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 24 January 2019 Psalm 25:4-5.

24 Jan 2019 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 25:4-5.   ​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 day.
 

And would you believe, that after all the snowing activity over the past few days that it rained yesterday through most of the afternoon and into the night? Steups! What crazy weather. And then I guess it froze up again last night, making the early morning commute extremely dangerous. Hope by the time I have to go out around lunch time that it will have settled down, because I’m in no mood to battle the elements today. (smile) 

But to combat all that the enemy wants to throw at us, here is this interesting li’l prayer from Sister Joyce’s (Joyce Meyer) old Devotional ‘Starting Your Day Right.’ Please pray with me: ‘Lord, I am so excited about this day! Oh God, I can hardly wait to see what You are going to do. I believe You are going to keep me, help me, bless me, and give me favour. I LOVE You, Father. I am waiting on You Lord, and I am listening to You.’ 

Yes friends, we need to be excited about every day that we open our eyes and draw breath in God’s great universe! What’s the purpose in having such a great, wonderful, merciful, bountiful and forgiving God if we’re not excited by the plans He has for our lives each and every day eh? 

Remember He promised that He has a good plan for us, not one to cause us calamity, but to give us a good future and plenty hope. (Jer.29:11) And if that’s true, then there should be some expectant excitement in our lives and attitudes to see what’s going to happen. 

So my people, let’s come to our wonderful God each and every day and ask for His guidance, His direction, His discernment and anything else that we need to get us safely and successfully through the day nuh. As Bruh David pleads in this scripture passage that’s our Bit for today: ‘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 day.’ 

Oh friends, there’s no better way to live this life than in constant communication with our heavenly Father, letting Him lead and guide us through His Holy Spirit to do His Will down here on earth! That way we get into fewer problems, and make fewer mistakes, though we’ll still suffer some ‘sufferation’ because that’s just the way life is. 

And the Lord has also promised to either make a way for us to escape those rough times, or He will walk through the flood and the fire with us and bring us out safely, in better shape, on the other side! So there’s no real need to fear the vicissitudes of this life. (smile) 

Now let’s look at some other scriptures that endorse Bruh David’s plea. Listen to Moses after the Lord volunteered him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. ‘Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.’ (Ex.33:13) Yes friends, it is wise to come before the Lord and ask for His blessings and guidance before we embark on any project or journey, especially if we’re undertaking it in His name. 

And I like how the Lord answered Moses: ‘And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.’ (Ex.33:14) But Moses persisted: ‘And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence… And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found favour in my sight, and I know thee by name.’ (Ex.33:15, 17) 

And if you read the rest of that chapter vs.18-21, you’ll see that Moses kept on asking for more signs and acknowledgement, and the Lord graciously granted them because He knew that Moses was about to carry a very heavy load and He didn’t want him to have any doubts about His being with him. Likewise friends, our God will always make clear our paths if we sincerely ask Him to. 

And then we have this scripture from Psalm 119: ‘I have declared my ways, and thou heardest (answered) me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of (meditate on) thy wondrous works.’ (Ps.119:26-27)  Ah mih people, we can’t truly walk with God unless and until we know and understand His Ways and his Will. It’s just like everything else in life; to get good at it, we have to put in some brain work! 

A plea for learning was one of Bruh David’s mainstays in walking with God. Hear these last two scriptures: ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up (take care of me). Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain (smooth) path, because of mine enemies.’ (Ps.27:10-11) And this one, we all know: ‘Cause me to hear thy LOVING-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.’ (Ps.143:8) 

Yes my fellow believers, there’s nothing our God likes more than when we come to Him with our hearts sincerely bursting and thirsty for knowledge of Him and His Word. It’s wisdom of untold proportions! And since it’s Thursday, let’s confidently and believingly belt out the many blessings that our magnanimous God has so gracefully blessed us with. 

As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! 

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

And please remember that we now have to go out and share those wonderful blessings with others, for that’s a big part of the reason they were granted to us in the first place. Much LOVE!

