Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 March 2023 Matthew 10:31.

12 Mar 2023 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 10:31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Well friends, we’ve gone and done the dastardly deed again! (smile) What’s that you ask? We’ve set the clock one hour ahead in the Daylight Saving Time Routine. Why we keep on doing it, I just don’t know, because very few people seem to like it, and its negative repercussions outweigh whatever unknown advantages it might have. And a lot of places, even right here in Canada, don’t do it, and they get along just fine! So why we have to go through the drudgery, lack of sleep, anxiety and lateness caused by this unnecessary procedure is a bafflement to me. 

But what do I know about these weighty affairs of state, and how much pull do I have eh? Not much, so I’ve just got to accept it and say, the Lord be praised, and get in line. (smile) But I do know someone that knows a whole lot about everything and won’t ever let me down or lead me astray; that’s Jesus. So, because of His wisdom and faithfulness, I can put my sincere trust and faith in Him. And the song we’re going to sing this morning as we gather in His sanctuary to give Him praise and worship, with thanksgiving, exemplifies His wisdom, faithfulness and LOVE to the nth degree. It’s appropriately titled ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow.’ 

One commentary says this of the song: ‘Throughout life, we may feel discouraged and down. But always remember that He is by our side and watches over us through it all. Just like the lyrics of ‘His Eye Is On The Sparrow’ remember that He is with us in all that we do. And when you hear how this popular hymn came to be written, your heart will be touched. Do not be troubled because we have the King of kings on our side!’ And is that ever the indisputable truth! 

But before we sing it, let’s hear how it came to be. The marvellous lyrics were born out of a springtime visit in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D. Martin and her husband to a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, whom they had befriended in Elmira, New York. Apparently the couple were ‘true saints of God,’ for Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nearly twenty years, while her husband was an incurable cripple, who got around in his business matters by means of a wheelchair. Now, despite their serious afflictions, they appeared to live happy lives, giving inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. 

On this particular day while the Martins were visiting, Mr. Martin commented on their bright hopefulness and asked their secret. Mrs. Doolittle simply replied, ‘His eye is on the Sparrow, and I know He watches me.’ The hymn was born out of that simple but oh so moving experience, with the music later added by composer Charles H. Gabriel. So now, having learned how the song came to be, let’s raise our voices in sweet sacrificial praise, in a soulful, heartfelt, mid-tempo version. And we’ll begin with the chorus, because that seems to stir us up more than when we begin with the first verse. (smile) 

Singing: ‘(Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free; For his eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me.) Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, And long for heav’n and home; When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is he; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me. (Refrain) 

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path he leadeth, But one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me.  His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me. [Refrain] 

Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise; When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw the closer to him, From care he sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me. [Refrain: So I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free; For his eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me.) Yes, His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.’ 

Wow! Isn’t that magnificent my people! As well as encouraging, reassuring and comforting! It’s ever so good to know that our heavenly Father watches over us like a hawk, or like an eagle does her young ones. And it’s not me who says that nuh, but Jesus, who should know what He’s talking about. Listen to how He wove it into His passage on worry in the Sermon on the Mount. He said to the crowd: ‘Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?’ (Matt. 10:26) We would certainly think so. 

Then later on, when Jesus warned the disciples about not fearing those who could kill the body, but not the soul, but to fear God who could kill both. (Matt. 10:28) He specified: ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing (a copper coin)? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.’ (Matt. 10:29-31) Now friends, if that doesn’t encourage us greatly, I don’t know what will. (smile) 

But let’s try this other scripture from before Jesus’ time here on earth. This from Psalm 32, Bruh David’s words on the blessedness of confession and forgiveness, which lead to divine instruction. ‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.’ (Ps. 32:8-9) 

Yes friends, that’s just another of the many instances in the Word of God where we find His great faithfulness towards us, His adopted children, the only creation made in His image, whom He predestinated to become as righteous and perfect as His first-born Son, Jesus Christ!! That ought to give us great reassurance and confidence as we journey out into the evil world this week to do His earthly work. Much LOVE!

…why worry…when the Creator of the universe is looking out for us… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 May 2017 John 6:38.

04 May 2017 Leave a comment

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

John 6:38.   Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure ye mete (use) withal (with that) it shall be measured to you again.

Welcome friends to a somewhat cloudy and chilly Thursday morning in my area; no brilliant sunshine like yesterday. And if that isn’t bad enough, we’re supposed to be having a sizeable amount of rain today and over the next few spring days. 

Hn! Spring days you say? Well in the next few days of May, our friendly province of Ontario is forecasted to be hit with cold spells that haven’t been seen around this time for decades. The temps are not even forecasted to reach double digits. Yeh! 

And some northern parts of the province might also see a few fluttering flakes of the white stuff. (smile) Yes friends, snow in May! These days anything is possible yes! Meanwhile, they are having problems up in the Arctic with stuff up there melting too fast. 

And yet, there are still people who adamantly refuse to believe that something is seriously wrong with our weather patterns. But until the big boys, those in government and industry, stop being greedy and shortsighted, and truly decide to look into the problem, it will just continue to get worse. 

The sad part is that it might not affect us in this generation, but our children and their children will surely inherit another problem caused by our shortsightedness and greed. 

Ah mih people, unfortunately there’s not much most of us can do about the big aspects of the problem, but we can all make a contribution by doing the little we can, diligently and sincerely. That’s all Jesus asks of us. 

Now let’s turn to our Bit; immortal words of Jesus that ought to be making a big positive splash in our world, but unfortunately are not. 

‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure ye mete (use) withal (with that) it shall be measured to you again.’ 

Oh friends, if we’d only follow those simple but true principles, our world would be such a wonderful place! 

But instead we concentrate on greed and accumulation of earthly wealth, which only breed strife, anger, hatred, resentment, war and a host of negative repercussions. Steups! But that’s how mankind uses the choice that the Lord his Maker has given him. 

Anyway, let’s look at some scriptures that highlight the act of giving, beginning with the words of Bruh David from Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked. ‘The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again (does not repay): but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.’ (Ps.37:21) 

Yeh friends, that’s just the way the righteous operate; according to the principles of Jesus! Now hear Cousin Sol. ‘He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.’ (Prov.19:27) 

Remember my faithful followers, that Jesus came to save the lost, the sick, the poor, the prisoners and those in bondage, so anytime you help any of those lost souls, you are helping the Saviour, and He will always repay your help. 

And then there are these fateful words of Jesus, as He sends out the disciples on a missionary journey. ‘Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils (demons): freely ye have received, freely give.’ 

Ah mih breddren, please let us pay serious attention to those last two instructions, for many of us receive free stuff, but refuse to give freely, instead wanting to hoard it all for ourselves. That’s not Jesus’ way my people, that’s Lucifer and the greedy world’s way! 

And we have a most vivid example of how difficult it is to give of our earthly wealth. Listen to Jesus’ reply to the young, rich ruler who wanted to know what he had to do to enter heaven. 

‘Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be (want to be) perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.’ (Matt.19:21-22) 

Yeh friends, we all want to have much treasure stored up in heaven, but right now we’d much prefer to have it here on earth. We can’t have it both ways people. Now hear this last scripture, one from Bruh Paul, as he addresses the Ephesian elders. 

‘I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than receive.’ (Acts 20:35) Gospel truth friends! 

And with that quote of our Saviour Jesus Christ, we can now go home sincerely declaring our Thursday Blessings. All together now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! 

I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! 

I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

And since a blessing is not a blessing until it’s been spoken over someone or something, let’s go out and bless others, as we have been blessed nuh! Much LOVE!

…sincere giving…brings generous blessings…