the breath of life is still flowing through me | SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 June 2023 Philippians 2:14.

28 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a smoke alert, among whom ye shine as lights of the world, an inferiority complex, bear your whoredoms, complaining means that God is not good enough, do all things without murmurings and disputings, endure to the end, halfway home, hands on the plough, how long shall I bear with this evil congregation, I will smite them with pestilence, if God spares life, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, know my breach of promise, LOVE, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, not turning back, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Israelites constantly complained, the negative consequences of complaining, to a glorious future with Jesus, we love to complain, Wednesday Wail, would God we had died in Egypt, would God we had died in this wilderness, ye may be blameless and harmless, your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness, your children shall wander in the wilderness

Philippians 2:14. Do all things without murmurings (grumbling) and disputings:

Oh boy, are these days ever moving along swiftly. Can you believe it’s already Wednesday, not to mention the last few days of June. And to make matters even worse, today there’s a smoke alert in our area from the wildfires up north that apparently are still spewing out their pollution. And the real summer weather hasn’t even truly arrived. Yes, we have gotten a few hot days along the way, but not consistently, the air conditioners have hardly been on. (smile) It’s been more like springtime weather.

Let’s hope that July brings some consistently warm weather, so that we can complain that it’s ever so hot. Yuh know how we just LOVE to complain, especially when we get what we ask for and discover it’s not what we really want. And on that note, I think we are being guided to look at complaining in a more serious and biblical sense, because the Bible tells us in several scriptures about the negative consequences of complaining. And there seems to be so much relevant stuff on complaining that this might just have to run for two days. (smile)

Now, I guess the best place to begin is right at the beginning, where complaining first reared its ugly head with serious consequences. And that’s when the Israelites having seen all the miracles that the Lord had done for them on the way out of Egypt, once in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land began murmuring and grumbling and about their situation. They complained about the lack of water, the lack of proper food, the lack of meat, etc. etc. Things got bad and the Lord threatened: ‘I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num. 14:12)

Yes friends, the Lord was so tired with the ugly griping and complaining after all the wonderful things He’d done for them, that He was willing to destroy them and make a greater second nation for Moses. But Moses interceded on their behalf, pointing out how it would look if He destroyed them, when He was supposed to be their God and looking after them. And the Egyptians would have a field day spreading all kinds of nasty rumours. So the Lord listened to Moses’ wise words and relented, and instead of destroying Israel, He pardoned them. (Num. 14:1-20)

But they kept on complaining. And finally, the Lord’s patience wore thin. ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur (grumble) against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole (entire) number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me.

Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware (solemnly promised) to make you dwell therein, save Caleb of Jephunneh, and Joshua of Nun. But your little ones which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know (be acquainted with) the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall (die) in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness (be shepherds) forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness.

After the number of days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities (guilt), even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise (rejection or opposition). I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. And the men, which Moses sent to search (spy out) the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander (bad report) upon the land. Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the Lord, died by the plague before the Lord.’ (Num. 14:26-37)

Oh my people, yuh see what the evil of complaining accomplished. And how what you wish for can be used against you, for in verse 2, they had complained: ‘Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God that we had died in this wilderness.’ And they eventually got their wish after refusing to go into the Promised Land because of the negative report of ten of the twelve spies who went in and checked it out. That was a terrible slap in the face to God, because ‘Grumbling complaints directly or indirectly declare that God is not sufficiently good, faithful, loving, wise, powerful, or competent.’

So, none of them who came out of Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua, entered the Promised Land, but died in the wilderness. That’s because they were the only two spies who had positive reports on the land. Now you might say that was in the Old Testament and it doesn’t apply today. But you’ll be oh so wrong, for there’s this prominent scripture from Bruh Paul to the Philippians that refutes your contention. It quite clearly says: ‘Do all things without murmurings (grumbling) and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons (children) of God, without rebuke (fault), in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as the lights of the world.’ (Phil. 2:14-15)

Yes, my fellow believers, we are warned not to grumble and complain as we go through this tough life, but to be strong and steadfast, blameless, innocent and shining as the lights of the world that Jesus desires of us. And as we saw above, when we grumble and complain against God, it means we don’t consider Him good or strong enough to handle our problems. And believe me, if God could destroy His chosen people, the Israelites for constant complaining and disobedience, why wouldn’t He do likewise to us? No reason whatsoever!

