Philippians 1:11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Oh Friends, the ole fella’s feeling lousy this morning, both mentally and physically tired. I had a rough and busy day yesterday and my sleep pattern was thrown totally out of whack. And many of you know how it feels when you don’t get proper sleep. Anyway, no use moaning, I still have to write the Bit, sickness and tiredness must not stop it from going out. (smile) But as always, more so than most days, I cried out for divine help and guidance. And I know that I will receive it, because the Lord doesn’t want me writing nonsense with His name attached to it. In fact, I’ve already begun receiving that divine guidance, for my mind is feeling more alert now, and I am putting pen to paper. I found a Bit before I began, so it was just a matter of getting my mind around it. Oh Friends, with all that divine stuff happening, how can I ever doubt the mercy and LOVING-kindness of our God eh? Not on your life! Those people who doubt and mock are fools! That’s all I can say. If they only gave Jesus a reasonable chance to come into their lives, they’d be most surprised at how wonderfully He works in them. The problem though is that too many of us want the easy life, and Jesus NEVER promised that. He promised the GOOD LIFE; one that would be filled with trials and tribulations, but He would see us victoriously through them all. And my fellow believers, at this stage of my life, I can attest to the truth of all that stuff, because as I just remembered, this month of March 2013 will begin the seventh year, yes mih breddren, the 7th year that I’m writing this Scrip-Bit. Oh how the time has flown! And believe me, I could not have done it, as you can see from above, without divine help and guidance. I’m chuckling here now, remembering how I chuckled seven years ago when the Lord proposed the idea and I told Him I couldn’t do it due to my lack of proper scriptural knowledge. But here I am now, seven years later, a veritable fount of wisdom and knowledge, compared to what I was back then. (smile) That’s simply because it’s impossible to walk consistently with Jesus and not gain some real knowledge and true insight into this life. As Sister Joyce, Joyce Meyer, likes to say; ‘I’m not where I want to be. But thank God, I’m not where I was!’ Yes my fellow believers, walking with Jesus is indeed a journey, and oftimes a long and arduous one. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the journey will be most interesting and knowledgeable, for who better is there to walk and associate with than the One who sacrificed His sinless life for you, two thousand years ago? As he said back then: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) And He indeed laid down His life for us, which means we are truly His friends, especially if we consider His next statement. ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14) Then later he goes on to declare: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained (appointed) you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye LOVE one another.’ (John 15:16-17) So you see my brethren, from the very beginning, Jesus has been the one seeking a relationship with us, and attempting to make us His friend. And if we’re smart we’ll accept His friendship with wide open arms, because it’s the best thing this world has going for it. Oh Friends, it’s such a simple, but poignant message: I needed disciples to spread My Word, and I chose you. I consider you my friends, so I’ll die for you. Now all I ask is that you do as I say, namely go out and spread My Word and LOVE each other. And to top that all up, anything you ask the Father in My Name, He’ll gladly give you. Why is that proving so hard for us to do eh, especially when there’s no other relationship in this whole wide world that can even come close to it? I guess too many of us refuse Jesus’ friendship because we’re afraid of what it will mean to our sinful lives; lives filled with darkness and great desire for the mostly useless things of the world, which are fraught with problems and never last. On the other hand, we can get all the necessary things for living a full and rich life walking in close tandem with Jesus. And the beauty of it is, when you receive worldly things through Jesus, they last. You don’t have to fret and worry that you’ll lose your job, your house, your family, as you would if you’d sold your soul to Beelzebub to get them. Ah mih people, yuh see how things can change in the twinkling of an eye? From feeling lousy and miserable, not knowing what to write, with the gracious help of Jesus, I’ve gotten over most of that negative feeling and written more than I ever imagined possible back then. Let’s just hope it makes sense. (smile) In any case, I know that you fellow believers, imbued with wisdom from above, are all wise enough to be able to pick sense from nonsense. Now it’s obvious we won’t have time today to delve into the workings of our Bit, which I wanted to introduce way back when Jesus spoke about His people going out and bearing fruit, because they dovetail so nicely together. ‘Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.’ So Friends, with all of that in mind, let’s go out today and see if we can’t bear some fruit that will further God’s kingdom and glorify His Most Holy Name. It’s what we were created for. Much LOVE!…if we’re good soil…in which the seed of Jesus has taken root…then it’s time for us to grow…and bear good fruit…thirty…sixty…even a hundred fold…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 March 2013 Isaiah 40:8
