Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 May 2018 Proverbs 31:28.

15 May 2018 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 31:28:   Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

‘I’m in heaven, yes heaven, cause I can once more breathe comfortably through my nostrils!’ Glory to God my breddren! I feel like a new man, after I went into the city yesterday afternoon and the medic took out some stuff left there after the surgery. The nostrils still aren’t perfect, but they are a whole lot better than they were. 

Boy! Does it ever feel like a new world! Like I’m born again! And believe me, it took a little while for me to get accustomed to breathing through my nose again. (smile) But unfortunately that cloying, chalky, nasty taste from constantly breathing through my mouth for the last two weeks is still there. I guess it will take a while to go away…Let’s hope so yes, because it’s rather distasteful! 

And I can certainly sleep a li’l better. I don’t have to wake up every hour or so to moisten my parched mouth. And talking about sleep, I did get lulled away by the beautiful riddim of the falling rain this morning, that’s why the Bit is somewhat late. (smile) 

And in keeping with our promise not to just celebrate our mothers on Mother’s Day, I know some of us have already forgotten it, here is this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings By Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s simply titled ‘Motherhood.’ 

Please read with me: ‘Motherhood is now! The good and bad of it. The rewards and the trials. Tremendous pressures are placed upon you as a mother, for you have been chosen to work with God in the awesome task of nurturing the priceless treasures God has given you. 

As a mother, you accept your children’s faltering steps toward independence with discipline, humour, patience, and a tremendous amount of trust. At times the struggles almost become an endurance contest. You wonder if you can handle all the confusion another day: the ringing phone, the broken dishes, the blaring television, the hurtful words. High temperatures, school conferences, dentist appointments, rebellious tears. Is there ever an end? 

But suddenly in the midst of turmoil you catch a broad grin. You feel a warm hug. At bedtime somebody prays, “Thank you, God, for Mom and for the chocolate-chip cookies…and for LOVE.” You renew again your deep desire to create a genuine God-hunger in your children. God has chosen you for such a task as this.’ 

Wow mih people! What an accurate account of a Mother’s harried life! And surprisingly, most of them do it without batting an eyelash or offering a complaining word. What towers of strength they are! That’s why I encourage us to cherish and treasure and LOVE them much more than we currently do! For without them, as they say, ‘our tail would be grass.’ (smile) 

And the Bible Promise for that poem is also our Bit for today. ‘Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.’ Yeh friends, that’s the reaction of a godly mother’s family. It all comes from the last chapter of Proverbs which sings the praises of a virtuous woman. 

As it says: ‘Who can find a virtuous woman (wife of valour)? For her price (worth) is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil (lack of gain). She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.’ (Prov.31:10-12) And I don’t know if I have enough space, but I will endeavour to describe the qualities of a godly mother, of an excellent wife, as set out in these last verses of Proverbs. 

‘She is rare (v 10); trustworthy (v.11); constant in her LOVE (v.12); industrious (v.13); thrifty (v.14); self-starting (v: 15); enterprising (v.16); willing to do hard work (v.17); willing to work long hours (v.18); willing to do monotonous work (v.19); compassionate (v.20); prepared for the future (v.21); a good seamstress (v.22); married to a leader (v.23); an entrepreneur (v.24); not swayed by circumstances (v.25); wise and kind (v.26); duty-conscious (v.27); blessed by her family (v.28); not satisfied with the mediocre (v.29); a woman of God (v.30) ; and praiseworthy (v.31). 

She is a woman of means (vs.15, 22) and a woman of great skill and ability who lives in an agrarian economy. She is a woman of God who is enterprising and dedicated to her home. Perhaps this acrostic on the excellent wife is placed at the end of the book because she, above all others, will be most able to demonstrate the principles of wisdom in the home.’ 

Ah friends, what more can I say about mothers eh? Nothing really. Yuh see the many varied tasks and problems she has to deal with. She is indeed the backbone of the family! So let’s try and do more to appreciate and LOVE her nuh, that’s our bounden duty. 