…to truly know God and His Word…you obviously have to spend time with Him and His Word…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 November 2016 Daniel 9:9.

29 Nov 2016 Leave a comment

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

Daniel 9:9.   To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. 

Oh friends, doesn’t it feel good to be alive on this Tuesday morning? It certainly does, especially when we are members of that glorious body, the church of Jesus Christ! 

Wow! What a privilege and a blessing to be numbered amongst the brothers and sisters of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

Consequently, our attitude should be one of great appreciation and a burning desire to do the Lord’s will. In keeping with all that, then let us sincerely declare, as the psalmist did so long ago: ‘This is the day the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:24) 

Yes my brethren, though the day may look dark and bleak, we know for a fact that the light of Jesus is shining in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds, and therefore we have the wherewithal to go out into the evil world and make a positive difference on His behalf. 

And to boost, to bolster our faith and courage, to reaffirm our sense of purpose, let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra, with certainty and passion. As one now: ‘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!’ 

Ah mih people, as I said earlier on, it’s sure good to be in league with Jesus and the heavenly father. How can we be beaten or discouraged when we are God’s beloved and the friend of Jesus eh? No way Jose! 

But we also need to remember that we have a part to play in the relationship; and our part is to share the LOVE of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know Him, to receive His awesome offer of salvation and eternal life! 

And all God’s people declared a loud, sincere and appreciative: ‘All praise and glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for taking us under their mighty wings and keeping us safe and warm, like babes in their mother’s arms!’ 

And in so doing friends, the Holy Trinity takes the interest of each believer and deals with them personally, helping them to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to God, while they spread the good news of Jesus’ wonderful gospel. 

Nothing could be better than that my brethren! And when we consider the glorious words of our Bit, we become even more appreciative of God’s LOVE for us, His greatest creation. ‘To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.’ 

Oh what a wonderful God we serve and worship my fellow believers! No other Deity is willing to offer mercy and forgiveness to rebellious followers. That means the Lord must be strong and secure in His own Spirit. For only a very powerful and secure Being could afford to be so generous. And for that generosity, we offer a most heartfelt thanks! 

Now let’s continue looking at some scriptures that uphold the argument of our Bit. And we’ll begin with words from the prophet Joel, as he calls Israel to repentance and fasting. 

‘Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and  with mourning: 

And rend (tear) your heart and not your garments, and turn (return) unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness (LOVING-kindness), and repenteth him of the evil (relents from doing harm).’ (Joel 2:12-13) 

And the scholars have an interesting commentary on those verses. ‘2:12-13. The customary way a Jew showed his grief was to tear his outer garment. This external sign could be meaningless. The tearing of the outer garment is useless, unless the heart is broken in repentance and contrition.’ 

And that still holds true up to these ungodly times my people. Outward show does not move God’s heart. That’s why He seeks our true motives by examining the state of our own hearts before answering our prayers. 

Now listen to the words of Bruh David from Psalm 86 – Teach me thy way, O Lord. ‘Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.’ (Ps.86:4-5) 

And nobody knew God’s forgiveness and mercy better than Bruh David. Now let’s end with some more of his awesome words from Psalm 86. ‘I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest (the depths of) hell. 

O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men (mobs) have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Show me a token (a sign) for good: that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast helped me, and comforted me.’ (Ps.86:12-17) 

Oh friends, definitely a great prayer on which to begin our day! Now let’s go out there feeling helped and comforted by our God and do His wondrous will for our lives. Much LOVE!

…with our wonderful God…mercy and forgiveness are possible…even though rebellion fills our hearts…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 June 2016 2 Corinthians 1:3

23 Jun 2016 Leave a comment

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

2 Corinthians 1:3.    Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

Oh my people, our wonderful God has seen fit to bless us with another marvellous day on planet earth! Glory be! 

So let’s reciprocate nuh, first by joyfully declaring, as the psalmist did: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’ (Ps.118:24) 

Yes friends, it’s only mete and right that we celebrate and enjoy what our God has graciously given to us! 