And I know God claims to be patient and longsuffering, but what with all the sin and disobedience that’s running rampant in our world, I’m sure His patience is growing thin with us, just like it was with the Israelites way back then. And yuh see the lethal punishment that He can mete out. So please, as they say, a word to the wise is sufficient. Let’s be wise then and cut down on our complaining. That’s enough for today. More tomorrow, if God spares life. Let’s go home now declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.

Altogether now: ‘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 let’s remember, that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, that glorious future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…when believers complain incessantly…it upsets God…gives Him and inferiority complex…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 June 2023 Psalm 65:12b.

21 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: all the trees of the field shall clap their hands, an everlasting covenant, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off, be led forth with peace, break forth into singing ye mountains, express thanksgiving for rain and harvest, fill me with your unchanging light, God's way and thoughts are higher than ours, God's word would not return void, he that has ears to hear let him hear, help me to dwell in the abundance of your love, In Touch Devotional, in tune with Jesus, light peace truth and love, LOVE, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, not looking back at the past, repent and return to God, Satan behaves like a petulant child, settle me with your perfect peace, sincerely seek God's face, Sing O ye heavens, soften my heart to receive your truth, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the enemy tries to intimidate believers, the first day of summer, the fundametals of God nature, the God who forgives, the god who intervenes in history, the god who provides, the pastures are clothed with flocks, the river of God, the valleys are covered over with grain, they also sing, they shout for joy, to a glorious future with Jesus, Wednesday Wail, ye shall go out with joy

Psalm 65:12b. …and the little hills rejoice on every side.

Awright mih people, it’s Wednesday, the day we catch our second wind, and this 21 day of June is also the first day of summer! And it’s turned out to be a warm and sunshiny day with only a few clouds hovering overhead to try and intimidate us, as the enemy is constantly doing. But he just can’t accept the fact that he cannot intimidate true believers in Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.

And what gets me about Satan is that he knows Jesus’ power, because he was created by Him, and then defeated by Him in the fight for control of heaven, then again in the tussle over hell, death and the grave, but like a young petulant child, still tries to get his way, when his or her parents are adamantly opposed to it.

But enough about Satan, let’s turn to our wonderful God, who LOVES us so many that He even sent His One Son, Jesus Christ to die for us so that we could be reconciled back to Him. And we’ll do that by saying this prayer in June’s In Touch Devotional that’s based on Psalm 65.

Please pray with me: ‘Lord, I know You are good, yet some days I doubt Your provision. Today, let me join my prayer with the psalmist’s and say, You make the sunrise and sunset shout for joy – please fill me with Your unchanging light. You settle the earth’s ridges – likewise, settle me with Your perfect peace. You soften the earth with showers – please soften my heart to receive your truth. You have crowned the year with goodness – help me dwell in the abundance of Your LOVE. Amen.’

Oh friends, isn’t that a wonderful prayer? It certainly is! And I like how it asks for the basics, the fundamentals of God’s nature; His light, peace, truth and LOVE! With those things flowing through us, we certainly don’t need anything else to live the abundant life that Christ died for us to have! Glory Be! And it’s only right that we should peruse the words of Bruh David from Psalm 65, verses 8-11, that that prayer was based on.

But before we get into it, here is some info from the scholars re the purpose of the psalm. ‘The psalm has a simple purpose: to express thanksgiving for rain and harvest, an appropriate subject in an agrarian economy. It is addressed to God in its entirety and presents Him as the God who forgives (vs. 1-4), the God who intervenes in history (vs. 5-8) and the God who provides (vs. 9-13)’ Now that gives us some idea of what the psalm is about, so let’s read verses 8 -11.

Bruh David wrote: ‘They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens (signs): thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice (shout for joy). Thou visitest (gives attention to) the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn (grain), when thou hast so provided for it.

Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing (growth) thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop down fatness (abundance). They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn (grain); they shout for joy, they also sing.’ (Ps. 65:8-13)

Wow! What a wonderful and mighty God we serve my brethren! Yuh see how He prepares the earth for seed time and harvest, all out of His abundant majesty! And I couldn’t leave out those last two verses, because they too say a lot. (smile) I particularly like how Bruh David says: ‘the little hills rejoice on every side…and both the flock clothed pastures and corn filled valleys shout for joy and sing.’ You couldn’t find better imagery than that. And it’s what we should also be doing as we enjoy His new compassions and mercies every day.