Now let’s go home declaring who and whose we are through our Tuesday Mantra. ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ 

And if we were sincere in our words, then let’s go out and share all we have with others as Jesus desires of us. Much LOVE!

…truthfully…a mother’s work is never done…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 May 2017 Luke 2:19.

14 May 2017 Leave a comment

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

Luke 2:19.    But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Well a Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there! And this comes to you, regardless of whether you are a good, bad or indifferent mother. Just the fact that you went through all the rigors of motherhood; the nine months of bearing another child of the Creator’s in your womb and then suffering the excruciating pain, and pangs of birth, we celebrate you this fateful day. 

Motherhood is possibly the highest calling in God’s great earth, for you are following in God’s awesome footsteps; giving birth to a new creation, and then in most cases following that up with care and nurture for the rest of your life. 

And even if you didn’t personally go through the bodily discomfort of motherhood and felt those pains of giving birth, but you nourished and cared for one of God’s little ones, you are still considered a Mother! And as they say, once a mother, always a mother! There’s no getting away from it. 

And on this Mother’s Day Sunday, I went searching for an appropriate hymn to open our praise and worship session, and this one, ‘Where can I turn for Peace?’ seems to be a fan favourite. Apparently it was written by Emma Lou Thayne (1924-1973), a Mormon Poet and English teacher at the University of Utah, as she watched her daughter go through the agonizing throes of anorexia. 

Just like a mother eh! So let’s sincerely offer up these words of heartache, of solace and praise through sacrificial lips as we gather in holy fellowship this fateful Sunday morning. 

In full voice now: ‘Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace When other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, Searching my soul? Where, when my aching grows, Where, when I languish, Where, in my need to know, where can I run? 

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish? Who, who can understand? He, only One. He answers privately, Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend. Gentle the peace He finds for my beseeching. Constant He is and kind, LOVE without end.’ 

Oh friends, what a touching cry of anguish and grief, but one which ends as it should; with the faithful LOVE of Jesus producing solace and comfort in our time of need. As the song so rightfully says, He is the ONLY ONE; the ONLY ONE who hears our piercing cries and answers them, in private to boot! 

No doubt our terrible anguish of soul reminds Him of His own anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He beseeched the Father for mercy, so He can sympathize, and also empathize with our pain. 

Oh my brethren, do we realize that Jesus is like a mother to us? He cares for, cleanses, heals, nurtures, comforts, befriends, and saves us; all the things our earthly mothers do. So in other words, a godly mother is a true reflection of Jesus! 

That reminds me of my biological mother, Molly, and also my five adopted mothers, yes friends, I had six mothers, Glory to God! Unfortunately all of them have gone to be with the Lord now, but their memories will forever be a part of me, because their LOVING-kindness, in my times of need, made me the man I am today. 

The Lord worked His wonders through those strong, beautiful women to bring me to where I needed to be. And believe me, none of them took any nonsense from me; they told me what I needed to hear or do, regardless of what I thought, and Molls, bless her soul, did put the strap to me when she thought it necessary. 

So I wasn’t spoiled or mollycoddled because it was all TOUGH LOVE! Oh how I wish there was more tough LOVE in our world today! We wouldn’t have so many wayward and ungodly children. But I guess we’re just reaping what we’ve sown in the last generation. 

That finally brings us to our Bit: ‘But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.’  It tells us about the foremost mother of our world, Mary, the Mother of Jesus. 

Can we ever imagine the life she experienced? I don’t think so. Her first child being miraculously conceived, being the Son of God, with so many people saying so many extraordinary things about Him. First of all, the angels telling the shepherds about His birth, His Messianic destiny, and they checking out the story and finding Him in the manger, then going and spread the news. Leaving poor Mary, possibly still a teenager, to sit and ponder all that was happening. 

