Today’s Scrip-Bit   25 November 2023 James 4:7.

25 Nov 2023 Leave a comment

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

James 4:7.       Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

And this last lazy-day Saturday in November seems to have opened somewhat cold and cloudy, but with an underlying promise of sunshine. (smile) Can you imagine though, that in another few days November will be over…and then it will be Christmas? But yuh better believe that Christmas is already in the air, the music is on the radio and the lights are up on the outside trees and houses, and all the Christmas sales are being advertised. Like people were just waiting with bated breath to break into the Christmas season. I know the business people certainly are, because that’s usually the time of year they have their best sales. 

But despite all of the Christmas hoopla that’s on the way, I want us to be peaceful and relaxed, though joyful as we get ready to welcome and celebrate the awesome incarnate birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And hopefully our Lazy-Day Saturday prayer will help us to do just that. (smile) So let’s pray it like we mean it. 

As one sincere voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And especially in these troubled and godless times it’s of overwhelming importance that we get to know our great God better than ever, because that’s the only thing that will keep us from falling into the unsavoury and evil arms of the devil. And is he ever on the rampage these days, as he sees his kingdom exploding with new followers. That’s why James so assuredly warns us: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7) 

Yes friends, if we stand strong against the devil, don’t submit to fear or run from him, he will flee from us, for he cannot draw us into sin against our wishes. However, we cannot stand up strong to him until we have submitted ourselves to Almighty God! For it’s the grace and mercy of God which gives us the power to turn away from the evil one, to put him in his rightful place. So, please understand, that unless we’ve sincerely submitted ourselves to our heavenly Father, we won’t be able to drive away or resist the evil enemy who is constantly badgering us to commit sins and wrongdoings against the Word of God, deeds, acts and thoughts that most certainly don’t fit who we are as children of the Most High God. 

And James continues his exhortation: ‘Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.’ (James 4:8) And as per that verse, the scholars give us some explanations. They say that when you draw near to God, ‘He will not be unmoved. His welcoming response is always near.’ And they give references on that subject to Deut. 4:7; Lam. 3:57; and Luke 15:20, which we’ll preview here, because it’s more pertinent to us today than the other scriptures. 

It’s Jesus telling the parable of the prodigal son, who after wasting his fortune in a faraway land, and finally coming to his senses, decides to go back home to his father as a servant. Jesus tells us: ‘And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.’ (Luke 15:20) Oh my fellow saints, that’s exactly how our heavenly Father treats us when we come back to His fold. Note though, He’s always on the lookout for us. How could the father see him from so far away if he wasn’t looking for him eh? Likewise our heavenly Father is always waiting and looking for us to turn from our evil ways and come back to Him. 

And as per the cleansing of hands and purifying of hearts, the scholars tell us: ‘The cleansing of one’s life must involve both outward deeds and inner thoughts.’ And they reference Psalm. 24:3-4, which says: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (unto an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek thy face, O Jacob, Selah.’ (Ps. 24:3-6) 

Yes my brethren, I gave us more than the scholars referenced because I believed we should know exactly what the clean hands and pure hearts will eventually get us; blessings and righteousness from our wonderful God. (smile) That’s why we need to do our best to have clean hands and pure hearts, which is not an easy thing to do in this violent and evil world. But if we have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and His Holy Spirit as our earthly Guide and Comforter, then we are fully equipped to do whatever the Father requires of us. 

We just have to listen to and obey the Holy Spirit’s voice, read and study the Word of God, and do our best to put it into action, for faith without works is dead, is of no use to God nor man. And that, my fellow saints, is our sincere prayer for us all this last lazy-day Saturday in November; our total obedience to the Holy Spirit, as the Word of God richly percolates and moves within us, and we let our lights shine, our good works be manifested before men, so that they can glorify our Father in heaven! Much LOVE!

…if our hands and hearts are not clean…how can we ever glorify our wonderful God…  

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ  

Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 November 2023 Mark 1:35.

18 Nov 2023 Leave a comment

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

Mark 1:35.        And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.

And the sunshine missing from yesterday has returned this lazy-day Saturday friends. Thank the Lord! Oh, there are a few clouds hanging around, but it’s good to know that the sunshine is in the ascendance! Glory be! And with all of that thankfulness in our minds and on our tongues, (smile) let’s get to out Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, and declare it (yesss!) like we really mean it. 

Altogether now: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Now let’s hope that our sincerity shone through in our words and that the Lord did quiet our souls and deepen our breaths while surrounding us with His glorious presence, because there’s no greater feeling of peace and joy than when one can truly feel the Lord’s presence surrounding us. That aura of light and LOVE, of compassion and well-being that emanates from His presence is like no other in this whole wide world! 

And sadly, that’s something too many of us don’t take the time to seek and find. Even when we pray, we often just get up and go about our business, without spending a few moments to either listen to what the Lord has to say in reply to our prayers, or to just sit quietly and enjoy the peace and stillness that radiates from His awesome presence. And that unfortunately detracts from the power and rejuvenation that prayer is supposed to have. 

Taking time to just spend in God’s presence is one of the most energizing and refreshing things we can ever do. We don’t even need to say a single word, but silently ask Him to come into our presence and be with us. And believe me, He will do it very enthusiastically, because, like any other father, there’s nothing the Lord enjoys and relishes more than being in the presence of His children. 

