Today’s Scrip-Bit   24 January 2024 Psalm 34:4.

24 Jan 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 34:4.        I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

And after the snow, comes the rain. Yes friends, yesterday it snowed all day in my area, but thankfully the white stuff only trickled down from heaven, like a drizzling rain, so we only ended up with an inch or so when it stopped. However, during the early morning hours, the fog came in and it’s still out there fairly thick, you can only see about fifty yards ahead properly, and yet some people are still driving without their lights on, as well as several of them only have one working headlight. 

But the snow is melting and the rain is beginning to slowly drizzle down. So by day’s end we should not be too badly off, unless the temperature decides to freeze up again and thus cause ice problems. But there’s no need to fear, for Jesus is with us, guiding our every step, that is, if we’re listening to Him. (smile) And talking about fear, I decided to continue today with some scripture verses that promote faith over fear, since fear is a very real and troublesome problem in our current society. 

What with the unfortunate fallout from the pandemic and all the strife and anger that’s proliferating out there, fear has become a major source of worry, and the only way to stop it, or even lessen it is by believing and proclaiming powerful scripture verses of faith. And brother, I’ve found so many that I don’t know which to choose, or really where to begin. (smile) But begin we must, so let’s check out this famous scripture on fear and faith, from Bruh Paul’s second letter to Timothy, where he admonishes Timothy thus: ‘Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting (laying) on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:6-7) 

And I like how this commentator in the abide and seek.com website adds verse 6 to the mix, because it adds a li’l something to the next verse, the fanning of the flame of faith, that we don’t usually get when we quote that verse by itself. As the commentator writes. ‘I just LOVE this scripture! The Spirit which dwells within us believers holds the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! The Holy Spirit is there to empower us to places where we could not tread without it! We are called to entrust and to call on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, thus fanning that small flame into a powerful fire! To allow the fear of anything that lies ahead to dissipate and allow that light to shine in these dark times.’ 

Yes friends, that’s surely the job of the Holy Spirit, but it only makes a difference if we listen and obey it’s commands. Then there’s this verse from Psalm 34, as Bruh David testifies: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.’ (Ps, 34:4) Ah mih people, when we’re afraid, the first and best thing to do is turn to the God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because He is the Creator and Controller of the universe, and our very heavenly Father, who has such great compassion for us, His most precious creation. 

And we all know that’s what Bruh David did throughout his life, and despite his many faults and mistakes, the Lord still considered him His friend and a man after His own heart. That means there’s forgiveness and LOVE for us too, when we open our hearts to Almighty God. And I can’t do scriptures on fear and faith and not include one of my favourites from Joshua, when the Lord made Joshua the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. In his last statement to Joshua on how He would be with him like He was with Moses, the Lord said: ‘Have I not commanded thee? be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whither thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9) 

Now isn’t that a marvellous verse of encouragement? It surely is! Especially if it’s the Lord Himself speaking to you! Just like God was with Moses, He would be with Joshua, and also with us. As this commentary says: ‘God’s promises are never broken and that is what God was pointing out to Joshua as he was taking on this calling of leading His people. He was frightened and unsure yet God’s promises and LOVE can never fail!’ And that’s what we need to believe in spades my fellow saints! The promises and LOVE of our great and faithful God will never fail! 

And He’s made that declaration (chuh!!!) a thousand times in His Word, as these two verses of Deuteronomy ascertain. This first one, Moses speaks to the people of Israel: ‘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.’ (Deut. 31:6) Then Moses called Joshua before all the people and reassured him with the same basic words. ‘And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:8) You can’t get any better encouragement than that my people! 

And what about this other magnificent scripture of faith from Psalm 27, where Bruh David joyfully and faithfully proclaims: ‘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? ‘ (Ps, 27:1) Yes mih bredrin, we are certainly maturing when we too can make such a positive declaration (yesss!!!) of faith! And we’ll conclude today’s faith incentive scriptures with these two verses which we have been seeing a lot of recently (smile) 

It’s these most reassuring words of Bruh Paul to the church at Philippi. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:6-7) Truer words were never written my brethren, so please, let’s take them to heart and sincerely practice them if we truly want to receive that wonderful peace of God which man’s finite brain cannot understand. 