05 Mar 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: Alpha, awesome God, believing in jesus, blessings, children of light, fatherly LOVE, flowers fade, fulfilling life, glorious day, glory of God, grass withers, holy spirit, humble servants, Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, Omega, protection, reconciliation, sacrifice, thanks and praise, the beginning, the end, the first, the last, walk in light, Word of God
Isaiah 40:8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
One more morning, one more day, filled with new mercies, filled with new blessings, showered down from heaven with fatherly LOVE! Yes Friends, that’s what is happening on this new Today, and what happens on every new Today! And before we get too carried away, let’s realize that it’s not because of our goodness, or what we rightfully deserve, but because of our wonderful God’s LOVING-kindness towards us! His heart is so overflowing with LOVE and tenderness for us, that despite our lack of enthusiasm and strong faith, He has a hard time saying No to us. So in grateful appreciation, let’s offer a few words of thanks nuh. Pray with me: ‘Oh heavenly Father, we, your humble servants, created and so richly provided for by You, offer our sincere thanks and praise this new day. We don’t know what lies ahead, but we know that whatever comes our way, You’ll be right there with us to help us through it. Please continue to bless and protect us. We pray this in the holy name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His sinless life at Calvary, so that we could be reconciled and once again have glorious fellowship with You.’ And all God’s people declared a loud and sincere, ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’ Ah mih people, I’m so glad that it was only supposed to be a few words. (smile) But yuh know, sometimes when you start giving our awesome God the praise and thanks He so richly deserves, you often get carried away by the deep LOVE for Him that’s in your heart. Now let’s turn to our Bit, which, as promised, is the same as yesterday. I’m trying my best to be like the Lord and keep my promises. (smile) And our Bit boldly proclaims: ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.’ And that’s no lie, my brethren! The Word of our great Deity will never depart from the life of this world, as long as it exists, be it in physical or spiritual form, because it comes from the Mighty One who created it and all it contains. Unfortunately many don’t believe that, and I’m genuinely sorry for them, because it means they are not enjoying the rich and fulfilling life that comes from believing and following the Word of the Most High God Jehovah. And as Isaiah confidently declares before our Bit, in this Chapter 40, that deals with comfort through trust in the Lord: ‘And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry (out), And he said, what shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the godliness (loveliness) thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit (breath) of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.’ (Is.40:5-7) Yes Friends, in the time line of our God, we certainly have short lives; lives comparable in our understanding, to that of the grass and flowers that spring up rich and beautiful one day, but by the next are withered and faded. However, the glorious Word of our omnipotent God will live much longer, indeed forever! Why? Because it comes from the One who is Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, who created everything that exists, controls it all, and can do whatsoever He wants with it! As the prophet Micah promises, when talking about turning swords into ploughshares: ‘And I will make her that halted (is lame) a remnant, and her that was cast far off (the outcasts) a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.’ (Mic.4:7) What an awesome promise my fellow believers! And it will eventually come true, because our God is ever faithful to keep His promises. Meanwhile, Isaiah solemnly delivers another of God’s promises in Chapter 24, that after judgement comes upon the earth: ‘Then the moon shall be confounded (disgraced or ashamed), and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients (elders) gloriously.’ (Is.24:23) Wow mih breddren! That will be such a glorious day that even the sun and moon will have to step back from the marvellous light of our enchanting God! And as we like to do whenever possible, we’ll end with some moving and meaningful words of the Master Teacher, Jesus. Here, He’s telling the people of His upcoming death, resurrection and ascension. ‘The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest the darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knowest not wither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.’ (John 12:34-36) Oh Friends, that’s the Word of our God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And yuh know what? It will certainly live on forever, so if we’re smart, we’ll consciously choose to follow it, so that we too can live on forever with Him. Much LOVE!…true believers…must use the wisdom generated by the Holy Spirit in them…to LOVE and obey the Word of God…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 March 2013 Psalm 107:43
02 Mar 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: affliction, Christian walk, christianity, disobedience, fauthfulness, grace, great is thy faithfulness, heavenly blessings, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, oppression, peace, rewards, righteousness., sincerity, sorrow, steadfast faith, transgressors, truth, understanding, upright in heart, wisdom, wise of heart
Psalm 107:43. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the LOVING-kindness of the Lord.