Remember how Jesus always went off by Himself somewhere to pray, especially after some tiring preaching, even to the point of leaving the disciples on their own. Like the time he fed the five thousand men, besides women and children, then sent the disciples to the other side of the lake in a ship. ‘And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart (by himself) to pray: and when evening was come, he was there alone.’ (Matt. 14:23) 

Yes friends, Jesus relished the quiet time He spent with the Father, because He knew that He desperately need the refreshing and rejuvenation for His human body and soul to do the tasks the Father had set him. And, except in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before His crucifixion, when things were really on the bubble, I’m sure that Jesus didn’t say all that much to the Father, for they both knew the plans that were afoot, but He just felt so much better simply basking in the Father’s presence. It’s like those times in our own experiences when we’re with a friend or somebody close to us, and there’s no need for words, because the silence between us says it all. 

But my favourite verse about Jesus’ prayer life is this one found in the gospel of Mark, where he writes: ‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.’ (Mark 1:35) Wow mih bredrin! If Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself, needed to get up early and go out and pray to his heavenly Father, so that He could handle the days difficulties and do His bidding, what does it say about us eh? 

We need the guiding of the Holy Spirit even much more, especially in these days of worldwide chaos and disaster. But so many of us just get up and run out of the house desperate to get to work on time, without even giving the Lord a simple thank you for bringing us safely through the night, much less asking Him to take us safely through the day! And then we wonder why our lives are so miserable and chaotic. 

Hn! What else do we expect when we don’t honour God eh? When we’re too busy with the perishable things of this evil world, and don’t sufficiently consider the imperishable things of the next life! There’s no magic or miracle to it nuh my fellow believers. All the Lord asks of us is basically to LOVE and reverence Him, and be obedient  to His Holy Will, which we can find in His Word, the Bible. 

But being the stubborn, rebellious, sinful children we are, we foolishly refuse to adhere to His wishes, and instead lustfully listen to the lies and deceits of Satan, just like our foolish foreparents, Adam and Eve did. And when we find ourselves deep, and sinking ever deeper in the mire of Satan’s cesspool, we wonder why that is. 

The foolish and ever-stubborn ones simply accept their fate, but the smart ones desperately cry out to God for help, because they know deep down, that our LOVING God will NEVER turn down a sincere cry for assistance from one of His human creations. Just like He heard Jonah’s sincere cry from the belly of the fish and delivered him, likewise He will deliver all who cry out to Him from the mire of Satan’s sinful cesspool. 

And that is our prayer for all of us today friends; that wherever we are, and at whatever stage of our lives, if we need help, then let us cry out to our heavenly Father for it, because He’s promised never to turn away a single soul who comes to Him in all sincerity and truth! 

And yuh know what, every single, solitary one of us needs divine help, right this very minute, for none of us are perfect, and if the ONLY perfect One that ever lived on planet earth, Jesus Christ, needed divine help to handle his situation, then we most certainly do too! So let’s do what we know we need to do nuh; cry out to God for divine help! Much LOVE!

…it’s not a shame to cry…for tears are the window washers of our souls… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ    

Today’s Scrip-Bit   11 November 2023 Jeremiah 29:13.

11 Nov 2023 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 29:13.       And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

And it’s cloudy and windy on this lazy-day Saturday November 11th , 2023, as we celebrate Veteran’s Day, honouring the many brave souls who fell in the wars of the last century. Not many of them are still alive today, and if they are, they are not doing so well medically, financially or emotionally because down through the years their services had not been properly appreciated nor rewarded. 

And every year we drag out the few remaining veterans before the cenotaphs and other markers of those great wars, and make big speeches and promises, but nothing much still ever happens to improve their situations. But the Lord is in His high heaven and is closely watching down on the affairs of men, and we know that He has a heart for the poor, the marginalized and the downtrodden. So we’ll leave their affairs in His capable hands. 

Now, let’s say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer with all sincerity of heart. As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And do we ever need to know and be more aware of our great God in these evil and ungodly times, if we hope to come through them as unscathed as possible! Yes friends, in times like these, only a strong attachment to and knowledge of Jehovah God will enable us to overcome all the evil stuff that’s coming against us in droves. The big problem though is that we need to seek the Lord, not the Lord seek us. We desperately need Him, He doesn’t need us. He LOVES us a whole lot, but that doesn’t mean He’ll just roll over and satisfy our every need, like a doting grandfather. Not at all. 

The Lord God Jehovah is a just and righteous God, thus He must act justly and righteously and allowing us to do whatever we want without repercussions is not acting justly and righteously. Thus, He demands that we come to Him, in obedience and reverence, and if we don’t, then we’ll suffer the consequences. It’s as simple as that. And furthermore, it’s so easy to find the Lord if we truly desire to find Him, for He’s always around, not in some far off heavenly place, the way so many of us falsely think. 

And these words from the prophet Jeremiah say it all. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) Now that’s what the Lord has in store for us, but it does not happen automatically. We also have a part to play in this covenant relationship. 

And here’s our part: ‘Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken (listen) unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer. 29:12-13) There it is in black and white friends, written thousands of years ago but still the definitive way to find Jehovah God: search for Him with all your heart! 

Unfortunately, not enough of us are doing that, either individually or as Christ’s body, the church, and thus we have this great divide between our heavenly Father and ourselves. And we are the ones who are suffering, but we’ve become so stubborn, ignorant and hardhearted that we refuse to seek Him, even though we are been eaten up by the evil doers like the big fishes eat up the small ones. But yet we listen to the lies and the deceits of Satan and run down the material wealth of the world, instead of seeking the righteousness of God’s kingdom. And his evil majesty is laughing as it were, all the way to the bank, because of our foolish and unwise behaviour. 

