Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 March 2020 John 14:27.

31 Mar 2020 Leave a comment

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

John 14:27.    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
 

And another day has bitten the dust…But our world is still alive, though somewhat discombobulated; scarred and scared by the ole Coronavirus, since not enough good, but still too much bad and ugly is happening. And is it ever a good thing that we believers know the Truth, and that the Truth will set us free! Glory to God! A few places are holding their own, but many, like the U. S. are now exploding because of too late precautions. And I understand that mih people in J.A will be under lock and key from tomorrow… 

Hn! Ah talking about a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. And believe me, I know what that is like, having experienced it way back in 1970 with the Black Power Riots in T&T. The voluntary stay at home now is bad enough, but when you can’t be seen in the streets at all during certain hours, that’s a horse of a different colour, especially if the military and the police are out looking for curfew breakers. But not to worry mih bredrin, our good God has it all under control. We just have to obey our leaders, stay home and practice safe routines, and come to Him in sincere prayer with heartfelt repentance for our myriad number of ghastly sins. 

And as He has promised, eventually, everything will be worked out for our benefit. Remember though, that it will all happen in His time, not ours, and that’s the cut-tail part of it all. We hate to wait, and the Lord doesn’t hurry! And if yuh doh believe me, then just try it and see nuh! (smile) Oh my people, this virus business is indeed a serious matter, but too many of us are letting it get us too afraid, depressed and daily losing hope. But now is the time when we believers ought to be on the ascendance with our strong and wonderful faith! 

It’s not the time for us to wilt like faded and dying roses, as so many of us are doing, because the world needs that awesome faith we have more than ever now! Now is the time for us to stand up and really show our true colours; be the amazing salt and light of the world that Jesus desires of us! And yuh know what? If, we believers, with all of our supposed faith in, and awesome promises of God, become fearful and lose hope, what will be the response of the unbeliever be eh, of the rest of the world, who don’t have what we have? Utter chaos and confusion! 

That’s why, as a group, Christians need to stand strong and steadfast, take the matter seriously, but don’t panic and give assurances to the unbelievers. It’s at times like these when we can do our best evangelical work, bringing others to Christ, by the staunch and steadfast examples we set. Jesus knew that we’d face trials and tribulations, thus His encouraging and reassuring words. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) 

And a lot of us quick to quote those words, but when the time comes to put them into actual action, like now, too many of us falter and fail. If we falter now friends, it means that we don’t have sufficient faith and trust in our God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that’s supposed to dwell in us and lead and guide us in godly righteousness. We obviously don’t hold Jesus’ many assurances of ‘FEAR NOT!’ in high regard. Remember, courage is not the absence of fear, but of doing stuff while afraid, with the power of the Holy Spirit assisting us. 

And what about these words of Jesus eh? ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) It doesn’t seem as though we are taking those words seriously either. And what if some of us die? We all have to go sometime. As the Good Book says: ‘And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.’ (Heb. 9:27) Now don’t get me wrong, very few of us are ready to, or want to die right now, including me, but the truth is that  none of us have the power or authority to prolong our lives, so when the Grim Reaper comes a calling, we just have to go, whether we want to or not. 

The one proviso necessary though before that time comes, is that we go with Christ as our Lord and Saviour tucked away safely and deeply in our hearts. So once you truly have Jesus as the Light of your life, there’s no need to fear death, for what we call death, the physical aspect, is merely a leaving of our physical body behind, with a glorious continuation of life on the other side, in the spiritual plane, with Jesus. Oh friends, just like Christ died once, on our behalf, we can only die once, but with Him in our hearts, we are assured of a resurrection just like Him. 

And thus let’s hold on tight to this somewhat obscure and unknown verse of scripture: ‘So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look (eagerly wait) for him shall he reappear the second time without (apart from) sin unto salvation.’ (Heb. 9:28) So my faithful brethren, instead of dwelling on the worst case scenario in these trying times, let’s instead focus on the big picture nuh; the Second Coming of Christ with the beautiful promise of salvation in His wings! That’s the wise way to handle this current situation, and it will help us to stand strong and steadfast as prisoners of divine hope. 