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 February 2013 Job 34:21
05 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: Candid Camera, disappointment, eternal life, falsehood, fat fannies, glorious service, God sees all, hypocrites, integrity, Jesus is alive, Jesus' words, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, loyalty to God, Peace and Love, ponder our goings, price of justice, prince of peace, pull the wool, rebuked by God, Sacrifical Lamb, sacrifice, salvation, straight and narrow path, The eyes of the Lord, ways of man, Wonderful Counsellor
Job 34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Ah Friends, I don’t have a soul-stirring intro for you this morning, (smile) but I do have some wonderful news: Jesus is alive and kicking! Kicking very strongly too! Not no mickey-mouse business. What can be better than that eh? Nothing really, for that means His followers, which we are, will also be alive and kicking strongly, since as He goes, so do we. And all Jesus’ followers proclaimed a powerful proclamation: ‘Jesus is alive! He is alive today and forever! Blessed be the name of Jesus! Amen.’ But Friends, if we’re His followers, then we have to get up off our fat fannies and actually do some strong kicking, do our job to help the LOVE Revolution that Jesus began to make some serious progress, cause it won’t be done for us. Jesus has already done His part, it’s now time for us to do ours. We can’t ride on Jesus coattails and hopefully get by either, because as our Bit reminds us: ‘For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.’ Yes mih people, Jesus’ eyes are forever on us, and He’s also constantly monitoring the motives of our hearts, so it’s even worse than being on Candid Camera. We can’t get away with anything; neither external nor internal. But in spite of that, many of us still try to pull the wool over Jesus’ eyes. What a joke friends! And we not only make ourselves look foolish when we do that, but we also reveal the low level of our faith, and our lack of true understanding of Jesus. But don’t despair my brethren, for it doesn’t mean that Jesus will push you aside and leave you to flounder aimlessly, because it’s the lost, the sick, the lonely, oppressed and misunderstood that He came to save, as He so poignantly declares in Matthew 18. ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.’ (Matt.18:11) Ah mih breddren, what a wonderful person is our Jesus! Words certainly can’t describe Him adequately. What do we call Him? Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Heavenly Advocate, Sacrificial Lamb, etc. etc! Wow! No one entity can play as many roles as He did, and still does. Please praise Him for His glorious service and sacrifice to the children of undeserving men! But as our Bit explains, there’s one drawback for us to Jesus all embracing powers; He sees all that we do, all the time. And in these evil, ungodly times, we definitely need to buckle down and start behaving like true followers, not like the hypocrite Pharisees of old. For remember that Jesus experienced the same problems and emotions that we do, when He sojourned here on earth. That means when we don’t do as we should, He will experience great disappointment. It’s just like how we’re disappointed when those close to us do wrong. And I believe that disappointing Jesus is one of the worse things we can ever do. After all He’s done, the sacrifices He’s made on our behalf, the least we can do is try to please Him, since we can never repay the LOVING-kindness that He’s shown us. But getting back to our Bit, I want to share some scriptures that also declare that the eyes of our Creator are constantly on us. Now there are so many that most likely I won’t be able to share them all today. Anyway, let’s begin with the time that Asa, king of Judah, was rebuked by the seer Hanani, for relying on the king of Syria for help in war, rather than on the God of his fathers. ‘For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward (loyal, at peace with) him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore henceforth thou shalt have wars.’ (2 Chr.16:9) But instead of turning to the Lord and repenting, Asa got angry, threw Hanani in jail, and oppressed some of his people at the same time. Now listen to Asa’s end: ‘And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but to the physicians.’ (1 Chr.16:12) Oh Friends, when we are rebuked by the Lord, please let’s not get angry and do foolish things that we’ll live to later regret. For our God only rebukes us because He LOVES us. It’s always for our own good. Just like when we rebuke our children for wrongdoing, it’s not so much to punish them, but to make them see the error of their ways, because we care for them, and want them to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life. That’s the same thing our God wants for us. As Job says, in speaking of his integrity. ‘Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity (falsehood), or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed (let Him weigh me) in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.’ (Job 31″4-6) Ah Friends, living in this fallen, ungodly world is difficult at the best of times, and we will make mistakes, but overall the motives of our hearts should be right with God. Integrity is one of the pillars on which Jesus built His church, but unfortunately, today we’re seeing that pillar of integrity slowly crumble as we either turn away from Jesus, or pay mere lip service to His challenges. How can we expect others to believe in Jesus when we don’t follow through on our promises eh mih people? When we say one thing and do another? When we fight amongst each other over petty stuff, then go out and preach Peace and LOVE? It just doesn’t work like that my brethren. And we’ll end with some wise words from Cousin Sol. ‘For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth (observes, weighs) all his goings.’ (Prov.5:21) Oh Friends, please, let’s do like the Lord today nuh and ponder our goings, and make sure that they are on the straight and narrow path, for that’s wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!…to those who know right…but do wrong…the price of justice rises even higher…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 February 2013 Ecclesiastes 5:15.
