Today​’s Scrip-Bit 12 March 2019 Psalm 25:1-2.

12 Mar 2019 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 25:1-2.   ​Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
 
Ah friends, in the words of that old, venerable Jamaican singer, Prince Buster: ‘I had a rough night! It was a hard night…! ‘ And for those of you old enough to remember the song I’m talking about, NO! I’m not talking about sexual activity, like the Prince was doing way back then!

Sorry to disappoint you! (smile) I’m simply talking about the aches and pains holding sway over the ole fella’s ole bod in his attempt to get some much needed rest last night. 

Brother! I could not find a comfortable spot to rest for any length of time. It seems like somewhere hurt in every position I tried. So obviously this morning I’m dragging around like a real old man. (smile)

But I’m not worried friends, and neither should those of you have the same, or any infirmities at all assailing your bodies. And why is that you ask? Because of this unassailable promise from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. 

It says in no uncertain terms: ‘All Will Be Well!’ Glory be! So please pray with me: ‘O Lord God In the midst of consuming sorrow When despair and loneliness hedge me in You understand my frailties – My hesitancies, my fears. As I scamper from doubt to doubt You forgive so quickly my outbursts. 

Never do you drive me away When I rail against You In peevish rebellion. When I scream “Don’t You even care?” You quiet my fragmented heart. You work in me silently Always planning in LOVE. You refine me in the white flamed Furnace of affliction. In the silent darkness You whisper: Trust me – all will be well.’ 

And so it shall be my fellow believers, because our ever-faithful God has promised it! Give Him a whole heap of thanks and praise for His abundant grace, mercy, LOVE and forgiveness to the children of undeserving men! Wow! What a wonderful God we serve and worship! 

Yes, I know He refines us in ‘the fires of affliction,’ but He doesn’t let us go through them alone. He’s always there right by our sides, just like He was with the three Jewish boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when the mighty king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar threw them in the fiery furnace, heated seven time hotter than usual, and they came out without a hair singed, not even the smell of smoke permeated their protected bodies. Glory to God! 

And that’s exactly how our wonderful God will be with any and all of us who humbly and sincerely call on Him for heavenly help! Isn’t that just glorious to behold? It certainly is! And the Bible Promise for that awesome prayer above is also our Bit for today, and it comes from a man who had a very intimate relationship with God, and experienced His many blessings, as well as the fires of affliction, but he stood tall throughout them all! 

Yes, we talking bout Bruh David here friends – the man after God’s own heart! Listen to how he puts it in Psalm 25 – A prayer for guidance and protection: ‘Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.’ 

And yuh know what my people? The Lord never allowed his enemies to triumph over him! Yes, occasionally they might have had a slight edge, they might have won a battle here and there, but ultimately they did not win the war! And that’s exactly how our God will react to all and any of us who come to Him in true sincerity. 

As He proclaimed long ago: He does not change! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! So whatever He did for somebody long ago, He will still do for us today! Yes, He is still in the helping and miracle working business! Praise His holy name! 

And the good thing about Bruh David is that he didn’t just pray for himself. Hear how he continues after our Bit: ‘Yea, let not none that wait (in faith) on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress (deal treacherously) without cause.’ (Ps.25:3) Ah friends, that’s one of the great aspects of our faith, our ability and responsibility to pray for others, especially other believers. 

And we just can’t stop there – Bruh David didn’t. (smile) He continued by beseeching his God: ‘Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies, and thy LOVING-kindness; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.’ (Ps.25:4-8) 

Oh my people, yuh think any God with a truly LOVING nature would refute such a sincere and heartfelt plea? NEVER! Despite his human shortcomings, and like us, he had plenty, Bruh David never wavered, in his faith, never gave up on the God of his forefathers. And neither should we! That’s why God called Bruh David a man after his own heart! He simply had a heart for God…and so should we in these trying times! 

Awright, enough preaching…(smile) Let’s go home declaring (right ho) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know in no uncertain terms, who and whose we are. Altogether now, in strong voice with a sincere and real sense of purpose: ‘In God’s eyes, 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!’ 

And having declared that (right again), let’s go out and put it into practice, as Jesus verily desires of us! Much LOVE!

…LOVING Jesus…and working for Him…it’s such an awesome privilege…I wouldn’t trade it…for anything else in this whole wide world…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 March 2014 Psalm 78:38

20 Mar 2014 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 78:38.    But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
 
 Oh Friends, neighbours, fellow believers and unbelievers, it sure is good to be alive! Especially when you wake up feeling bright and fresh and ready to do battle in Jesus’ name!