And to further show our appreciation, let’s sing this li’l soulful ditty I heard on the Hour of Power the other night. There was another song I had planned to use, but after hearing the sweet, soulfulness of this one, which I didn’t know, I had no choice but to change my mind. (smile) 

It’s simply titled ‘My Song in the Night.’ Please sing with me. ‘O Jesus my saviour, my song in the night. Come to us with thy tender LOVE, My soul’s delight. Unto thee, O Lord, in affliction I call, My comfort by day, And my song in the night. 

O why should I wander, and not walk with thee, Or cry in the desert, thy face to see? My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight. O Jesus my saviour, my song in the night. My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight. O Jesus my saviour, my song in the night…in the night…in the night…in the nightttttt…’ 

Ah mih breddren, how wonderful it is to praise and worship our omnipotent, magnificent and magnanimous God! For without Him, we are nothing, and have nothing! 

He is the undoubted source of all that we are and have! We are wonderfully made in His image, and also bear within us His awesome breath of life and Holy Spirit! If you take away those things you are left with absolutely nothing! 

So it is essential for us to praise and glorify Him in all that we do, if we want to keep on enjoying His godly mercy and saving grace so generously given to all who sincerely seek it. 

And it all segues in so nicely with our Bit: ‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.’ 

And you know, during that same Hour of Power programme, I heard the interviewed guest mention how important that passage of scripture was to him in his men’s ministry. And friends, it’s also very important in ours. Why? 

Listen to the verse that follows it. ‘Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble (tribulation), by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.’ (2 Cor.1:4) 

What a wonderful method our God has set up friends: first He comforts us, so that we can comfort others with the comfort that we have received from Him! Praise His holy name! 

No other supposed deity does anything like that. ONLY our great and ever-LOVING God! So why wouldn’t we give Him praise and thanks, and honour and glory eh! No reason whatsoever! 

And the scholars have this to say about our verses. ‘1:3-4. Blessed (Gr. eulogetos, “well spoken of”) is used in the New Testament of God, (e.g., (Eph. 1:3). It is a term of adoration and praise. 

The Father of mercies: The mercies in view here include everything from deliverance from the world, sin, and Satan, to participation in sonship, light, and life. But the force is even more than this. The stress is that the Father is characterized by mercy. (c.f. Ps. 86:5; Dan.9:9; Mic.7:18).’ 

Yes friends, mercy is one of the unalterable characteristics of our God, which means that it must also be one of our character traits too, if we’re to be true believers and followers of His. 

Yuh see how effectively our God works in our lives. He gives us comfort and mercy so that we can then share it with others in need of them. How awesome is our God eh! Oh glory, glory! 

And though I wasn’t planning to do it, I will indulge in a little spoon-feeding. (smile) Here is the scripture mentioned above from Psalm 86. ‘Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily (all day long). Rejoice (make glad) the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.’ (Ps.86:3-5) I just added verses 3-4, so we could get a better idea of what’s happening. 

And no my people, I haven’t forgotten. I’m getting it right this week. (smile) It’s Thursday, so let’s go home appropriately declaring our Thursday Blessings. So with plenty sincerity, spunk, enthusiasm, faith and belief, let’s do it nuh! 

‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! 

I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

Yes my fellow believers in Jesus Christ, let’s go out today, clothed in all those blessings and show the world the true nature of Christianity, as Jesus desires of us! Much LOVE!

…we Christians are so blessed…that we don’t know what to do with all the blessings…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 April 2016 Psalm 89:6

03 Apr 2016 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 89:6.    For who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

Well friends, it’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the best day of the week! So let’s therefore begin it with some rather appropriate praise and worship nuh. Please sing with me, these ever-faithful and ever-true words of Charles Jenkins. 

With pomp, and power and glory now: ‘My God is awesome, He can move mountains Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain.  My God is awesome, heals me when I’m broken  Strength where I’ve been weakened, forever He will reign  (repeat)  My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome  My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome.  

