my neck of the woods | SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 119:114.  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

A good chilly Tuesday morning, Friends and neighbours! And believe me, it is a chilly morning out here in my neck of the woods, something like minus 19 Celsius! And that’s without the wind chill factor, which usually makes it seem a few degrees colder.

Ah Lord eh! And it’s not supposed to get much warmer during the day either. So if you have to go out at all today, please make sure that you are dressed very warm, with hat and gloves and scarf and all the other cold weather paraphernalia. (smile)

And let me apologize for the tardiness of the Bit. I was first tardy in getting up, just one of those days when the ole body would not respond to my wishes, it has a mind of its own you know. (smile) And then, for whatever reason the computer acted up.

Although I had perfect Internet connection and it was doing some background backup, I still had a hard time opening the browser and getting to the net itself. Steups! That’s why I’m no fan of computers!

Don’t get me wrong, they are useful in their own way, but they are too finicky, like ….! No, I’m not going to say it (smile), and our world is so dependent on them now that when they fail or choose to act up, a whole lot of heartache follows. Remember though that they are man made, and thus not perfect.

Anyway, there’s not a whole lot I can do about it, so I’ll just have to learn to live with the finicky behaviour, as I’ve learned to live with that of you know whom. (smile)

Now here is an interesting quote attributed to Euripides (480-406 B.C) the ancient Greek dramatist born in the Athens area. It simply says: ‘Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.’

And in today’s world, that is very true. We all consider successful people – as the world defines it – as persons endowed with wisdom. But the reality is that’s not always true, especially when defined by the values of God.

However Friends, that’s where the true test of wisdom is to be found – in the values of God, not in those of the evil and lustful world!

Just look at the track record of some of the world’s supposed successful people, and you’ll find that their personal lives are, or have been a complete mess. But their business acumen and their worldly success have them at the top of the list of wise people.

Their own lives though are filled with bitter family feuds, nasty divorces, lots of hatred and resentment; all of the things that are not considered wise under the values of Almighty God.

Consequently, the opposite is also true; the failed and unsuccessful business person, looked at by the world as foolish and unwise, might have a very LOVING and godly family life and relationships, which makes him wise using God’s values.

So, technically speaking, like a lot of other things, our take on success and wisdom depends on what values we base them on; the world’s, or the Lord’s. Let’s hope that we all use the values of the latter in ALL of our doings, for that’s where TRUE success and wisdom are to be found!

That brings us to our Bit, the same wise and encouraging words as yesterday. ‘Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.’

And right there my brethren, is where true wisdom lies! There is indeed no greater wisdom in all the earth than faith, hope, surrender and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

Now let’s look at a couple more scripture passages that cry out to us in that regard. And we’ll begin with words from Moses’ exhortation of obedience to the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness, en route to the Promised Land.

‘Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh (a God so near) unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?’ (Deut.4:5-8)

Wonderful questions my brethren? And the correct answer is none? Even to this day, there is no greater nation on earth than one that espouses the law of Jehovah God!

But it’s also very sad that those nations which have hitherto espoused God’s law, are now moving away from it to the law of the jungle that’s the world. Hopefully though, with our sincere and diligent efforts on God’s behalf, that state of affairs will change soon.

Now listen to Bruh David from Psalm 62 – God only is my rock and my salvation. ‘My soul, (silently) wait thou only upon God; for my expectation (hope) is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense: I shall not be moved (shaken).

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times: ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.   Selah.’ (Ps.62:5-8)

Oh my people, truer words were never spoken! God is indeed our be all and end all! And thus there’s no better note to end on than that one. Yeh Friends, if God is our Creator and Provider, then it only stands to reason that He is the One we should be in tune with ALL THE TIME! That’s true wisdom!

Now let’s go out and practice it nuh, and show the evil and ungodly world a thing or two about our Mighty God! Much LOVE!