When are we going to wake up and do what’s right my people? Every day it gets later, with less time left to make the necessary changes. And remember Jesus could come at any time, and once He comes, most likely like a thief in the night, it’s all over. So please, let’s do what we’re supposed to do nuh. We call ourselves Christians, believers in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, members of His august body, the church, that means there are things we need to do to keep it all afloat and successful. And we know what we need to do. So please, please, I plead with us, let’s do it nuh! 

Let’s lift up Christ’s name on high like we promised to do when we first believed. Let’s be the true salt of the earth and the light of the world as He desires of us. Let’s show the world that we’re truly His disciples by the LOVE we show to each other and to the rest of the world. That’s our bounden duty and what Jesus expects of us. Come on my fellow saints, let’s pull up our socks and do better nuh. We all know that there’s more in us than we’re showing, so for Jesus’ sake, let’s up the ante! We desperately need to, if we’re going to turn things around! Much LOVE!

…you’ll find God…if you look for Him in the right places… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ    

Today’s Scrip-Bit   28 October 2023 Mark 1:35.

28 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

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

Mark 1:35.        And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.

And is it ever a beautiful lazy-day Saturday, with bright sunshine and blue clouds, but somewhat chilly temperatures. Unfortunately, it won’t be as warm as yesterday, when the sun wasn’t only shining brightly but also releasing intense heat, thankfully allowing me to sit on my porch in the afternoon in shirtsleeves and soak up some of the warm rays. (smile) I believe the temperature got up to around 23 yesterday, and except for the strong breeze, it was a perfect summer day. Possibly the last one we’ll also have for some time. (smile) Today, we’ve gone back to more seasonal temps, around the low double digit figures. But there’s wonderful sunshine, so everything’s right with the world! 

That means it’s time to turn to our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. So please pray with me: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ And if that heartfelt prayer doesn’t bring us into God’s presence, and calm our souls and spirits, then I don’t know what will. 

Ah friends, prayer is such an important aspect of a believer’s life, that you can’t put a value on it. It’s the awesome way we communicate with our heavenly Father. Without prayer, we’d be lost, merely existing in an empty space. But with that amazing ability to commune with the Creator of the universe and all therein, we’re elevated to a special place; a place a little lower than the angels, but much higher than the rest of His creation. And for those of us who don’t think that prayer is important, just look at the example set by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Although He was the Son of God, when He was here on the earth in human flesh, communing with His Father was one of the most important and regular things He did. There are so many instance in the Bible where He left the crowds, even His disciples behind and went to a deserted place to pray, to renew His spiritual strength. For, though He was fully God, in His human state, the earthly journey was indeed taxing and He couldn’t do it on His own, but every so often needed divine help to refresh and rejuvenate Him. 

And it’s the very same way with us my brethren. We cannot get through this taxing earthly journey on our own either. We too need divine help to assist us in just keeping on in these troubled times, and even more so in keeping on the straight and narrow path that leads to Jesus. And prayer is a mighty big part of the answer. But let’s look at a few of the specific times when the Bible tells us that Jesus prayed. We see one occurrence when He was baptized. Luke writes: ‘Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.’ (Luke 3:21-22) 

Then, before Jesus chose the twelve disciples, He also enveloped Himself in prayer. The Bible says: ‘And it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom he named apostles.’ (Luke 6:12-13) He also regularly went off to pray after preaching to the crowds, as His fame spread and more people came to Him for help and healing. ‘And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.’ (Luke 5:16) Meanwhile, it also seems like Jesus made it a habit to begin His day with prayer, as Mark tells us. ‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.’ (Mark 1:35) 

Now friends, if the Son of God could make it a habit to get up early every day and begin His day with prayer to His heavenly Father, who are we, mere creations, not to do the same eh? We are foolish creations if we don’t begin our day with even a short heartfelt prayer for wisdom and guidance as we face the day ahead of us. Jesus knew He couldn’t handle the day without divine help, but so many of us consider ourselves above prayer and asking for help, that we just rush out each day into the evil and toxic world without the guarantee of the Lord’s favour and protection. That’s certainly not wise my people, for it’s the God of heaven who protects us and gives us favour and grace to do and get whatever we need in this earthly life. And until we truly realize that and begin utilizing it, we will never reach our full potential. 

And we have one of the best examples of prayer in Jesus’ life on the night before His crucifixion. When the enormity of the situation hit Him, the realization of the terrible suffering, and the loss of communication with the Father, He went into the garden of Gethsemane and prayed. He said to the three disciples with Him, Peter, James and John: ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry (wait) ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt. 26:38-39) 

Yes friends, three times, Jesus fell on His knees and asked for the cup to be removed from him, that is, the crucifixion be cancelled. However, on each occasion, He ended by saying, ‘not my will but thine.’ Deep down He knew that it would not be cancelled, because that was the very purpose for which He was born; to die on the cross so that our sins could be paid for and thus forgiven. And it wasn’t so much the physical ‘sufferation’ that He would undergo which had His soul so sorrowful, but more the imminent separation from the Father, when He became the bearer of all the world’s sins. They had never been separated before and Jesus certainly wasn’t looking forward to it. But, like the obedient Son He was, He accepted His fate and went like a lamb to His slaughter, all for our sakes. 

