Today’s Scrip-Bit   30 January 2022   2 Corinthians 12:10b.

30 Jan 2022 Leave a comment

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

2 Corinthians 12:10b.     …for when I am weak, then I am strong.

It’s the Lord’s Day friends – Sunday…with bright sunshine too! (smile) That means it’s time to gather for worship, to give thanks and praise and receive rejuvenation and encouragement for next week’s duties. And the days are not getting any easier, especially since we now have a new variant of the Omicron variant in the pandemic business. But, with God’s help and our wise and responsible behaviour, we will fight this virus right down to the end and come out victorious! 

That’s our God’s promise, if we revere and stay close to Him. That’s why today’s song of praise is ever so important. You can tell that just from its title: ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee.’ Oh friends, in these dark and dangerous times it’s ever so necessary to get as close to God as possible, because it’s only through Him that we can ever hope to be righteous conquerors. 

‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’ is a traditional gospel song, that most likely dates from way back when the African Americans were suffering significant adversity in the Southern States of the U.S.A. It’s been performed and recorded by numerous artists, and the fact that it’s stood the test of time, and is still very appropriate in our current adversity, says a great deal about its spiritual strength and reassurance. 

So let’s sing a rich, up-tempo gospel version, with plenty background vocals, clapping and riddim instruments, like they possibly did down in those Southern African American churches, when times were really rough, and Jesus was the ONLY positive option they had. 

Therefore, with that same assurance, let’s raise our voices in sweet and sincere sacrificial praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ‘I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. (Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.) Thro’ this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. 

[Refrain]When my feeble life is o’er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. (Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be…One more time my people… Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be…’ 

Now let’s hope that we were truly sincere in our praise, because, as I said earlier, we desperately need to walk with Jesus in these calamitous times, if we want to not only survive them, but even more importantly thrive in them. Yes, my brethren, Jesus can cause us to thrive even in the midst of serious adversity. But we have to come alongside Him in total faith and surrender ourselves completely to His will. 

And on a point of interest, the website, Hymary.org informs us that, ‘In this song we acknowledge our human inability to live righteously, but we also express awareness of the grace and strength that God gives us in our daily walk. Even such an esteemed saint as the apostle Paul acknowledged his need for this grace:’ 

And when was that you ask? When he asked the Lord three times to remove the thorn from his side. ‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength (power) is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.’ (2 Cor. 12:8-10) 

Ah my fellow believers, the same thing applies to us; when we think we are weak, because we cannot do something in our own strength, that’s when we are really strong because the grace and power of God will step in in our weakness and anoint us to do His will. Glory be! 

There’s also this most applicable verse: ‘And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect (blameless).’ (Gen. 17:1) So friends, if the father of our faith was required to walk with the Lord, it’s obvious that we are also required to do the same, and in all seriousness too. 

Then we are told that the title and lyrics of today’s song, ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee,’ allude to the famous passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7, which reads: ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ And that’s the gospel truth! Christians walk by faith, by what they see and believe in their hearts, not what they see with their eyes. 

And Bruh Paul specified this more clearly when he said 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 for it.’ (Rom. 8:24-25) More indisputable truth my fellow saints! And the title and lyrics of our song, also allude to this critical passage from James. ‘Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you…’ (James 4:8a). 

Now that was nothing new, for long before that, there was this warning from the prophet Azariah: ‘And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.’ (2 Chr. 15:1-2) 

Oh my people, that’s the same message that’s been sent to us today, loud and clear! If we seek God, we will find Him. But if we don’t, He won’t bother with us, either and allow us to go our own foolish way, like we’re currently doing. I don’t know what it will take for us to wake up and realize that He is our only hope. But I sincerely hope and pray, that for our sake, and that of our children…and their children, that we wake up soon and sincerely seek Him, before it all falls apart! 

So please, let’s go to God nuh, as we’ve been so wisely advised, walk with Him and cling to Him as closely as possible, because in Him lies all of our hope for a better tomorrow, as well as today! Much LOVE!

…clinging to our Creator for dear life…doesn’t require much wisdom…just basic common sense…   

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8             

Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 September 2021 Mark 9:23.

18 Sep 2021 Leave a comment

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 September 2021   Mark 9:23.