My God is awesome, Savior of the whole world  Giver of salvation, by His stripes I am healed  My God is awesome, today I am forgiven  His grace is why I’m living, praise His holy name  My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome  My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome.  

He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, Awesome, Awesome,  He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy, Awesome, Awesome,  He’s Great, He’s Great, He’s Great, He’s Great, Awesome, Awesome  He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, Awesome, Awesome  

Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer, Awesome, Awesome  He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy,  Awesome, Awesome  Provider, Provider, Provider, Provider,  Awesome, Awesome  Protector, Protector, Protector, Protector,  Awesome, Awesome  

My God is awesome, He can move mountains  Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain  My God is awesome, heals me when I’m broken  Strength where I’ve been weakened,  Praise His holy name!’ 

Good going friends! Our voices reached up to high heaven and celebrated the Father this spring time Sunday morning! He was most pleased with that sacrifice of praise! And aren’t those words of praise and might and power the absolute and awesome truth? They certainly are! 

Sorry that the words don’t read as good as they sound when sung. (smile) And I recently heard the choir of the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Uncle Charles’ (Charles Stanley) church and some gentleman sing it. And was it ever wonderful, marvelous and soul-touching. The sort of call and answer response between the choir and the gentleman was incredible. I guess I never paid much attention to his name because the music was so sweet. (smile)

And the great thing about opening with some praise and worship my people, is that it gets us in the mood, softens us up, so that we will be more receptive to the Word. So since you are softened up and receptive now (smile), let’s get to the Word, beginning with our Bit. ‘For who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?’ 

Now that’s a great question my people, the answer to which is obviously a resounding ‘NO ONE!’ 

Ah my fellow believers, how can anyone be greater or more awesome than our God eh? It’s just IMPOSSIBLE! 

Listen to His attributes and then tell me if anyone, or anything, in the whole wide universe can match them. He can move mountains; He is a Healer, a Deliverer, a Protector, and a Provider. He can keep me safe in the valley of the shadow of death, hide me from the rain, and strengthen me when I’m weak. 

He’s mighty, both in strength and war, and on top of all that He is the Saviour of the whole world, the Giver of Salvation by His blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary, by His free gift of grace all my sins are forgiven, by His stripes I am healed. And we haven’t even spoken about His holiness and righteousness, His truth and sense of justice… 

And above all He is our Creator! That’s why we praise His holy name and expect Him to reign for ever! Yes friends, our God is truly AWESOME! No doubt about it! 

Now hear the psalmist as he expatiates (smile) on the Lord’s greatness in Psalm 33 – Praise to the Lord for his creation. ‘Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 

The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen (nations, Gentiles) to nought: he maketh the devices (plans) of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.’ (Ps.33:8-12) 

Yes precious people, our God is most excellent! And we are extremely blessed to be numbered amongst His chosen people! Please never forget that, and let’s behave like it, showing LOVE and care and compassion for others. 

Now let’s close with these marvellous, memorable and true words of Bruh David from Psalm 86 – Teach me thy way, O Lord. ‘Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily (all day long). Rejoice (make glad) the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee… 

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord: and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.’ (Ps.86:3-5, 8-10) 

And all of that is indisputable, gospel truth my brethren! So this Sunday morning, as we get ready to go to the sanctuary to praise and worship and give thanks to our Most Awesome God, please let’s remember all the wonderful attributes He possesses, and make our oblations with proper awe and reverence and humility. For that’s wisdom of the highest order. Much LOVE!

…stand in awe…and sin not…commune with your own heart upon your bed…and be still…Selah…  (Ps.4:4)

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 January 2016 Psalm 40:4‏‏

31 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 40:4.   Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Oh friends, it’s Sunday! That means it’s church time!

Now please, no simpering excuses why you can’t attend. Remember Jesus said wherever two or three are gathered together He will be there. So please, let’s gather nuh, in great numbers too, because it’s also true that there is strength in numbers, and worshipping God together brings more benefits than if we continually try to go it alone.