Ah mih people, even in severe pain on the cross, Jesus prayed. First, he cried out to the Father: ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?, that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt. 27:46) That was the very thing that Jesus had been afraid of; separation from the Father because of his then sinful condition. But He bore it all like a man! Prayer was so important to Jesus, that on the cross, He even prayed for those who were crucifying Him. ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his garments and cast lots.’  (Luke 23:34) 

Then, finally, when the end was near, after crying out again in a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (he breathed his last breath).’ (Luke 23:46) So, my fellow saints, I do hope on this lazy-day Saturday, with all the examples of Jesus’ praying, that the overwhelming importance of prayer has been brought home to us, and that from here on in, we will endeavour to improve, and increase our prayer lives, the way Jesus desires of us. Please remember, it’s all for OUR benefit, not Christ’s. Much LOVE!

…to pray, to pray…and yet to pray…that is the answer… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ     

Today’s Scrip-Bit   14 October 2023 Genesis 49:33.

14 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 49:33.       …he gathered up (drew up) his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (breathed his last), and was gathered unto his people.

Well, it’s a fine ole lazy-day Saturday in my area; cloudy and rainy. Just perfect for the lazing around, do nothing kind of day we want. Unfortunately though, I could not lie abed and enjoy it for as long as I desired because my back and neck would not work together and find a comfortable position for me to lie in. So, I decided I might as well get up and be about my Father’s business. And the first item on our agenda, as always, is to say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

Together then, let’s offer up a sincere, heartfelt prayer. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And in the quiet of the morning, our prayer floats up to heaven, then an overwhelming peace, with God’s silent presence fills our souls and bodies, and opens us up to a new dimension of grace in this earthly realm. Oh, the power of sincere prayer my people! If we could only exercise more of it, our lives would be ever so much more fruitful! Now let’s turn to that mighty story of Bruh Joseph and see how it’s progressing. (smile) 

Yesterday, we reached the point where Jacob (Israel) blessed his eleven sons. The Bible then tells us: ‘And he (Jacob) charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite. In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah (his first wife). The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.’ (Gen. 49:29-32) 

I like how Jacob demanded or insisted that they bury him in the family’s burying place in Canaan. And I do want to be buried in my homeland of Tobago, but unlike Jacob, I don’t have a burial spot at this time. But yuh know what, anywhere in Tobago will suit me fine, just as long as by bones rest for eternity in God’s li’l acre, that sweet land of Robinson Crusoe! (smile) 

Don’t know if I’ll be able to do like Jacob in this respect either. The Good Library continues thus: ‘And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up (drew up) his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (breathed his last), and was gathered unto his people.’ (Gen. 49:33) 

Ah friends, many of us don’t get to go over to the other side so easily; we are wracked with pain, even unconsciousness, and have no inkling of what’s happening around us. That’s why we ought always to be prepared, to have our house in order, for we know not if and/or when we’ll be suddenly called to the other side of the Jordan. 

Then, after Jacob’s death, the Bible informs us: ‘And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.’ (Gen: 50:1-3) I guess that goes to show how revered both Joseph and his father were in the eyes of the Egyptians. 

Now, here’s some interesting information from the scholars. They say: ‘Jacob was embalmed and Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians to do the work. Medicine and the embalming were two distinct professions. He may have employed the physicians so as to avoid the magic and mysticism of the embalmer and priests. The threescore and ten days for mourning accord with the traditional period for mummification and mourning. The various internal viscera (organs) were removed and placed in canopic jars of natron (a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate), causing rapid dehydration and preventing decomposition of the body.’ 

And that’s today’s lesson 101 in Mummification! (smile) It’s interesting though,that back then they went to such lengths to save the actual body for reuse in the afterlife. Meanwhile, today we don’t need to do that, for with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we’ve been promised a renewed body in the next life. And I’ll use this excerpt from an article by Matt Perman on whether we receive the same body we had on earth during the resurrection. 

He writes: ‘Philippians 3:20-21 says that our earthly body is transformed into conformity with Christ’s body in the resurrection, not that God creates a new body from scratch: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” 

That means our bodies will be glorified, made like Christ’s when He rose from the grave. And we saw that it was the same basic outer shell, with the scars in his hands and side, but it was all glorified both internally and externally; heightened, transformed from perishable or human to imperishable or immortal. 

As Bruh Paul says, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible (imperishable), and we shall be changed. For this corruptible (perishable) must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible (perishable) shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.’ (1 Cor. 15:51-54) 

Yes friends, we don’t need to worry about our mortal bodies for when Jesus comes for His church in the Rapture our mortal and perishable bodies will become imperishable and immortal just like Christ’s. Now isn’t that something to look forward to? Of course! So, let’s get serious and truly live this life for Christ nuh. Much LOVE!

…Christianity is the only belief system…that guarantees immortality… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ          

Today’s Scrip-Bit   7 October 2023   1 Thessalonians 5:17.

07 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

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

1 Thessalonians 5:17.       Pray without ceasing.

Awright, so the summer heat seems to be over, and though it’s somewhat chilly and pretty windy, on this first lazy-day Saturday of October, the sun is still shining brightly, and that’s the mark of a blessed day for me. Once the sun is shining, I’m contented, be it cold as ever. (smile) There’s something about the bright shining sun that lifts my spirit, that sort of says, all is not lost, the sun still shines. 

And our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer quiets my spirit. So, with the sun shining and our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer being spoken, all is right with my world! Well, not quite, because we haven’t yet spoken our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. But let’s correct that situation right now by doing so. 

