Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 May 2015 Psalm 22:9 ‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏

01 May 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 22:9.   But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me HOPE (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast.

And then it was Friday – the first day of May – May Day, May Day!
 
And the working population readily chimes in with: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend is here! Thank God it’s Friday yes! This has been a brutal week, and we do need the rest from slaving for massa.’
 
Now that might be so, but here’s another iron in the fire. Do you remember those May Day High School dances, the first Saturday in May, where we’d dance the maypole? If you do, then you are a real old-timer, but one filled with lots of wisdom and experience.
 
Ah Friends, it’s another glorious morning to be alive, brimming with the joy, LOVE, peace, mercy, grace, compassion and forgiveness that’s only to be found in Jesus Christ! Glory be to God!
 
Now here’s an interesting quote from Cervantes (Miguel Cervantes 1547-1616) the famous Spanish writer, whose novel Don Quixote, was supposedly the first novel to gain international acclaim. Anyway, Cervantes reputedly said that ‘Where there is music, there can be no evil.’
 
And that’s very true to a large extent, for when sweet music is bubbling forth from our hearts how can we ever imagine evil thoughts eh? Plus music lifts us out of our bad moods, out of our depression, and helps us forget our problems for a while. It’s also a special source of happiness that we can take with us wherever we go.
 
And I can personally vouch for all of that Friends, for music has been the mainstay, the constant companion of my many years on this earth. When Friends and family forsake you, music NEVER will. And hopefully it will continue to be my companion for the rest of my days, and even afterwards in heaven, where music and singing seem to be a big thing.
 
And since we seem to be into music this morning, let’s chant our Friday Chant nuh, with all the passion it deserves. ‘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.’
 
Yes my people, regardless of the day, the celebration or occasion, we need to have the right perspective on the weekend, if we’re going to be ready for Monday when it comes around. And that means being careful not to give Beelzebub even a toehold in our lives.
 
And one way to do that is through HOPE, the HOPE that is found in Jesus! For as Bruh David truthfully declares in our Bit: ‘But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me HOPE (caused me to trust) when I was upon my mother’s breast.’
 
Yes my people, our Creator wisely put that never give up emotion of HOPE in our hearts from the moment we were born! And we’d be very foolish to let it go out, disappear from our souls, for it’s our pilot light, the steady flame that keeps our mojo working at all times. (smile)
 
Now let’s see what great scriptures on the subject we can find in the Good Book to titillate our senses. And we’ll begin with an interesting verse from Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher informs us that: ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is HOPE: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ (Eccl.9:4) I guess he is just saying what we believe, that while there is life there’s always HOPE.
 
Now listen to Jeremiah: ‘Truly in vain is salvation HOPED for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.’ (Jer.3:23) Yes my brethren, ONLY from the Lord God Jehovah can salvation be HOPED for and truly found!
 
And the author of Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, has this to say on the subject. ‘Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my HOPE. Hold thou me up (uphold me), and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes (observe thy statutes) continually.’ (Ps.119:116-117)
 
Oh my people our God will NEVER let us be ashamed of our HOPE in Him! That’s a forgone conclusion! All who HOPE in Him will be upheld with His powerful right hand! That’s His faithful promise!
 
But by the same token, we have our part to play in the relationship; to observe His statutes. And sadly that’s where the relationship usually breaks down. We want to have our HOPE upheld, but aren’t too keen on observing God’s commands. And that just can’t work Friends, for the relationship with God is a two way street, not just a one-way lane.
 
And we’ll end this series of messages on HOPE with a rather appropriate verse from Psalm 39, where Bruh David is praying for self-understanding. In the midst of his prayer, he loudly proclaims: ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My HOPE is in thee.’ (Ps.39:7)
 
Words of absolute truth and wisdom my fellow believers! Let’s keep that verse as a red flag always before us, so that we know why, and where our HOPE in this evil world comes from.
 
And I do HOPE that all we’ve said about HOPE in these past few days will continue to resonate and reverberate in our hearts, minds and bodies, so that we don’t lose our strength, faith and direction that’s to be found in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Much LOVE my fellow believers!
 
