Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 August 2016 Isaiah 35:4

Isaiah 35:4.    Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense: he will come and save you.

Oh friends, what a glorious day is happening out there today! The sun’s shining, the Son is also broadcasting His brilliant light all over Mother Earth, and our magnificent and magnanimous God is on His throne controlling things! 

Wow! That means everything is as it ought to be; the world is unfurling as it should, and there’s no need for us to worry or hurry. 

Now here’s an interesting quote from Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887), an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God’s LOVE, and his 1875 adultery trial. 

His sister was the famous Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe, author of the controversial anti-slavery novel, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’ 

Henry Ward is reputed to have said: ‘No man is good for anything who has not some particle of obstinacy to use upon occasion.’ That’s totally true! 

And as my One More Day Devotional for People with Chronic Illness reasons: ‘Although we may not want others to label us obstinate (stubborn), it might be that obstinacy is a needed quality for us in the right situations. Sometimes it is healthy for us to be stubborn, to hold steadfastly to what we want and who we are and where we want to be. 

Faith in ourselves and obstinacy can be just what we need to survive a hard day. And we do get by, not because we’re foolish, but because our maturity tells us to hold on to our sense of direction,’ 

Ah my fellow believes, I can think of no better use of and cause for obstinacy than holding on to our wonderful faith in Jesus Christ! That’s one aspect of our lives in which there should be no room for argument! Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and that’s that! Matter fixed! No room for discussion! 

And as we said above, it’s our maturity in Christ and basic living that teaches us to hold on to our sense of purpose and of direction. We can’t be wishy-washy in this evil and ungodly world, otherwise this crazy, fraudulent, hypocritical society will take untold advantage of us. 

We need to be strong and hold on to what we believe in. As they say, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. And that’s gospel truth my brethren! 

We all know, have experienced, and are still experiencing the deceitful attacks of Lucifer and his evil minions trying to get us to give up, to renege on our promise to follow Christ, but that’s one area in which we should not even entertain any discussions, much less give into it. 

Following Jesus Christ should be our most prominent area of stubbornness and obstinacy! And who don’t like it, can simply lump it! Now since it’s Wednesday, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with plenty belief and obstinacy. (smile) 

Wailing: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Oh precious people of God, there’s nothing else to match keeping our eyes on Jesus and looking forward to the glorious future He has in store for us! And obviously we need to give immense thanks for the wonderful breath of life that’s still flowing through us, courtesy of our great, compassionate, caring and LOVING Creator! 

You know, there’s nothing that warms the cockles of my heart like waking up every morning and finding that God’s Spirit, His breath of life is still flowing through me. Oh glory to God! 

Enough of my rambling though, (smile) let’s check out our Bit. ‘Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense: he will come and save you.’ 

Oh my fellow believers in Christ, that is indisputable, gospel, unbreakable, sustainable, utter truth…truth of every imaginable kind! For we all know the faithfulness of our omnipotent God! 

He has the power to save us, as well as the faithfulness to do so. So as Christians we have to stand up strong and steadfast, rely on God’s promises if we want to prosperous and also make inroads into the enemy’s camp. 

Now let’s end with these wonderful words of encouragement and reassurance from Psalm 145, Bruh David’s psalm of praise, subtitled – The Lord is gracious – as He indeed is. 

‘The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee (look expectantly to you): and thou givest them their meat (food) in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy (gracious) in all his works. 

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that LOVE him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.’ (Ps.145:14-21)

Oh friends, oh friends, there could be no better reasons to stand strong, stubborn and obstinate in our belief in Almighty God, Creator of the universe and all therein! Now let’s go out today and do exactly that nuh, while blessing His holy name, for that is indeed wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!

…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Him… 

P.S. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa… (smile) Much LOVE!

 

 


 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 September 2015 Psalm 48:14

Psalm 48:14.   For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.

Oh Friends, welcome to another glorious day on God’s great earth! Wow! These days are so filled with sunshine and cool breezes that it’s not funny. 

But apparently the ole fella’s head is filled with stupidity, because I did the same thing I did two nights ago; I went to bed even earlier than before with the same unhappy results. I awoke at an hour that didn’t thrill me, so I turned and tossed until I finally fell asleep again, then got up late with the usual back pains. Chuh! 

