Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 March 2017 Psalm 118:24.

28 Mar 2017 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 118:24.   This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Aye mih people, it seems we’ve been granted life on God’s great earth, for at least one more day so we can enjoy the new blessings and mercies prepared especially for this day! 

What a privilege! Glory to God! Bless His holy name! He’s so wonderful to us that we don’t have words of sufficient strength and gratitude to truly thank Him. The words, ‘Thank You Lord,’ seem so measly and insufficient, but He will accept them if they come sincerely from our hearts. 

And today we’ll share a quote from one Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), an American psychologist famous for his ‘Hierarchy of Needs Theory,’ where people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is fulfilled, they proceed to fulfill the next. And 

Abraham’s quote says: ‘The confrontation with death… makes everything look so precious, so sacred so beautiful, that I feel more strongly than ever the impulse to live it, and to let myself be overwhelmed by it.’ 

Ah friends, that’s so true, it’s not funny. Most of us who have had a brush with possible death, seem to come to appreciate this finite life more than those who have not. 

As my One Day Devotional for People with Chronic Illness writes: ‘Problems which once seemed overwhelming, diminish in size. The trees are greener; the sky is bluer. People are kinder and more sharing than before.’ 

The stuff we’ve previously taken for granted, now becomes so much more important as we endeavour to enjoy as much as possible, this precious gift called ‘LIFE,’ which can disappear so quickly and unexpectedly, like a vapour of smoke or breath that’s simply consumed by the atmosphere. 

As we say: ‘here today, gone tomorrow.’ But it can also be ‘here today, gone today!’ That’s how quickly our breath of life can expire, and why we need to enjoy today as much as possible under God’s canopy of LOVE, compassion, understanding and mercy. 

That’s why our Bit is also so important in our everyday lives. ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ 

Oh friends, it’s ever so important to enjoy each day of our lives. It’s not always possible to laugh and shout and jump for joy, but we can certainly appreciate the things and people around us who make our lives better by their presence, whether physically, spiritually or emotionally. 

Life is too short for us to waste it in complaining and moaning and groaning and finding fault. It’s not going to ever run smoothly for long, but even in the rough times we need to find things and people who enliven us and bring gladness to our hearts. 

And we all know the Number ONE person in that regard is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! For even when no mortal or inanimate object can bring gladness to out hearts, Jesus can. And He will, if we turn to him with sincerity of heart and spirit. 

Now let’s look at a few scriptures which encourage gladness and rejoicing. Hear Moses as he tells the people what to do after bringing their first fruits to the Lord. ‘And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.’ (Deut.26:11) 

Yeh friends, rejoicing is necessary to show appreciation for the good things the Lord has both granted us and done for us. Now listen to Bruh David as he seeks preservation and blessing from Psalm 16. 

‘I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope. 

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer (allow) thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore.’ (Ps.16:8-11) 

Ah my fellow believers, walking faithfully with the Most High God Jehovah brings joy and gladness that we can find nowhere else in this universe! 

And what better way to end than with words of Jesus Himself from the parable of ‘the Prodigal Son.’ When the elder son complains about the joyful welcome home of his licentious younger brother, and the killing of the fatted calf, while he’s been ever-faithful, and never had even a young goat to share with his friends, the father affectionately replies. 

‘Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet (right) that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’ (Luke 15:31-32) 

And the scholars offer this interesting explanation. ‘15:32. The whole story is a moving portrayal of a LOVING God’s persistence in seeking out the lost – and of human perversity in resisting such grace, which exceeds our natural understanding.’ 

Oh friends, let’s not be foolish and ignorant, but rejoice and be glad whenever a sinner comes home. Now let’s declare our Tuesday Mantra with the enthusiasm, sincerity and assurance that it brings to our spirits. 

‘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!’ 

Now let’s go out in God’s strength and power and share Jesus’ LOVE with the rest of the world. Much LOVE!