…HOPE…it is the eternal channel…that keeps us tuned into…our Creator…the Most High God Jehovah…

 

 

 

 

 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 November 2014 2 Peter 1:7

21 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

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

2 Peter 1:7.    And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity (LOVE).

And finally Friends, it was Friday…
 
And all around the world there were joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! This slaving for massa couldn’t done soon enough! The fun time, the weekend is just waiting to welcome us with open arms! Thank the Lord ever so much that it’s Friday!
 
My sentiments exactly Friends! But we need to be very careful that we don’t get carried away with the fun part of the weekend, that we also remember the rest part and the godly communication and fellowship aspects. And to help us do that, let’s get into our Friday Chant right off the top.
 
Sincerely, and 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.’
 
Yes my people, we have to find the right balance between fun, rest and time with God and other believers to refresh and rejuvenate ourselves, so that we can go back out on Monday and begin the whole workweek process all over again, take the battle to the heathen one more time.
 
That brings us to this quote, which I believe I might have shared before, but it’s so useful and wonderful that we need to be reminded of it every single day. It’s by George Elliston (1883-1946) a female American journalist, and it simply says: ‘How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.’
 
Mama Mia! And isn’t that the gospel, gospel truth my brethren? It surely, surely is!
 
There’s nothing in this whole wide world that touches us as much as kindness! But unfortunately it is something that’s so sadly lacking in our busy, selfish, evil, resentful and war mongering world. People look at you as though you’re crazy, mentally retarded, when you do an act of kindness. What sort of society are we living in eh?
 
The best thing that could ever happen is if everybody showered everybody else with kindness. Then we’d have the wonderful world we talk about so much!
 
And Peter, in his discussion on growing in grace reveals to us some of the touchstones, including our Bit, which we need to add to our lives for such growth.
 
‘And beside this (But also for this very reason), giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance (self-control); and to temperance patience (perseverance); and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (LOVE).’ (2 Pet.1:5-7)
 
What a revelation my fellow believers! For a lot of us so-called believers don’t show the kindness that we ought to, even to fellow believers. Remember what Jesus tried to drive into the disciples’ heads: ‘This is my commandment; That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12)
 
And as Peter so wisely and rightly continues: ‘For if these things be in you (are yours), and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren (useless) nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off (is shortsighted), and hath forgotten that he was purged (cleansed) from his old sins.
 
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (stumble): For so an entrance shall be ministered (supplied) unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ (2 Pet. 1:8-11)
 
Yes Friends, we need to bear all those fruits, if we desire to bring others to Jesus, and ensure that our rewards in heaven are also as great as they can be.
 
Now here are some explanations from the scholars’ on all of that. ‘1:5-7. In this section Peter urges his readers to grow to spiritual maturity. Add to your faith indicates the areas of growth that follow after salvation. Virtue is moral excellence.
 
Knowledge is spiritual truth. Temperance is self-control. Patience is endurance. Godliness is God-likeness. Brotherly kindness (Gr. philadelphian) is brotherly LOVE. Charity (Gr. agape) is volitional (of the will)) LOVE. This process is a lifelong cycle of spiritual growth for all believers.’
 
And more explanations from the scholars’. ‘1:10-11. Ye shall never fall: The author is not referring to falling from salvation but to failure in Christian living.
 
The everlasting kingdom refers to the eternal realm of God where Jesus is the undisputed Ruler. It is synonymous with heaven. Thus, the one who acquires the virtues of verses 5-7 will have a rich inheritance in heaven.’
 
And Friends, since I know that all of us desire to have a very rich inheritance in heaven, please, I implore us, please let’s go out and do those things that we ought to do as true believers nuh, the things which will ensure that we have a rich heavenly reward. That’s simple common sense, as well as heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…Jesus simply went out everyday…doing good…so should His followers…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 May 2014 Proverbs 11:14

23 May 2014 Leave a comment

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

Proverbs 11:14.   Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

And finally it was Friday… Glory Hallelujah! At long last the big day – the harbinger of the weekend is here! And all work shall cease, and the people shall rest their weary souls and bodies from slaving for massa!