Anyway, as true believers, it is our duty to gather in the Lord’s house and send up our thanks and praise and receive His blessings, encouragement, and strength to face another day and another week. We also need to mix and mingle with other Christians, hear their stories, share ours, encourage each other and thus grow in the faith.

That’s the only way we will ever truly mature in Christ. It simply cannot be done alone and/or in private! End of sermon!

Hn! But I’m now thinking why do we have to beg Christians to go to church eh? I mean it’s a part of their faith, the Good Book requires it, wherever Jesus was, He made sure that He attended the synagogue on the Sabbath day. So why are we so anti church eh?

Is it just pure laziness, or is there a deeper reason? I don’t know nuh friends, and I refuse to speculate. All I can do is encourage us to go, and to do so myself. And one of the reasons I’m up so early this morning, is so that I can write the Bit before I go to church. You know I hate the late Bits, even though occasionally I do indulge. (smile)

And today is Harvest Sunday up at St. Patrick’s in Mt. Pleasant! Glory be! All like that friends, where we are supposed to offer our first fruits to God, how can we do it when we’re absent from church eh?

When I was growing up we excitedly looked forward to Harvest Sunday, and more so the Monday after, when school was closed and all the produce was set up there to be sold. I doubt today’s children would have any interest in such mundane things. Thank the Lord I was born when and where I was yes!

But let us move on to the matter at hand, our Bit. ‘Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’

Ah mih people, trust is such an important thing in our everyday lives. We trust that when we turn the switch, the lights will come on, the cell phone will also come on so that we can text. And when we turn on the tap, we expect to see water flowing out.

We trust all these man-made things, especially computers now, where our entire life is somehow tied to the man-made system, but we have problems trusting Almighty God; the Creator and Provider of EVERYTHING we have and enjoy.

Why do you think the psalmist so adamantly declared? ‘It is better to put your trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’ (Ps.118:8-9)

Because man is untrustworthy! And all of us have suffered some sort of deceit or untrustworthiness at the hand of men at some stage in our lives, but yet we continue to trust them! However, the great and ever-LOVING and faithful God, who has never let us down or deceived us, we are rather reluctant to trust.

Hn! That just doesn’t compute my brethren. It makes no sense whatsoever. No wonder so many of our prayers go unanswered! The Lord looks at our hearts and sees that they are not truly right. Deep down our motives are wrong, we’re selfish and just want to grab the lusts of our flesh and do our own thing.

And if you don’t believe me, listen to the psalmist in Psalm 146 – The blessedness of trusting God. ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth (his spirit departs), he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.’ (Ps.146:3-5)

Yes friends, even man’s breath of life is not his to control! One minute he’s here, then the next his life is extinguished and he returns to the earth from which he was formed. So why do we insist on trusting him above the One who made him eh?

Good question that? One which I can’t answer with any certainty, so I won’t try. I can just give us scriptures that will help us to trust in the Lord. So let’s start with the wisdom of Cousin Sol from Proverbs.

‘He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat (prosperous). He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.’ (Prov.28:26-27)

And believe me my people, we can only walk wisely when we walk with the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Without His eternal guidance we’re just like lost sheep wandering in the wilderness.

Now listen to Bruh David as in Psalm 143, he desires of God – Teach me to do thy will. ‘Hear (answer) me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be (become) like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy LOVING-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.’ (Ps.143:7-8)

Yes my fellow believers in Christ, until we truly start not only believing and trusting God to direct our lives, but more so letting go, so that He can have free rein, we will forever be hampered and confused in our earthly sojourn. Much LOVE!

