Today’s Scrip-Bit   8 June 2024 Jeremiah 29:13.

08 Jun 2024 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 another lazy-day Saturday friends, but a rather windy one in my area. Well what’s new about that eh? Nothing! For this will be the third straight windy day we’ve had this week. And according to my theory, it’s blown away most of the rain we were supposed to have. (smile) So we’ve had a miniscule amount of heavenly blessings, compared to what the weather forecasters had predicted. Yesterday was also pretty chilly, as far as I was concerned. But who knows what’s going on in this crazy times of climate change and inconsistent weather patterns? Only the Good Lord…and He’s not telling. So we just have to grin and bear whatever comes against us, of course with His compassionate help! 

And to accentuate that divine aid, let’s go to Him right now, offering up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer in heartfelt sincerity. 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!’ 

Now, I just LOVE that prayer, because it’s one the Father cannot refuse to answer if our motives are sincere, since it’s one where we are actively seeking His person, His presence, offering up praise and thanksgiving, asking Him to come more deeply into our lives, our souls, bodies and minds. How could He ever refuse our sincere pleas to know and LOVE Him more eh? Never! Otherwise He’d be denying His own word. Remember what He says in Jeremiah. ‘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). Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto (listen to) you. And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer. 29:11-13) 

Yes friends, when we seek the Lord with all of our hearts, we will find Him, and He will listen to our pleas. But the operative words there are ‘with all of our hearts,’ or in true sincerity. That’s the number one requirement for activating heaven’s help – a true and sincere heart. For as Cousin Sol so wisely tells us in Proverbs: ‘Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth (weighs) the hearts. To do justice and judgement (righteousness and justice) is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.’ (Prov. 21: 2-3) 

So though we may think that everything we do is right, remember the Lord judges us by the motives of our hearts, by what is in our hearts, by our earnest and sincere efforts; rather than by what we can accomplish through our actions. And a long time ago, the Lord pointed out this very salient fact to Samuel when he sent him to choose the new king of Israel from amongst the sons of Jesse. When Samuel saw the fine physical attributes of the eldest son, Eliab, he at once thought that he would be the new king. But the Lord immediately stopped him by saying:  ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused  (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 17:7) It could not get any clearer than that my brethren. 

And later on when Bruh David became king, ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (1 Sam. 13:14) on handing over the building of God’s temple to Cousin Sol, he tells him. ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.’ (1 Chr. 28:9-10) Oh my people wiser words were never spoken from a father to a son. And those are the kind of words we ought to be speaking to our children in these ungodly and lawless days. 

Now, Jesus also mentions God judging our hearts when He says to the Pharisees: ‘Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’ (Luke 16:15) And we all know that some things considered acceptable to men are disliked by God to such an extent, that they become abominations to Him; obscene, totally revolting, and hated. 

Then, there are Bruh Paul’s words on the subject of God trying our hearts. In recalling his conduct to the Thessalonians, he says: ‘For our exhortation was not of deceit (error), nor of uncleanness, nor in guile (deceit): But as we were allowed of  (approved by) God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth (tests) our hearts.’ (1 Thess. 2:3-4) 

And I like how the scholars explain that verse. They say: “Allowed” means that God had carefully examined Paul and found him to be fit for the ministry, thus entrusting the apostle with this responsibility. “Trieth” means that the Lord examines him daily to see whether he remains fit and can continue in the ministry. This habitual divine scrutiny is the reason Paul seeks to please God rather than men. God, then, is the ultimate cause and motive of Paul’s ministry, not impurity (vs.3), or of covetousness (vs.5).’ 

And there is no better note to end on today than on that my people; the utmost importance of pleasing God and not man, if we expect our witness to be worth anything! Much LOVE!

…the outward appearance of man is deceitful…for it’s in the heart of man…that his true motives lie…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 June 2018 1 Chronicles 28:9a,b.

17 Jun 2018 Leave a comment

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

1 Chronicles 28:9a,b.   And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind…

                                      HAPPY  FATHER’S  DAY!

Aye mih people, the ole fella is way behind the eight ball this beautiful Father’s Day Sunday morning! Hn, hn! Although I went to bed very early, by my standards (smile) I found it very difficult to get up this morning. Don’t know why. But I managed to crawl out of bed and make it to the early church service as usual, and now am back, and don’t know what to write. 

But the Lord is faithful, and I know that He will show me what to write. However, in the Good Book, there are only a few references to Fathers the way I want them, and I’ve used them all up already. I want something new and fresh. But yuh know what? The Lord is the Boss, and it’s His will that’s going to eventually prevail. 

So if He says write the same old thing again, probably because we didn’t get it the first few times, (smile) then that’s what I’m going to write. I have enough disobedience on my record already. Now let’s turn to some praise and worship, some singing, to loosen up our hearts and make them more receptive to God’s word. 

And today we’re going to belt out an ole favorite written by Maltbie Babcock, (1858-1901) a Syracuse born Presbyterian Minister, and it’s titled ‘This is my Father’s world.’ So let’s raise our voices to heaven, loud and sincere, in sacrificial praise my people. 

