SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Friday! And all the joyous shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ surround and envelop me like a warm cloak. Even in my somewhat muted way, I too can utter thanks because I’m on the mend. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I’m getting there, slowly but surely. And that’s the important thing. So let’s all give thanks and praise to our Creator and Provider for just being alive this Friday morning in January 2013, by chanting our Friday Chant. Let’s let Him know, in no uncertain terms, that we truly appreciate His LOVING-kindness, mercy and forgiveness. Now you all will have to help me here by raising your sweet voices above my croaking one. (smile) As one powerful, united, body of Christ then, let’s chant. ‘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.’ That was excellent Friends! Jesus chuckled when he heard my croaking, off-key tones, but He is so wonderful, He will accept genuine praise and thanks in any shape or form. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just come from a sincere heart. And so, having reminded ourselves of how we ought to handle the weekend, let’s look at our Bit. ‘O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth.  Selah.’ It’s the same one from yesterday because I never exhausted all the relevant Psalms. And up first is Psalm 97 – The Lord is far above all gods. From the opening verse the psalmist makes it abundantly clear, who is the boss. ‘The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of isles (coastlands) be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation (foundation) of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.’ (Ps.97:1-6) Oh Friends, NO other God has those omnipotent attributes! And that’s an acknowledged fact, because they have been constantly proven from the very beginning of time. Now listen to some of Psalm 98 – Praise to God for His salvation. ‘Make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (break forth in song). Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm (sound of a song). With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) before the Lord, the King. …Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity (in uprightness).’ (Ps.98:4-6, 9) Yes Friends, we need to boldly proclaim the wonders of our omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present Creator, God, Father, King and Righteous Judge! Yuh see how many things He is to us? So if we don’t serve and faithfully worship Him, we’ll simply end up with the evildoers, eternally separated from Him and His majestic kingdom. And I keep reminding us that that’s the worst thing that could ever happen to a mortal being! But this present world isn’t listening; we’re still running behind the foolish clown prince of darkness Lucifer, even though the world is going to hell in a hand basket by following his evil inclinations. Please remember Friends that Lucifer believes in God, He knows more about God and His awesome powers than us, because he was once one of God’s right hand men. And furthermore, he can’t touch a child of God without asking God’s permission, like he did with Job, or unless we foolishly fall for his wiles and lies. And to heap even more coals of fire on Lucifer’s head, Jesus came to earth and conquered death and the grave, and also set us free from them if we believe on His Holy Name. So why in heaven’s name, are we still so caught up in Lucifer’s nonsense eh, when everything points to the undeniable, indelible fact that he is a loser? And like most losers, he’s a sore one, just trying to get back at Almighty God. But here’s how we thwart him. ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield (produce) her increase; And God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.’ (Ps.67:5-7) And that’s not rocket science, it’s what we’ve seen and heard been done over the ages. So Friends, please let’s use the brains, the wisdom, the spiritual insight that the Creator has so LOVINGLY placed in each of us to rise up and see Lucifer’s fallen world for what truly is nuh; a glitzy facade behind which hides death, destruction and eternal separation from the Lord God Jehovah. Until we rise up in revolt against Lucifer, in a LOVE Revolution, as one united body of Christ, we’ll continue to exist as simple-minded minions in his fallen world. And that’s surely not something to write home about! Much LOVE!…it’s so sad to see those made in God’s image…bow to a fallen being…when all reason shouts otherwise…