Today​’s Scrip-Bit 7 April 2019 John 12:3.

07 Apr 2019 Leave a comment

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

John 12:3.   ​Then took Mary a pound of ointment (oil) of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour (fragrance) of the ointment.
 
Oh mih people, mih people, please accept my most humble apologies for the Bit being so late, but it all happened under circumstances beyond my control. First off I was up and about early to make it down to church for 7.30. Then there was a baptism at church this morning, so that took up even more time than usual, for we can’t just welcome a new member to Christ’s church family any ole how, we got to go through the proper rituals. (smile) 

Then the lay reader, soon to be ordained deacon, preached a long, but very good sermon on offering our talents to God, like how Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s sister broke the jar of expensive perfumed ointment and washed Jesus’ feet, then dried it with her hair. ‘Then took Mary a pound of ointment (oil) of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour (fragrance) of the ointment.’  feet, pulling teeth

Jesus didn’t have to ask her, she just did it because of her great LOVE for Him! (John 12:3) The washing of Jesus’ feet also showed her humility. That got the deacon to wondering how many of us supposed believers are willing to wash someone else’s feet eh? Not too many, cause we too proud and nice and vain and full of we self! And remember, in Jesus’ time the washing of feet was a slave’s job! And yuh see how Jesus also washed His disciples’ feet? (John 13:1-11) Well let’s contemplate for a moment or two, if we that humble nuh! (smile) 

And then there was communion, with quite a bit of people in church this morning. There were also a lot of announcements, including the raising of funds to repair the church floor because the tiles raising up as water from some ground source invading them. But which church ain’t begging for funds nowadays eh? Hn! 

It’s sad, but God’s work has now become a beggarly situation! In the early times the believers gave generously of their possessions, but today, mih brother, it come like pulling teeth without anesthetic to get God’s people to give generously to His work! We quick to give to the world, but where God is concerned it’s an entirely different kettle of fish, where we always wondering where the two pennies we done give already going, and how come they always needing more. 

But friends, the truth is that we suppose to put God first, because He’s put us first through His unconditional LOVE for us, His sending of Jesus to die and pay for our sins, as well as making us His adopted children and heirs to His kingdom! And besides, He is the one who gives you the power to get wealth in the first place. (Deut.8:18) And all things belong to Him, we are only stewards looking after His business. 

Now what is all of that worth to you eh? I think that will show up in the generosity of your time, talents and wealth to Christ’s work! And remember, is not me, or some earthly minister you have to answer to eh, but the Lord God Almighty Himself! When He asks you, come that big day, what you did with all the talents He imbued you with? (Matt.25:14-30) For your sake, I hope you have a good answer, and you don’t tell Him, like the foolish and lazy fella who only had one talent, that you went and buried it and didn’t make proper use of it for His master’s cause. 

And here is where the service got real interesting. It was noted to the congregation that someone had stolen the speakers of the church…for the second time in a short while too! Glory be! And it seems like it was a church goer. But not only that, there was some paint and varnish being kept to spruce up the physical appearance of the church for Easter, that was also stolen! Mama Yo! 

That led the lay reader to compare whoever was doing such dastardly deeds to Judas, Jesus’ betrayer, who had complained: ‘Why was not this ointment (oil) sold for three hundred pence (denarii), and given to the poor. This he said, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the (money)bag and bare (used to take) what was put therein.’ (John 12:5-6) 

Jesus didn’t make a fuss because He knew that Judas had a major role to play in His upcoming proceedings. He simply said: ‘Let her alone: against (for) the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always.’ (John 12:7-8) And that was quite true at the time. But after Jesus set the world on fire with His death, resurrection and ascension things changed somewhat; we still have plenty poor, but we now also have Him for all time through the presence of His Holy Spirit that indwells us! 

Glory to God my people! What a big difference that has made in our lives! And when church was finally over, we had to stay and fellowship some, and buy breakfast; saltfish and bake and then I had to go down the road to get gas. And yes, I forgot to check out the quote on the board down there. (smile) Then I had to drop home a friend from church, and on the way home we stopped by my Aunty Cicely, who lives in the same area. So with all of that, I never got home until after eleven. 