‘This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas– His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise. 

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!’ 

Ah friends, this indeed our Father God’s world, so why should our hearts be sad eh? No reason whatsoever, but many hearts, especially young ones are sad, because they have no earthly father to cuddle and comfort and lead and guide them. Fathers are supposed to be an important part of a family but unfortunately in our society too many families lack fathers, and of those that have them living in, too many have not risen up to the standards expected of them. 

But enough of my preaching, remember I did not want to regurgitate the ole same ole. (smile) So while searching for a suitable Father’s Day Hymn, the Lord in His great faithfulness and amazing wisdom showed me two articles that dealt with the subject of Father’s Day, and I want to reproduce them both here for us. 

The first comes amazingly from a Facebook site, and it says: ‘Father’s Day is a joyous occasion when children express thanks to their father for always being there. This occasion is one of the most eagerly awaited in all parts of the world. 

On this day, children give greeting cards and gifts to their father and spend the entire day with him. People take the opportunity to recognize what all their father has done for them and appreciate his genuine care and concern. One of the ways to express your true feelings for your father is through meaningful hymns. Read on to find some popular hymns for Father’s Day.’ 

I read on and came up with ‘This my father’s world.’ (smile) Yeh friends, Father’s Day is supposed to be a joyous day, but the part of the above article that hurts is that in so many homes, the father is not always there, so the children can’t celebrate with him and appreciate his genuine care and concern. 

And the next article comes from the Christian Media Magazine. And that says: ‘Father’s Day is more than just a day to honor the men that helped bring us into the world, but it is a day to celebrate the men that made us who we are today. This very important day is designed to acknowledge and offer praise, appreciation as well as gratitude to men we call fathers, whether it be by blood relation or mentorship. 

Most people believe that Father’s Day is only about giving gifts, but seem to ignore the fact that this holiday is meant to strengthen the distinct bond of a relationship between a father and his children. Being a father is a blessing directly from God and is God’s gift to us.’ 

I couldn’t put it any better than that friends. And we’ll end with one of the best pieces of advice ever given by a father to a son, that of Bruh David to Cousin Sol. ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.’ (1 Chr.28:9) 

Now Bruh David was by no means perfect, and most fathers are not, but their advice can be worth much more than children can ask for or imagine. It upholds the ole saying; ‘do as I say, but not as I do.’ I know that can sometimes be seen as hypocritical, but the important thing there is to guide the children aright, even though our personal examples leave something to be desired. 

And I thought I’d be regurgitating the same ole, same ole! Hn! Glory to out great God and His awesome faithfulness on this Father’s Day! Please enjoy it with a modicum of circumspection, having Granny’s warning in mind. ‘Sonny boy, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business.’ Wiser words were never spoken my people! Much LOVE!

…The Lord is King…let the heavens ring…God reigns… let earth be glad…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 March 2018 1 Chronicles 28:9.

31 Mar 2018 Leave a comment

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

1 Chronicles 28:9.   And thou, Solomon  my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.

Well friends, we’ve gotten through the horror of Good Friday, where we saw Jesus crucified to pay for our abominable sins. It wasn’t easy, but we understood the reason why it had to happen: No sacrificial death, no salvation. For the price of sin had to be paid in sinless blood, and Jesus’ blood was the ONLY one that met the full criteria. 

Now it’s time to wait for His awesome resurrection; His victory over hell, death and the grave, where He dangles the keys to the gates of hell before an awestruck, defeated Lucifer. (smile) 

Yes my fellow believers, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ gave us the victory over the enemy by His sacrificial death on the cross. The least we can do now is show a fair amount of appreciation by living and working diligently and excellently in His name, to spread the good news of His gospel around the entire world. 

And since it’s Saturday, let’s look at some of the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. Here’s the first one: ‘Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.’ Now that’s something a lot of us perfectionists need to understand. Perfection is not possible, and if we don’t rise above our imperfections, we’ll never be happy. 

Then there’s: ‘Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing the best you can.’ That’s something else many of us need to learn and do, because we keep beating ourselves up unnecessarily. Remember we can’t be perfect, so once we’re really trying, there’s no need to abuse ourselves. And what’s so foolish and unfair about that is we give a lot of leeway to others, but not enough to ourselves. 

So what then? ‘Focus on the good.’ ‘That’s elementary, my dear Watson,’ you reply. Not really nuh, because if most of us were constantly focused on the good, our world would not be in such a sorry state. It’s because we’re NOT focused on the good that life in this realm of plenty is so rough for so many. 

And we’ll end with this quote: ‘Rule your mind, or it will rule you.’ And is that ever so true my brethren, for it all takes place in the mind, or as Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) refers to it, ‘The battlefield of the mind.’ That’s where all our wars and battles take place. And that’s why when we allow the enemy to control our thoughts, he can therefore control our lives. Because as a man thinks, so is he. We become what we think about most. 