Then shortly thereafter, when they took Jesus to the synagogue to be presented, and heard the praises and marvellous things said about Him by Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38) Can you imagine how speechless and bewildered Mary must have been?  

And then that time when Jesus was about twelve and they took Him to Jerusalem and lost Him on the journey back home to Nazareth, then three days later they found Him in serious conversation with the learned men in the temple. But when they questioned Him as to why He had abandoned them, ‘And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not (don’t you know) that I must be about my Father’s business?’ (Luke 2:49) 

Hn! Yuh think I could have told my mother and father that around twelve years of age? Absolutely not! Most of us would have been checking our teeth to see if they were still all there. (smile) 

‘And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.’ (Luke 2:50-51) 

Ah friends, Mary’s motherhood wasn’t easy, but she stood up strong under it, knowing that the God who had chosen her to be the mother of His Son, was ever-faithful and would not fail her. 

Likewise, all you mothers out there today, who might be finding motherhood somewhat difficult, please allow Mary to be you example, and believe too, that the Lord who had entrusted your children to you, will not leave you in the lurch, because His faithfulness is exemplary. Much LOVE!

…a mother’s work is never done…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 May 2016 2 Timothy 1:5

08 May 2016 Leave a comment

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

2 Timothy 1:5.   When I call to remembrance the unfeigned (genuine) faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

HAPPY  MOTHER’S  DAY!

Well a Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful mother’s out there! Many of you have earned it through much sacrifice and a lot of elbow grease. (smile) 

You know it’s strange, but a lot of the time we don’t ever really know what our mothers went through, or are going through to keep our families afloat, because they don’t gripe and complain like many of us. They just put their heads down and do whatever is necessary. 

I can talk about that from personal experience with my late mother Molly. As I got older and looked back at some of the rough times we experienced, I now understand how hard she must have had it as a single mother doing two jobs, or having no job at all, and the emotional strain she must have felt. But I never heard her complain one day. She always had a smile on her face and a positive outlook on life, even in those rough times. 

And it’s sad that we don’t appreciate our mothers as much as we should. Too many of us just take them for granted and don’t consider that they are human beings just like us with human feelings and hurts just like us. Our mothers are usually the first ones we run to for comfort when we’re hurt, either physically, mentally or emotionally. 

But have we ever thought about whom they run to when times are rough and they are hurting?  Many of us don’t even consider that, because for some unknown reason we have this idea of Mom as superwoman, who doesn’t need any help. Well friends, that’s the furthest thing from the truth! Some Mothers are pretty strong and can handle a lot of stuff, while others are not and need plenty help. 

But they ALL need our LOVE and appreciation. Ofttimes that’s all they want from us. And unfortunately we don’t give them sufficient appreciation, except on days like these. 

But mothers are such powerhouses, the basic foundation of our families, who bear us for nine months in the womb, then suffer such agony birthing us, and are then responsible for nurturing and raising us to adulthood – and even after. (smile)They are usually the ones who teach us the basics of life, who keep us tightly knit together as a bonded unit of family. What in the world would we ever do without them eh? I won’t even bother to contemplate it. 

Now not all mothers fit the model I’ve painted above, some can be downright disgusting and bring terrible shame to the role of motherhood. But most do a decent job, trying their best to accomplish their God-given roles as nurturers, comforters, guides and the host of other tasks that mothers perform, or are expected to perform. 

And in this nuclear society, sadly mothers are having it harder than ever before. At one stage they were mostly stay at home moms, but with the recent boom and bust in our world, mothers are now also going out to work to help make ends meet, with little help from many fathers – those who are around – and are still expected to do their usual motherly chores. 

There are even more single moms around than before; either through divorce or men simply impregnating them and moving on without a care as to how the mother and child or children will survive. All of that simply adds to the breakdown and failure of our most important unit in society; that of the family. No wonder our children are irresponsible, godless, lazy and immature, amongst other things. 