03 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a present, accumulation of things, dust to dust, futility, happiness, joy, loving kindness, material possessions, mere mortals, naked, pain and suffering, reggae tunes, ride a donkey, righteousness., speed society, stress, the present, vanity
Ecclesiastes 5:15. As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
A blessed Sunday morning to you my Scrip-Bit Family and Friends! The Lord in His wisdom and LOVING-kindness has seen fit to grant us another day of life on earth. Paradoxically, today is considered both A present and THE present. It’s A present, in the sense of it being a gift from Almighty God, one which we ought to appreciate, value highly, use wisely and enjoy. And it’s also THE present, meaning a moment in time. In fact it’s the only time that we are sure of, because yesterday has already gone, and tomorrow has not yet arrived. That’s why we’re always encouraged to make the most of THE present time, that time we currently have before us. We ought not to waste it by constantly putting things off for tomorrow, things that we can do today or in THE present time, for who knows if tomorrow will ever come? So Friends, let’s get busy and use NOW as best we can nuh, since it’s all we’re guaranteed, for THIS NOW will never come again. And having tried to encourage us to get busy with the things that God has planned for us, let me share two lines from two different songs I heard yesterday that struck me as being very wise. Now don’t ask me the names of the songs or the singers because I wasn’t paying particular attention to them. I just know that they were two rollicking reggae tunes. The first line that jumped out at me was ‘the patient man rides a donkey.’ Now it took a couple seconds for the statement to percolate in the old mind, but then I said, ‘Hnnnn!’ That makes a lot of sense because a donkey travels slowly. And I guess that’s why very few of us use donkeys for travel nowadays, since we want to get everywhere like yesterday. Waiting or taking our time no longer cuts it in our fast-paced, nuclear speed society. But the wisdom my brethren, is that sometimes it’s best for us to just ‘Ride yuh donkey..’ (smile) And the second statement that struck me as being very perceptive was ‘the road to righteousness is sorrow,’ or something like that. I don’t agree with the statement as it’s written there, because though righteousness entails some sorrow, where one’s faith is tried, and hopefully strengthened, it doesn’t mean that to be righteous, one must always be sorrowful or face great sorrow. I’d probably say that the road to righteousness definitely encompasses sorrow, for a righteous life is also one filled with joy and moments of happiness, though we all need some pain and suffering to keep us pliant and humble in God’s eyes, as well as remind us that we are mere mortals made from dust and to which dust we shall all eventually return. That means chasing the material things and pleasures of the world in order to hoard them is basically senseless, since we cannot carry them with us, and generally speaking our families, friends and foes end up fighting and squabbling for those material things when we die. That’s exactly why the Preacher in our Bit warns us of the vanity, the futility of running down earthly things. ‘As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.’ But we’ve been so brainwashed by Lucifer and his evil, worldly minions that though many of us know the truth of the statement, we still kill ourselves to get and/or accumulate the things of the world. Consequently, stress is the biggest killer in our society today, because we’re all so busy running down the almighty dollar for what it can purchase, or the status symbol its accumulation represents. Yuh ever notice though Friends, that when we rode donkeys, stress wasn’t a much used word in the vocabulary? That’s because we were patient, took our time and wasn’t always in a hurry to get somewhere or do something, or trying to multi-task. Steups! As the Preacher, most likely Cousin Sol continues, for back then he was the only one who had the time, money and wisdom to conduct the necessary experiments. ‘And this is also a sore (severe) evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he hath laboured for the wind?’ (Eccl.5:16) None whatsoever my brethren! But unfortunately that doesn’t seem to matter to mankind today, for we still keep on struggling to be rich and powerful when it can all be taken away in a matter of seconds. And one of the best examples of that is Job, when tragedy strikes him down at the height of his wealth and power. But what is his response? He tears off his clothes, shaves his head falls down ad worships and says: ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.’ (Job 1:21-22) Now Job was obviously devastated, but he understood the principle, while knowing deep down that he had not committed any serious wrongdoing to bring such punishment to pass, as his friends later intimated. Bruh David also understood this, as he warns in Psalm 49 – Trust in God, not in wealth. ‘Be thou not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.’ (Ps.49:16-17) And we’ll end with some immortal words of Bruh Paul to Timothy on the subject. ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.’ (1 Tim.6:6-7) Yes Friends, our God, in his infinite wisdom planned it that way, so we can see the relative insignificance of material wealth, and the great importance of spiritual things. Please listen to Him. Much LOVE!…but thou, O man of God…flee these things…and follow after…righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness… (1 Tim.6:11)
Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 January 2013 Psalm 67:4
25 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: be glad, fellowship, fun, furthering God's kingdom, glitzy facade, God's glory, God's righteouness, joyful shouts, losers, LOVE Revolution, loving kindness, praise and thanks, psalm 67, rejoice, renewed and refreshed, rest, Selah, sing for joy, spirituality, sweet voices, TGIF!, Thank God it's Friday, the Lord reigns, United body of Christ, who is the boss
Psalm 67:4. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! And all the joyous shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ surround and envelop me like a warm cloak. Even in my somewhat muted way, I too can utter thanks because I’m on the mend. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely. And that’s the important thing. So let’s all give thanks and praise to our Creator and Provider for just being alive this Friday morning in January 2013, by chanting our Friday Chant. Let’s let Him know, in no uncertain terms, that we truly appreciate His LOVING-kindness, mercy and forgiveness. Now you all will have to help me here by raising your sweet voices above my croaking one. (smile) As one powerful, united, body of Christ then, let’s chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ That was excellent Friends! Jesus chuckled when he heard my croaking, off-key tones, but He is so wonderful, He will accept genuine praise and thanks in any shape or form. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just come from a sincere heart. And so, having reminded ourselves of how we ought to handle the weekend, let’s look at our Bit. ‘O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.’ It’s the same one from yesterday because I never exhausted all the relevant Psalms. And up first is Psalm 97 – The Lord is far above all gods. From the opening verse the psalmist makes it abundantly clear, who is the boss. ‘The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of isles (coastlands) be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation (foundation) of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.’ (Ps.97:1-6) Oh Friends, NO other God has those omnipotent attributes! And that’s an acknowledged fact, because they have been constantly proven from the very beginning of time. Now listen to some of Psalm 98 – Praise to God for His salvation. ‘Make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (break forth in song). Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm (sound of a song). With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) before the Lord, the King. …Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity (in uprightness).’ (Ps.98:4-6, 9) Yes Friends, we need to boldly proclaim the wonders of our omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present Creator, God, Father, King and Righteous Judge! Yuh see how many things He is to us? So if we don’t serve and faithfully worship Him, we’ll simply end up with the evildoers, eternally separated from Him and His majestic kingdom. And I keep reminding us that that’s the worst thing that could ever happen to a mortal being! But this present world isn’t listening; we’re still running behind the foolish clown prince of darkness Lucifer, even though the world is going to hell in a hand basket by following his evil inclinations. Please remember Friends that Lucifer believes in God, He knows more about God and His awesome powers than us, because he was once one of God’s right hand men. And furthermore, he can’t touch a child of God without asking God’s permission, like he did with Job, or unless we foolishly fall for his wiles and lies. And to heap even more coals of fire on Lucifer’s head, Jesus came to earth and conquered death and the grave, and also set us free from them if we believe on His Holy Name. So why in heaven’s name, are we still so caught up in Lucifer’s nonsense eh, when everything points to the undeniable, indelible fact that he is a loser? And like most losers, he’s a sore one, just trying to get back at Almighty God. But here’s how we thwart him. ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield (produce) her increase; And God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.’ (Ps.67:5-7) And that’s not rocket science, it’s what we’ve seen and heard been done over the ages. So Friends, please let’s use the brains, the wisdom, the spiritual insight that the Creator has so LOVINGLY placed in each of us to rise up and see Lucifer’s fallen world for what truly is nuh; a glitzy facade behind which hides death, destruction and eternal separation from the Lord God Jehovah. Until we rise up in revolt against Lucifer, in a LOVE Revolution, as one united body of Christ, we’ll continue to exist as simple-minded minions in his fallen world. And that’s surely not something to write home about! Much LOVE!…it’s so sad to see those made in God’s image…bow to a fallen being…when all reason shouts otherwise…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 January 2013 Psalm 67:4
24 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: be glad, fever's broken, forgiveness, God of justice, God of strength, God's glorious majesty, I'm geting better, loving kindness, mercy, righteous God, Selah, sing for joy, song of the day, stubborn hold
Psalm 67:4. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.