…to live faithfully for Jesus…that is incomparable…heavenly wisdom… 

P.S. Ah Lord eh! The enemy always tries to interrupt God’s work. Just as I was about to send out the Bit, there was a complete blackout for a couple of seconds, and I had to wait for the computer to reboot and all that good stuff. Much LOVE!

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 December 2013 Ecclesiastes 12:14

22 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

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

Ecclesiastes 12:14.    For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
 
And the weather follies continue! (smile) Yes Friends, there’s been rain, freezing rain, wet snow, dry snow (smile) and all sorts of haphazard weather in my neck of the woods this weekend. And it’s not done yet! The weather people are still calling for more uncertain weather over the next few days.
 
Steups! And it has certainly been wreaking havoc on the roads, pavements, driveways, keeping people in, and thus hampering the Christmas shopping too.
 
But you know what Friends? That might just be a warning to us that we’re paying too much attention to what the world considers important – shopping, food, gifts, etc – and not enough to the true reason for the Christmas season – the birth of Jesus.
 
The precious gift that God the Father gave us to begin the process of the most wonderful and important event in man’s history, since his creation, reconciliation with our heavenly Father.
 
Wow Friends! That surely was an awesome gift! And along with it came grace; grace to live through each and every trial and trouble in our lives… And that grace is still coming every single day my people!
 
So today, regardless of the weather, or any other problems we might be undergoing, let’s loudly declare, believe and live out these immortal words of that wise psalmist: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! 
 
Yes my brethren, every day we’re granted on planet earth is a special day, a day for rejoicing in our God’s great mercies and ever-LOVING kindness, for every day is a gift of grace from Him.
 
However mih people, in the midst of all that rejoicing, grace, mercy and LOVING-kindness, we need to also pay close attention to the evil that’s in the world; how it affects us, and how we interact with the world, consciously remembering the immortal truth of our Bit.
 
‘For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’
 
We absolutely cannot forget that Friends, else come the judgement day, we’ll certainly be in for some tough LOVE and justice. So let’s never forget that our God is a holy and just Deity, and though He’s also merciful, to retain His integrity, He must see that justice is done.
 
And speaking of reconciliation, as we did earlier on, listen to these words of epic proportions contained in Bruh Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth. Here he’s telling them, and us, about being ministers of reconciliation.
 
‘(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour (make it our aim), that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of (well pleasing to) him.
 
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.’ (2 Cor.5:7-10)
 
Now here is some info from the scholars on that last verse. ‘5:10. The judgement seat of Christ: The judgement seat (Gr. bema) was an elevated seat in the square of Corinth where Roman magistrates sat to administer justice, and where the athletes who distinguished themselves in the arena received their reward.
 
The judgement in view here is not of the unbeliever but of the believer (cf. 1 Cor.4:5; Col.3:4). While it is true that for the Christian there is “no condemnation” (Rom.8:1), it is not correct to assume that God will not hold him responsible for deeds done in the body. Paul has already stated this truth in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.’
 
Please read those references Friends, as they are most valuable in helping us to understand God’s Word.
 
And we’ll end this series of messages on God’s judgement, with some very appropriate and extremely potent wisdom from the Preacher. ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’ (Eccl. 12:13) Don’t ever forget that Friends, because it’s wisdom at its zenith!
 
And now may the Lord comfort and guide us safely and wisely, as we traverse the paths of our earthly pilgrimage, so that when we come to stand before Him on that fateful day, He’ll say to each of us: ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant!’
 
There’s no better judgement that that my people, so let’s all be wise and aspire to it nuh! Much LOVE!
 
…in the day…when God shall judge the secrets of men…by Jesus Christ…according to my gospel…  (Rom.2:16) 
 
P.S. It’s so short Friends, that I’m truly amazed. And all God’s people said a loud and thankful: ‘Praise the Lord!’ (smile) Much LOVE my fellow believers in Christ!