Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 February 2012 Daniel 4:3

11 Feb 2012 Leave a comment

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

Daniel 4:3.     How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Oh Friends, 2012 is certainly moving along quickly. We’re almost two weeks into February already. That means we have to get our act together asap and do our duty, if we’re to fulfill our promise of making 2012 an exceptional year in the Lord’s sight. We do need to get a move on because the enemy is not standing still, he’s chugging right along doing his evil works, and we have to be at least one step ahead of him if we’re to overcome. So let’s stop making excuses and get on the road to wherever God wants to use us to further His righteous kingdom. And with that little flame lit below us (smile) let’s consider our Bit. ‘How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.’ Yes Friends, those words surely do justice to our Creator and Provider, especially coming from the mouth of the heathen king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. But though Neb spoke those words after seeing the three Jewish youngsters saved from the flaming furnace, I don’t know if truly believed them in his heart. That’s like many of us who talk up the Lord a lot but don’t truly feel Him deep within. Anyhow, soon after that Neb had a dream of a big tree well populated with fruit and fowl being cut down and only a stump left. His astrologers couldn’t decipher the dream so Daniel was called in to do it. He told Neb that the dream referred to his own kingdom, which would shortly be taken away from him, and he would be as a beast for seven years. And I like the end of Daniel’s interpretation: ‘…and seven times (years) shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure (assured) unto thee, after that thou shalt have known (come to know) that the heavens do (God does) rule.’ (Dan.4:25-26) Oh my people, I hope we all do know that and don’t try to take all the credit for what good stuff happens in our lives as Neb would later do. A year later, he was walking around in his palace in Babylon admiring it and saying; ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom (a royal dwelling) by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty.’ (Dan.4:30) Obviously He did not remember all the great exaltations he’d declared of the Lord, nor the interpretation of Daniel’s dream. But Friends, let me instill in us again that out God does not make idle threats or speak words that are not fulfilled. And before the words were out of his mouth he heard a voice telling him that his kingdom was taken away, and he would be driven into the fields to live like a beast for seven years ’…until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.’ (Dan.4:32) And in that same hour was the curse fulfilled; he became insane and was actually put out to pasture and lived like a beast for seven years. ‘And at the end of the days (time) I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed (considered) as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay (restrain) his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?’ (Dan.4:34-35) Yes mih breddren, Neb finally realized who was the real king of glory, the real boss of this world; not him, but Almighty God. Please let’s be wiser than Neb, learn from his foolish example, and don’t let the Lord have to put us through hell on earth for us to fully understand who runs things. Let’s be like Neb afterwards, when his whole thinking changes, and he declares on making his stage exit: ‘Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgement (justice): and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (humble).’ (Dan.4:37) Truer words were never spoken Friends. Let’s take them to heart and live by them, for our own good. Much Love!…knowing all we know…and having seen all we’ve seen…how can we still doubt God’s majesty, power and faithfulness…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 February 2012 Daniel 4:3‏

10 Feb 2012 Leave a comment

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

Daniel 4: 3.     How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Oh Friends, it’s Friday! And I realize you know that because I hear you shouting ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ from way down the road. I also see the Carnival preparations underway in the busy mas camps with costumes being put together for the big celebrations two weeks hence. Ah hear the calypsos coming out of the calypso tents, and the sweet pan beating as the pan sides practice for Panorama. Oh Friends, if we could only harvest this Carnival spirit and productivity for everyday life, what a wonderful nation we’d be. And though mas might be an important part of our culture, we can’t afford to let the Bacchanalian atmosphere run roughshod over everything. We need to temper it some, so that God’s work can also continue. To this end then, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much enthusiasm, so that we can gain the right perspective for the weekend. ‘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 Friends, the weekend is upon us and we need to use it wisely. As we also need to use our Bit, which was an immortal declaration of the heathen Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, sometime after he’d seen God’s wonderful work in bringing the three Jewish youngsters, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the flaming furnace without even smelling of smoke. King Neb begins his speech thus: ‘Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God had wrought toward me.’ (Dan.4:1-2) Oh my brethren, this should be a perfect place and moment for all of us to consider our own journey with God and contemplate the many wonders and signs that He’s wrought in our own lives. And if you’re a true believer, there will be some that will make us declare like King Neb: ‘How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.’ Now Friends, remember that this was a declaration of God’s power from a heathen king thousands of years ago, long before Christ even came to earth as man. So if this heathen king can accept all the signs and wonders of Almighty God that he claims to have seen and experienced, why can’t we do the same eh, especially since we’ve experienced the biggest sign and wonder ever; the coming of Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection? Too many of us my people still doubt in our hearts that the awesome God we worship is as great and potent as we say, possibly because He does not work great miracles in our lives everyday. But what we seem to be forgetting here is that He’s the Master and we are the servants. It’s our duty to serve Him, not His to bow to our every whim and desire. Now let’s look at one of the most important signs in the Good Book, one of the silver threads upon which its based. And we talking here about the prophet Nathan’s speech to Bruh David, promising that his seed shall reign upon the throne of Israel forever. ‘And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes (strokes) of the children of men. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.’ (2 Sam.7:12-16) That Friends was the Davidic covenant, the Lord made with Bruh David, and though it wasn’t as flashy as some other signs, it still is one of the most important signals God ever gave to man, because on and through it, lay the coming of Christ, the Messiah, as a descendant of Bruh David. Oh Friends, what a thoughtful God we worship! And we’ll end with God’s strengthening and comforting words later on through psalm 89, God’s sure promises to David, written by Ethan the Ezrahite: ‘Nevertheless my LOVING-kindness will I not utterly take from him (break off), nor suffer my faithfulness to fail (be false). My covenant will I not break, nor alter (change the word) thing that is gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven (the sky). Selah.’ (Ps.89: 33-37) Yes my people, it’s appropriate that we stop awhile and ponder all that the Lord has done for us, both individually and collectively through His Word. It’s only by so doing that we can really fathom the depths of His care, consideration and LOVE for us! More on this tomorrow if we live to greet the sunrise. Much LOVE!…oh to know, know know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…