And it’s all reminiscent of these two passages from Isaiah. The first one where he’s reminding Israel that the Lord has redeemed them, blotted out their transgressions and would return them to their land which would flourish, therefore they ought to repent and return to Him with joy and gladness. It says: ‘Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.’ (Is. 44:23)

Yes friends, even the very land will rejoice and shout for joy when the Lord renews it with His abundant grace and mercy. And the second verse is like unto the first (smile). It comes from that magnificent chapter 55, which opens with God inviting all who hunger and thirst to come to Him and eat and drink, buy stuff without money, instead of wasting our money on stuff that doesn’t satisfy.

In that chapter, God also promises an everlasting covenant with the Gentiles, like the one He’s established with Israel, and abundantly pardons those who sincerely seek His face, and where He lets us know that His thoughts and ways are greater than ours, and His word would not return void but do whatever it was sent out to do.

And as a glorious end to the chapter, he says: ‘For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir (cypress) tree, and instead of the brier (plants with prickly and thorny stems) shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.’ (Is. 55:12-13)

Oh my people what an important chapter that is, chocked full of all sorts of good things, especially God’s promise of salvation to ALL mankind, and the promise that His word would do exactly what He sends it out to do. We can’t ask for more than that, because it encompasses everything in a nutshell. (smile)

The kicker in it all though is for us to do our part, because in a covenant relationship both sides have duties and responsibilities to perform, and God has certainly done His part, but unfortunately we haven’t done ours to any worthwhile extent, that’s why we’re still suffering the indignities imposed on us by the enemy. And the ONLY WAY that will ever change is if we repent and return to God, sincerely seek His face and change our evil ways.

It’s as simple as that my fellow believers. And we all know that, but we’re just so stubborn, arrogant and prideful that we refuse to capitulate to Almighty God, our Creator, Controller and the most powerful Being in the universe! How foolish is that eh? But just remember that there are consequences to every action, for every action, there’s a reaction. And that’s a word to the wise. As Jesus says; ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ (Matt. 11:15)

Now, for those of us who are sincerely trying to keep the faith, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘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 let’s remember that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, that that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…if we’re in tune with Jesus…then we should be joyful and singing His praises…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 June 2023 Matthew 25:40a.

14 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: as ye have done it unto one of the least, depart from me ye cursed, endured the cross despising the shame, eternal life, everlasting punishment, for the joy that was set before him, get our second wind, glad to be alive, hands on the plough, humility, into everlasting fire, join the fray, lack the parts to walk that talk, looking unto Jesus, LOVE, my eyes are looking straight ahead, nailed naked between two thieves, not looking back, not my will but thine be done, obedience, prepared for the devil and his angels, salvation, saving grace, separate the sheep from the goats, set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left, Simon the Cyrene, talk a good talk, thank God, the author and finisher of our faith, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the crown of thorns, the Great tribulation, the Great White throne judgement, the righteous into eternal life, the shame of the cross, the sufferation of Jesus, to a glorious future with Jesus, ungodly ingrates, Wednesday Wail, ye have done it unto me

Matthew 25:40a. …inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And we’ve progressed to Wednesday, the middle day of our work week, when we get our second wind for the last part of the five labouring days. (smile) I guess it’s like the race cars going like crazy around the oval, who pull into the pits every so often to refuel, change tires and fix whatever else may be wrong, then head back out to the track with a burst of speed to join the fray once again. Yes my faithful brethren, that’s how we ought to be; getting refueled, recharged in our spirits, then getting back into the fray to help lost souls come to Christ to receive His saving grace, salvation and eternal life.

Oh, what a wonderful assignment for a wonderful Saviour! Ah friends, we couldn’t have a better guide, leader and employer. He came to earth and died for us, thus paying for our sins and saving us from eternity with Satan in Hades, then went back to heaven where He currently advocates for us, meanwhile giving us His Holy Spirit to help and comfort us, to enable us to do what He desires of us, then when our days on this earth are over, the unimaginable joy of spending eternity with Him in heaven! How could it get any better than that eh? It certainly could not!

The problem though is that some of us want the benefits without lifting a finger to do the work necessary. But do you think Christ wanted to go to the cross and die that shameful death? No way Jose! Yuh see how the night before His crucifixion, in the Garden of Gethsemane He begged the Father three times about not having to go through it. He was so anxious about the whole situation that He even sweated what seemed to be blood. But the Father’s answer was a silent No! Although He did send an angel from heaven to comfort and strengthen Him (Luke 22:39-46)

Eventually Jesus got the message that there was no other way to save the souls of us sinners, and it shows up in His fateful words: ‘Not my will, but thine, be done.’ Yes, my fellow believers, Jesus didn’t relish the thought of going to the cross, but He did it because the Father asked Him to, and He LOVED both us and Father enough to give His sinless life to save our sinful ones. And I hate to bring this up because every time I think about the ‘sufferation’ Jesus endured for our ungrateful sakes, it makes me feel sick inside.

