The Importance of Watching Our Words when Misfortune Befalls Us!

20 Nov 2025 Leave a comment

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

Job 2:10b).        ‘What? shall we receive (accept) good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive (accept) evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.’ 

Well friends, let’s give you the bad news first; (smile) it’s obvious we’re on a late late bus, and we might doing so for the next few days. And the reason for that bad news is this good news; the ole fella is in T&T! 

Yes mih bredrin, the ole fella and his family journeyed through the night, with no sleep, to come to the land of mas and kaiso! And then on landing, instead of going to our hotel, we began visiting family for breakfast, which took some time as we had not seen each other for a number of years. 

And since their time is an hour ahead of Canada’s, it means that we are operating on a shorter time period than normal. But that didn’t matter for we got to hotel in Port of Spain, booked in, had a short nap, then we were off again to check out the north coast of Trinidad, heading up to Maracas and Las Cuevas beaches, through the hilly and winding road, busy with traffic going in both directions. 

At one point because of the rain, we encountered a small landslide which knocked a big tree over the road, but we were able to pass under it, however a bus had to stop and park until the tree could be removed, and by the time we were returning the bus passed us, going its merry way rejoicing, meaning that the fallen tree had been removed. 

I had a brief dip in the salt at Las Cuevas…imagine that nuh, it’s been at least some four or five years since I’ve had the heavenly blessing of immersing my aching body in salt water, the best therapeutic remedy for aches and pains and what ever else may ail you. (smile) And that’s no lie! 

After Las Cuevas, we went back to Maracas to have some of their famous bread and shark with all different kinds of trimmings. The rest of the family had it, but I didn’t, since I’m not a fish lover, and that delicacy was never one of my favourites. 

And were we ever blessed with rain going and coming…not the heavy stuff, but enough drizzle to keep some of the many beautiful mountains clothed in fog. At one time I even thought I was back in good ole Canada by the amount of fog I was seeing. (smile) 

And coming back was just like going home after work in the big city…traffic jams. What else is new eh! The roads have been the same size for donkey’s years but the traffic has increased very significantly. 

We finally got back to the hotel around four thirty, then I had to begin sorting out my stuff, because we had no chance to do it earlier in the day. So, it’s obvious that the ole fella is tired like a dog, but I’m trying to practice what I preach; perseverance in tough times. I just could not let the day go by without some sort of information to my favourite Script-Bits Family. 

So there you have it, the good and bad news, for as Job so rightly said to his frustrated wife in his time of tribulation: ‘What? shall we receive (accept) good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive (accept) evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.’ (Job 2:10b) 

And so it ought to be with us my fellow believers. When tough times tackle us, and unceremoniously deposits us on the carpet, we must not rush to make hasty decisions and use unbecoming language, for our God knows what is happening in our lives, and has promised to help us through them if we remain in good and steadfast faith. 

Oh, it’s never really easy to undergo trials and not say anything untoward, especially about God, but if we truly believe, we have to bite our tongues and say in all sincerity in worship, like Job did after hearing the awful news  about his family and his livelihood. 

The Good Book tells us: ‘Then Job arose, and rent (tore) his mantle (robe), and shaved his head, and fell on the ground, and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.’ (Job 1:20-22) 

The sad part is that when many of us encounter trials and tribulation we’re quick to blame others for our misfortune, including the Lord. But that’s never the right approach, as Job so wisely and righteously shows. 

And Jesus put some icing on the cake on that in His Sermon on the Mount, when teaching about LOVING one’s enemies: ‘That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.’ (Matt. 5:45) 

In other words, as this commentary explains: ‘ The phrase “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” means that natural events and hardships are not selective and affect everyone, regardless of their moral character. 

Jesus states that God causes the sun to rise and rain to fall on both the good and the bad to show His universal benevolence. The saying highlights that both “good” and “bad” people will face similar trials and blessings in life.’ 

And we all know that, so please, let’s try to live our faith as best we can, and admit that the Lord knows what He is doing. ‘Praise be to the Lord God Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Now, let’s go home declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus! 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And the important thing about that last statement is that whoever endures to the end with Christ, will enjoy a future so glorious that they can never understand or imagine it. So, let’s keep that in mind and endure to the end nuh, so we can enjoy that more than glorious together! Much LOVE!