Then the duchess wanted to go up to the Magdalena Hotel for brunch, which took place around twelve. And by the time we got back, around one thirty, with the good food, the blazing hot sun and the Magdalena Rum Punch I had imbibed, I had to rest, and the rest just took longer than I expected. That’s my story…and I’m sticking to it! (smile) 

And I’ll leave us with these immortal words of Jesus, after He washed the disciples feet. ‘For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.’ (John 13:15) Yes friends, please let’s be wise and  go out and follow Jesus’ example nuh! Much LOVE!

…the best example to follow…the best mentor…the best person to look up to…JESUS…! 

P.S. I know we didn’t sing any songs of praise today, but we just didn’t have time…and I didn’t have anything ready to sing anyway. (smile) Much LOVE!

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 January 2018 1 John 4:7.

01 Jan 2018 Leave a comment

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

1 John 4:7.   Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God.

                                          HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well friends, 2018 is finally here, and I wish all of us the best for this New Year. I hope that we all enjoyed a good New Year’s Eve celebration, keeping the libations to a minimum so that the brains didn’t get addled. (smile) 

But yuh know what friends, I’m dubbing 2018 as ‘THE YEAR OF LOVE!’ And our motto for this YEAR OF LOVE, is EACH ONE LOVE ONE! 

All we have to do is LOVE One person each and every day of the year, so that our world will be filled with more LOVE than hate. Now is that so hard to do friends? It should be much easier than hating one person every day, which we seem to do so well. 

The long and short of the story my people is that our world has fallen so low in the last year with all the strife and warmongering, that we don’t have much lower to go. If we continue in this sad and foolish vein, our world will soon explode. 

And we’ve already opened the year with threats from North Korea, and riots in Iran, plus all the other theatres of strife that persist from 2017. Is this the way we really want to see our world go, mushroom in a cloud of nuclear conflagration? 

Because you can bet your bottom dollar if the downward spiral continues, one of the mad, incompetent, power hungry dictators running our world is going to push that red button, and our world will never be the same. It might even cease to exist, such is the power of nuclear war and weapons. 

That’s why I’m advocating so strongly for 2018 to be a turn around year, where Christians come together and truly begin living and LOVING like followers of Christ, fighting tooth and nail to restore some sense of balance and common sense in our world. 

Oh fellow believers, if we don’t do it, who else is going to eh? Lucifer and his workers of iniquity like the way the world is going, but Jesus certainly doesn’t, and if we’re supposed to be His ambassadors, His hands, feet, mouth and ears on earth, then it’s our bounden duty to try and recapture the world from the denizens of evil. 

So please let’s get with the LOVE Scene nuh man! Let’s do our best to remove the current leaders and elect sensible, godly ones, who won’t threaten to go overboard at the drop of a hat. Let’s cut out the complacency and compromise and begin working together to make Christ’s Body the most powerful in the land. That’s the best way to glorify Him! 

And now that I’ve made my plea, added my two cents worth (smile) let’s turn to those unfortunate brothers and sisters who have to go out and labour this cold, cold New Year’s Monday since our 24/7 society needs constant care. Yuh know it’s so cold that some of the water on Niagara Falls froze. So let’s send them out to work with a rousing rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, which we never have a problem doing, when we ourselves are staying at home celebrating. (smile) 

In strong voice now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. 

We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. 

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. 

Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ 

Ah mih friends, I could hear the after effects of the New Year’s Eve celebrations; the hoarse, croaky and out of tune voices. But at least we had the right spirit. (smile) And my fellow believers, we couldn’t have a more appropriate Bit this morning than these wonderful words of John, as he informs us that God IS LOVE. 

‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God.’ That means if we want to know about true LOVE, then we have to be involved in a serious relationship with God. 

And we’ll just end with these oh so appropriate words of John, as he reminds us of the importance of LOVE and knowing God. ‘He that LOVETH not knoweth not God: for God is LOVE. In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 

Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.’ (1 John 4:8-11) 

That’s what I’m trying to achieve friends, but amongst supposed Christians, it’s like pulling teeth. Remember some of Christ’s last words to the disciples: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12)  Plain and straightforward words, as always from our Lord and Saviour. 