Can you imagine the lashes of that maniacal whip slashing across His back, creating untold and irreparable scars; the crown of thorns pressed down on His holy and sinless head; the spitting and jeering that He was forced to undergo, then carrying that heavy wooden cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Calvary? It’s a good thing the Father saw His sorry state and sent Simon the Cyrene to help carry His cross and give Him a much needed break. And do you think the nails fiendishly pounded into His hands and feet or the gaping javelin wound in His side were a pretty sight and fun to bear.

And just imagine the shame of being nailed up on that cross, between two thieves, totally naked for all to see and jeer, then the added insult of casting lots for his garments, while poor Mary His mother stood there her heart just breaking into fine particles, knowing that that was His destiny, but still wishing that her first born son would not have to undergo such agony for people who couldn’t care less about Him. And now, we want to go to heaven but don’t want to live the godly life it calls for and help others to come to Him for salvation.

Chuh man! What a bunch of ungodly ingrates we are! And we have the gall to be ashamed of Jesus! But look at how He handled all the ‘sufferation’ and shame. The author of Hebrews tells us: ‘Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (become discouraged) in your minds (souls).’ (Heb. 12:2-3)

Now that’s how Jesus handled all the sad and disgraceful stuff He went through, because of the joy of sitting at the Father’s right hand that would come afterwards. Now why can’t we do likewise and put up with some difficulties when we are guaranteed the joy of heaven for eternity eh? Because we’re so full of heifer dust! We talk a good talk but lack the parts to walk that talk. But we want to go to heaven! Hn! Yuh think the Lord lets any and anybody into heaven?

Remember what Jesus said about separating the sheep from the goats? Many of us who think we’re going to heaven will be sadly disappointed because we didn’t do the things that Jesus considers worthy of heaven, like sincerely helping others and not being ashamed of Him and spreading His word sincerely, etc. etc. As He said: ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred (hungry), and ye gave me meat (food): I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungred (hungry), and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then he shall say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Matt. 25:31-41) Yes friends, that’s what’s going to happen. And those on the left hand shall ask the same questions as the righteous did, but get the unfortunate reply: ‘Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.’ (Matt. 25:45-46)

Now I think it’s important that we should hear the scholars take on the subject. They say: ‘The judgement of the nations concludes our Lord’s prophetic discourse. This judgement of all nations must be distinguished from the Great White Throne judgement at the end of the Millenium. The nations are those peoples living through the Great Tribulation on earth at the time of Christ’s return. This is a judgement of separation: sheep on his right – goats on the left. At this judgement all nations (better, “all Gentiles”) stand before Christ who then separates the sheep (the saved) from the goats (the lost) in a manner reminiscent of the wheat and tares parable.

Note that these are living nations, whereas the Great White Throne judgement is one of the wicked dead whose bodies are resurrected to face the final judgement of the lost. Thus the saved are invited to come into and share the blessings of His kingdom. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom. The basis of their acceptance seems to be their treatment of the least of these my brethren, the saved of the Great Tribulation.’

Yes friends, it’s heavy and plentiful, but it’s time we begin eating some meat and potatoes of the scriptures rather than simply drinking milk all the time. We cannot grow unless we get down to the nitty gritty of the word. And it takes time and energy to do that. So if we want to grow in the word, then we need to spend the necessary time and energy it calls for. Now let’s go home letting the world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, as we declare (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail.

In full 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 just to remind us that if we endure right down to the end with Jesus, that that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. Much LOVE!

…obedience and humility…that’s what Jesus is seeking from His followers…

P.S. Brother is it ever long, and I completely forgot about continuing where we left off yesterday talking about money. I only remembered it halfway through this discourse. But don’t worry, there are methods to mine and God’s madness. (smile) Much LOVE!

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 June 2023 Proverbs 18:21.

