Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 December 2012 Luke 1:28

19 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

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

Luke 1:28.    And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Ah Friends, it’s another new day in our lives, filled with numerous blessings from our wonderful God! And all God’s children offered up a silent, but heartfelt, ‘Thank You Lord!’ And unbelievable as it might seem, I’m also into my forty-second year of marriage. Oh Brother! Does it ever sound plentiful; like a lifetime. But I guess that’s what marriage is supposed to be about; a lifetime of togetherness. And yuh know Friends, it’s that same lifetime of togetherness with God that all believers are supposed to have. From birth to death, we’re supposed to have the Word of God firmly planted in our souls, so that we can live this earthly life by it, because that’s it’s purpose; to lead and guides us on the right path to salvation and eternal life. And just like our human relationships, because of our inherently sinful nature, there will be ups and downs in our lives re God’s Word and His leading. But I have an interesting prayer from Dr. Robert H Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional to share today. I just LOVE how Dr. Schuller’s prayers are filled with passion and directness to God. Please say this prayer of New Awareness with me. ‘Deep within myself I have a powerful awareness that I have made the right decision and am moving in the right direction. I will let nothing and no one deter, detour, distract, depress, or defeat me. “No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.” God’s spirit is rising within me now, making me very determined to faithfully keep the beautiful promises I’ve made. I will be faithful. I am reliable. Thank you, God. Amen.’ Yes Friends, that’s how we ought to be at all times; faithful and reliable! And there’s no better example of that in the Good Book than Mother Mary, whose sudden uplifting to glory didn’t seem to discomfit or faze her as much as we’d normally expect from such significant happenings. Our Bit begins the whole shebang: ‘And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail (Rejoice), thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’ Now yesterday we noted Mary’s cool and calm response to the angel’s sudden greeting and the monumental news he bore. We ended with her asking how all he said could be possible with her still being a virgin. ‘And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest (Most High) shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing (one) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin (relative) Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ (Luke 1:35-37) Oh my brethren, that last verse is of the utmost importance in the lives of all believers, for if we don’t truly believe that EVERYTHING is possible with God, then nothing’s going to work for us in the Christian faith. Now Friends, listen to one of the most faith filled and trusting comments in all of the Good Book. ‘And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid (maidservant) of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.’ (Luke 1:38) Yes fellow believers, though it’s difficult to believe, those simple, unadulterated words of supreme faith and trust came from the heart of a young, teenaged girl, who knew the horrible fate that would befall her when it was discovered that she was pregnant out of wedlock. Even today, with all our freedom, that situation still causes untold problems, so can you imagine what it would have been like in a backward Jewish village two thousand years ago? I don’t know if Mary had thought through all the ramifications of the situation, but whether she did or not, she was still willing to take that chance, that great leap of faith with the God of her fathers. Ah mih people, I wish I could say that most believers today were like Mary. But unfortunately I cannot, because in spite of us being more aware, having more knowledge and information on God and His workings, in spite of having Jesus sacrifice His sinless life so that we could be cleansed and be set free from sin, too many of us are still walking a wish-washy path of faith. Too many supposed believers are still trying to straddle the fence between true Christian faith and action and the temptations and glossy, material things of the world. Like James says in chap.1:6-8, we’re ‘waverers’, constantly moving back and forth from fickle faith to the world. We’re double-minded, and thus unstable and untrustworthy. Now Friends, that’s no way for true believers to act. With the way things are going very negatively in our floundering world, it’s time for all true believers to stand up strong and be counted on the side of true faith and trust in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I therefore implore us my brethren, that whatever the Lord asks of us today, and henceforth, please, let’s respond in simple but fervent faith and trust, without any wavering, just like Mary did. Only then, will we be able to really call ourselves, true believers. Our world is badly in need of that kind of people to turn it around, to turn it back to truly serving and worshipping the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Much LOVE!…when the Lord says jump…believers should immediately respond in true faith…how high Lord…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 August 2012 Galatians 5:1

31 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

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

Galatians 5:1.    Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

Oh Friends, sorry the Bit’s a bit late, but I had a late night last night, which made it all the more difficult to get up this morning. In any case it’s Friday… And a glorious chorus of ‘Hallelujahs’ burst forth from God’s people and rise to heaven! Yes, we know the weekend is here! And this a special Friday my people. First off, because it’s the 50th anniversary of the Independence of that wonderful Republic of Trinidad and Tobago! Yes Friends, T & T has now gone through a half century of self-rule! Wow! I remember the early heady days when Independence was on the tip of everybody’s tongues, was all that mattered. Never thought I’d live to see 50 years of it. Today is also the 1st anniversary of my Mother Molly moving on to be with the Lord in the green pastures in the sky. I also remember hearing of her passing while on vacation in California. But as the Lord promised, He helped me to get through it without too much emotional upheaval. Now I was grieved and all that, but early in the proceedings my spirit took on a sort of calm that I didn’t understand at the time, and I was comforted by the realization that she had gone to a better place, where she was free of all pain and tears. I still talk to her every day though, especially when I’m reading the prayers I read for her over the phone. In hindsight, I now realize that that was one of God’s mysterious movements, preparing me for writing the Bit. You can’t write about what you haven’t read. This Friday is also the beginning of the Labour Day weekend, the last real weekend of the summer. I miss the good times I once had on the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York, every Labour Day. But I also remember the last time I was there, about five years ago, when my Aunty Anne and I had to walk miles to the parade route, after luckily finding a parking spot in the afternoon way off the beaten path. We also had to walk it back later that night after all the festivities, when we were both dead tired and the night had gotten somewhat chilly. I don’t know what it is about Labour Day and the weather, but as soon as it’s over, a noticeable chill develops. Anyway, to get us off to a good start on this special weekend, let’s chant out Friday Chant, in loud, sweet voice, give the angels a run for their money. Hn, hn! I LOVE it when we do that. (smile) All together 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.’ And having put the right perspective on the weekend… oh don’t forget too, that drunk or sober, to mind your business this long weekend, so Beelzebub doesn’t get a chance to infiltrate our defences. Now, belatedly, let’s see what our Bit has to offer. ‘Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ Yesterday we saw that basically it meant that using the law of man to get into God’s good grace was impossible, because the two operate in opposite realms. The law of man is fleshly, demon inspired, while that of God is spiritual and depends solely on the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, with the resultant indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And we need to stay strongly attached to the Holy Spirit so that we walk in faith and derive the numerous blessings involved in following Christ. Hear how Bruh Paul tells it to the Philippians: ‘Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.’ (Phil.4:1-3) Yes my people, it’s all about standing strong in Christ in fellowship with each other. We won’t always agree, but there shouldn’t be anything that causes us to disagree so strenuously that it negatively affects Christ’s church. But sadly, a lot of it is happening in the local, as well as national and international church. Oh Friends, there’s more to be said on this sad topic of wrangling amongst Christ’s followers, but we’ll leave that for tomorrow, God willing. I don’t want to burden our short attention spans with too much stuff this long weekend. So till tomorrow, provided we don’t see our names in the obits, pleas walk safely with God and in harmony with each other. That’s my prayer for us today. In Jesus Name. Amen! Much LOVE my people!….to truly walk with Christ…we must also walk as one body…one church…  P.S. The Bit’s not as late as I thought it would be. (smile) All praise to God whose miraculous hand was certainly involved. Much LOVE!

 

 

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