God will never forsake us

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

Well Friends, it’s Tuesday! How was the first day back at work in this new year of 2015 eh? I do hope that it was not too strenuous and you did not fall asleep either literally or figuratively at the wheel, that you took it in full, complete and victorious stride. (smile)

For remember that our task here on earth is to take hold of the grace of our wonderful God to endure our afflictions with patience, without growing weary, knowing that in the due process of time, He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us.

We must learn to wait on the Lord with His perfect timing and be of good courage, for He will always come through for us… and in time too, for He’s never late!

Now hear this quote from my Friend Anselm with one of his daily quotes, Inspiring You for a Better Tomorrow. This one talks about a change of address, and it might sound familiar, because I believe I have shared it before. But anyway, it is still a good message to hear and accede to, especially at the start of this new year.

Listen up: ‘This is my change of address notice for 2015. I have moved out from 1 Beggars Alley, located at 2 Poverty Lane at the corner of Bleak and Buster Circle. As of today, I have a brand new home. My new address is: Living Well on 3 Abundance Drive, located at the corner of Blessings Street and Prosperity Peak.

No longer will I allow myself to travel on Begging Peter to pay off Paul route, located at a dead end Intersection called: I Don’t Have, it connects with Borrowers Junction. I no longer hang out at Failure’s Place, near Excuses Avenue, next to Procrastination Point.

I’ve moved on to an Upscale Community called Higher Heights with unlimited potential and opportunities for me to succeed. Look at me, each day that I’m awake, I am thankful to be a product of my new environment. All my clothes are tailor made. I’m dressed in life’s finest.

Let me introduce you to all of them: Conceive, Believe, Act on, Have Faith, Be Persistent, and Always be Prepared to Achieve. Life is good because God is good! Care to change your address?’

Oh my people, that’s an interesting question, and I do hope that all of us would jump up and shout an emphatic ‘Yes!’ because so many of us do need to change our addresses, to move up to Higher Heights from Beggar’s Alley and Poverty Lane.

And so we come to our Bit: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears’

Oh Friends, that is exactly what will happen, if and when you sincerely seek the face and ear of Almighty God! He will NEVER let you down, or leave you in the lurch, for He’s promised that, (Heb. 13:5) and we all know that God is ALWAYS faithful to His promises.

Hear what Bruh David said in a couple of verses later. ‘This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.’ (Ps.34:6)

Glory be, my people! He just verified our Bit! And today we’ll look at a couple more scripture passages which lend verity, veracity, credence and truth to it. (smile)

We’ll begin with Jonah, who tried to run from God, having disobeyed God’s command to go and preach the truth to the sinful city of Nineveh. In God’s wise plan, Jonah ends up in the belly of a big fish.

Please note that the Lord didn’t merely destroy him for His disobedience, but gave him a chance to make matters right between them. And Jonah eventually comes to his senses and makes good use of that second chance.

The Good Book relates it thus: ‘Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine (because of my) affliction unto the Lord, and he heard (answered) me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst (heart) of the seas; and the floods compassed me about (surrounded me): all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then said I, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth (deep) closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms (foundations, bases) of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about (closed behind) me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption (the pit),

O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in (went up) unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities (worthless idols) forsake their own mercy (LOVING-kindness).

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.’ (Jon.2:1-10)

Wow Friends! Imagine that nuh; having to undergo such affliction before we truly come to our senses and sincerely seek Jehovah God!

But sadly, that’s what happens to us in real life. When things are good, we don’t remember or have any use for God. It’s only when affliction and disaster strike, that we rush to our heart’s door and let Jesus in, where He’s been knocking the whole time. And then we expect Him to work miracles on our behalf right away.

That’s not right my brethren, but our God is such a magnanimous and merciful Deity, that whenever we do cry out to Him in sincerity, He hears and answers us. Now hear are some interesting notes on those verses from the scholars.

‘2:1-9. Jonah’s prayer is poetic in form and has three movements, each beginning with a rehearsal of the prophet’s impossible situation, and each culminating in an expression of his faith in spite of his impossible circumstances. The first movement is in verses 2-4. The second movement is in verses 5 and 6. The third movement is in verses 7-9.’