07 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a fool's lips enter into contention, a fool's mouth is his destruction, a talebearer revealeth secrets, death and life are in the power of the tongue, endure to the end, get a business, gossip factories, halfway home, he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth matters, his lips are the snare of his soul, his mouth calleth for strokes, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy mouth, looking straight ahead, LOVE, lying more than to speak righteousness, meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips, not turning back, o thou deceitful tongue, our words can either make or break us, plead thy cause with thy neightbour himself, so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue, stop minding other people's business, thank God, that which is good to the use of edifying, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the north wind driveth away rain, the words of a talebearer are as wounds, they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof, thou lovest evil more than good, thou shalt not bear false witness, to a glorious future with Jesus, Wednesday Wail

Proverbs 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Brother! Is it really Wednesday already? The days sure are moving quickly. And it’s already the 7^th of June. If we don’t look sharp and pay attention to our business the year will finish and we would not have done anything worthwhile. As 3 Canal rightly said: ‘If you don’t have a business, then you’d better get a business and stop minding other people’s business.’ And is that ever the truth in these times of social media and plenty minding of other people’s business. Minding other people’s business has now become big business where some of us are making big money for tattling on others, calling them entertainment shows, but in actual fact are just gossip factories.

And it’s sad, but somewhat amusing that everybody has an opinion on everything, even when we don’t know a blooming thing about anything! But I guess that’s life in these supposed modern times. And as usual we’ve forgotten one of the Ten Commandments; ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’ (Ex. 20:16) But false witness is exceedingly popular and rampant in these last days. And there are many other scriptures about gossiping and slander and false witness. Let’s check out a few of them nuh.

Cousin Sol is amongst the forefront of those who warn against the deadly virus. Listen to him from Proverbs 18: ‘A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes (blows). A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer (gossip or slanderer) are as wounds (tasty morsels), and they go down into the innermost parts (chambers) of the belly.’ (Prov. 18:6-8)

Yes friends, our mouths get us into plenty trouble, especially when we carry news and we’re not sure if it’s true or not. The words of a gossip might be tasty morsels to some who are hearing it, but to the one whom it’s about, it’s like an internal wound; it hurts them, especially if it’s not true. And unfortunately, that’s what our world seems to be about in these turbulent and vitriolic times.

Then in Proverbs 20, Cousin Sol tells us that ‘He that goeth about as a talebearer (gossip) revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not (don’t associate) with him that flattereth with his lips.’ (Prov. 20:19) And is that ever wise advice, for whoever gossips to you about someone else, will also gossip about you to someone else. And unfortunately, very few of us seem able to keep a secret nowadays, what with the way our mouths are constantly running with no real thought to what we’re saying.

That’s why Cousin Sol also wrote: ‘A talebearer (gossip) revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth matters.’ (Prov. 11:13) Now how many of us around right now are of a faithful spirit eh? Not too many, for we all like to blather and prattle about what we know, as well as what we don’t know. And listen to this one from the man of Proverbs. ‘Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble.’ (Prov. 21:23) And isn’t that the glorious truth! And how I wish that many many more of us would pay attention to that scripture and put it into practice. Our world and lives would be so much the better for it.

And Cousin Sol apparently wasn’t joking when he wrote about gossips and slanderers for here is some more of his infinite wisdom on the subject. ‘Debate (plead) thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not (don’t disclose) a secret to another. Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away (the evil report that follows your gossiping doesn’t go away.)’ (Prov. 25:9-10) Yes my people, let’s not reveal the secrets of others, for those things usually get back to the owners of the secrets and they can really put us to shame by bad-mouthing us to others.

And furthermore, according to Cousin Sol: ‘A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul (club), and a sword, and a sharp arrow.’ (Prov. 25:18) Yuh see friends, gossip and false witness are very dangerous things, that can cause untold damage to both the victim and the one who spreads it. That’s why Cousin Sol further says: ‘The north wind driveth away (brings forth) rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.’ (Prov. 25:23)

And I like this commentary on that verse. ‘Proverbs 25:23, the verse that specifically uses the word backbiting, paints a vivid picture of how people respond to a gossip. Just as a cold north wind brings rain, so a tongue given to backbiting will bring angry looks from the victims of the gossip.’ And sometimes it will bring more than angry looks according to the nature of the gossip.

That brings us to these words from Bruh David found in Psalm 52. ‘The tongue deviseth mischiefs (delights in evil); like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou LOVEST evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou LOVEST all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him.’ (Ps. 52:2-6)

In other words, as this commentary describes the passage. ‘3 You love evil more than good, you call black white. 4 You love malicious gossip, you foul-mouth. 5 God will tear you limb from limb, sweep you up and throw you out, Pull you up by the roots from the land of life. 6 Good people will watch and worship.’ That’s some of what we have to look forward to if we continue being gossips and false witnesses.