Now let’s go home showing our mettle nuh, by declaring (yeahhh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. In strong, fearless voices, with sincere hearts: ‘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 now, the natural consequence of that declaration (steups!) is to action it in whatever safe way we can. Much LOVE!

…sincere HOPE in Christ…is the ONLY antidote for fear… 

P.S. Yeh, it’s somewhat late, due as usual to my penchant for late nights, (smile) but I like it…and I hope you do too. Much LOVE!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 April 2015 Psalm 22:9 ‏‏‏‏‏‏

28 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 22:9.     But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast.

Aye Friends, welcome to a terrific Tuesday! And some of you grouchily ask, what’s so terrific about it eh? We still have the same trials and tribulations to endure? But Friends, that’s a shortsighted approach to the situation from a negative position.

Think about it this way nuh. The breath of life is still coursing purposely through our finite bodies. That means the Lord still has use for us down here on earth.

And then think about all the new blessings, mercies, forgiveness, compassion and grace that He’s earmarked specially for today, to bountifully shower down on us, so that we can do His bidding successfully. Now if that doesn’t make it a terrific Tuesday, then I don’t know what does! (smile)

Oh my people, we all know that life was never meant to be a bed of roses, there will be struggles and serious difficulties, but remember when we walk sincerely with Jesus Christ, we will be empowered to face all the negativity with a smile and steadfast faith, and also come through it with glowing report cards, much more Christ-like than when it all began. Wow! What a wonderful God we serve and worship my brethren!

Oh Friends, the Lord has done His part, providing all that wonderful stuff for us. The problem though is that we now need to do our part, which is to gratefully and joyously receive His magnanimous offerings. We can be given lots of stuff, but until we accept and receive them, it’s all a wasted effort.

So today, please let’s look on the bright side of life and accept and receive with thanksgiving all that the Lord has offered us. That will certainly make it a terrific Tuesday!

And it also brings us to our Bit. ‘But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast.’

Oh Friends, what an encouraging scripture verse! From our very first breath, our Creator placed a little thing, sorry, a mighty emotion called HOPE in our souls. Yes my brethren, from the very beginning, God made sure that we had something strong and versatile to carry us through the rough times that we would most certainly endure in this earthly life.

So much so, that as Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) likes to say, we’ve become ‘prisoners of HOPE’! And that’s a rather apt description of Christians, for if we don’t hold on tightly to HOPE in Jesus, then crapaud smoke we pipe!

The term itself comes from Zechariah, when he talks about Zion’s future king: ‘Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of HOPE: even today do I declare that I will render (restore) double unto thee.’ (Zech.9:12)

Yes my fellow believers, each and every day we need to turn to the stronghold of the Most High God, Jehovah, to replenish the HOPE in our souls! For without that HOPE, we don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell, against Lucifer and his evil minions.

Now Friends, here is some scripture that corroborates all that we’ve been saying. I never planned to include it all, but realized that just pulling a couple verses out of context would not be really helpful. So here goes.

The author of Hebrews is here talking about an anchor of the soul. ‘For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could sware by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily sware by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife (dispute). Wherein God, willing more abundantly (determining) to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability (unchangeableness) of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

That by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us: which HOPE we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil (the Presence behind the veil).

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made (having become) a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Heb.6:13-20)

Oh my people, I know that’s a somewhat convoluted and thus difficult section of scripture to understand, so here is some info from the scholars to help us do so. ‘6:13-18. God’s covenant with Abraham, which involves salvation (Gal.3:15-25), is secure, being based on two immutable things, that is, elements that cannot change.

First, God’s promise is based on His own unchanging Word. He cannot lie, nor will He allow His Word to fail (Matt.5:18; John 10:35; 17:17). Further, His Word was confirmed by an oath. And since He can swear by none greater, He swears by Himself. He rests His Word on His holy character.’

And the scholars continue to explain: ‘6:19-20. Starting at the end of verse 18, the author uses three pictures to demonstrate the security of being in Christ. First, it is described as a safe retreat for the believer, as were the six cities of refuge in the Old Testament to those allowed their protection. (Num.35:6-32).

Second, our HOPE is sure and steadfast as is a well-placed, unbending anchor. Our anchor is not located in the deepest sea but in the highest heaven. The third figure is that of a forerunner. Though the figure changes, the location does not. Our forerunner is likewise positioned in the sanctuary of heaven.