Oh Friends, the song of the day is, ‘I’m getting better. I’m getting better. Thank the Lord, I’m getting better!’ And the ole fella is actually beginning to feel more human than zombie. The cold and cough seem to be under control, though the fever is still trying to resist. But I believe we have finally broken its stubborn hold because twice yesterday I had to get up and change my T-shirt because it was soaking wet with sweat. I guess that’s what the ancients would call the fever breaking. Let’s hope that’s what it was. I’m still not up to snuff though, for I slept out most of yesterday, as has been the modus operandi this past week. But the good news is that I ate solid food for the first time and actually enjoyed it, causing me to regain a couple of the pounds that I’d lost, but I’ll take that trade-off anytime. I also managed to watch two periods of hockey. Still haven’t read the papers though, but there’s one situation that made me laugh. Now there are always oranges and tangerines in the house, but I usually pass on them simply because I’m too lazy to peel them. However in these past few days, have I ever been peeling oranges and tangerines, because they were the only things that really tasted palatable. As they say, if the Lord doesn’t get you one way, He’ll get you the other. But please note that our God is not an unjust or vengeful God, as our Bit so wisely proclaims. ‘O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.’ Yes Friends, our God is a God of righteousness and justice, but also a Deity who tempers His decisions with LOVING-kindness, mercy and forgiveness. As such, there is none other like Him! That’s why in a number of Psalms, that theme is firmly proclaimed. For example, in Psalm 93, the Lord is clothed with majesty, the psalmist declares without a doubt: ‘The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty, the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved (shaken). Thy throne is established from old: thou art from everlasting.’ (Ps.93:1-2) Meanwhile in Psalm 96, a call to praise God, the psalmist wisely advises us to: ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give (ascribe) unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear (tremble) before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen (gentiles) that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be (is firmly) established that it shall not be moved (shaken): he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof (all that is in it). Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.’ (Ps.96:7-13) Oh Friends, truer words have never been spoken! But unfortunately we are not doing any of those things today. Instead, our world is casting disparaging aspersions on the name of the ONE TRUE God, removing Him bit by bit from our society, and replacing Him with worship to man-made idols and other foolish men. Now I ask you, if man and his idols were so powerful and wise, would our world be in the catastrophic situation we’re currently in? Certainly not! But man has become so proud, so arrogant and full of himself that he now believes he no longer needs the help of an invisible God. Ponder this for a moment nuh Friends. How much of our everyday tasks can we actually accomplish by ourselves eh? Not much really. And oftimes we can’t even do it with the help of other men, but desperately need an invisible God, someone stronger and more powerful than us. That’s why I don’t understand how we can remove Jehovah God from our society when there’s so much evidence that under His guidance we prosper, and when we move away from Him we suffer immensely. But I guess we’re fooled and bedazzled by Lucifer’s ‘baubles, bangles and bright shining things.’ How often must we be reminded eh my people that all that glitters is not gold? NONE of Lucifer’s stuff is real. They’re just glossed over, just a facade to hide the ugly, lying, deceitful, evil intentions behind his attempt to get back at God for kicking him out of heaven. If he wasn’t so foolish in the first place to want to overthrow God, he’d still be sitting pretty in heaven. But he wasn’t all that wise and is now banished to walk the earth until the Lord chooses to do away with him for good in the lake of fire. Oh my people, is that where we want to end up? I doubt it very much. So please, I’m pleading with us, let’s get ourselves together and covenant once again with our Creator, so that we can avoid the ugly fate that’s eventually going to befall Lucifer and his evil minions. That’s truly wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!…he that hath ears to hear…let him hear…or else he’ll eventually feel…the justice of Almighty God…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 January 2013 Psalm 121:2
23 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: depending on God, help from God, hope in God, loving kindness, the Lord's your protector, true faith, trust in God, words of truth
