no one comes to the Father but through Jesus

Proverbs 4:12. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (hindered); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Well Friends, another day has dawned, bright and beautiful, and we’re alive to see and experience it! Glory to God!

Oh, I know that where you are, it might not be beautiful in the physical weather scene, but for sure in our hearts and souls it is marvellous, especially when we consider that we have Jesus to walk along with us to help us spend our day wisely.

And all God’s children gave out a loud and proud shout of: ‘Thank the Lord! Give me Jesus any and everyday!’

Yes my brethren, with Jesus walking alongside us, we can handle all our problems, do all things in His mighty power. Glory to God!

I’m truly sorry for the unbeliever who cannot fathom, much less experience the LOVE and compassion of Christ, and the wonderful way He function in our lives.

That’s why we believers need to make every effort to show them by our example, how precious and privileged it would be to have Jesus working in their lives too.

Anyway, today is Tuesday, so let’s confess our Tuesday Mantra with sincerity and truth 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.’

Ah mih people, every time I say that prayer, it just awakens something in me! It just seems to reignite the fire of Jesus in my soul! It’s simple, but very real and practical. Oh what a joy it is to be LOVED by God and be a Friend of Jesus! It couldn’t get much better than that my brethren!

So please, as sincere followers of Jesus, let’s give those things the prominence and priority in our lives that they truly deserve nuh, because it’s all for our benefit.

And today, for the last time, we’ll continue looking at scriptures that deal with this particular Bit. ‘When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (hindered); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.’

Yes Friends, more wonderful promises and great stuff to look forward to when we place Almighty God and His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at the forefront of our lives. Glory Hallelujah!

No other faith can truly declare those things, because it is ONLY, the ONE and ONLY TRUE and LIVING GOD, who can make such promises and faithfully keep them!

Give Him some much-deserved thanks and praise my people, for His awesome majesty and never-ending, unlimited LOVING-kindness to us, His undeserving children. For, as the Our Daily Bread Devotional said, yesterday: ‘Praise is the song of a soul set free!’ And it is indeed my people.

Now let’s see what the scriptures have to say about all of that nuh. (smile) And we’re going to begin with some wise words from the wisest man ever, Cousin Sol. ‘The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating (babbling) fool shall fall (come to ruin). He that walketh uprightly walketh (securely, safely): but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.’ (Prov.10:8-9)

Yes friends, all that’s done in darkness will eventually be brought to light, so please be careful of the deeds you do.

Then in Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked – Bruh David unequivocally declares: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever (always) merciful, and lendeth; and his seed (descendants) is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.’ (Ps.37:23-27)

Oh what wonderful words of living truth my people! Those who truly serve the Lord will never be left in a fallen state, and their descendants will always be blessed! Glory to God!

So why aren’t’ more of us being good and righteous eh, and thus filling our world with LOVE and peace, rather than the hate and strife it’s now so thoroughly embroiled in eh?

Good question that Friends, but one to which I can only surmise the answer: we don’t truly believe what the Good Book says; and/or, we are much too preoccupied with the things of the world instead of the things of God. We each have to decide individually, what is keeping us away from the good things of God.

And we’ll close this series of messages with the ultimate word on the subject, that from Jesus Himself. Now listen closely my people, because it involves the very essence of where you will spend eternity.

‘Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait (how narrow) is the gate, and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ (Matt.7:13-14)

Yes my people, those are the words of Jesus. We have two choices in this life; the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life, or the wide and broad path that leads to eternal separation from God.

It’s up to us to choose. Hopefully we’ll all choose the more difficult, but much more rewarding first option, because it is the heart of wisdom itself. Much LOVE!

…Christ is indeed…the WAY…the TRUTH…and the LIFE…NO ONE… comes to the Father but by and through Him…

Psalm 42:1. As the hart panteth after (the deer long for) the water brooks, so panteth (longs) my soul after thee, O God.