How hardheaded can one body be eh? Anyway, I sincerely hope that I’ve learned my lesson now. And the strange part is that the first time I awaken, I usually feel fresh and alive, but I just find that it’s too early to get up, since I’ve only had a few hours sleep. Then when I do get up, I feel lousy. 

So the solution seems to be either to go to bed late, or simply get up when the good Lord awakens me the first time. Obstinacy is a hell of a thing yes! (smile) 

In any case it’s still a wonderful day, so let’s all declare: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it, come what may!’ 

And today is Wednesday, so that means it’s wailing time. So let’s wail nuh mih breddren, with sincerity and godly feeling. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Yes Friends, if we stay focused on Jesus our future will indeed be glorious! Down here on earth, as well as in heaven above at the end of our mortal lives. That is what He’s promised and He is ever-faithful to fulfill His promises. He hasn’t reneged on not even one as yet, and He never will! 

So I don’t know or understand why so many people today are so reluctant to embrace Jesus and His most worthwhile cause. Why they are so willing to revile Him and cast Him out of our society when He gave up His holy and sinless life to save a bunch of abominable  sinners? 

But my brethren please remember that Almighty God created the world and still controls it, regardless of what you might think or see, and there are consequences to disobedience and evil working against His heavenly realm.

That brings us to our sterling Bit from Psalm 48; a song from the sons of Korah, titled, ‘God is our God.’ And the psalmist ends it with these beautiful and indisputably true words.‘For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.’ 

Yes my people, that’s the gospel truth! As we said above, the Lord made us and controls us. He has a plan for every life that He’s made, and if we choose not to follow it, that’s our decision. But be sure that we will pay a substantial price for that unwise decision come the judgement day. 

And it’s not like the Lord hasn’t promised elsewhere to be our guide and defender. In our Bit from yesterday He plainly stated it thus: ‘And even unto your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs (gray hairs) will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.’ (Is.46:4) 

That’s an awesome promise Friends! So why do we hesitate to accept it eh and consequently draw closer to Jehovah God? I truly don’t know. I guess the flash and dash of the things of the world hold us in such thrall that it’s difficult to let go and turn to God. 

But please remember Friends, the things of the world are like beautiful vessels on the outside, merely an inviting façade, but inside they are either empty or filled with evil and darkness, and none of them will last longer than this lifetime. 

Remember too that Beelzebub is the master of deceit, so please don’t fall for His wiles and lies. He can do nothing for us besides get us thrown into the lake of fire, come the end times. So if that is what you want, then go right ahead and bow down, kow-tow to Him and His evil rapscallions. Just be warned that it will all come back to hurt you in the end. 

Meanwhile listen to this wonderful promise from Jehovah God. ‘And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought (dry places), and make fat (strengthen) thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.’ (Is.58:11) 

Oh Friends, the Lord did exactly that for His people Israel when they were obedient to His commands, and He will do the same for us if we heed His will. And furthermore, after Jesus sacrificed His life to pay for our sins, making us worthy to come to God in His name, the Lord was still so gracious and merciful to send His Spirit to live in us to lead and guide us. 

Listen to Jesus tell it like it is. ‘But the Comforter (Helper), which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ (John 14:26) And we all know the big splash the Holy Spirit made when it finally fell on the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2) 

And my people that same Spirit dwells within each and every believer today, to lead and guide and comfort us down here on this earthly pilgrimage. So how can we in all truth deny that God is our guide, our leader and protector eh? That’s utter nonsense! 

And we’ll end with the immortal words of comfort that Jesus spoke to His disciples after promising that the Holy Ghost would come to them and ultimately to us. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 15:27) 

Now that my brethren, is the ultimate in wisdom and trust! Please embrace it. Much LOVE!