​Mark 9:23.      If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

So at last it’s Saturday – and a nice sunny day in God’s universe, at least in my area. (smile) So what plans have we for this new day, so beautifully clothed in God’s new mercies and compassions eh? I do hope it’s something that involves Him, and will eventually bring Him some glory, or at least have others leaning towards Him. Why is that you ask? Because our earthly purpose is twofold; to communicate with God personally, and to live a life that will have others want to come to Him! It’s as simple as that! In whatever we do, be it great or small, God must be involved in some form and fashion. That’s just the nature of things. 

But enough talk yes, let me get to what I have to do this Saturday morning, which is share and try to explain, in a Christian and biblical light, the quotes we got from our friend Anselm this past week. And I’m chuckling here because they are all interesting and I don’t know where to start. But Chuh! Let’s take the bull by the horns yes, and start at the first one. (smile) And that says: ‘Sometimes it’s better to take a leap of faith and just believe what you hear instead of trying to find the story behind it.’ 

Now that’s a tricky one, because taking a leap of faith is ofttimes good, but under what circumstances? And I definitely won’t endorse believing whatever you hear, especially in these times of false news, disinformation and outright lies flying around like crazy. I would strongly advise that you hear the story behind the situation first, before you even consider taking a leap of faith. Yes friends, with all the stuff out there right now, that has such beautiful outward covering, but in reality is only a façade, it’s downright easy to take a leap of faith right into the welcoming arms of the devil in hell! 

So please be very careful, for I don’t know if we’ve ever seen such a time like this one with so much fraudulent and deceitful stuff everywhere. Meanwhile, the next quote tells us: ‘We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea.’ So we come to that scary word again, ‘change.’ A lot of people are afraid of it, sometimes with good reason, since change can turn your life topsy turvy and leave you not knowing where to go, or what to do, even place you in some dreadful dilemma. 

That means change is another aspect of life that you must tread carefully on. But by the same token, you cannot afford to stay stationary, remain forever in the same womb-like state, for life desires change, is made up of change. But change that’s made with some amount of wisdom and common sense. We can’t stay in our comfortable cocoon all the time, or we will never see what God’s great universe has to offer. But we can’t venture on the big sea, without first having a good idea of how to handle the small pond. 

And we do need to make changes as life moves along, sometimes even big ones, but as we said earlier on, Jehovah God must be involved in all we do, if we are to make right decisions and fulfill the plans and purpose He has for our lives. But please, don’t go making changes just for the sake of making changes. Don’t follow the crowd, as so many of us are doing today. Don’t follow those they are now calling ‘influencers.’ Steups! Those making money off of foolish and ungodly lifestyles. And the sad part is that most of them can’t even run their own blooming lives. But they are influencing others with a whole lot of nonsense. That’s partly why our world in in such an ungodly mess! 

And it’s a sore point with me, so let’s move on to the next quote, which says: ‘Keep going. Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.’ And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! We grow more in times of adversity than in the good times. As they say, what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. And if you are a child of God, you will undergo adversity. Jesus said it loud and clear. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) 

So there’s no need to consider whether we will or will not have troubles, for they are inevitable in a sinful and evil world such as ours. But when you have Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life and His Holy Spirit leading and guiding you, you can handle any adversity that comes your way, because He has already overcome the world. Thus, these reassuring words from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians. ‘We are troubled (hard pressed) on every side, yet not distressed (crushed); we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast (struck) down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.’ (2 Cor. 4:8-10) 

Yes my brethren, it’s the old adage: You live for Christ, suffer with Him, die with Him, and be resurrected to new life with Him! But then, that takes a whole lot of believing, and our last quote tells us that: ‘Believing involves thinking, talking and acting as though you have already received what you’ve asked for.’ Only if you are a believer in Jesus Christ though! And only if it is within the will of God! Listen to these words of Jesus to the father of the young man who was filled with a demonic spirit that His disciples could not cast out. ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.’ (Mark. 9:23-24) 

And the scholars explain that last verse thus: ‘9:24. He (the father) had a certain faith, but it was confession of his undeniable inner turmoil and doubt that marked his faltering faith as truly authentic, if imperfect trust. Before God honesty is a wise course.’ Yes friends, when we come to God it is always best to bare our souls and hearts before Him, as He will be much more open to helping us when we do so. 