As one sincere voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And my soul gets quiet…as my breathing deepens…my muscles slowly relax…and I feel God’s presence flowing around me in peace and LOVE! And all I can say is thank You Lord! Yes, friends, that’s the awesome power of prayer! When we’re sincere, it can do some amazing feats in our souls and spirits in an amazingly short time. 

That’s why Bruh Paul told us to ‘Pray without ceasing.’ (1 Thess. 5:17) It simply means keeping God first place in our minds, and every so often stopping to offer up a prayer, not necessary audibly; either for help in our activities, or simply giving thanks for the divine help we’re currently receiving. It’s an easy and simple way of keeping us focused on our great God throughout the day. 

And I guess that’s how Bruh Joseph must have gotten through all those unfair and unjust trials he faced during the early days of his sojourn in Egypt. But keeping his mind focused on the God of his forefathers, allowed him to handle the tribulation with a good attitude, and thus God gave him favour even in the midst of the trials! 

Oh my fellow saints, that’s the wonderful kind of God we serve! He looks after us even in the midst of our difficulties, especially when we keep a good and godly attitude, despite our problems. And so, we see how Bruh Joseph finally blossomed into the Grand Vizier or Prime Minister of Egypt through God’s skillful and dramatic machinations, eventually saving Egypt from destruction during the great famine, and also bringing his family down from Canaan to live and prosper in some of the finest lands of Egypt, and grow into the great nation, the seed of innumerable stars that God had promised his forefather Abraham. 

Now, after the famine had become so severe and Bruh Joseph had bought up all the land and the bodies of the Egyptians in Pharaoh’s name and made them tenant farmers, having to give the fifth of their produce to Pharaoh, life settled down for a spell. The Bible then tells us: ‘And Israel (the whole family) dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.’ (Gen. 47:27) Yes mih bredrin, when the Lord God Jehovah is on your side, you can grow and prosper at an amazing rate. 

And the Word of the Lord continues: ‘And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was and hundred and forty-seven years. And the time drew nigh that Israel (Jacob) must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place. And he (Bruh Joseph) said, I will do as thou hast said. And he (Jacob) said, Swear unto me. and he sware unto him. And Israel (Jacob) bowed himself upon the bed’s head.’ (Gen. 47:28-31) 

Ah mih people, I’m chuckling here as I read about Jacob making Bruh Joseph sware not to bury him in Egypt but back in Canaan where his fathers were buried. And why am I chuckling? Because it reminds me of my request to my children to not bury me in Canada, but in sweet Tobago, the land of my birth. Now I have nothing against Canada, I consider it the best big country in the world and am proud to call myself a citizen. But there’s just something about my old bones spending eternity in this cold and unforgiving ground that doesn’t sit well with me. Call me foolish or whatever, but I simply want to be buried in the land of my birth. 

There’s a sentimentality about being born and buried in the same land that I like and desire to see happen. I guess the constantly warm and coddling soil of Tobago will serve my bones in better stead, and I’ll be able to revisit my childhood memories. (smile) And don’t go getting the wrong impression, because those childhood days were not always sunshine, lollipops and roses, but like the life I live now in Christ, they certainly were interesting and eventually very rewarding. 

So please, on this first Saturday in October of 2023, let’s all take a few lazy-day Saturday moments to reflect on our lives and promise ourselves, that from here on in, we’ll do our best to live the good and godly life that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ desires of us. It’s the least we can do in return for all the agony and suffering He experienced, so that we can enjoy God’s immense grace, through the gift of salvation and eternal life! Much LOVE!

…to pray to Almighty God…and yet to pray…it’s one of man’s greatest privileges…    

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ       

Today’s Scrip-Bit    30 September 2023 Genesis 45:8a.

30 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 45:8a.       So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:

I can’t believe it nuh, but this lazy-day Saturday, the last day of September 2023, is shaping up to be another glorious day of sunshine and fairly warm temps in my area! The nice summer-like weather just keeps rolling on in these early days of autumn! And who’s to complain eh? Nobody! Not until the other half of the situation hits us, which won’t be as nice. (smile) But chuh! Whenever that comes, we’ll handle it like the victors in Christ that we are! 

Now, let’s get ourselves together and say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Oh mih people, there’s something about that simple prayer that just reaches out and touches me every time we pray it. I guess after a hard week’s work and finally a day of peace and quiet, when we don’t have as many worldly distractions hitting on us, it just brings us closer to God, where we can truly feel His presence. But whatever the reason, it just sets a nice relaxing tone for my Saturday morning. Glory be! 

And now it’s time to continue with the climax of Bruh Joseph’s story, where he finally reveals his true identity to his brothers. And after trying to ease their guilt and uneasiness by telling them: ‘And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity (remnant) in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:’ ( Gen. 45:7-8) I don’t know how much that really eased their guilt and fear, but Bruh Joseph didn’t give them much time to think on it either. He said to them: ‘Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith my son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not (don’t delay).’ (Gen. 45:9) 

Wow! We’re now beginning to see the real Bruh Joseph, where all the pent-up memories of his family are finally coming out, and his soul is being set free from any resentment and anger he had hitherto borne towards them. Renewed relationships with family can do a lot to free us my brethren, so please, as much as we can, let’s look to renewing some of our own negative family relationships nuh. 

And the good sentiments just keep flowing out from Bruh Joseph’s spirit, as he tells them. ‘And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast. And there will I nourish (provide for) thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.’ (Gen. 45:10-11) 

Now that’s the way family should be concerned about each other! Not the travesty or caricature that passes for familial relations nowadays, where, as Jesus so prophetically proclaimed. ‘And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.’ (Matt. 10:21) 

Yes friends, such is the terrible state of the family nowadays, that’s where it exists, since, with the new-fangled lifestyle of today, families are no longer the most important group of the society, where you are nurtured and LOVED for an entire lifetime. Unfortunately, we have developed an antipathy, an antagonism or dislike for the family, just like our current antipathy to God. Heaven help us yes! 