And what’s the solution to all of those warnings and promises, you ask? Listen to what Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.’ (Eph. 4:29) Oh my people that’s the way it should be. Instead of gossiping about others, we can talk words of kindness and truth to those we meet, LOVE them, by speaking words that will build them up rather than break them down.

For remember that Cousin Sol again has the answer: (smile) ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ (Prov. 18:21) Yuh better believe it my people, those of us who LOVE to indulge our tongues will most certainly bear the consequences of our words. So please, let’s stop and think before we talk nuh. That’s wisdom for the ages. Now let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting the whole world know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus.

As one 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 if we endure right down to the very end with Jesus, that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So let’s use that as incentive to endure all the way with Jesus nuh! Much LOVE!

…the words we speak…can either make or break us…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 May 2023 Luke 18:8.

31 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a new and living way, according to his riches in glory, as ye see the day approaching, assembling together, belly and backbone, Christians need to step up to the plate, DETERMINATION, direct access to god, encouraging each other, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, glorify our heavenly Father, hands on the plough, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, lacking in faith and good works, LOVE, make a difference, my God shall supply all your needs, not looking back, not putting in the faith and effort needed, only a poser, see our good works, shall he find faith on the earth, taking no prisoners, talk the scriptures but don't truly believe them, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the ingredient missing from our Christian walk, the king of glory, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, to a glorious future with Christ, to provoke unto love and to good works, transform hopes and beliefs into actions, we are not of them who draw back into perdition, Wednesday Wail, when the Son of man cometh

Luke 18:8. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And the week’s moving ahead very quickly; taking no prisoners whatsoever! (smile) Yes friends, it’s already Wednesday, mid-week, the day we try to catch our second wind. But the way the week’s galloping along, we might not be able to do that. That’s just for the unbelievers though, for with Jesus by our side, at our helm, all around us, we can do anything. Wow! What a scripture: ‘I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!’ (Phil. 4:13) And if you don’t believe that, then you’re no true believer, only a poser.

Ah mih people, I believe that’s the major ingredient that’s missing in our Christian walk these days; we talk the scriptures, the many promises and scenarios that make up our faith, but we don’t truly believe them, otherwise our church and our individual lives would not be so lacking in faith and good works. We are supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world now that Jesus no longer walks the earth, but are we truly those things? Does the heathen see our good works and thus want to glorify our God that is in heaven?

Hn! I don’t think so, or there wouldn’t be the great exodus from the church that’s currently taking place and Beelzebub and his evil cronies wouldn’t be the powerful force in our world that they currently are. And by the way, they seem to be getting stronger every day, while Christ’s church seems to be getting weaker, because it’s supposed devotees are not putting in the faith, effort and perseverance we need to see it prosper.

Recently I heard a preacher consider Jesus’ question: ‘Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8).Those are the closing words of Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow, found just before that scripture, and I began seriously considering it myself. Will He, my fellow believers, or will our faith have sunk to such a low level that it might as well be non-existent?

And thankfully I was able to find one commentary that throws a somewhat positive light on the situation. It says: ‘Perhaps, as members of the Church trust with all their hearts, transform their hopes and beliefs into action, and seek to align themselves with the will of the Lord, the answer to the question the Savior asked 2,000 years ago will be a resounding “Yes, He will find faith.’

And oh, how I do hope and desire with all my heart, that before it’s too late, that we, the members of Christ’s Church will come to that high level of trust and transform our hopes and beliefs into action, for that’s the ONLY way, Jesus will ever find faith when He returns to earth. Yes my fellow saints it’s only if we get up off of our fat, lazy, well-fed, entitled fannies and do what we’re supposed to do, that’s stand up strong for Jesus and spread the good news of His wonderful gospel all around the world, that faith will ever be found when Jesus returns to earth as the King of Glory!

That’s why we have to listen to the author of Hebrews when he exhorts us, re holding fast to the faith. ‘Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and to great works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:19-25)

Yes friends, the shed blood of Christ which makes Him the eternal sacrifice and therefore our High Priest forever, allows us to go into the holiest of holies, right to the throne of God, that’s to say a new and living way by which we have direct access to God, and don’t have to wait for the priest to make atonement for us once a year. And with that new and living way made available through Christ’s breaking the veil of the holies, we need to come close to Him with pure hearts, baptized with His Holy Spirit, washed in His blood, and assured of the promises He made us.