Ah my people, please allow Jonah’s story – first his disobedience and then his undying faithfulness and courage, to stir us up today, and keep us in strong communication with Almighty God, so that we don’t stray too far from the remaining flock of His verdant pasture. That is wisdom of the highest order!

I know that we promised two sets of scriptures, but time and space have run out on us. So, God willing, we’ll continue in this same vein tomorrow. Till then, please walk safely with Jehovah God as our most able guide and veritable embodiment of our strength. Much LOVE!

…walking closely with Jesus…is such a beautiful, beautiful thing…

Matthew 6:19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin, destroy), and where thieves break through and steal.

And then it was Friday… ‘Oh praise the Lord! Glory Hallelujah! Thank God the weekend is upon us! Backbreaking labour soon cease! Oh Thank God is Friday yes!’

Now that’s the kind of joyful shout that’s being heard around the world this Friday morning. And it’s really amazing and amusing that though we still have to go and labour on Friday, just the thought of it being the last day of the workweek, seems to instill a joy, an expectation that promotes a sense of – ah well, it soon over – and we get a renewed strength to bear this one day.

However, the question is, why can’t we get that renewal of strength to bear all the working days and non-working days alike eh? I guess it just has to do with the eccentricities, abnormalities, or whatever of our human nature. (smile)

Anyway, to gain some added insight into the proper use of the weekend, let’s chant our Friday Chant with the same verve and fervour that we shout ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’

As one chanting voice now: ‘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, that’s a much better way to handle the weekend. And we’ll continue today with that most significant Bit of advice from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the subject of worldly riches. ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin, destroy), and where thieves break through and steal.’

Ah mih people, if only more of us would just heed that august warning, so many more lives would be peaceful and contented. Our world would also see so many less problems, like the insatiable greed and the crazy, hurtful distractions that the rush to accumulate earthly wealth bring with it.

As the author of Hebrews so wisely declares in these two memorable verses of scripture. ‘Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall (can) do unto me.’ (Heb.13:5-6)

But unfortunately too many of us listen to our naturally sinful nature, as well as the siren call of the purveyors of evil, who dangle the frivolous possibilities of earthly wealth under our always sniffing noses, at every turn we take.

In the earthly realm, the more wealth we accumulate, the more we’re considered successful. And the foolish pride and show-boating of that wealth only makes matters worse, leading to jealousy and envy, resentment and others killing themselves to earn that wealth, to keep up with the Jones’.

What a sad tale we weave by the voracious pursuit of earthly wealth my people!

Now nothing’s wrong with having earthly wealth, in fact most of us could use some right now, (smile) but it’s the way we accumulate it, and then the way we use it that sets us apart.

Listen to Bruh Paul’s advice to Timothy. ‘Charge (command) them that are rich in this world (present age), that they be not highminded (haughty), nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute (give), willing to communicate (share); Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.’ (1 Tim.6:17-19)

Oh Friends, oh Friends, what wonderful advice, what correct scriptural procedure! How can we ever ignore it eh? But sadly we do, at our own peril.

And we’ll end with some good info from the scholars’ re those verses. ‘6:17-18. Paul charges wealthy believers (1) not to be proud and look down on those who are not rich, (2) to confide in God, rather than in unstable riches, (3) to be rich in good works by generously sharing their surplus of financial resources with the needy. To be ready to distribute is to be generous in sharing. To be willing to communicate is to be liberal in giving.

6:19. When wealthy believers generously share (v.18), they secure an assurance (laying up in store for themselves a good foundation) that in the future (against the time to come) they will indeed enter heaven (lay hold on eternal life).

Salvation is not purchased by the giving of money, but generosity demonstrates the reality of one’s faith. Since the believer trusts God and not money, he gives. This giving shows where his heart is and that he views his wealth in light of eternity.’

Oh my people, my people, I couldn’t put it any better! We certainly need to view wealth in the light of eternity! For then and only then will that wealth not drive us to distraction and make us do foolish, unwise, ungodly things.

So please, today let’s sit and ponder, you can also lie down or stand up (smile), let’s consider our deepest and most intimate attitudes towards material wealth, and ultimately turn to Almighty God to help us with any problems we might have in that area. Now that’s the certain wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!

…what’s the purpose of having wealth if we can’t take it with us eh…and we only leave it for others to fight over…might as well share it… and in the process…get some kudos from heaven…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 January 2015 Psalm 34:4

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