As our forerunner, Jesus is far different from the Old Testament priests. In the sanctuary they could intercede for the people, but they could not lead the people in themselves. As our forerunner, Jesus has opened the way before us, that eventually (and certainly) we might enter in with Him.’

Oh Friends, I know that’s a lot to digest, but I do hope that we take it seriously, and that it brings us all to a greater understanding of God’s Word, for that’s our avowed purpose. Please stay strong and steadfast in Christ; continue to be a prisoner of HOPE. Much LOVE!

…HOPE…it is the heavenly anchor of our souls…and that’s the Lord’s intentional doing…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 June 2013 Hebrews 10:23

06 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

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

Hebrews 10:23:   Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
 
And then it was Thursday. Just one more day to go till freedom Friday, my brethren! So please hang in there, put on your spiritual armour that will allow you to fearlessly engage the enemy in battle, and let the Lord God Jehovah be your guide.
 
Now I don’t know what’s happening with the birds, but I don’t hear them singing their sweet morning praise. Maybe they sensed the cold, rainy weather that’s supposed to be on tap for the next few days and opted to stay somewhere safe and warm.
 
But that should in no way affect our thanks and praise, which we’re supposed to give under any and all circumstances. So let’s give a li’l thanks and praise nuh mih people.
 
‘Oh heavenly Father, we come before You this morning in praise and thanksgiving, for all the blessings and mercies that you’ve given us in the past. We humbly acknowledge all the good things you’re going to do for us today, and all the other todays that we may live.
 
We ask you to guide and strengthen us that we may walk faithfully with you, and thus be worthy to be called your children, your people. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.’
 
And now that we’ve floated some sincere, heart-felt thanks and praise up to heaven, let’s look at our Bit. ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’
 
Unfortunately for some of you, it’s the same Bit as the last two days, but it contains two very important principles that we should all know and write indelibly in our souls: First, we should hold on strong to our faith, our hope in Jesus Christ, and secondly that our God is ever-faithful, and will keep each and everyone of His promises.
 
And for this last day on this Bit – I see smiles and hear cheers from some people – I want to bring to our attention some scriptures that reassure us of God’s faithfulness. And there’s no better place to begin than with Bruh Paul’s excellent advice to the Corinthians in his first missive to them.
 
‘Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor.10:12-13)
 
Yes Friends, there’s absolutely no doubt about that! The Lord won’t necessarily keep temptation away from us, but He’ll NEVER allow us to bear more than we can handle!
 
And I’m not talking from hearsay, but from personal experience. And this is even long before I ever got caught up in the gospel as I am now. Looking back on some of the challenges I faced, I can now see God’s hand at work, leading, guiding and strengthening me, and eventually bringing me out safely, despite my less than stellar obedience.
 
But that’s just the kind of merciful and magnanimous God He is!
 
Then we have more assurances from Bruh Paul, this time in his letter to the Philippians. ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil.1:6)
 
There again Friends, the Lord will continue to shower His awesome grace on believers right up to the very day Jesus returns! He will not start something in you and not finish it. So once we’re being as obedient and sincere as we can, there’s no reason to fear that our God will unceremoniously leave us in the lurch.
 
And in 2 Thessalonians, Bruh Paul once again utters assurances of God’s faithfulness. ‘But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil (the evil one). And we have confidence in the Lord touching (concerning) you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.’ (2 Thess.3:3-4)
 
And we’ll end with some words from Jesus, as we LOVE to do whenever possible. This happens while He’s teaching at Capernaum, after He admonishes the people re their seeking Him because He fed them earlier on, not because they wanted to hear the Word. (John 6:1-27)
 
‘Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.’ (John 6:28-29)
 
Oh my fellow believers in Christ, that wraps it all up in a nutshell, in one simple statement! Everything you’re seeing is the work of God, and it’s happening because God wants us to believe in His messenger, Jesus Christ.
 
Yes Friends, that’s the simplest but most overwhelming message of the Good Book: believe on Jesus, whom God sent to enlighten and to save us!
 
Unfortunately though, too many of us are not doing that. Consequently, our world and our lives are in a troubled mess, proverbially going to hell in a hand-basket.
 