And a loud cheer went up from the workers: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’

Yes Friends, let’s thank our great and wonderful God that it’s not only Friday, but a new day! A new day of life has been granted to us here on planet earth, where His blessings, mercies and forgiveness will pour down on us, as He so generously does, each and every day!

And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’

Now to continue bolstering our spirits this Friday morning, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much sincerity. ‘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.’

Yes my people, please let that be our guide for handling the weekend, for those two simple days off are very important in the general scope of our lives. How we handle them will dictate and determine what our new workweek will generally be like. So if you want to have a good workweek, you have to begin with a good weekend. End of sermon! (smile)

Now let’s see what our Bit has to say. ‘Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.’

What undeniable wisdom Friends! For as the scholars tell us: ’11:14. The wise man gets advice from many people of good judgement before making a decision.’

However my brethren, there is one caveat, or rather two caveats to that statement, as well as our Bit. The first thing to beware of is advice from ‘many people.’

The problem there is that advice from too many people tends to be overwhelming, sluggish and all over the place. Sometimes it’s also incomprehensible, simply because of the number of voices giving advice.

So we need to winnow, to scale down the number of our advisers to a select few; a handful, or not much more, so we won’t have too many voices and opinions ringing in our ears.

And the second, but even more important thing to be very careful of, is that we recruit people of ‘good judgement’ to give us advice. That’s the crux of the problem right there Friends! Too often we end up with people of poor judgement, even though they may be Christians.

Remember, not because someone claims to be a Christian that they possess sound judgement. Now it’s always desirous, or preferable to get advice from Christians with good sense, but the good judgement aspect is more important than the Christian part.

And we see the perfect example of this in the Good Book, in 1 Kings 12. At that time Cousin Sol’s son, Rehoboam was made king of Israel and the people came to plead with him for mercy, because Cousin Sol had laid a heavy yoke on them, in order to support his vast enterprises.

Unfortunately though, Rehoboam listened to the group of his peers, the young men, rather than the group of older and wiser men.

The latter advised patience and mercy: ‘And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him. And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

And the young men that were grown up with him, spake unto him saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.

And whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’ (1 Kin.12:7-11)

And the scholars give us this info: ’12:11. Scorpions means the multi-tailed whips to which barbed points or hooks were attached. Their sting was as severe as that of a scorpion.’

Ah Lord eh! Man’s inhumanity to man is surely a great instrument of moaning and mourning!

The long and short of the story though Friends, is that Rehoboam cracked the whip even harder than his father did, because of advice from people with poor judgement. And their advice was bad, not necessarily because they were young, because the young can be wise and the aged unwise.

But obviously they were revelling in their youth, their wealth and new-found power. And believe me Friends, those latter two things, wealth and power can work very negatively in the hands of the young, can cause them to bring destruction on themselves and those they rule or advise.

And what happens eventually? Like it always does when people are oppressed beyond measure. Israel rebelled, overthrew Rehoboam and replaced him with Jeroboam. Rehoboam lost it all because of a lack of common sense and mercy on his and his young advisers part.

So my brethren, I surely hope that this teaches us a valuable lesson. For as Cousin Sol declares later on in Proverbs: ‘Without counsel purposes are disappointed (plans go awry): but in the multitude of counselors they are established.’ (Prov.15:22)

It’s indisputable truth! But again my people, please beware of that word ‘multitude,’ and make sure that your advisers are people, preferably Christians, of sound judgement. That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!

…the way of a fool is right in his own eyes…but he that hearkeneth to counsel…is wise… (Prov.12:15)  

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 November 2013 Matthew 5:11

01 Nov 2013 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 5:11.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
 
Oh Friends, what a glorious day this Friday 1st of November 2013 will be…! Albeit possibly in other areas of the world, just not in my neck of the woods, because we’ve had rain since early yesterday morning. It’s not like we’ve been inundated with heavenly showers of blessings, but more like a steady diet of drizzle and wind, with the occasional heavy downpour.
 
That certainly put a damper on the Halloween celebrations yesterday! Now was that our God moving in one of His mysterious ways? Hn! Who knows? It makes me wonder though. (smile)
 
But yuh know what, I’m still going to join those shouting, ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday,’ because Friday is the herald, the harbinger of those two momentous days known as the weekend, those days of no slaving for massa.
 
And you never know, what can happen, my area can be flooded later with sunshine and 15 degrees weather, if the weather people are right. And because we’re such strong prisoners of hope and faith, we will believe for good weather later on. (smile)  
 
For now though, let’s celebrate Friday, by graciously chanting our Friday Chant, which gives us the right perspective on how to handle the weekend.
 
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.’
 
Yes mih people, on the weekend we need to get our lives in balance, in sync with both our worldly and godly obligations, so that we can be fully prepared to go back out on Monday and began the cycle all over again. I know it’s tedious and monotonous, but when we cheerfully bring God into the mix, we are able to handle it with NO PROBLEMS. (smile)
 
And I sincerely hope that we’ll still be smiling after reading today’s Bit: ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.’
 
Yeh mih breddren, just because we’re believers in Jesus Christ, we will be reviled, persecuted and have all manner of evil done to and against us!
 
The scholars explain it thus: ‘5:11. Again, Jesus warns that men shall revile you, and persecute you. This became true during His own ministry, in the lives of the apostles, and throughout the history of the church. The persecution spoken of here is twofold. First, it involves a physical pursuing of the persecuted, and second, a personal attack of slander against them.’
 
Oh Friends, being a Christian is often a rather heavy load, as we can see from all the persecution that fellow believers are suffering in other lands. Now we will suffer some here for calling Jesus our Lord and Saviour, but nothing like the ‘sufferation’ of those in the heathen lands.
 
So please let’s make it a daily matter to pray for those rather unfortunate brethren, pray that our merciful and healing God will both ease their suffering and give them the strength to stand steadfast and true in their belief in Jesus. As we said yesterday, that’s the least we can do for them.
 
And remember again that prayer is the greatest tool in God’s universe. So let’s not stop until all God’s children are free to serve and worship Him as they please, in their own lands.
 
And on a point of interest, here’s how Luke records that Beatitude. ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach (revile) you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.’ (Luke 6:22)
 
Yuh see Friends, it’s not only physical persecution that believers must suffer for Christ’s sake, but also things like alienation, and separation from other men’s company. And sometimes the mental and emotional persecution are worse than the physical kind.
 
But since we were all made by God with this great need to belong, Jesus has provided His holy church as a refuge for all those who believe in Him, to gather together as ONE, so that we can fellowship together and thus ease some of the pressure from our earthly trials and tribulations.
 
And though right now, that oneness is more like a pipe dream than a reality, taking into account all the divisions and divisiveness currently reigning in Christ’s church, we still have places where we can meet and talk, pray and worship and celebrate the goodness and LOVING-kindness of our great God.
 
So my people, I’m imploring us to hang in there when things get rough, as they oftimes do and certainly will. Please hold on tightly to all the wonderful promises that our ever-faithful God has given us. Remember too, that He is faithful, even when we are not. 
 
Now here are some encouraging words from Peter, as he talks about us being good stewards of God’s grace. ‘If ye be reproached (insulted) for the name of Christ, happy (blessed) are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of (blasphemed), but on your part he is glorified.’ (1 Pet.3:14)
 
And all God’s children gave a mighty shout of: ‘Let the name of our great God be praised and glorified!’
 
Yes my fellow believers, when we are persecuted for Christ’s sake, we need to take it in stride, for He’s suffered so much for our sake. And because He was obedient to the Father, He was lifted up, exalted above all else in the universe. 
 
So ‘That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil.2:10-11)
 
Likewise my believing brethren, when we stand strong in the face of all that Lucifer and his evil cohorts throw at us, the Lord God Almighty will also exalt us.
 
Please believe it today, and let’s write it deep in our hearts, minds and souls, let it strengthen our faith, for the days they are becoming more dangerous and desolate, as the Second Coming of Jesus approaches. Much LOVE!
 
…knowing Jesus…and living for Him…doesn’t necessarily make life easy or hard…but it surely makes it interesting…that’s my personal testimony…