…you can lead a horse to water…but you can’t make it drink…likewise you can lead a human to Jesus…but you can’t make him believe…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 January 2012 Psalm 89:1‏

Psalm 89:1.    I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a new day! Praise the Lord! I’m still caught in the grip of the cold, but thankfully I can see signs of the bright morning sun coming up over the horizon, and I know deep down that like everything else in this world, this cold too shall pass, because the Lord God Jehovah promised it. In the meanwhile though it’s making my life somewhat miserable, just like Lucifer and his evil cronies try to make our lives everyday. But with that same obstinacy and determination we use against things like the common cold, we have to keep on fighting the evil in this world, until Jesus comes again and eliminates it all. I have to chuckle here when I consider how the Holy Spirit has me using the same cold that’s causing me grief, as a metaphor for evil. Only our Lord God could weave some form of suffering into some form of righteousness. Oh Friends, please praise His Holy name! And remember that the number one rule in a believer’s life should be to NEVER GIVE UP! Yes, regardless of how bad things might seem, once we’re alive, there is always hope. And looking back over my own life, I can see several instances where things were real bad, in more than one area too, but though my faith was not as strong and mature as it is now, something inside just kept me plodding on. I had no idea what was going to happen, whether things would right themselves or just fall apart. But yuh know what, though several of those situations caused tempestuous times and occurrences in my life, each situation eventually worked itself out to a better than expected ending. Much of it was my fault for doing wrong and unwise stuff. But I understand now that in a sense, it was God putting me through my paces, to see what I was made of, if I could stand my bounce. But that’s one thing I’m proud of Friends; I always take my lumps whenever I mess up. And though I didn’t understand all the ramifications at the time, I nonetheless kept trying to do what was right, while hanging on to whatever glimmer of hope I could find. Sometimes though Friends, there was no glimmer of hope, but I still never gave up. And though my life is still far from perfect, the Lord, in His great and wonderful mercy, has touched my life with a peace and contentment I never imagined possible. As I keep saying, during the last two years the Lord has opened my eyes so much that now everyday I stand in awe and wonder of His amazing LOVE! Through all my sickness and the unexpected death of my mother, I experienced such a feeling of peace and calm that even I was quite surprised by it. But it didn’t happen by magic or miracles, and it wasn’t very easy either. I first had to sincerely believe that the Lord was in control and knew what He was doing, and as He promised, always makes a way where there seems to be none, and in the long run always works things out for the good of those who LOVE and revere Him. And don’t think I didn’t cry out to the Lord, loud and often, cause I certainly did, when the pain, both physical and emotional, wracked my body and soul. But the good thing my people is that the Lord always answered me in some form and fashion; either by easing the pain or giving me the strength to bear it. If nothing else, the years 2010 and 2011 saw my faith blossom and mature, soar to greater heights than I ever expected or thought possible. I guess the lesson here is that we can listen to others tell us all about God, His goodness, mercy, LOVE, forgiveness and otherwise, but until we go through the fire, where He actually and seriously begins to mould us into the image of His perfect Son Jesus, we can never fully understand or appreciate the true value and benefit of a strong, secure and everlasting faith in Almighty God. Ah Friends, regardless of what you might hear or see, please believe that our God is a great and wonderful God, who stands faithfully behind all those who truly believe in and try their best to follow Him. He knows that we’re imperfect, because He made us, but as He faithfully promised, He’ll never leave nor forsake those who come to Him in humble prayer, with hurting heart and seeking spirit. And it’s very sad that so many people in our troubled world don’t know the LOVE and friendship that Jesus provides, and His great desire to ease their burdens. But that’s our job my brethren. Our duty is to spread the good news of Jesus and His LOVE all over the world, as He announced in His great commission to us. ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt.28:19-20) And that’s the everlasting truth Friends! So let’s energize ourselves this year of 2012 and seriously and diligently concentrate on carrying out that commission nuh. Oh my people, I’m chuckling here because this is one of those Bits where I had nothing planned. I got an intro, then the words just kept flowing from my pen and my heart. I guess the Holy Spirit decided that today we needed a testimony on faith from me. And yuh know what, I like these spontaneous, from the heart Bits. Anyhow, enough talk, lemme go and find an appropriate scripture to head this up. (smile) Soon Come. I’m back people, less than two minutes later. Who says our God isn’t a good God eh! And we’ll end with our Bit, from Psalm 89, a Maschil (contemplation) of Ethan the Ezrahite, talking about God’s sure mercies to Bruh David. And it gloriously proclaims: ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.’ Please Friends, let’s do that today and everyday that we’re alive, for it’s God’s desire. Much LOVE!…it’s of the utmost importance for us believers…to LOVE our God…LIVE our Faith…and SPREAD His Word…so that others can also believe…