Please my brethren, let’s try and seriously action them this year nuh; that is if we want our world to exist in a healthy and godly manner. Much LOVE!

…and now abideth…faith…hope…LOVE…these three…but the greatest of these is…LOVE…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 June 2017 John 10:11.

02 Jun 2017 Leave a comment

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

John 10:11.    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Oh my people, when I got up and looked outside a li’l while ago, the day seemed so beautiful that I simply had to go outside and say a sparkling ‘Good Morning’ to the Lord and give Him some thanks and praise for causing me to see such another wonderful day! 

Ah, the sun is shining brightly, playing off the green leaves as the flowers in the Duchess’ garden bloom and give off a beautiful sexy aroma, which causes the birds and the bees to helplessly gather around them, so that nature can further be procreated. (smile)

What a wise and wonderful God we serve my brethren! Please give Him some rightfully deserved thanks for allowing us to enjoy His nature walk today; so many others did not awake to that blessing. 

And since it’s Friday, you know the workingman is declaring at every spare moment: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! Mama Yo! Freedom time soon come! Time to dance and sing…and do every li’l thing that I can’t do without the slave driver constantly watching over mih shoulder! Dust in yuh eye massa! Dust in yuh eye! Thank God for Fridays and the weekends oui!’ 

Ah friends, the sentiments are indeed touching and true, but the reaction is somewhat extreme. As Christians, we need to be more disciplined and controlled than that. Our Leader, Jesus Christ expects us to show the way in propriety and excellence, and taking it to the max will certainly not be considered such. 

Our Friday Chant better displays and reflects the behaviour needed. So let’s chant it nuh with sincerity and a strong sense of purpose. In unison 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!’ 

Yeh friends, that’s a much more appropriate way to approach and handle the weekend! We need to be always somewhat circumspect, so that we don’t give the enemy any leeway in our lives. For once he gets in, it’s like hell, like pulling teeth to get him out. But if our faith is strong, we need not be too concerned about the enemy, for he has already been defeated. 

Listen to out Bit: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’  

And that is exactly what the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ did: He gave His sinless life for us, so that we don’t have to be afraid of the toothless devil Beelzebub. Glory to God my people! Jesus took all of our sins on His powerful shoulders and wiped our sin slate clean as a whistle, white as snow! How can we not be everlastingly thankful eh? 

Christianity is the only faith that offers such a simple but powerful release from sin: ONLY BELIEVE, it says! Yes friends, if we sincerely believe in the Good Shepherd, He will lighten our burdens and cause us to have salvation and eternal life with the Father. 

Hear him, as He extols His purpose after our Bit. ‘But he that is a hireling (hired man), and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.’ (John 10:12-13) 

And that’s ever so true my people, as all of us have had cause and occasion to run away from situations and from stuff because we simply were hired personnel and didn’t feel that emotionally attached to whatever was happening. 

But our Lord and Saviour is certainly not like that. He sincerely and genuinely declares further: ‘I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and are known of mine.’ (John 10:14) 

Friends, do we know our shepherd? He knows us, but the most important question is do we truly know Him? If we don’t, then crapaud smoke we pipe! 

And the Good Shepherd further states: ‘As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one shepherd.’ (John 10:15-16) 

Oh friends, do you realize that the Good Shepherd was there referring to us, the Gentiles, the heathens, the non-Jews? Yes, He’s such a wonderful shepherd that He wants to include everybody in His kind and LOVING fold!  

No wonder he could continue: ‘Therefore doth my Father LOVE me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I receive of my Father.’ (John 10:16-17) 

Please notice friends, how important the Father was in the life of Jesus, His Son, and likewise He should also be very prominent, in fact first and foremost in our lives too, because EVERYTHING begins and ends with Him! 

Please notice too that Jesus shows His deity by having the awesome power to give up His earthly life and take it up again! Wow! Nobody took it from Him; He gave it up for us because the Father in His great LOVE, asked Him to, so that we poor sinful wretches could be saved. 

Please remember that my brethren and be suitably grateful and thankful and unified in the ONE flock of the Good Shepherd. That’s wisdom of everlasting proportions! Much LOVE!

…there are shepherds…and there are shepherds…and then there’s JESUS…