Now let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And please remember that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…if fear knocks at your door…just send faith to answer it… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   3 November 2022 John 1:14.

03 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

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

John 1:14.        The Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Oh boy, it was a foggy, foggy night, with no moon or stars in sight. And it’s also a foggy, foggy Thursday morning with no glimpse of the sun. The fog began in the early evening and has been going on since then. Every time I looked out the window during the night, all I could see was this white mist swirling around, making the place look ghost-like. (smile) And when I got up this morning and looked out, I saw the same white, misty sight. Brother! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen fog lasting for such a long period of time. Let’s hope and pray that it doesn’t cause too many problems out there on the roads this morning as commuters endeavour to get to work safely. 

Oh, I know the fog can seem harmless, but believe me, it isn’t, especially when it changes its intensity without any notice, causing your sight lines to deteriorate without any notice either. Bad fog causes more accidents than snow, for with the snow, you can at least see where you’re going, while with the fog, you can’t. And like my computer was telling me the truth yesterday when it kept on forecasting fog. (smile) It’s also forecasting the same weather pattern right now too. So who knows what the weather will bring? 

No one but Jesus! Glory be my people! We have a Lord and Saviour, a High Priest, a King of Kings, the Word, who knows it all; from the beginning to the end. For He was there in the beginning, as John so eloquently puts it in his gospel. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.’ (John 1:1-5) 

Yes my fellow beleivers, that’s all about our friend, and brother Jesus Christ. The world was created by the Word of God. He said: ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ (Gen. 1:3) And everything else He spoke into existence, except mankind, whom He made with His hands from the dirt of the ground, then breathed His breath of life into man’s lifeless body, thereby making it a living being. That’s why the Lord LOVES us so much! We are the work of His hands! And Jesus was right there all the time with the Father as He created the universe. One unified Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

Remember, ‘the Word was with God, and the Word was God…’ But then ‘The Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:14) Now which Divine Being became flesh eh? Only Jesus Christ, who came to us in all His glory as the only begotten Son of God, the perfect image of His Father, filled with all grace and truth! 

Wow! What a magnificent Being is our Jesus! Only God, or the Son of God could be so many things to us: Lord and Saviour, King, Advocate, High Priest, Friend, Big Brother, Comforter, Prince of Peace, Counsellor, Judge and Jury, etc. etc! And that’s why it’s ever so important that we strive to live for Him, to be obedient to Him as the Word; the Creator of all things, as well as His word, the rules and regulations He’s laid down for us to live by. 

And Remember what Jesus said in His Great Invitation: ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:30) That means living by His rules and regulations is not difficult. And John in his first epistle tells us the same thing. ‘For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome, hard to follow). (1 John 5:3) And John should know, because he followed Jesus around for the three years He did His earthly ministry. 

However, the problem is that what Jesus directs and what the world says are often two entirely different things. But then again, John explains it so wonderfully in his first epistle. ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.’ (1 John 5:4-5) Oh my fellow saints, every believer, everyone that’s born again of water and the blood of Christ has power to overcome the sinful practices of this evil world. 

As the scholars tell us: ‘There is conquering power through this confession (of faith in Christ) because God is sovereign over the world, and only through the Son does man have access to and find favour with God.’ It couldn’t be spelled out any simpler or clearer than that my faithful brethren. Only through Christ Jesus can we get to the Father. And Jesus Himself made that quite clear when He declared: (oh no!!!) ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ (John 14:6) 

And it all comes down to choice, our choice, for the Lord gave us free will to choose whom we will follow, His Son Jesus Christ, or the enemy, Satan, prince of darkness and evil. You, personally have to decide whom you will follow, but as Joshua so nicely put it to the people of Israel in his closing address; ‘but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ (Josh. 24:15d) That’s also my testimony friends. 