And when the disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast out the demon from the boy, Jesus said to them. ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove (move); and nothing shall be impossible to you.’ (Matt. 17:20) It’s all about belief and faith my people. In the world, seeing is believing, but in God’s economy, believing is seeing. You don’t see until you believe. 

That’s why the Good Book tells us that: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ (Heb. 11:1) And also: ‘And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.’ (Heb. 11:6) 

And we going to leave with this last but oh so important scripture that applies to all of us. They are Jesus’ words to Thomas when he had to see Jesus before he believed in His resurrection. ‘Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Please let that be food for thought this weekend my fellow saints. Much LOVE!

…we walk by faith…not by sight… (2 Cor. 5:7)                                                                                                                 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8     

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 January 2015 Psalm 119:114

12 Jan 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 119:114. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Well hello there mih breddren! The big, beautiful day called Monday is here! (smile) That means it’s time to be up and about Jesus’ business. If you rested over the weekend, as you were supposed to, then getting up and out should be no problem.

Oh I know it’s not as easy as it sounds with all the busyness that our world now contains, but that’s why it’s even more important for us to control that busyness and get sufficient rest and rejuvenation. 

Ah mih people, though I tend to be a bit lighthearted about it, looking after ourselves is no joke, it’s a very serious matter. It’s a proven fact that being on the go continually with insufficient rest and relaxation and improper eating habits produces stress, and stress is one of the biggest killers nowadays.

And unfortunately it’s no respecter of people, so whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, if you don’t look after yourself properly, you are a very high risk candidate for stress related problems. Now those problems can range anywhere from a mild headache or tiredness to numerous other health problems, even to a heart attack and sudden death.

And the sad part of the matter is that a lot of problems diagnosed as one illness or another, generally originate from stress.  It’s also been proven that this generation gets much less rest and is much busier than any that’s gone before it. So please let’s get serious about the matter and do something constructive about it nuh.

Very few of us really like to get up and go to work on Mondays, but we just have to, because that’s the nature of our society.  Therefore Friends, let’s be wise and give ourselves the best chance possible chance of longevity, for success by the world’s standards are not really all that they are advertised to be.

And furthermore, when we’re hospitalized, or six feet under, those worldly things that we’ve literally killed ourselves to get, will be of no use to us. We cannot take them with us to the hospital or to the grave. Remember what our Lord and Saviour Jesus said; ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)

Yes Friends, seek the things of God first, and He will bless you with the things of the world that you need. End of sermon! (smile) 

Now, since many of us are suffering from the ill effects of the weekend, let’s raise our spirits by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with as much gusto as we can generate.

As one harmonious body 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!’  

Ah Friends that wasn’t bad, but not as good as it could be if we had rested properly. (smile) But the Lord won’t hold that against us, because He LOVES us however we are.

Now let’s turn to our Bit, a beautiful and encouraging verse from the longest chapter in the Good Book; Psalm 119.  ‘Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.’  

Oh my people, so many others have uttered sentiments of that nature that they must be substantial truth to it.  If the Lord is our God, our Creator and Provider, then it stands to reason that He is powerful and of a generous nature, so what better place to look for help and succour eh?

Not to mention that His Word encourages us to come to Him for all our needs. And who should know that better than Bruh David eh, with all the problems he faced, but was wonderfully provided for by the Lord?

Let’s listen to some of Bruh David’s words on the subject, beginning in Psalm 9 – Praise for God’s justice. ‘The Lord also will be a refuge (stronghold) for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.’ (Ps.9:9-10)

Strong and true words my brethren! Now hear this gem of faith from Bruh David’s Maschil (contemplation) – The blessedness of forgiveness. ‘Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about (surround me) with songs of deliverance.   Selah.’ (Ps.32:7

Note Friends, Bruh David is talking there from personal experience, not hearsay.  And this now from the sons of Korah: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help (an abundantly available help) in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst (the heart) of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.   Selah.’ (Ps.46:1-3)

Powerful words of faith my people! And the good thing about it is that it’s all true, because our great God has proven it time and time again, and will continue to do so even through to eternity!

It is therefore in our best interest to come to serious and mature faith in the Lord God Almighty if we desire the kind of protection that the Old Testament people had, and Jesus died to give us even more. You can never have too much of a good thing!  Now may the Lord bless and keep us safely as we go out today to do His work in faith, trust, truth and LOVE!

Much LOVE!…for we walk by faith…not by sight… (2 Cor.5:7)