…talking tough is easy…but being tough when tough times come a calling…is a horse of an entirely different colour.

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   13 April 2024 Psalm 22:18.

13 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 22:18.        They part (divided) my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture (for my clothing).

Well, the good news is that the rain has finally stopped. But the bad news is that it’s still cloudy and windy. Oh the wind kicked up a mighty good fuss during the night, and still hasn’t settled down, while the sun seems to be fighting a valiant but losing battle to shine through the dark clouds. (smile) But if you don’t have to go out, it’s a great way to spend a lazy-day Saturday. So to help us do just that, let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday prayer with sincere hearts and voices. 

As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ And I can feel the wondrous, scintillating but calming presence of our great God shining down on us now, as we asked for something that He most heartily approves of; His awesome presence! Yes friends, that’s a request the Lord will always fulfill. 

And contrary to what you might think, I did not forget about the scholarly explanations on Psalm 22, that I promised yesterday, (smile) I just ran out of space and time and quietly decided to share it today instead. So there’s indeed a li’l method to my madness. And now for those scholarly explanations. They say that a Christian cannot read Psalm 22 without reflecting on the use of the first verse by Christ on the Cross found in Mark 15:24, and Matthew 27:46 which state: ‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ 

Now that’s the very same thing Bruh David says at the beginning of Psalm 22. In addition to that verse, the scholars point out that verse 18: ‘They part (divided) my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture (for my clothing),’ is also found in the New Testament in Matt. 27:35, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:34, John 19:24. 

I think John says it best. ‘Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat (tunic): now the coat (tunic) was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend (tear) it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment (garments) among them, and for my vesture (clothing) they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.’ (John 19:23-24) 

Ah friends, by now we should be getting an inkling of what’s going on in Psalm 22. But if you aren’t, let’s get a little more involved with it. The scholars point out that verse 22 of the Psalm also makes it’s way into the New Testament, through Hebrews 2:12. In speaking of the crown of glory and honour of Jesus, the author of Hebrews writes: ‘For both he that sanctifieth (sets apart) and they who are sanctified are all one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church (congregation) will I sing praise unto thee.’ (Heb. 2:11-12) 

Yes my brethren, God crowned Jesus with glory and honour and set Him over His creation, mankind. Hopefully we’re getting closer to realizing the prophetic importance of this Psalm 22. (smile) The scholars go on to say, that in addition to the verses quoted above, many of the details of Psalm 22 are reflected in Christ’s cross experience and offer these references: vs. 7 with Matt. 27:39. The former says: ‘All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip (show contempt with their mouth), they shake their head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in Him. (Ps; 22:7-8) 

The corresponding verses in Matthew say of Jesus standing naked on the cross: ‘And they that passed by reviled (blasphemed) him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyeth the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ (Matt. 27:39-40) I added the last verse in each case because I thought they made more sense together, (smile) although the scholars did refer to vs. 8 of Psalm 22 with verse 43 of Matthew 27. ‘He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.’ Those verses also fit well together. 

The last reference from the scholars is verse 15 of Psalm 22 with John 19:28. Verse 15 says: ‘My strength is dried up like a potsherd (broken vessel); and my tongue cleaveth (clings) to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.’ Meanwhile John’s gospel tells it thus of Jesus’ death on the cross: ‘After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar (sour wine): and they filled a spunge with vinegar (sour wine), and put it upon hyssop (an aromatic herb of the mint family), and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar (sour wine), he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (his spirit).’ (John 19:28-30) 

Again, I added the other two verses to help keep the first verse in context, for we quote so many verses from the scriptures, which out of context can carry very different meanings to the ones we desire to share. And we’ve finally gotten the picture. The scholars explain that ‘Jesus’ cry to God, the condemnation of the crowd, His thirst, His crucifixion, and even the gambling for His robe, are all clearly predicted. David’s own experience gives way to a prophetic glimpse of his descendant Jesus Christ.’ 

And let’s remember as we go home this lazy-day Saturday, that as true believers in Christ we can also expect to receive some abuse and rejection, simply for His name’s sake. But a real disciple accepts that with the sacrificial discipline expected of his meek and humble status! Much LOVE!

…if any man will come after (follow) me…let him deny himself…and take up his cross daily…and follow me… (Luke 9:23)

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