Anyway, Bruh Joseph in a display of true family relations, continues to his brothers. ‘And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.’ (Gen. 45:12-15) 

Oh, how beautiful reunions can be, especially those amongst family! But that wasn’t the best part of the situation, for when our God showers blessings on us, He doesn’t do it stingily, or grudgingly, but lavishly, in abundance, according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. And the Bible tells it thus: ‘And the fame (report) thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade (load) your beasts, and go, get you into the land of Canaan; And take (bring) your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat (best) of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father and come. Also regard not your stuff (do not be concerned about your things); for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ (Gen. 45:16-20) 

Mama oh Mama! Yes mih people, when the Lord pours out His favour on you, it’s not done piecemeal, but lavishly. Only our great God could cause a foreign, idol worshipping king to make such a generous and welcoming offer to a bunch of Hebrews who were generally an abomination to his nation! And we’ll close with this explanation from the scholars, re the land of Goshen, which Bruh Joseph promised to his brothers. 

The scholars say, ‘The land of Goshen was an Egyptian region (47:6, 27) in the eastern delta area (47:11) not far from the court at Memphis. It was in the area around the Wadi Tumilat, a valley that was about 40 miles long. It was highly suitable for cattle (47:4-6), but hated by the Egyptians (46:34); thus it provided good seclusion. This isolation would provide for Israel’s distinctive cultural preservation under conditions favourable to their growth and unity.’ 

And who says our great God doesn’t know what He’s doing eh? Ah my fellow saints, there couldn’t be a more encouraging story in the Bible showing how the Lord prepares for and looks after His people. He set them up in a fertile, secluded part of Egypt where they could grow and become the people He desired them to be. What more can we ask of Him eh, for He does the same for each one of us who sincerely calls upon His name! 

But we need to believe, as Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, whose daughter He was on the way to heal, when his family brought word that she was dead. Jesus overheard the news but said to him: ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ (Mark 5:36) And that’s exactly what we need to do in these trying and very difficult times my brethren: ‘Be not afraid, only believe!’ Much LOVE!

…for he that cometh to God…must BELIEVE that He is… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ   

Today’s Scrip-Bit    23 September 2023 Genesis 43:14c.

23 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Genesis 43:14c. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Oh boy! Summer is now officially finished, and it went out with a bang yesterday; beautiful sunshine with warm temps! But thank the Lord, autumn is also coming in with a bang today, this Lazy-day Saturday! For there’s glorious sunshine and warm temps in the offing. So, hopefully the change in seasons will just be an official name change, but the weather will stay like that for the next little while. Yes, we know that it’s going to change at some time, for that’s the way the Lord planned it, but we’re just hoping that it will be later rather than sooner. (smile)  

But enough inane talk now, let’s turn to our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. As one sincere voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And I can feel a subtle change occurring in my spirit as I pray that prayer; one of peace and calm, and a greater awareness of God’s presence. I sincerely hope that you feel that same easing in your troubled spirit as our God LOVINGLY permeates our souls in response to our prayer. And that’s the basic purpose of prayer; to grow closer to our heavenly Father. And since we’ve now increased our awareness of Him this morning, we can now turn to His awesome story of Bruh Joseph. 

We’ve reached the point where the food brought from Egypt has run out, and Jacob wants them to go back down and buy more, but the sons refuse to do so unless he sends the youngest Benjamin with them, since the man (Bruh Joseph), who’s in charge of the food, specifically said that they would get in to see him unless their youngest brother was with them. And while the famine scorched the land, Jacob and his sons disputed the wisdom of sending Benjamin down to Egypt with them. 

Finally, ‘Judah said unto Israel (Jacob) his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.’ (Gen. 43:8-10) Judah makes a good point, if they had not spent so much time pussyfooting and arguing about Benjamin going with them, they could already have gone down and come back and food would be plentiful. 

But such are the eccentricities of men, and it ofttimes takes much hunger and suffering to bring wisdom and reason to men’s hearts. Thus it happened: ‘And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take (some) of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts (pistachios), and almonds. And take double money in your hand: and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand, peradventure it was an oversight.’ (Gen. 43:11-12). 

Ah friends, Jacob’s heart must have been truly hurting for his lost sons and the possible loss of another, but his mind was functioning perfectly, as he gave his children wise advice. Then he came to the crux of the matter: ‘Take also your brother (Benjamin), and arise, go again unto the man. And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.’ (Gen. 43:13-14) Yes, Jacob realizes that food for the entire family was more important than his feelings of loss. If that’s what God desired then, so be it. 

And isn’t that the way with many of us in these trying and difficult times? Our hearts are crying out for one thing, but our minds are pressing the wisdom of other stuff on us. And as we said yesterday, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt; we’re damned if we do, and damned if we don’t. The important thing in such situations though is that we make a decision as quickly as possible, because too much wasted time only makes the consequences more severe. 

And as always, the best way to make decisions is with the help of our wise and wonderful God. It’s to Him that we should always go for help…and not the last person, like so many of us do, but the first One, for He’s the ultimate controller of our destiny and thus, always knows what’s best for us. He might send us to ordinary men for help eventually, but let that be His decision, not ours. 