Wow! As Uncle John, John Hagee would say: ‘Give the Lord a shout of praise in the house of the Lord!’
 
And our God sure is deserving of much praise my people, for all the goodness and mercy He has bestowed, is currently bestowing and has faithfully promised to bestow in the future on those who sincerely LOVE and worship Him.
 
And I don’t know about anybody else nuh Friends, but I can only sing His praises and give Him much thanks for working so bountifully and beautifully in my life! 
 
Today though, I want to share a prayer of affirmation I recently got from Bubba Joel, Joel Osteen. Those of you who deal with him, would probably have gotten it too, but it’s surely worthwhile sharing.
 
So please say, sincerely affirm with me that: ‘TODAY IS MY DAY! God has destined me to be a barrier breaker! He created me to be uncontainable. I have talent and potential given to me by the Creator of the universe. There are seeds of greatness inside of me.
 
Today, I choose to break free from a limited mindset and enlarge my vision. Today, God is taking me places that I’ve never dreamed of before. Today, God is fulfilling His purpose and destiny in my life. Today, I will experience His favour like never before in every area of my life.’
 
And all that is gospel truth my people! We just need to believe it, and then act positively on that belief!
 
Please note my brethren that almost everything in this life is about BELIEF! As they say, if you don’t believe it, you most likely won’t see it. 
 

So mih breddren, let’s all raise the level of our belief in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ this Thursday morning nuh, so that we can see Him work His wonderful marvels and miracles in our lives.
 
And in keeping with the marvellous wonder and LOVING-kindness of our omnipotent God, let’s turn to our Bit, which shows His exceedingly great capacity for forgiveness.
 
‘But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.’
 
Oh my people, we had better be exceedingly grateful that the Lord has so far withheld the magnitude of His anger on this sinful, ungodly, wicked and evil society in which we now dwell.
 
But, unfortunately, we haven’t been learning the lesson, and we’re now seeing flashes of that anger in things like the extreme and inconsistent weather patterns that have been recently plaguing us, as well as the untold strife and negativity that has our world in its powerful, vice-like grip.
 
And please, please don’t be foolish and think that God doesn’t have a hand in it all, because HE IS the Creator and the ultimate Controller of EVERYTHING in the universe!
 
And just like Psalm 78, from the pen of Asaph, is a reminder of God’s goodness to Israel, please let this Bit be a reminder to us of God’s unfailing goodness and mercy when we were diligently and sincerely walking in His holy will.
 
Oh my brethren, do we truly want to feel the full wrath of our God? Definitely not! But we will eventually, if we continue in our wilful disobedience and rebellion, just like Israel did on several occasions when they turned away from worshipping Jehovah God and instead bowed down to man-made gods and idols.
 
And we’ll close with a serious warning from the Lord our God, given to Israel when He rebuked them through the testimony of Isaiah. ‘For my name’s sake will I defer (delay) mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain (restrain) for thee, that I cut thee not off (destroy thee not).
 
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with (as) silver; I have chosen (tested) thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted (profaned)? and I will not give my glory to another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.’ (Is.48:9-12) 
 
Oh Friends, I desperately plead with us to heed that warning, because it also applies to us in our sinfulness today! Yes, our God will refrain from destroying us – but only for a time – NOT FOREVER! He couldn’t do that and still be true to His holy and just self.
 
Please note too, that He’s chosen the fire of affliction to test us through, and He has made it very clear that HE WILL NOT allow His holy name to be profaned, sullied, polluted and/or blasphemed. And above all, HE WILL NOT GIVE HIS GLORY to any other supposed god!
 
Please, let’s keep these things at the forefront of our minds today, and everyday, as we go out into the wicked world that surrounds us, and diligently endeavour to decrease that wickedness and increase righteousness, so that we will not have to endure God’s wrath.
 
That my people, is wisdom to the Nth degree! Much LOVE!
 
…he who who has an ear to hear…let him be wise and hear…else he will pay a substantial price for his disobedience…
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 July 2012 Psalm 115:1

05 Jul 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 115:1.    Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth’s sake.
 