And the ONLY way to turn that around is for us to bring our lives and our world back to that simple mission statement; believing in Jesus. For that my brethren, is the ultimate in wisdom and simple common sense!
 
Let’s therefore seriously begin doing that as of today nuh my people. You won’t believe the wonderful changes it will make, both in our individual lives and that of our troubled and misguided world. Much LOVE!
 
…belief in Jesus Christ is optional…but it is the ONLY sensible option…
 
  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 August 2012 Jeremiah 17:7

04 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 17:7.     Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 
 
Aye Friends, it’s Caribana Saturday morning in T.O. the Good! Wow! It’s supposed to be hot, low thirties, and sunny. Just imagine nuh, that in a few hours, for the forty something time, rich, scintillating, pulsating West Indian riddims will be blasting out on the streets of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city! Unfortunately though, it seems that this will be the third or fourth Caribana Parade the ole fella’s going to miss in the forty years, he’s been here. I guess, as they say, all good things must end someday. But after the Pan Alive Competition last night, I believe the Lord’s saying; ‘Keep you peace, mih son! It’s not worth the pain that might ensue.’ However, with the natural stubbornness of man, (smile) I’m still not a hundred percent sure that I’m not going. We’ll see how the ole bod feels as the morning progresses. Anyway, for once the judges and the crowd seemed to agree on the winner of the Pan competition; Pan Fantasy. From the opening notes of their music, you heard something, a sort of brilliance that none of the other bands matched. But don’t fool yuh fat, as in every Pan competition in the world, there were cries of; ‘They robbed us!’ And you could find good arguments for disputing some of the lower placings. But last night Pan Fantasy definitely reigned supreme! All the bands played well though, especially some of the younger ones. And it warms the cockles of my heart every time I check out this competition to see the great amount of young people, of all colours, creeds and races who are beating pan now. Hn! If they only knew about the beginnings of pan and how it was totally frowned upon in it’s earliest years, they’d certainly be surprised to find themselves playing those instruments now. My Auntie Anne and Uncle John didn’t make it there till late, thus missed the first six bands, but a good time was eventually had by all though. Now let’s turn to our Bit: ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.’ That’s undoubtedly gospel truth mih Friends! You can see that although our Bit is new, our theme is still that nebulous, constantly ebbing and rising, but oh, ever so important emotion of HOPE! As we’ve been saying, it’s what every human being, and specifically Christians need in great amounts to be able to carry out any and all projects successfully. Yes Friends, if we’re not clothed in much hope, particularly in the hope of God Almighty, His enduring ability to run our lives, then we’re like a naked man out in the winter’s cold, unable to survive for any length of time. It’s the starting point of all our endeavours. And it follows logically that since the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our Creator and the most powerful Being in the universe, then it’s only wise, the root of our wisdom, to place all our hope, trust and faith in Him. If no one can defeat Him, then why put any trust in the many pretenders currently floating around in our world eh? And if we check the Good Book, we’ll find a whole lot of beautiful scriptures that attest to that fact. Let’s look at some of them now, beginning obviously with words of Psalm 2, attributed to Bruh David (smile) and superscripted, Why the heathen rages. ‘Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.’ (Ps.2:12) Ah mih people, kissing the Son is an act of homage and submission, which all believers ought to do, for it’s wisdom at it’s highest, since the Good Book uncompromisingly declares: ‘For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ (Rom.14:11) There Bruh Paul’s confirming words first spoken by Isaiah in Chapter 45:23. So my brethren, if Jesus Christ is the ultimate ruler, then those who don’t believe in, trust and worship Him, need to have their heads and hearts thoroughly examined for the presence of that condition nicely termed foolish, stupid, or downright unwise. Hear how Cousin Sol puts it: ‘He that handleth a matter wisely (wisely heeds the Word) shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.’ (Prov.16:20) More gospel truth mih people, as no doubt many of us can testify to. And we’ll close with this edifying scripture from Psalm 125, God surrounds His people. And isn’t that the living truth Friends? ‘They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed (moved), but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about (surround) Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.’ (Ps.125:1-2) That my people, is the eternal truth, and as good as it gets! It certainly couldn’t get any better than that! So let’s take time today to ponder the state of our lives before Almighty God, then trust in His Word and renew the hope, the trust, the faith and final surrender and submission to His Holiness, as when we first believed. It’s the only sensible and wise stance to take in this evil, ungodly, troubled and fearful world. Much LOVE!…Hope is the seed…from which all good things grow…  P.S. Sorry the Bit’s a bit late, but the ole fella didn’t get to bed until the wee hours of the morning, so he couldn’t get up any earlier. (smile) Much LOVE!
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 June 2012 Psalm 39:7