…our bounden duty is to…truly LOVE our God…sincerely LIVE our Faith…and diligently SPREAD His holy Word…

Psalm 143:8. Cause me to hear thy LOVING-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Ah Friends, it’s another bitterly cold and windy morning in my neck of the woods! Wow! Like winter is finally here to stay! But at least we can be thankful that there is no precipitation to further muddy the already muddy waters! (smile)

As usual though, all we can do is grin and bear it and continue with whatever tasks God has put before us. Don’t forget that He WILL empower us to do whatever He asks of us. So there is no real need to worry or be afraid. And it’s just a little cold weather, no big thing. (smile)

Now this morning I have a rather interesting and most likely very appropriate story to share with you. It comes from the One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin.

This one is titled ‘Another Year’ and says: ‘Another new year! How did it steal in so silently? How did it arrive so quickly? So many things I determined to do in January of last year are still completely undone. So many notes and letters still unwritten. Friends I planned to entertain were never invited.

The books I planned to read haven’t been opened. The cupboards and drawers I hoped to clean are still cluttered with things I don’t need or use. Clothes I no longer wear still crowd my closet. I planned to have coffee with our neighbours, but often I managed no more than a quick wave between errands.

If only I could have held on to the old year a little longer! But the old year is gone. I must put it away with all its failures and broken resolves. There is no way I can reclaim even one week of last year. I see that the road to good intentions is wide and circular. I’ve walked around it until I am utterly exhausted.

I confess my failures, my procrastination. I know God, in his graciousness, will forgive me. I have one more request. I pray for God’s power to keep my forgiveness up-to-date.’

Oh Friends, how true that story is of so many of us who are caught up in the busy lifecycle of this busy and fractured world! After reading that yesterday I just couldn’t pass up sharing it with you. And I’m sure that many of us, to whom it so appropriately applies, are now chuckling at its wisdom and truth.

But I want to point out two very important things in it. Firstly, that despite all her foot dragging, the author acknowledges God’s graciousness and knows without a doubt, that she will be forgiven for it. And secondly, her prayer for God’s power to keep her forgiveness on track.

Oh my people, many of us badly need to come to God for all kinds of forgiveness but are hesitant and afraid to do so for whatever reason. But until we surrender all our worries and problems to Him, our lives will not be as full and prosperous as they can be.

Now the promise attached to that story was ‘Let me hear of your unfailing LOVE to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer.’ (Ps.143:8) That’s the version from the New Life Translation (NLT), but we will use the King James Version as our Bit this morning.

I don’t know why, but I’m just partial to the King James Version in most of the scriptures. (smile) Anyway, the KJV spells it out this way: ‘Cause me to hear thy LOVING-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.’

Oh Friends, that just sounds more poetic and soulful to me than the NLT version, which sounds sort of commonplace and pedestrian. (smile) But that’s just me.

The important thing though is that we get the essence of the scripture, which is basically crying out to God for His grace, mercy and direction, as we put our whole and entire trust in Him.

And remember my people, until we do that, our lives will never be completely fulfilled. There will always be a little something missing that just nags at us and makes us uncomfortable.

And we’ll check out now, a couple of scriptures that verify our Bit. The first one comes from Psalm 46 –God is our refuge and strength- which He is indeed.

‘There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles (dwelling places) of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved (shaken): God shall help her, and that right early (at the break of dawn). (Ps.46:4-5)

Yeh Friends, our great and wonderful God is wherever we are, and will certainly help us in our time of need, and very early at that. That’s His promise, and we can be assured that He will fulfill it!

Now listen to Moses as he warns the Israelites. ‘For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.’ (Deut.23:14)

Oh my people, our God is always around us, but we need to be obedient, humble and reverent if we want to enjoy the full scope of His blessings!

And we’ll end with this most encouraging scripture from the prophet Isaiah, re Thanksgiving for God’s mercies. ‘And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings (deeds, works) among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.’ (Is.12:4-6)

Oh my fellow believers, I couldn’t say it any better than that! However, I’m asking us to sincerely embrace that worshipful attitude and trust in Almighty God this new year of 2015, so that our lives can be more fulfilled and prosperous, as He would have them. That, my people, is indeed true wisdom! Much LOVE!

…whatever the problem…call out to Jesus…don’t be afraid…for He is there waiting to help us…but WE have to call…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 January 2015 Psalm 119:114

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 January 2015 Psalm 143:8

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