But it all takes a strong and assured faith to do so; a faith that should lead us to stirring up each other to do the good works that’s required of us. And one of the best ways to do that is by gathering together regularly, and encouraging each other, especially in these troubled and evil times, when it seems the last days are upon us.

And as the author of Hebrews says a little later on: ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance, perseverance), that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry (delay). Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction): but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Heb. 19:35-39)

There you have it my people: we need to stand strong in faith and do the works we are supposed to do, thus breaking the stranglehold that the evil body has on our world. And as the scriptures say, we are not shirkers of our duty, we don’t draw back. But it takes plenty belly and back bone, guts, perseverance, determination and strong belief in the promises of Christ to stand up strong for Him against the wily and evil enemy. And don’t forget that Christ will come in due time and reward those whom He finds standing in faith.

So, let’s write these two scriptures indelibly in our hearts, so that we can raise them up when necessary. The first is the one we began with: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ And the second is like unto it (smile): ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) That says it all! Now let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus.

As one strong, confident 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 yuh better believe, that if we endure right down to the very end with Jesus, that that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. Wow! So please let’s use that as encouragement to endure down to the very end nuh mih bredrin! Much LOVE!

…Christians need to step up RIGHT NOW…and LIVE their faith…if they hope to make a difference in this world….

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 May 2023 Hebrews 12:2a.

24 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a future and a hope, a modicum of circumspection, despising the shame, endure to the end, endured the cross, excuses, excuses are simply lies, firm, foolish blunders, for the joy that was set before him, gain our second wind, garbage in our souls, hands on the plough, I know the thoughts I think toward you, keep pursuing and never quit, looking unto Jesus, LOVE, my only hope lies in god, not looking back, One Year Book of Bible promises, party hearty, Ruth Harms Calkin, set down at the right hand of the throne of God, steadfast, strengthen my will Lord, thank God, the author and finisher of our faith, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the truth shall set you free, there is no hope in man, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to a glorious future with Jesus, to give you and expected end, wasted time, Wednesday Wail, wrong choices

Hebrews 12:2a. Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith;

Welcome to a somewhat cloudy and cool Wednesday, the middle of our work week, where we try to gain our second wind. And that should not be a problem for many of us this week, because of the Victoria Day holiday on Monday. That means this is only our second working day, but who knows, some of us might have partied so heartily on the weekend that Tuesday was like Monday to us. (smile) That’s the trap we often fall into on these long weekends; party so hearty that we’re even more tired than on a normal weekend. And the older we get the harder it becomes to recover from the extreme tiredness.

So, we need to do as Jeeves, the P.G. Woodhouse character, so highly recommends: have, or enforce a modicum of circumspection in those matters, so that we don’t go overboard and then find it difficult to recover. And to help us temper those extreme desires, here’s something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. Today’s Poem is simply titled ‘EXCUSES!’

So please read with me: ‘O God I’ve become a self-educated master Of a thousand polished excuses. Hoping to avoid Your penetrating gaze I clutch them to me like valuable gems. When I think I have myself thoroughly covered I’m caught short with the realization That you see right through me. My flimsy excuses are never really hidden. I find an excuse for all my failures Wrong choices Late appointments Wasted time. I excuse my foolish blunders, my laziness My broken resolves, my unreached goals.

I need Your help Lord! To hide from You is as foolish As the Grand Canyon Attempting to hide from the sky. O God, my only hope Lies in Your invincible power To make me what I am not yet But what You know I can become. Strengthen my will Lord. Make me firm, steadfast, consistent. Control my impulses, my emotions. May I keep pursuing and never quit.’

And all of God’s children said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’ That’s because, to some extent, we can all see ourselves in those unfortunate and unwise predicaments listed there. We all make excuses for our shortcomings, even when we know deep down that the excuse is either a lie or simply a means to get out of a jam. In fact, someone once said that all excuses are simply lies! Who knows, they might have hit on some truth there. The point is, that although most of us know better, we still tend to make lame excuses for our faults and foibles, not only to our fellow man, but also to God.

And as the poem quite rightly says it is ever so foolish to do that. Why? Because God sees and knows everything, even before it happens. That’s why it’s ever so non-sensical and laughable to hide from Him. We keep saying He’s omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present. But don’t we know what that means? He’s all powerful, sees everything and is everywhere at once. So it’s downright foolish to hide from Him. And even if it were possible, because of God’s overwhelming LOVE and compassion for us, He desires us to bring everything that troubles us to Him, be they good or bad, big or small, important or unimportant.