And the wonderful thing about our God is that when we decide to follow Him, He bestows blessings on us that we do not deserve but need to do His will. We call them our Thursday Blessings. But they need to be declared (yesss!!!) out loud before they can be activated. So let’s do that right now nuh. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! 

I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And if we truly mean it, then let’s go out and use those blessings to help others come to Christ. Much LOVE!

…Jesus was there at the beginning…and will be there at the end…note His words to John…I am the Alpha and Omega…the beginning and the end… (Rev. 21:6b) 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ            

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 May 2017 Psalm 103:2.

02 May 2017 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 103:2.   Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Well friends, at least we’ve begun today better than we did yesterday. Yeh, there is no fog clouding up the place, though it’s still a tad chilly and blustery. 

Let’s hope though, that the incessant rains that plagued us through most of the later day-time hours and evening don’t return, as promised by the weather forecasters, because I need to go out the street and do some stuff today, and I really don’t feel like trampling around through the rain. (smile) 

But be that as it may, I’m still glad, excited, enthusiastic and ever grateful to be alive on this spring morning of 2017! Glory to our Most High God! 

Now here is a li’l something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s short and simple and titled ‘The Promise of Abundant Life.’ 

Please declare with me: ‘Lord, you always bring ultimate good to those who LOVE you. May I never surrender to the false conclusion that you have no more for me than what I already have.’ 

But unfortunately that’s something a lot of us Christians feel and believe. However friends, I’m here to tell us today, that our God’s great mercies and blessings and grace and forgiveness have not even begun to truly flow upon us, so vast is His storehouse of those things. 

And the verse associated with that promise comes from Psalm 16, where Bruh David seeks preservation and blessing and faithfully declares: ‘Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ (Ps.16:11) And isn’t that the gospel truth my fellow believers? It surely is! 

And that flows very nicely into our ongoing Bit: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.’ 

And again, we need to remember that there are numerous benefits to one’s association with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! 

Now we’ve been reviewing some of the benefits listed by Bruh David after our Bit. Today we’ll move on to verse 4: ‘Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-kindness and tender mercies.’ (Ps.103:4) 

Wow! What an awesome verse of promise and assurance friends! And we know that our wonderful God did eventually provide redemption for us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, an act of such outstanding, amazing and awesome LOVE; one that has never been, and can never be matched! 

But listen to how Bruh David saw it in his time, and how he engraved it in everlasting words for us from Psalm 5 – A prayer for protection. 

‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) 

So why are we supposed believers not much more joyful than we are in these trying times eh? With such a promise, and many more like that, none of us should be walking around with sad, droopy, poor-me-one attitudes and countenances. 

But we’ll leave that for another day, because I want to finish this Bit today…and I hear a sigh of relief from some quarters. (smile) 

Now let’s move on to verse 5, which tells us of these benefits. ‘Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps.103:5) 

And we all know the immortal words of Isaiah on this topic. ‘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.40:29-31) 

Oh my fellow believers, today I’m imploring us to firmly grasp and hold tight to the many promises of our wonderful God, because in them we find the strength and wherewithal to fight the many battles we encounter in our earthly pilgrimage. 

It won’t always be easy, but if we believe and persevere, we will come through with flying colours, because our ever-faithful God has promised it! 

Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra in true belief and sincerity. ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ 

Glory be my people! Now let’s go out and share that awesome LOVE of Jesus with each and every one we meet today, for that’s what He desires of us. Much LOVE!

… the benefits of being associated with God…are so amazing and so plentiful…that our finite minds can’t conceive even half of them…  

P.S. Please let me apologize for my typo at the end of yesterday’s Bit, where I said that everything in this world belongs to God, ‘let’s forget it.’ Obviously it should be ‘let’s NOT forget it.’ I’m sure you all realized that, but please forgive the ole fella anyway. (smile) I corrected it in the Blog later. Much LOVE!