So if we think about the things of the world more than those of Jesus, then we’ll become more like the world, and vice versa. That’s why it’s necessary to have good and positive thoughts above all else. They will lift you up, while negative emotions will only drag you further down to Hades. (smile) And we don’t want that now, do we? Of course not! 

That’s why some of the best advice ever given to a son was that of Bruh David to Cousin Sol in our Bit. ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.’ 

Yeh friends, if we want to live godly and righteous lives, we have to keep our minds focused on stuff that’s godly and righteous. And remember that God looks deep into our hearts and minds to find our true purpose and motives before considering our outward show. So if what’s in our minds and what’s in our actions are different, then the Lord will discover them and act accordingly. 

For as Jesus said: ‘Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth that defileth a man.’ (Matt.15:11) And what comes out of us is what we have focused in our minds. So if our thoughts are evil, then our deeds will most likely be evil too. No wonder Jesus also warned us thus: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.’ (Matt.11:33) 

Fellow believers, our omniscient and all powerful God knows what we need to function on this earth, and He has promised to give it to us if we keep Him first place in our minds, bodies and actions. If you think primarily on the things of the world, they will be of no avail in the long run. 

For as Jesus says: ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ (Matt.6:19-21) 

Words of everlasting wisdom my people, from the creator of all wisdom! Now are we going to be wise and follow them, or foolish and think on the wrong things? That’s up to each individual, but please remember that there are consequences for each line of thought, and before you decide, it would be wise to consider the consequences of each. Much LOVE!

…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him… (Charles Stanley)

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 December 2015 2 Chronicles 26:5

21 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

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

2 Chronicles 26:5.  And he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions (fear) of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

Well Friends, as the world turns, the universe is unfolding as it should. (smile) Yes, the Lord in His wisdom has set it that with every rotation of the earth on its axis, a new day is born, and it just so happens that today is the birth of a wonderful day called Monday. Glory Hallelujah! 

It’s the first day of our workweek, so let’s be up and at ‘em nuh, for our very livelihoods depend on it. And when we bring a pleasant and positive attitude to it, it works to our benefit. If we keep on muttering and complaining, it just sours us and builds a whole lot of negativity in our spirits. 

In other words, Lucifer wins the first battle of the day. And that’s not right or wise my people, for then, most likely he’ll continue winning most of our daily battles, because we reap what we sow, and by our less than stellar beginning, the first thing we sowed was negativity. 

Anyhow, away with Lucifer! He is just a liar and a deceiver, primed to steal our joy and peace. So let’s counteract his evil ways with our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, which puts us in the safe, productive and confident zone that’s ruled by Jesus.  As one harmonious and enthusiastic choir, let’s raise our voices to heaven in a sacrifice of praise. 

‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. 

We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. 

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. 

Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ 

Good going friends! Our choirmaster, Jesus, though not thrilled, was not displeased with our effort. So let’s get out there and do our thing in His glorious name! 

Now it’s time for our Bit. ‘And he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions (fear) of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.’ 

Oh Friends, I don’t know how often we’ve made that point nuh; we prosper when we seek the Lord. But still too many of us refuse to believe it and plod on unsuccessfully under our own steam. That’s the wisdom of a fool my brethren! 

And today’s Bit is talking about the sixteen year old Uzziah (Azariah in 2 Kings) who reigned in Judah after the death of his father Amaziah. And the Good Book declares: ‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.’ (2 Chr.26:4) 

Oh, before we go any further, according the scholars, the Zechariah named above, is not the same one who wrote the prophetic book of Zechariah. So let’s get that straight. 

Now let’s look at a couple scriptures that teach the same thing as our Bit, beginning with Jehoshaphat when Moab invaded Israel. The multitude of Moab’s army was more than Israel could handle, so what did Jehoshaphat do? ‘And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Israel.’ (2 Chr.20:3) 

And what was the Lord’s response? He sent a message by one Jahaziel, telling them: ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s’ (2 Chr.20:15b) 

And then the next day, as they were preparing to go out to battle, ‘Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.’ (2 Chr.20:20) 

And to make a long story short, they went out to war singing praises to their God, and by the time they reached the battle ground all they found were the dead bodies of their enemies, and they had a field day in collecting their possessions. Yes Friends, they won a war without even fighting their enemy, because they believed in the Lord their God. 

Now the same thing happened when Hezekiah became king of Judah and cleaned up the idolatry, and set proper systems in place. The Good Book tells us: ‘And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.’ (2 Chr.31:20-21) 

King Asa also prospered when he made godly reforms in Judah, after a warning from the prophet Azariah. ‘And he (Azariah) went out to meet (before) Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; the Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.’ (2 Chr.15:2) 

Now my people, that is as plain and straightforward as it can get. There’s no rocket science involved there, so if we refuse to seek God, both as individuals and as a collective society and then don’t prosper, we have nobody but ourselves to blame. 

So today Friends, let’s use the wisdom that God has granted us nuh and seek His holy face, so that our children and us can prosper. Much LOVE!

…follow God and prosper…follow Lucifer and suffer…that’s it in a nutshell…