And the saga of Bruh Joseph keeps unfurling, as the drama heightens with tension and the great unknown. (smile) The Bible tells us that after Jacob finally agrees to send Benjamin with them: ‘And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.’ (Gen. 43:15) Now can you imagine how the brothers must have been quaking in their boots, not knowing what Bruh Joseph was going to do. 

But friends, the greatest dramatist, Almighty God, had everything under control, as He always does. And He further heightens the tension. His Word says: ‘And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house (his steward), Bring these men home, and slay (slaughter an animal), and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade (ordered); and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.’ (Gen. 43:16-17) 

Glory be, mih people! And all yuh say our God is not a great dramatist! Only He could concoct such a daring and dramatic tale! Can you imagine though how those men felt, when a high-ranking official who had earlier insisted that they were spies, and adamantly refused to let their brother go, suddenly invites them to his home? And I’m sure Bruh Jospeh’s house was not some shabby shack at the side of a hill, but something very worthwhile for the second man in the prosperous land of Egypt. 

But my fellow saints, that’s the way our great and omnipotent God goes about His business. He is the Creator and the Controller of the universe and all therein, and thus He has the authority and power to do as He pleases. The important thing for us the created is to know Him and do as He bids us. The whys and wherefores of the situations are not our concern. Our concern is simply to believe His awesome and faithful promises, like He will never leave nor forsake us, and will work everything out for our good eventually. And if we’re obedient and faithful to His Word, then we will fulfill the wonderful destiny He has planned for us! Much LOVE!

…ours is not to question why…but to do…and hopefully not to die…  

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ      

Today’s Scrip-Bit    16 September 2023 Genesis 41:52.

16 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

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

Genesis 41:52.       For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

And it’s indeed a cool but wonderful, sunshiny lazy-day Saturday morning friends! Just right for early morning lazing around, which I have already done. (smile) Unfortunately, I can only have so much lazy time in the morning because I have to be about my Father’s work, but once that’s done, I can have as much lazy time as I desire. And with that said, let’s get down to the Father’s business, beginning with our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

As one sincere and humble voice. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Wow! And I hope like me, your thoughts have been slowed, your soul quieted, your muscles relaxed and your breath deepened, so that you can get into the presence of our heavenly Father and rest completely in Him. And all God’s people said a loud and heartfelt: ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness to the children of men!’ 

Now let’s get back to that amazing and intriguing saga of Bruh Joseph; a story line that only God, our omnipotent dramatist could have imagined and successfully brought to life. And yes, it seems like it’s never going to end, but it’s ever so important to the founding and the fortunes of the Jewish people. So, yesterday we left off where Bruh Joseph was promoted to Second in command of Egypt through the goodness of the Lord’s hand upon him. 

The Bible then tells us: ‘And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharoah king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls (abundantly). And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and he laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn (grain) as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left of numbering (stopped counting): for it was without number.’ (Gen. 41:46-49) 

Ah friends, you will have noticed how diligent and businesslike Bruh Joseph was from the time he entered Potiphar’s employ, all through the tough times in jail, and finally that diligence, as well as the experience in handling people, though only as a servant, now served him in very good stead as the second ruler of Egypt. As the saying goes, you can’t be a good leader, unless you are a good follower. And that is exactly why the Lord had him experience those tough times, otherwise he would not have been able to do the job the Lord had planned for him. 

And according to the scholars: ‘Thutmose III gave the following charge to his newly appointed vizier (Prime Minister or Second in Command): “Look thou to this office of vizier. Be vigilant over everything that is done in it. Behold, it is the support of the entire land. Behold, as to the vizierate, behold it is not sweet at all, behold it is bitter as gall.” And I’m sure that was the very truth, for although Bruh Joseph had Pharaoh’s complete blessing, there must have been those who found it irresponsible and downright disgusting to be lorded over by a Hebrew. 

And if it wasn’t his Hebrew background, then simply the fact that the citizens were being told how to handle their food and to bring their grain to the king’s storehouses. You know how we are suspicious of anything or anybody that’s involved in hoarding, especially if some of it belongs to us. But for whatever reason, the job that Bruh Joseph inherited was not an easy one. And he most definitely would not have been able to handle it if the Lord had not put him through the school of the Holy Ghost. 

So my brethren, when the Lord places us in some sore spots, before He promotes us, it’s not that He wants to harm us, but more to test and grow us, so we can be ready for the destiny He’s planned for us. Therefore, it’s essential that we go through those tough times with a good attitude, waiting patiently on God’s timing, and keeping Him first place in our lives, not complaining about why such hard times have befallen us while we’re trying to live right, and getting angry at God. 

Remember there’s always method to God’s madness; always a purpose behind His actions, for He doesn’t do anything willy nilly, without thinking things through right to the very end. As the prophet Jeremiah records: ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) And if we claim to believe and trust in Him, then we must be prepared to wait on His timing and go through whatever lessons or hard knocks of life that He chooses to allow to come upon us. That’s the true test of faith and discipleship! 

Now here’s another important aspect of Bruh Joseph’s life in Egypt. The Good Library kindly informs us: ‘And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of the famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (Making Forgetful): For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim (Fruitfulness): For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.’ (Gen. 41:50-52) Aren’t those names and sentiments behind them just wonderful my brethren? They surely are! 