But if we turn to our Bit, we’ll discover one of the most important things a mother can give to her child or children; the unparalleled gift of faith in Almighty God. ‘When I call to remembrance the unfeigned (genuine) faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.’ 

There Bruh Paul is encouraging Timothy to keep the sincere faith which he first learned at the knees of his mother Lois and his grandmother, Eunice. And teaching one’s family about God, and showing by personal example, is another job that usually falls to the mother in our Western Society. 

But yet for all these onerous duties, mothers, in fact women, are still not compensated, in cash or kind, not shown proper recognition and appreciation and treated as the equal of men. Ah Lord eh! Women still make less money than men, and relegated to lower class jobs even with better qualifications and more experience than their male counterparts. The Old Boy network is still running the world, and the glass ceiling for the advancement of professional women is still too low. 

And to make matters worse, abuse seems to be the order of the day in these supposed modern times. I don’t know if the abuse is actually on the rise or if it is just being highlighted more these days. But mothers shouldn’t have to be as fearful as they are and running away from abusive spouses in such great numbers. There are nowhere near enough shelters or programs to assist the abused mother today.  

Ah friends, mothers are the most important people in our society, and need to be appreciated and recognized as such. We men, who are all sons of mothers, ought to stop our selfish, male dominant traits and give God’s blessings and appreciation to the women in our lives, because they truly deserve better than what we’re currently handing out. 

You women too, you ought to try and stand up stronger to the abusive, feel-they-are-entitled men of today, and don’t let them push you around and treat you as doormats, as so many are wont to do. You also have a responsibility to yourself and womanhood in general. 

It’s the 21st century, and time to stop treating mothers, and women in general like second class citizens. So for all of you who have mothers, good, bad or indifferent, I urge you to show them LOVE and appreciation today, as they so rightfully deserve. And not only today, but each and every day of the year, because many of them are on the job 24/7, 365 days and need our appreciation and help. 

Trust me friends, if you still have your mother around, please enjoy her, just LOVE on her, for you will be real sorry and feel guilty when she goes over to the other side. I don’t have my mother here in person with me again, but Molls sugar, you know you are always on my mind and in my heart.  

And though I didn’t do too badly in our relationship, I still feel I could have done better than I did, knowing what I know now. But you know what; if you ask her, she’ll tell you that I was a most wonderful son! Hn! That’s another thing that mothers do. Have a blessed day, all you Mothers! Much LOVE!

…mothers are the closest thing to God on earth…they give life…offer comfort and succour, provide food and shelter…and teach us about God…   

P.S. Oh friends, in the beginning my mind was blank, didn’t know what to write. But as usual, with God’s help, look at how much I’ve written nuh! (smile) Hope it does make sense and encourages us to be better sons and daughter. Much LOVE!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 December 2015 Luke 2:33‏

29 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

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

Luke 2:33.  And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. 

Well mih people, at long last we got a taste of the white stuff. Last evening a blanket of snow finally covered my neighbourhood. This morning around 3 o’clock, before I went to bed, I opened my front door and it was just a pretty picture as you can get of an all white scene, before man defiles it. 

However, a while ago, when I went to put out the garbage, most of it had already melted and instead the rain was falling. So the purists who did not get their white Christmas are also in danger of not getting a white New Year’s either, if these warm and above seasonal temperatures persist. 

The man I pay to clean the snow from my driveway won’t be working today either. He’s still collecting money under false pretenses. But I guess them’s the breaks. (smile) 

And as you can see above, I went to bed late, hence the abnormally late Bit. My intense and sincere apologies, but the ole fella is really a creature of the night, and going to bed early is sometimes difficult. (smile) 

Anyway, it’s a festive Tuesday in the Christmas season, so let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra like we really mean it nuh. All together now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. 

I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ And is all of that is ever so true my fellow believers in Christ! 