Psalm 121:2. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Oh Friends, yesterday was such a wonderful day… And all the heavenly hosts screamed ‘Liar!’ Awright, so it was possibly one of the worst days of my life. What with the fever, cough and cold still having me on their merry-go-round, playing havoc with my life. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so much in one day, and not all at once either. I’d sleep for an hour or so, get up, putter around for about half an hour, then go right back to bed. When you hear I wasn’t even interested in food, you must know how bad things were. At one point I made a ham and egg sandwich, but after eating about a third of it, I had to put it down. The only things I could handle were some fruits, and at times, even those I couldn’t stomach. One sure way of knowing that I’m sick is when I’m off my victuals. But through it all Friends, I kept singing this song: ‘Hello Jah, Jah. I’m depending on You. Hello Jah, Jah, I’m depending on You. I’ve got the fever and fresh cold, So I’m depending on You. I’ve got the fever and fresh cold, So I’m depending on You.’ I had to laugh when that came to mind, because the words are originally from an old Jamaican Rock-steady tune called “Hello Carol.’ But it suited my purpose admirably, for who else can I truly depend on eh? The man-made medicines I was taking were working in some form and fashion, but they would never be sufficient by themselves. The Lord is who makes them work! That’s why the psalmist could declare with such authority: ‘ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.’ (Ps.121:1) He didn’t mean that the hills would help him, but the one who created the hills. And he expands it with the words of our Bit. ‘My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.’ So true Friends, so true! The real help of all believers is the Lord God Jehovah, creator of the universe and all therein. As the psalmist so wisely declares in Psalm 116: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’ (Ps.118:8-9) And if you’re wondering why that is, then listen to these verses after our Bit. ‘He will not suffer thy foot to be moved (slip): he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper (protector): the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (keep) thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve (keep) thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more.’ (Ps.121:3-8) Undeniable words of truth my people! Only our great and omnipotent God can do such mighty works. And Bruh David corroborates it by faithfully proclaiming: ‘Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Ps.124:8) As Job also faithfully declared to his supposed friends: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust him: but I will maintain (defend) mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech and my declaration with your ears.’ (Job 13:15-17) What faith my people! Can we be like Job, living by faith and not by sight? I sure hope so. But it’s not easy, as I can tell you from personal experience. Right now I’m not feeling the greatest, but the Bit must be written for that’s what I’ve agreed to do. And though I’m struggling some, I know deep down that by the time I send it out, it will make sense, because the Lord will not allow His Word to go out in any wishy-washy form. He will fix up any mistakes that I make, because He knows that I’m trying my best under rather adverse circumstances, and I only want to please and serve Him. To end, we’ll recall some poignant words of Bruh David: ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ (Ps.39:7) I couldn’t have said it any better my Friends. The Lord God Almighty is where we have to put our faith and trust, if we really want to live a worthwhile life here on earth, then move on to an even better one in heaven. It’s not easy, but with the Lord’s help, it’s certainly doable. I’m chuckling here, because some of you might just be wishing that I stay sick all the time, because then the Bits seem to be shorter. But don’t count on it. (smile) Eventually the Lord will raise me back to full strength, and I will acknowledge His great work and LOVING-kindness with much faith and trust. Much LOVE!…you cannot be a true believer…unless…and until…your trust is solely in the Lord God of hosts…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 January 2013 Song of Solomon 2:4
09 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: alive, blatant lie, cares and concerns, dominant characteristic, encouraging, enthusiasm, enthusiastic, eternal life, eyes of faith, faith, God LOVES me, holy spirit, hope, joy of the lord, LOVE, loving kindness, never forsake us, never leave us, sacrifices, salvation, sandy sea shores, saviour jesus christ, Song of LOVE, the Way of LOVE
Song of Solomon 2:4. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was LOVE!
