Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 October 2015 Psalm 22:19

20 Oct 2015 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 22:19.   But be not thou far from me O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 

Oh Friends, it’s a mea culpa kind of morning! I went to bed real late this morning, and got up much later than I expected or wanted to. I guess the good Lord in His everlasting wisdom decided I just needed the rest, or He simply left me to my own devices, and we see how that panned out. (smile) 

Anyway today is an historic day in the annals of Canadian history! Yes mih people, the winds of change have blown across this country in a most remarkable way. We now have a new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and a new governing party, the Liberals, after yesterday’s Federal Elections. 

The Conservative Government under Stephen Harper, which has mismanaged the country for almost a decade, got their most deserving walking papers. Glory to God! 

Let’s hope now that the micro-management, the secrecy, the draconian laws which have brought us to the reality of a police state, the widespread corruption and the nonchalance towards the ordinary working man, in favour of the rich and famous will now stop, or at least be substantially reduced. 

And would you believe that yesterday a wicked windstorm blew across my area all day, possibly heralding the significant change in government. Let’s hope too that the big knock against Trudeau, his youth, merely thirty something, doesn’t affect his governing. At least he doesn’t seem to be as arrogant as His father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who ran the country from 1968-1979, and 1980-84. 

Notwithstanding that though, Pierre Elliot was possibly the most popular Prime Minster in our history. Let’s hope though that Justin does have the wisdom, the belly and backbone that his father had, and a true penchant for improving the entire country, not just the rich and famous. 

Anyway, enough politics for today. I’m not a political animal, but I do take some interest in the goings ons around me. (smile) And since today is Tuesday, a wet and cloudy day in my area, we need to declare our Tuesday mantra. Or as the person who wrote it, Bobby Schuller, Gramps Schuller’s grandson, likes to call it, the Creed of the Beloved. 

So all together now: ‘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!’ 

And that’s exactly how we have to view this life my brethren! The most important aspect of our lives is that we are the children of the Most High God Jehovah! That’s what defines us, nothing else! 

And I just could not pass up this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Caulkin, as it is very reflective of our behaviour. It’s titled: ‘Could You Hurry a Little.’ 

And it says: ‘Lord, I know there are countless times When I must wait patiently for You. Waiting develops endurance. It strengthens my faith And deepens my dependence on You. I know You are a Sovereign God – Not an errand boy Responding to the snap of my finger. I know Your timing is neatly wrapped In Your incomparable wisdom. 

But, Lord You have appointed prayer To obtain answers! Even David the Psalmist cried With confident boldness: “It is time, O Lord, for you to act.” God, on this silent sunless morning When I am hedged in on every side I too cry boldly. You are my Father, and I am Your child. So, Lord, could You hurry a little?’ 

Oh my fellow believers, I’m sure that many of us have prayed that kind of prayer many a time! And nothing’s really wrong with it, except that too many of us tend to treat the Lord our Mighty God as an errand boy. 

Yes Friends, we often don’t remember Him until there is a problem in our life, then we cry out to Him and expect Him to run and fix it. But that’s a totally false image and manner of dealing with Almighty God. 

Please remember that He is the Master and we are His humble servants. We are here to do His bidding, not the other way around. And though we are entitled to cry out to Him for help, we also are required to wait patiently on His timing, which is NEVER wrong or late. 

And the promise on which that poem was based, is also our Bit for today. ‘But be not thou far from me O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.’ 

Yes Friends, that was Bruh David crying out for the Lord’s help in one of his many times of trouble. And as I said before, we are also entitled to cry out to our heavenly Father for help. We just need to live obediently to His will during the remainder of the time, if we truly expect Him to help us when adversity rears its ugly head. 

We simply cannot live the way we want to, enmeshed in the affairs of this wicked and godless world, then when times get tough, run to Him and expect immediate succour. 

And we’ll end today with the remainder of Bruh David’s cry for help. ‘Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling (precious life) from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns (and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me). 

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed (descendants) of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him (hold him in awesome reverence), all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.’ (Ps.22:20-24) 

Yes my people, that’s the awesome promise of our ever-LOVING God: when we consistently live for and praise Him in our daily lives, then we are entitled to cry out to Him for help in times of trouble. And as Bruh David so rightly says, He never turns away from the afflicted, but hears him. Now that’s a promise we can stand steadfast on! Much LOVE!

…for a true believer…cries of anguish…should always be interspersed with songs of praise…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 October 2015 Hebrews 11:1‏

15 Oct 2015 Leave a comment

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

Hebrews 11:1.  Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen. 

Free! Free at last! Yes Friends, the ole fella’s free at last from the bondage and tyranny of the medical and technological marvel of the mobile and portable intravenous drip! (smile) 

Oh it does serve a very useful purpose, but five days of having to do everything with it, whether asleep or awake, is a rather inconvenient and very taxing experience. 

And thankfully the wound on my leg that caused its use, seems to be healing, though rather slowly. But right now I’m thankful for any kind of improvement at all. 

I’m now on oral antibiotics. I think I can handle that. (smile) And this is the best, the most rested I’ve felt in a little while. I suppose that’s because I had a decent night’s rest, with no tubes and bags to worry about, which meant I got up pretty late too. 

So I do want to apologize for the lateness of the Bit, but I definitely needed the rest, as yesterday was a rather hectic and busy day. First I went to the funeral of a young lady, a former parishioner, who suddenly passed away at the tender age of thirty-eight. 

Ah Lord eh! We never know when or how our number will play nuh! That’s why it’s in our best interest to be always ready. 

After the funeral I went to my doctor to check on my situation. Then I got lucky, or rather the Lord opened an opportunity for me to go and get a test for any blood clots in my system. So I ran to the Vascular Lab to get that done. The tests turned out to be negative! Thank the Lord!

Then I ran home, had something to eat. The nurse came and discharged me from the home care programme, then I went to see a movie with my young daughter and her boyfriend. 

But my people, it was all worth it. I don’t go to many movies, but this one came highly recommended by one of my many surrogate daughters, and it was excellent. It’s called ‘War Room.’ And believe it or not, it’s a Christian movie. And the war and the room are not about physical war but about spiritual battles; the kind that we all experience at some time in our lives. 

Generally speaking it’s about a black married couple going through problems based on their busy careers and fighting to keep up with the Jones’ and Smiths, and the way the Lord oftimes sends someone into our lives to help bring us back to Him. I think ALL believers should go and see it. Please support this type of movie, as you don’t find too many of them being shown in the big movie chains. 

So it was a busy day, but it ended with grace and mercy and wisdom. Glory to God! 

And now it’s time to welcome our wonderful Bit: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ 

And it surely is, my people! For as Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) 

And that’s not only gospel truth my brethren, but also simple logic! If we can see something, why would we yet hope for it eh? 

And that brings me to a song I heard last night by a Christian group called Canton Junction, featured on Uncle John’s  (John Hagee) t.v. Programme. It’s called ‘Faith was made for moments like these.’ And I’ll only share a part of the second verse and the chorus, because I just got tired of pausing and writing and pausing and writing. (smile) But that’s enough to show the relevance of the song. 

Here goes: ‘What happens if heaven is silent, and the silence seems to whisper, just keep hoping…oh hoping…What if it’s a sorrow… Sorrow brings a healing to the broken… to the broken… What if….Faith was made for moments like these. When God knows, what you can’t see. And you don’t understand what you choose to believe. Faith was made…for moments like these…’ 

Indisputable truth, my brethren! Faith was indeed made for the rough, unseeing, and not understanding times in our lives. If we could see and understand all our circumstances, then why would we need faith eh? No reason whatsoever! 

But since we can’t see nor understand the majority of things we face in this earthly life, we definitely need something concrete, confident and sure to hold on to. And the only thing that does that in this evil and ungodly world is the ever-faithful and safely guiding Word of Jehovah God, and the promises found therein. 

Oh glory to our most wonderful, amazing, gracious, LOVING, forgiving and merciful God! 

Now I wish someone could explain to me why I shouldn’t surrender my all, my entire being to such a marvellous Deity? Oh Friends, there’s no good reason why we should not! Surrendering to Jesus Christ and obeying His dictates is indeed the wisdom of heaven and of earth throughout all the ages! 

And we’ll end with some of Jesus’ thoughts on faith, how important He deemed it to be. Firstly in the Sermon on the Mount, He castigates His listeners for their lack of faith in God’s provision for them, if He had provided so wonderfully for the things of nature ‘O ye of little faith? (Matt.6:30) 

Then He tells Peter, after he’s walked on the water for a few seconds, then becomes fearful, starts to sink and cries out for help. ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ (Matt.14:31) 

And finally, hear this conversation between Jesus and two blind men who desired Him to heal them, and cried out saying: ‘Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? 

They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened…’ (Matt.9:27-30) 

Yes Friends, likewise, according to our faith, it will be done unto us! Much LOVE!

…fight the good fight of faith…and stand steadfast in it…

 

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…
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 May 2012 Psalm 41:9

05 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 41:9.       Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Well hello there mih LOVELIES! How goes it on this bright, beautiful, bounteous day, so LOVINGLY created for our enjoyment by our heavenly Father? I sure hope it goes well with all of us believers in Christ Jesus. But just in case all’s not going too well, I want to remind us not to fall apart, not to give up, because we have an Advocate with the Father, namely Jesus, to plead our case. So whatever’s wrong, let’s stand strong in faith, do our best, while looking to Him for guidance and help. Remember He either personally experienced or saw the stuff we’re going through, during His sojourn here on earth in human form. So He knows and understands the human problems and frailties from both sides now; as God, as well as man. That brings us to our Bit: ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against (has betrayed) me. ‘ And amongst those human problems that Jesus faced and experienced was the most hurtful one of betrayal by a close friend. In fact several people close to Him betrayed Him. So although He was the Son of God, He wasn’t immune to human disappointment. And though He knew beforehand what the script called for, since He had a hand in writing it, those betrayals still inflicted hurt, pain and disappointment on His human sensibilities, like it does on ours. Over the last couple days we’ve discussed the betrayals of Bruh David, Job and Jeremiah, today we’ll look at some Jesus suffered. Now we said that Jesus knew the betrayals would come and after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus told them about it. ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.’ (John 13:18-19) Jesus quoted our Bit there, knowing that many who had been with Him during the good times would desert Him, when things got rough, but it had to happen to fulfill the scripture. After that ‘he was troubled in sprit, and testified and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.’ (John 13:21) Obviously all the disciples wanted to know who it was. Then Simon Peter looked at John, who was leaning back against Jesus, and motioned him to ask about the betrayer. ‘Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop (piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.’ (John 13:26-27) The scholars state that during Jesus’ time, a host would often distinguish an honoured guest by giving him a choice morsel dipped in the sauce and placing it on his tongue. And according to the rest of that passage, (John 13:28-30) it seems only John and Judas heard or understood Jesus last words to Judas. Then Judas went out and plotted with the chief priests to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matt.26:14-16) And that night in Gethsemane, Judas showed up with soldiers of the chief priests and a lynching mob, just as Jesus was telling the three who had gone apart to pray with Him: ‘Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.’ (Matt.26:46) And Judas was so boldfaced, that after telling the soldiers; ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, hold him fast (seize him) (Matt.26:48) he approached Jesus and said: ‘Hail, master; and kissed him.’ (Matt.26:49) That possibly began the since oft used scheme of betrayal with a kiss.  But notice Jesus’ cool and somewhat sarcastic response: ‘Friend, wherefore art thou come?’ (Matt.26:50) Yes people, though Jesus was well aware of the betrayal, He still called Judas ‘friend.’ What a wonderful man Jesus was!  And still is! And will always be wonderful! Oh Friends, we don’t have time to talk about how most of the disciples forsook Jesus and fled, when He was arrested (Matt.26:56) or when  Peter betrayed Jesus by denying three times that he knew Him. (John 18:15-27)  But no doubt those things hurt Jesus a lot, even though he knew beforehand that they’d happen, for betrayals always hurt regardless of how or when we know of them. Anyway, we’ll end with some very wise words of Micah when he spoke of the moral sin of Israel, which, compared to ours today, is like a small lake to the ocean, so terrible is the immorality in our society. ‘Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide (companion): keep (guard) the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.’ (Mic.7:5-6) And far too often that is the gospel truth my people! Let us try to undo that nuh, cause if we don’t, we’ll just continue on the downward slide to destruction, to Hades and Lucifer, a rather unpleasant thought. Much LOVE!…therefore I will look unto the Lord…I will wait for the God of my salvation…my God will hear me… (Mic.7:7)