into this wicked, ungodly world and show them that Jesus’ people are made of sterner stuff than them, and that we can handle anything they throw at us, because we have our Lord, Saviour, Master and glorious Advocate, Jesus, working for and protecting us! Much LOVE!…if you’re not in sync with Jesus…then you’re easy pickings for Lucifer…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 April 2012 Psalm 80:3
04 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: beseech, bewailing, calamity, concerns, face to shine, faith, forgiveness, mercy, o lord god, prosperity, psalm 80, repentance, turn back, worries
Psalm 80:3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Oh my people, it’s Wednesday; day three of Holy Week, two days to your crucifixion! Are you worried and concerned? Of course! Sitting on pins and needles? For sure! Are your palms sweating and your stomach tied up in knots? That’s expected! Well let us think now how Jesus felt, with just two short days before His number was called up yonder, and act accordingly; with care and compassion, LOVE and kindness, mercy and forgiveness, the same way He did, although He was under great stress and strain. Now let’s look at our Bit: ‘Turn (Restore) us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.’ And isn’t that the living truth Friends! The only way our evil, ungodly, disobedient world can be saved is by the Lord restoring us to righteousness. For remember Jesus’ words when He spoke about the vine and the branches: ‘for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) That also is undeniable truth Friends! So if we want to return to a safe, prosperous, caring world, then it’s obvious we have to turn to Jesus for help. And how do we do that? By repenting of our sins, asking for mercy and forgiveness, receiving it, then living a righteous, obedient life to God’s will thereafter. Psalm 80 is Asaph’s prayer for restoration of the fortunes of Israel, and he considers our Bit so important to his beseeching God, that he includes it three times in the psalm. Yes my brethren, verses, 3,7, and 19 are all the same petition. And I don’t see how it could be any less important in these very troubled and calamitous times that we are currently experiencing. I like how Asaph bewails the condition of his people. ‘O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves. Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.’ (Ps.80: 4-7) Ah mih breddren, the Lord’s certainly angry with us right now too; bread is short and tears are plentiful. As Isaiah says, the Lord is feeding us with ‘the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction,’ (Is.30:20) for our turning away from Him en masse and embracing the evil Lucifer with open arms. How could it be otherwise eh my people? The Lord is a holy, jealous, just and righteous God, therefore he cannot allow our disobedience to go unpunished. Jeremiah says it quite aptly: ‘I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke (an untrained bull): turn (restore) thou me, and I shall be turned (return); for thou art the Lord my God.’ (Jer.31:18) Now hear the scholars take on that verse. ‘A first step in repentance is confession of sin and a prayer for the Lord’s effective enablement of the believer’s life. True repentance involves the work of the whole person in recognizing and sorrowing over sin, and renouncing it so as to turn to God in full heart’s devotion to His lordship.’ And they reference Psalm 32; The blessedness of forgiveness, and Psalm 51; A prayer for cleansing.’ But Friends, is it happening like Jeremiah says: ‘Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon (struck myself on) my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded (humiliated), because I did bear the reproach of my youth.’ (Jer.31:19) I’d like to think so, but in any case the numbers are way too small to effect any large-scale and worthwhile improvement in our world today. Now don’t get me wrong, the Lord will gladly accept even one truly repentant sinner, however we need a whole lot more to further our LOVE Revolution and enable us to sincerely and successfully turn things around. Listen to Peter’s ending when he pleaded with the Jews in Jerusalem to repent: ‘Unto you first God, having raised up his Son (Servant) Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.’ (Acts 3:26) My fellow believers, we all know that, but for some reason(s) or other, we just don’t seem to be too keen on making the changes needed to bring about that transition. I guess not enough of us both desire the changes and are also willing to pay the price to make them happen. But believe me Friends, the price to get back into God’s good graces, is extremely cheap, compared to that of continuing to support Lucifer and his evil works. If yuh think we’re suffering calamity now, just wait and see what happens if we continue along our present path. My people, in closing, let’s offer up a prayer that Jeremiah offered up long ago in his Lamentations, but which is still very appropriate for our troublesome situation today. And let’s do it with a truly repentant heart if we want our God to take notice and help us. As one now, lifting our heads, hearts, eyes and hands to heaven: ‘Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto (back) to thee O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.’ (Lam.5:20-21) And all God’s people said a prayerful, heartfelt ‘Amen!’ Much LOVE!…it’s the same old story…if you don’t hear, you’re going to feel…