And I like this commentary on that situation by the scholars. They tell us of Bruh Joseph’s two sons and what their names mean. Then say: ‘The reference to all his toil, and all my father’s house only means that the hardship brought upon him by his brothers was a thing of the past. Ephraim, meaning “Fruitful,” signified God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. What a sweet, pleasant, and thankful spirit he showed in interpreting the events that had transpired in his life! The fulfillment of Pharaoh’s prophetic dreams set the stage for the final scene in the fulfillment of Jospeh’s own dreams.’ 

Mama Mia! And you won’t’ want to miss the upcoming marvellous episodes in Bruh Joseph’s story! So please tune in next time. And until then, please, let’s try and live the faithful life that Bruh Joseph lived nuh, even while undergoing trials and tribulations. Most of us are not suffering the way He did, so we should be able to show more faithfulness. Although, as they say, the worst Christian is a comfortable Christian. But let’s put the lie to that statement nuh! Much LOVE!

…without trials and tribulations…a Christian won’t grow in Christlikeness… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ     

Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 September 2023 Nehemiah 2:8b.

02 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

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

Nehemiah 2:8b.       And the king granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

And another beautiful lazy-day summer Saturday is on tap! Yes friends, this Labour Day weekend, the last of the summer break, promises to be a fine one, so let’s enjoy it to the max, but without confusion and conflict. Let’s be compassionate and kind to all we come into contact with, for that’s the way of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that’s how He lived his life here on earth. And since we are His agents and ambassadors down here, we ought to follow the LOVING example that He set us. 

So, to help us do just that, let’s say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. As one sincere voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And as always, saying that simple, heartfelt prayer, opens me up, does exactly what it says, slows my thoughts and quiets my soul, so that I am more receptive to God’s overwhelming and awesome presence. So, let’s sit quietly for a moment nuh, and enjoy the peace that comes with that prayer. As the psalmist would say: ‘Selah.’ – pause and ponder it. (smile) 

And now that we have paused and pondered our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, and hopefully put some peace and calm in our souls, let’s see what the Lord has for us to talk about today. And the Good Library opened upon the prayer of Nehemiah, the Babylonian king’s cupbearer, after he received the news in Babylon that Jerusalem was in bad shape. He was told: ‘The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction (distress) and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.’ (Neh. 1:3) 

And in those olden times, when the walls and gates of your city were broken and burnt, that meant you were easy prey for all and sundry. Now it’s important to note Nehemiah’s reaction to that information. The Bible tells us: ‘And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.’ (Neh. 1:4) 

One wonders why he had such a heartfelt reaction to the situation of his homeland Jerusalem when previously he was not amongst the important personages there. In fact, not much is known about Nehemiah’s early life, but the Lord obviously put it in his heart to remedy the situation, and apparently he fasted and prayed about it for a few months, offering up his famous prayer of repentance, which can be found in Neh. 1:5-11. 

This last verse is possibly the most important part of that prayer. ‘O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.’ (Neh. 1:11) And yuh know what my people? Nehemiah could later report to those at Jerusalem: ‘And the king granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me.’ (Neh. 2:8b) 

Yes, after seeing Nehemiah’s sad countenance, when he came to deliver his wine, the Persian King, Artaxerxes enquired as to his low spirits. ‘Why is thy countenance (face, expression) sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of the heart.’ (Neh. 2:2) The king was very perceptive. And though Nehamiah was afraid of the king’s reaction, he nonetheless laid out the situation for him, and asked to be allowed to return to his homeland and rebuild the walls and the gates. 

Now, one must realize that in those days the king had absolute authority; he could do exactly as he pleased, and asking such a request, if it displeased the king, Nehemiah’s head could easily have rolled without any recourse to justice, for the king was the sole arbiter of justice. But when our God is in control, even the most unlikely things happen my fellow saints. And to the surprise of all, the king granted Nehemiah’s request; gave him the necessary papers to get all he needed and those to provide him free passage and the authority to be governor of Jerusalem while the rebuilding took place. 

I don’t know if Nehemiah himself could believe the blessings that were poured out on him, by the king, through the great mercies of God. But he went to Jerusalem, brought order to the chaos that existed there, and completed the task of rebuilding the walls and gates in a record 52 days. ‘So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul (Aug. to Sept) in fifty and two days.’ (Neh. 6:15) 

And all that despite serious opposition from three main characters. Sanballat the Horonite ( a Samaritan), Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem, the Arab. Nehamiah writes: ‘When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant , the Ammonite, heard of it (his coming to Jerusalem to straighten things out), it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.’ (Neh. 2:10) 

Then later on, when Nehamiah finally got the people to understand what he was all about. He writes: ‘Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.  

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion (heritage), nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.’ (Neh. 2:18-20) 

Oh my people, yuh see what strong faith in our great God can do? Nehemiah wasn’t afraid of his detractors, for he had the king’s authority, the people’s backing and the Lord’s favour all on his side. And I like how he reproached the three stooges who kept bothering him: ‘The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build.’ 

Yes my brethren, those same words are still applicable to us today! Our great God is still on our side, and with His awesome help we too can arise and build a great and godly society, but we need to be inspired and be as faithful as the Israelites were back there in the disastrous situation in Jerusalem. 

And believe me, we do have a very disastrous situation in our current world, that needs fixing very quickly, and only with God’s help and our unwavering faith will it ever get done! So please, let’s get to it nuh. The Lord is waiting for us to strengthen both our hands and our faith so that we can do His marvellous and oh so necessary work! Much LOVE!

… it doesn’t matter who you are…when God gives you a job to do…He also gives you the wherewithal…the strength and the tools to do it…                             

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ           

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries