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Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 July 2026 Psalm 38:8a.

Psalm 38:8a. ‘The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerneth me.

And then it was Thursday; the Canada Day celebrations are over, and the work scene begins again. And yes, it’s sometimes hard to celebrate one day, then go to work the next. But I’m sure the smart ones have found a way to get these last two work days off, so they can have a long weekend. Now it’s going to be another blistering day, with another heat warning in effect. Like we’re finally getting what Europe’s been undergoing for a couple of weeks now, with so many places over there never ever experiencing such heat waves, and numerous people dying because of it.

So please, let’s stay inside as much as possible, hopefully in air conditioned comfort, or if you have to go out, make sure you put on your sun screen and a hat or something to protect you from those challenging rays of the sun. And talking about air conditioned comfort, it’s nice to note that the Duchess and I have not come to loggerheads over the AC just yet, (smile) for even she who likes the heat, is wary about going out in it. Thank the Lord!

And today I want to share one of the many encouraging things I have posted all around my office, which I never seem to notice, although I’m in here every day. And I only noticed this article last night possibly because I got a nudge from the Lord when I changed the wall calendar from June to July. For although the prominent article in big print, is pinned to the wall right next to the calendar, and I change the calendar every month, I don’t ever seem to notice it. So it must be the Lord’s doing. Now, don’t ask where I got it from, or when, and it must be fairly old because the paper has begun to yellow, as old paper usually does.

Anyway it’s titled: ‘Prayer For Success In All My Undertakings.’ And it begins with this verse; ‘The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.’ (Ps. 138:8) Now please pray with me: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Thou seest all and knowest all and plannest all. Thou hast put me here on earth for the wonderful purpose known only to Thee. And Thou hast given me my life that I might make this a better and happier world for all Thy children.

O Father, Thou knowest how hard I try to do Thy will. And sometimes I do wish I could be able to see into the future and find out whether I will ever have success and good fortune in my undertakings. But then I know it is enough that Thou guidest me only one step at a time. Help me, dear Father, help me to make a wonderful success of my life. Put my feet on the path once more to health and happiness and success in what I undertake.

Guide my steps every day, dear Father; to the work Thou wantest me to do. Be with me and I promise to do my best, Father. Make me listen to what Thou tellest me and help me to be good and honest and pure in heart. Help me to work hard that I may overcome all obstacles. For I shall not grow tired, dear Father, if I know Thou art leading me on to success. Blessed be Thy name, dear Father; for I know Thou wilt never fail me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

Oh friends, isn’t that a beautiful and most interesting, as well as an appropriate prayer for these troubled and uncertain times, where many of us don’t know whether we’re coming or going! I suspect that it must have been written long ago because of the ‘Thys, Thous and Thees,’ but nonetheless it contains stuff that many of us pray every day. We know that God has placed us down here to improve life, and we all desire to know His will for our lives. And we all wish we could see into the future and check out if our lives are successful, but we need to have faith and patience and know that God is guiding us but only one step at a time.

One overview tells us, ‘God usually shows us the way a little bit at a time. He does not give us the whole map all at once. This builds our faith and helps us learn to trust Him every day. Think of walking in the dark with a flashlight. The light does not show the end of the road. It only shows the steps right in front of your feet. God’s guidance works in the same way.’

It’s like the literal translation of Prov. 4:12 says: ‘As you go, step by step I will open up the way before you.’ The pillar of cloud led the Israelites day by day. And the Holy Spirit lead us today, for the guidance we’re seeking from God, comes through the Holy Spirit. We need to listen to Him very closely every day for God’s guidance. And when we place our sincere faith and trust in Almighty God, then we’re assured that God will never fail us because that’s His promise, which you can find throughout the Bible.

Moses said it thus to the Israelites before they went into the Promised Land: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go before thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6) And it’s what we also need to believe in these chaotic times if we expect to do God’s work successfully. That’s exactly why Bruh David could write in Psalm 38: ‘The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerneth me.’ (Ps. 38:8) We must not doubt that the Lord will ensure His purpose for our lives will be accomplished in His good time.

And to help us do His earthly work. He so generously bestowed on us these undeserved Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare and activate them right now nuh. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’

And having made that declaration, we’re now obliged to go out and share those undeserved blessings with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…God’s plans for our lives will all come true…if we follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Luke 1:27. To a virgin espoused (engaged) to man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Oh my beautiful fellow believers in Christ, it’s Monday! It’s also the first Monday in the official summer period of our northern seasons. And what a day it’s forecasted to be; thirty degrees Celsius, with a mixture of sun and rain!

So please make sure to put on your sun screen if you plan on being out and about much in the sunshine, but also remember to walk with your trusty umbrella, just in case the rain catches you off guard, because it’s being doing that a lot recently.

I experienced it up to yesterday afternoon. I was getting dressed to go out and it was bright sunshine outside, but some fifteen minutes later though when I emerged, yuh better believe it was raining.

Anyway, since there’s not much we can do about the weather, except dress suitably for it, let’s get up and get our act together. And to put us in a positive and godly state of mind, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with a large dollop of excitement and enthusiasm!

As one loud and harmonious 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!’

There we have it Friends, the catalyst to get us going this Monday Morning!

Now here’s our Bit: ‘To a virgin espoused (engaged) to man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.’

I’m sure some of you are wondering why I chose that particular scripture for our Bit today, since it’s usually associated with the birth of Jesus at Christmas. But there is indeed method to my madness, my brethren!

Earlier on, I was reading an article in the newspaper which stated that recently in Norway, a new and modern version of the Good Book had been printed in the Norwegian language, coinciding with an upsurge in Christian activity in the country. Now that’s certainly wonderful news, but the example of the modern terminology they used in the article certainly didn’t sit well with me. Instead of saying or specifying that Mary, the mother of Jesus was a ‘virgin,’ they chose to refer to her as a ‘young woman.’

Ah Lord eh! What’s wrong with us in these supposed modern times eh? We seem to think that everything that’s old has to be changed, wiped out or replaced. And though some of that might be true, in this particular case, nothing could be further from the truth. That’s because Mary’s virginity, her not having laid with a man, is paramount to our Christian beliefs.

And though ‘young woman’ in Mary’s day might have conveyed a connotation of virginity, in these times of excessive sexual freedom, it most definitely doesn’t, because the supposed young women are having sex at an earlier and earlier age.

Here’s how the scholars put it: ‘One of the historic fundamentals of the faith is the virgin birth of Christ. It begins with the supernatural conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary without the seed of man. The miraculous birth is verified by the statement that she was a virgin when she gave birth to Christ (Matt.1:23-25) By means of the Virgin Birth, Jesus Had the human nature of his mother and the sinless, divine nature of His Father.

Illustration: Those who deny the Virgin Birth tend also to deny His deity, so must necessarily question the integrity of the Scriptures. Application: The miracle of the Virgin Birth involved the yieldedness of Mary. This attitude is reflected in her last recorded words, which are a good standard for Christians today, “Whatsoever he (Jesus) saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5) ‘

And is that ever so true Friends; whatever Jesus tells us to do, we ought to do it!

So, having said all of that, it simply means that to those reading the Good Book for the first time in their lives, if they use the new Norwegian version, then they will have no understanding of the great importance of Mary’s virginity to the whole story of Christianity. And that I believe is doing a grave injustice to the both the new readers, as well as the substance and fundamental foundation of our faith.

Anyway, we’ll stop there for today. But both the scholars and I have some more to say on the subject, which hopefully we’ll say tomorrow, the Lord in favour. Till then though my people, let us walk safely under the mighty protective wings of our omnipotent God, diligently doing His will, as we walk steadfastly in our faith, for that’s indeed the measure of our wisdom! Much LOVE!

…any attempt to bring God’s Word into the language of the 21st century…MUST ENSURE…that the true meanings are not lost in the translation…

SCRIP-BITS

The Need for Christians to Understand the Importance of Prayer and the Guiding of the Holy Spirit in Their Lives!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 June 2013 Luke 1:27

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