…truly trusting God…means to completely let go…and let Him do His thing in our lives…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 April 2013 Psalm 25:1

30 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 25:1.     Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
 
And then it was Tuesday! Oh Friends, can you believe that this is already the last day of April?  Didn’t it just begin a couple of weeks ago, when we celebrated that miraculous and most wonderful day of Easter Sunday, when our Saviour, Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from the dead, thus conquering, once and for all time, death, the grave and the evil fool Lucifer? Ah mih people, it surely seems like that was only two weeks ago, though in actual fact it was four. That just goes to show how fast time is moving in these last days, but we’re so busy with our worldly lives and concerns that we don’t even notice it. Well I’m here today to tell us to please sit up and take notice, to pay attention, to get our spiritual selves in order, for Jesus can come again at any time, and once that happens, all options shall disappear. So as we were taught from childhood, let’s be ready, let’s be prepared, so that even if Jesus comes today, our place in eternity with Him will be secured. Therefore, in concert with that wise mindset, let’s then turn to Almighty God and declare, like Bruh David does in our Bit: ‘Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.’ Yeh Friends, that’s a most appropriate action and declaration! We couldn’t do any better than offering our souls, in fact every part of us, body and soul, to the great and wonderful God who created us, provides for us, and LOVES us a whole bunch, in spite of the stubborn and rebellious children that we are. What more can we ask eh? Nothing really. But our God and Father cares so deeply for us, and couldn’t abide losing us for all time, so, in spite of our very sinful condition, of His own free will, He sacrificed the life of His only Son, Jesus, that we could be reconciled to Him, once again become a part of His wonderful fold, with the free gift of salvation and eternal life. Wow! What a magnanimous Deity! And all God’s people gave a mighty shout of ‘Glory Hallelujah! Our God is most wonderful and worthy to be praised! Give Him thanks and praise His Holy Name for ever and ever!’ Ah mih people, that’s the kind of excited and animated reaction that should take place in our souls when we consider the greatness of our God, and all that He’s so selflessly done for a set of ungrateful children. Bruh David, despite all his faults and problems, realized from early on, the amazing qualities of the God of his fathers, and wisely dedicated his life to Him. Hear how he continues in this psalm – A prayer for guidance and protection. ‘O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed: let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait (in faith) on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress (deal treacherously) without cause. 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.’ (Ps.25:2-5) Oh my brethren, that’s the sort of declaration each and every believer ought to make to his most awesome God, in both sincerity and truth! It’s the wisest action available to us poor sinners down here on planet earth. Why aren’t more of us doing it eh? Possibly because we like the things of the world too much, and that runs counter to God’s dictates. Also because we don’t trust what we don’t or can’t see, and believe like the Greeks, that the preaching of Christ is foolishness. (1 Cor.1:23) However Friends, the preaching of Christ and the cross to us believers is indeed the power of God! (1 Cor.1:18) I don’t know how to truly get into the heads and hearts of unbelievers, but it’s imperative that we do, my people. Bruh David surely knew on which side his bread was buttered though, as he consistently cried out to God. Listen to him in Psalm 143 – Teach me to do thy will. ‘Hear (answer) me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be (become) like unto them that go down into the pit (grave). Cause me to hear thy LOVING-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.’ (Ps.143:7-8) What words of heartfelt trust and surrender! And hear him again in Psalm 86 – Teach me thy way, O Lord. ‘Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul (life); for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily (all day long). Rejoice (make glad) the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.’ (Ps.86:1-5) And that’s the infallible, unadulterated, undeniable, gospel truth! Oh Friends, there’s no better person to turn to than the alive and kicking God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the ONE TRUE God in existence, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the One who created the universe and all therein, and controls it under His mighty hand! Please, I’m imploring us today to lose ourselves in the great God of creation, to offer our souls as living sacrifices, to surrender our very lives to His awesome guidance, so that we can enjoy His mercy, forgiveness and LOVING-kindness! That is indeed the zenith of wisdom! Much LOVE!…the only sensible alternative for mankind…is to bow to the One who created them…then selflessly saved them…  P.S. The ole body rebelled on me this morning, refused to get up, crying out for lack of sleep. (smile) Remember the ole fella is only human. (smile) That’s why your Word of Inspiration is a tad late this morning. Much LOVE!