Top o’ the morn Friends! Unfortunately my neck of the woods – dark, dreary and snowy – doesn’t engender enthusiasm to the physical sight and senses. In fact it’s rather depressing to keep seeing that sort of bleak, uninviting landscape everyday. However, when we look through our eyes of faith, we can plainly see calm, clear, blue waters gently breaking over golden brown, sandy sea shores, with a brilliant, hot sun reigning supreme in a cloudless blue sky. And why is that my people? Because of God’s LOVE for us! He puts that unnatural ability in our hearts through faith in His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And from the moment I read this poem in Dr. Robert Schuller’s ‘Hour of Power Devotional earlier on, I just knew that I had to share it with you. And you’ll realize why, because it’s titled: ‘GOD LOVES ME! Thank you, Lord, for this holy sentence, this good news, this happy report, this exciting thought, this graceful truth, this fantastic lesson: God LOVES me! Even when I’m at my worst – God LOVES me. Even when my faith is dim – God LOVES me anyway! It’s incomprehensible and fantastic! Thank you, Father: Amen.’ Oh Friends, one of the reasons I like Dr. Schuller’s writings is because they are always full of bright, and strong faith, with vibrant expectations of good things to come, using encouraging words and uplifting language! One of the serious problems with believers these days is that we’re too dreary and dead, lacking in real life, our enthusiasm doesn’t come out in our prayers and our every day lives the way it should. Too many of us still believe that to be a true Christian we must walk around cowed, with head bowed, shoulders limp and low, and a sad, ugly countenance. I guess that’s our erroneous definition of being humble. But Friends, I’m here to tell us that that’s a most blatant lie that Lucifer perpetrates to get us to lose our joy in Jesus. Remember that the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Neh.8:10) And if we lose it, then what do we have? Nothing! Please my brethren, with all the good things Jesus did for us; dying that ugly, horrible death on the cross to pay for our sins, being resurrected and ascending into heaven so that we can have salvation and eternal life, plus the wonderful promises of never forsaking us and always being with us through the wonderful aura of His Holy Spirit, Christians should be the happiest and most cheerful people in the universe. We should be laughing, enthusiastic and exuberant every minute of every day. Even when we’re asleep, there should be a beatific smile on our faces, because we’re dreaming of heaven and God and all the great things that await us there. Sadly though, too many of us allow the cares and concerns of this evil, ungodly world to drive us to doom and gloom. Remember Friends, Jesus said that in this world we’d surely find trials and tribulation, but since He’s already overcome it, we should therefore be filled with peace and good cheer and enjoy the benefits of His sacrifice. (John 16:33) Otherwise all His sacrifices would have been in vain. I know we can’t always go around grinning like Cheshire cats, but we certainly need to be more alive, enthusiastic, encouraging and expectant than a lot of us are. Oh Friends, the greatest thing in this world is LOVE! And LOVE brings joy! No wonder in our Bit, Cousin Sol describes the bride’s admiration of her groom with these choice and moving words of truth. ‘He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was LOVE!’ Aye people, that’s exactly what our Creator, the Lord God Jehovah has done for us! He brought us to the banqueting house of salvation and eternal life through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ. For that we should be eternally grateful and joyful. Remember the Good Book says that ‘God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth (abides) in LOVE dwelleth (abides) in God, and God in him.’ (1 John 4:16) LOVE is the dominant characteristic of our God, and should therefore be also the dominant characteristic of the true believer. Now let’s hear some appropriate scripture on LOVE, it’s power and how it ought to cause us to live. And we’ll begin with Cousin Sol, from his Song. ‘Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for LOVE is strong as death; jealousy is cruel (severe) as the grave: the coals (flames) thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench LOVE, neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance (wealth) of his house for LOVE, it would utterly be contemned (despised). (Song 8:6-7) Yuh see that mih people? LOVE is as strong as death, you can’t drown it, nor buy it! Now listen to ole Jeremiah. When talking about the restoration of Israel, he boldly declares: ‘The Lord hath appeared of old (from afar) unto me, saying, Yea, I have LOVED thee with an everlasting LOVE: therefore with LOVING-kindness have I drawn thee.’ (Jer.31:3) Oh mih breddren, again we see the power of LOVE, and the Lord’s LOVING-kindness that He uses to envelop us, to wrap us in His LOVING embrace. Meanwhile, in talking about the Lord’s LOVE for faithless Israel, the prophet Hosea says of God: ‘I drew them with cords of a man (gentle cords), with bands of LOVE: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws (necks), and I laid meat unto them (stooped and fed them).’ (Hos.11:4) But foolishly they refused to be drawn to Him. Please my people, please don’t let us follow that foolish path of disobedience, cause there will only be severe punishment later on. Come to think of it, that’s what we’re facing right now; punishment for turning away from the God of our fathers and embracing the evil Lucifer and the worldly lusts of the flesh. Now hear Jesus, as He lambastes the hypocrite Pharisees: ‘But I know you, that ye have not the LOVE of God in you.’ (John 5:42) Yes Friends, if the LOVE of God is not in us, then we’re not His children. And we don’t have the space or time for one of the most profound writings on LOVE; 1 Corinthians 13, titled ‘The Way of LOVE,’ from the godly pen of Bruh Paul. But I ask us all to read it today, so that we can get a new or refreshed look and attitude towards the world’s most wonderful characteristic – LOVE. And you know that, whenever possible, we like to give Jesus the final, definitive word on the subject. ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:34-35) Oh Friends, that says it all. Our Leader commands it, so please let’s go out and do it nuh. It will certainly enrich our souls more than we can ever imagine. Much LOVE!…and now abideth faith…hope…LOVE…these three…but the greatest of these is…LOVE… (1 Cor.13:13)
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