Yes friends, we’re not defined by what we have or do! Our identity is found in being the children of God: His beloved offspring, in whom He is well pleased! We are also Jesus’ close Friend and confidant. That’s who we are! So let’s stop defining ourselves by our material possessions and worldly positions nuh. Nuff said! 

And I’m sure some of you must be wondering how I got on this Mother Mary kick. But there’s no rocket science behind it. It’s just that over the last couple of years, as I delve deeper into the Good Book, I’ve come to LOVE and appreciate Mary. 

So much so, that I’ve come to believe that she is the one who most understood Jesus, also the one who had the truest and strongest faith in the Good Book, after Jesus Himself. We all know the miraculous things she went through at a tender age, but her faith never wavered. In fact I believe it got stronger. 

As the saying goes, she became a mother, while still a child. And yuh better believe my brethren that motherhood is the hardest job in the world, as most mothers would agree, because there are no real instructions on how to do it, especially if you have several children, all with different personalities and needs, as Mary no doubt had. 

And one of the reasons she knew Jesus best, besides the mother and son angle, is that she had the best idea of what His mission was all about, having participated in His miraculous birth and hearing all the magnificent things that were said about Him from his very birth. As we saw yesterday, all those things she kept note of them in her heart and sincerely pondered them. 

My favourite story about Mary and Jesus though is the one at the wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed His first miracle; the making of wine from water. I just LOVE the way she handled Him. 

As reported by John, they had run out of wine at the wedding and Mary came and shared that fact with Jesus. ‘Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee (what concern is that of mine)?’ (John 2:4) 

Mary must have chuckled and said to herself: ‘So you think you’re a big man now eh, with your biggish answers? Well just look out for me and you today.’ Then she put her motherly and feminine wiles, her devious plan to work. 

‘His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.’ (John 2:5) Then she flounced off and left Him. Hn, hn!‘ Typical woman and mother eh. 

‘And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after (according to) the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.’ (John 2:6) 

Now here is some important info from the scholars on that verse. ‘2:6. Waterpots were normally used for washing feet. Firkins were about nine gallons, so each pot held 18 to 27 gallons (total capacity: 108 to 162 gallons).’ 

So friends, these must have been some rather big waterpots. Then ‘Jesus saith unto them (the servants), Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. (That means roughly 162 gallons). And he saith unto them, Draw (some) out now, and bear it unto (take it to) the governor (master) of the feast. And they bare it.’ (John 2:7-8) 

What a bam-bam that caused friends! For when the master of the feast tasted the wine that had been made from the water, and didn’t know where it had come from (though the servants knew), he called the bridegroom and admonished him. 

‘Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse (inferior): but thou hast kept the good wine until now.’ (John 2:10) The poor bridegroom must have been at a loss to know what the master of the feast was talking about. 

But here is some more info from the scholars re that wine. ‘2.9. Much has been written about the wine Jesus created. Oinos is the New Testament word for the fruit of the vine, but it implies nothing concerning fermentation. Whatever Jesus re-creates (water) is better than it was and better than man can make it (fermented wine).’ 

For sure friends! That was probably, no, not probably, but the best wine ever made and drunk in this world! I would have LOVED to taste it! (smile) So you see my people, Mary indeed had more knowledge of Jesus’ capabilities than anyone else. 

And the Good Book afterwards, comments thus on the situation. ‘This beginning of miracles (signs) did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth (revealed) his glory; and his disciples believed on him.’ (John 2:11) 

I guess the disciples had no choice but to believe, after they witnessed such an outstanding event. But deep down inside, because of her natural maternal instincts, plus all the unexpected and unusual things she had experienced during His growing up, His mother Mary knew what He was capable of. 

And we’ll end on that note today. It gives us stuff to keep in our hearts and to ponder on, just like Mary. Much LOVE!

…oftimes…because of the normally close relationship and the natural maternal instinct… a mother has the best knowledge of her child…