07 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 39:7.    And now Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a new day, and I’m expecting new blessings and mercies, even though some things still remain the same; like my aching jaw and acting up allergies, something they haven’t done in a long while. However, I know that good things are going to happen today, and enough of them to cover and saturate the bad ones. Why is that eh? Because deep down in my spirit I have HOPE; HOPE in the Lord Jesus Christ. As our Bit from Bruh David’s prayer for self-understanding says: ‘And now Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ Yuh know, for the last couple days, after reading or hearing that scripture somewhere, it’s been playing in my mind, and even more so today as I came to write the Bit. That told me the Lord wanted us to bathe in His HOPE today, to resuscitate the springs of hope in our mortal lives, which seem to be running low, so that we can stand strong and go forward bravely, building His righteous kingdom. So here goes; as many scriptures on HOPE, as we can fit in to the space we have available. And first up are words from Psalm 16; Bruh David’s Michtam (Contemplation) on preservation and blessing: ‘I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.’ (Ps.16:8-9) Now here are some more wise words from Bruh David, who wrote the book on Hope, from Psalm 38, the prayer of a penitent heart. When all his enemies were ganging up against him, he solemnly declares: ‘But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs (responses). For in thee, (I wait for thee) O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear (answer), O Lord, my God.’ (Ps.38:13-15) Now that’s what I call hope Friends! How many of us can sit quietly while others are bashing us, saying all sorts of nasty, untrue things about us, and we just sit quietly and wait for the Lord our God to hear and respond on our behalf? Not very many. But that’s how we ought to be. And turning to Cousin Sol: He simply declares: ‘The wicked is driven away by his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope (refuge) in his death.’ And that’s an indisputable fact my brethren! We know where we’re going when these mortal bodies bite the dust. Heaven, with Jesus! Therefore we have great hope here on earth! Yes Friends, the righteous, those that walk under the protective wings of Jehovah God are fuelled by hope in His everlasting promises and His great mercies. And the Preacher states his theory of hope thus: ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ (Eccl.9:4) I guess that can be roughly translated by our saying that while there’s life there is hope, which is an undeniable fact my people. Now hear Jeremiah, re the blessedness of trusting the Lord: ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is, for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer.17:7-8) Oh Friends, truer words were never spoken! How much more hope and encouragement do we need to believe in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob eh? And here’s a scripture I like, but don’t hear too often. Zechariah declares on behalf of Zion’s future king: ‘Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render (restore) double unto thee.’ (Zech.9:12) Oh mih breddren, that term ‘prisoners of hope’ should be applicable to all followers of Christ, because hope is such an integral part of our Christian walk, and without it, we’d just die a dog’s death! But because there’s such a thing as hope, that our forefather Abraham embraced so wholeheartedly: ‘Who against (contrary) to hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.’ (Rom.4:18) Yes Friends, without a deep-seated hope and faith in God, where would Abraham be, in fact where would we all be today? He believed, trusted and hoped in God’s promise enough to walk as God desired. How many of us can truthfully make that statement today eh? Obviously not sufficient, otherwise our world wouldn’t be in such a mess. And Bruh Paul, re the service of LOVE to all, talks to the Romans about; ‘Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation, continuing instant (steadfast) in prayer.’ (Rom.12:12) And we’ll conclude with this memorable scripture from Bruh Paul: ‘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 we do with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ That’s gospel truth Friends! So regardless of what ever is currently happening in our lives, or around the world, let’s not lose sight of the enormous importance of HOPE in a believer’s life. And just to keep us focused, we’ll reiterate the immortal words of our Bit: ‘And now Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ Words of truth and strength mih people! Much LOVE!…to hope…to hope…and yet to hope…that is the Christian’s strength…