Oh Friends, it’s Friday – Caribana Friday! And the joyful but raucous shouting begins: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! Caribana Friday to boot! The partying in T.O is going to be fantabulous this long weekend, with everybody drinking, smoking, doing whatever, behaving like real leggo beast…!’

Hold down mih people, hold down! Wait a minute here! This leggo beast behaviour is not a wise move at all nuh, for you know it is at times like these, when we are at our most vulnerable, that that ole crook and rapscallion, Lucifer, is busiest, at his most zealous, because he knows when we start carrying on with gay abandon, we’re easy pickings.

So please check yuhself from the very start. For if is one time you truly need to heed Granny’s wise advice; ‘drunk or sober, mind yuh business,’ is at Carnival time. And if you don’t believe me and Granny, then listen to Peter.

‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in (experienced by) your brethren that are in the world.’ (1 Pet.5:8-9)

Yes Friends, it is in times of great celebration that we have to be extra careful not to open ourselves up to the enemy and allow him to get even a toe hold in our lives. Now let’s chant our Friday chant with as much gusto as we were just shouting, ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’

As one now: ‘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.’

Now please take that to heart my people, because it will save us a whole lot of heartache later on. And having said all of that, let’s finally turn to our Bit: ‘As the hart panteth after (the deer long for) the water brooks, so panteth (longs) my soul after thee, O God.’

You know Friends, I had considered that Bit finished yesterday, but on further research, I found a few more scriptures that also complement it. Listen to Isaiah with God’s free offer of mercy to all. ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.’ (Is.55:1)

And the scholars have this to say about that offer: ’55:1-7. God’s free gift of salvation is offered to all who will receive it. Those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty may come to eat and drink without money (or freely). He promises an everlasting covenant to the Gentiles (vs.3) like the one He established with Israel. His invitation to all men is clearly stated by the appeal, Seek ye the Lord, and call ye upon him (vs.7).’

Ah Friends, you see that from way back when, our wonderful and magnanimous God was freely offering food and drink to hungry and thirsty travellers. But, for whatever reason, people just refused to accept it.

And then along comes Jesus, many years later, making essentially the same offer. As He says to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well: ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well (fountains) of water springing up into everlasting life.’ (John 4:13-14)

And later on, Jesus again makes this incredible offer: ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart) shall flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:37-38)

But even then, the multitudes refused His offer. And unfortunately my brethren, two thousand years later, Jesus’ offer of heavenly succour is still on the table, and millions of earthlings are still unwisely refusing it. What can we say to that eh? Not much, other than it’s a fool’s wisdom!

Refusing Jesus’ free offer of grace, salvation and eternal life is the biggest mistake any human being can ever make. But sadly Friends, many many of us are doing it. And it is the job of the true believer to try and show them the error of their ways. To let them know that Jesus is indeed the Truth, the Light and the Way, and no one can come to the Father; enter heaven’s hallowed doors unless they do so through Him!

And John in his Revelations of Jesus’ plans, again offers this great invitation to all and sundry. ‘And the (Holy) Spirit and the bride (the church) say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst (thirsts) come. And whosoever will (desires), let him take the water of life (eternal life) freely.’ (Rev.22:17)

Oh Friends, it’s all available simply through belief and faith in Christ, our wonderful Lord and Saviour!

So today, let’s remember that we are Christ’s ambassadors, the salt and the light of the world, the ones He left to do His work here on earth. That means we have to go out and show the evil, unbelieving, ungodly world what Jesus is truly like, by being our best, most excellent selves, putting forth our best efforts on Jesus’ behalf, so that the unfortunate others can also see the light and add salt to richly flavour their lives too.

That’s our bounden duty that Jesus bequeathed to us. (Matt.28:19-20) So please, let’s go out and do it nuh, for it is wisdom, guidance and direction from on high! Much LOVE!

…too many people are living in the waterless desert… foolishly suffering from thirst…while right in front of them…rivers of living waters abundantly flow…from the free offerings of Jesus…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 August 2014 Psalm 42:1

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