Oh Friends, it’s another new day! Glory be! And it’s also going to be another hot one, though possibly not as hot as yesterday, or as hot as tomorrow is forecasted to be. But as usual, we believers have cause to celebrate each new day since our ever-LOVING and merciful God does new and blessed stuff every day. Now I don’t have a Bit as yet, but the Spirit has put this idea of freedom and independence in my mind, so I’ll just run with it. (smile) Yesterday was the 4th of July, Independence Day celebrations in the U.S, but I wonder what kind of celebrations they really had with the country currently suffering so much affliction; terrible natural disasters on the East Coast and in Colorado, a stinging heat wave traversing all North America, plus the unfortunate economic distress that so many are suffering in the still richest country in the world. I’m sure it was not as huge and worldly as it usually is, but much more subdued and prayerful. For how can you be overly happy when so many don’t have light, food and water, or even a place to live, as so many down there are unfortunately experiencing? Even the capital, Washington D.C. is suffering from the recent storms. Then there are many other nations who are soon going to be celebrating their independence, like Jamaica and T&T, fifty years in the making. How have all these supposed free nations done in their independence though? Most of them haven’t done too well at all. So what’s the big deal about it eh? Most of the nations have only exchanged a colonial power as their master for one of the global banks or big money organizations, who rape these countries worse than the old colonial masters did. Yet we all still clamour for freedom, for independence! But sadly none of us ever become truly free, for we’re always responsible for, or to, something or someone else. So though on paper we’re free to make our own determinations, they certainly cannot be made in isolation, especially in this age of the global village. Oh Friends, the price of supposed freedom is exorbitant, both in economics and personal freedom of movement, as we can see from the economic disaster that’s facing our world today, and the many graves all around the world, with more being added every day, and still nobody’s free, freedom remains as elusive as ever. Man searches, begs, fights, dies, does so many things to try and attain freedom, but cannot, because it’s basically a figment of our imagination. Let me share a quote from the In Touch Magazine, July edition, from the Devotional Section, which says: ‘It may sound like a paradox, but true freedom isn’t about independence. The spiritually maturing believer is one who grows increasingly dependent on God.’ And that’s the living truth my people! Because the more mature we become in Christ, the more dependent we are on Him. Reality steps in and shows us that maturity doesn’t mean breaking free from Him, but rather accepting His easy yoke and light burden more and more with each passing day, for that’s the only way to truly know and learn about Him. Friends, it’s all well and good to be free, but from what, and how do we sustain that freedom? It’s very difficult and oftimes impossible, because though you may have freedom in one sense, you soon discover that you’re inextricably tied to something else. The Spirit though says it’s time for me to shut up about freedom and find a Bit. (smile) I do hope though that the ideas I threw out, give us some stuff to seriously think about, because the clamour for freedom and independence is becoming louder every day. And the Spirit is so wonderful, it hooked me up with an appropriate Bit, right where the Good Book was opened all along, from Psalm 115, re Trust in God, not in idols. More gospel truth Friends! ‘Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy (LOVING-kindness) and for thy truth’s sake.’ Yes mih people, the glory is not for us, for we don’t have anything to be glorified about. But the Lord’s name, His LOVING-kindness and truth are indeed worthy of glorification, for He’s the Creator, Controller, Protector and Provider of our universe! And we all know that He’s very jealous of His name; doesn’t want it trodden down or used inappropriately. No wonder when He rebukes Israel’s unfaithfulness, He declares through His messenger Isaiah: ‘For my name’s sake will I defer (delay) mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain (restrain) for thee, that I cut (destroy) thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with (as) silver; I have chosen (tested) thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted (profaned)? and I will not give my glory unto another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned (stretched out) the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.’ (Is.48:9-13) Wow! What a truly mighty God we serve my people! Yes, the Lord God Jehovah, He is the ultimate Being! And though we can get some sort of independence and freedom from man and his organizations, freedom and independence from Almighty God is neither wise, nor even possible. Why? Because He can get on your case and make your life miserable, as he’s doing to so many who are trying to turn away from Him these days. On the other hand, the wise man will instead surrender His life, his God-given freedom of choice to God and allow Him to run his life, because He’s so much stronger and wiser. Please Friends, let’s show the ultimate in wisdom today nuh, by totally surrendering our freedom to God, so He can improve our lives. It’s the most sensible path to take, the one least fraught with potholes, high hills, winding curves and dangerous gullies. Much LOVE!…total freedom and independence are merely the utopian imaginings of man…for in reality…they do not exist…   P.S. It’s somewhat long, but thought provoking. (smile)