And until we can handle that fact, that awesome truth, we won’t ever have true peace in our spirits. I’m happy that I learned that awhile back, because now I don’t’ try to keep secrets from God, whatever is on my mind I share it with Him. That doesn’t mean He will always approve of what’s on our minds, and will most likely tell us so, but it frees us from having all those secrets pent up like garbage in our souls and spirits that’s constantly percolating there like food in a blender. What did Jesus say, if you know the truth, the truth shall set you free. (John 8:32) And that’s what the truth does, especially between us and God.

Now, before we can ever achieve the things we asked for help to achieve, that’s: ‘Strengthen my will Lord. Make me firm, steadfast, consistent. Control my impulses, my emotions. May I keep pursuing and never quit.’ Yes, before we can ever get to that point, we first have to acknowledge, believe and set in motion this part. ‘O God, my only hope Lies in Your invincible power To make me what I am not yet But what You know I can become.’

Ah mih people, until we recognize God’s awesome power in our lives, we will not become anything close to what He’s planned for us become. Remember what he promised in Jeremiah? ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope) (Jer. 29:11)

And the best way to come into the promise is by doing what the Bible Verse of Promise for our poem strongly advocates. ‘Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradictions (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (be discouraged.)’ (Heb. 12:2-3)

Yes, my fellow saints, the safest and easiest way to live the Christian life is to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the one who began our faith and who perfected it, by grasping tightly the promised joy of His Father, and thus despised the shame of being crucified naked on the cross of calvary, as well as the hostility of all those disgusting sinners whom He came to save.

It’s not always easy to do, because of the evil powers and circumstances that keep coming against us, but with Jesus’ help, we certainly can stand strong and steadfast, not get weary and not give up. Remember, the words ‘give up’ are not found in Christ’s vocabulary. (smile) And if we don’t, then we too will eventually sit with Him in heavenly places. Wow!

Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know our marvellous and very enviable position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘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 next thing is for us to endure until the end, for if we do that, then the promised future will be even more glorious that we can ever ask or imagine. So please, let’s use that promise to help us endure to the very end with Jesus nuh. It’s wisdom for the ages! Much LOVE!

…hope thou in God…for there is no hope in man…whose life withers and dies…like grass in the blazing sun…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 May 2023 Luke 18:1.

17 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: beware of what you ask for, calamity all around the globe, climate change, endure to the end, for the wages of sin is death, get down on our knees and pray, God gives us the anoining to face problems, halfway home, hand on the plough, his sweat were like great drops of blood, Jesus devoted Himself to prayer, Jesus spake a parable unto them to this end, keep on praying and not lose heart, looking straight ahead, LOVE, men ought to pray and not faint, not turning back, our God can do anything, pray without ceasing, prayer is our biggest privilege, prayer is our most powerful weapon, reduction of pollution, tampered with God's weather system, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the cup of sufferation, the dangers of polluting our atmosphere, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, to a glorious future with Jesus, Wednesday Wail, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, you use it or lose it

Luke 18:1. He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought to pray and not faint.

Now what’s happening weatherwise eh? Last Wednesday I said that that would be three consecutive days of bright sunshine, and this Wednesday, we’re still counting. (smile) As the old folks would say, beware of what you ask for, for when you get it, you’ll realize that it was not all it was cracked up to be. And so many steady days of sunshine without even a drop of heavenly blessing is definitely not good. Just note the heat and lack of rain that caused the wildfires out in Alberta, that by the way, are still burning. It’s never good to have too much or too little of anything…well, except where sin is concerned – a little is always good. (smile)

But since we’ve tampered with God’s finely tuned and balanced weather systems with all the pollution we’ve released into the atmosphere and the water, there’s not much we can do about it, except to pray. Some of us are making a rather belated effort to try and clean things up, but climate change didn’t happen overnight, it took some time to get to this stage where we’re feeling the dastardly effects.

And it’s not that we weren’t warned about the dangers of polluting our atmosphere and water a long time ago, but in the usual high-handed, arrogant manner of mankind, we, or rather those in power and those whose wealth would be affected by any reduction of the pollution, refused to believe that negative stuff could happen if we continued our stubborn, greedy activities.

Now we’re paying the price for it. And would you believe that there’s a sizeable portion of our population that still don’t believe that climate change is a reality at all, much less a worsening one. And as always, it’s mainly those in a position of power and wealth, who stand to lose the most if cleaner methods of production were instigated. That means, no real improvement can be implemented if those who have the power to make a difference don’t agree to do so. So what do we do eh?

As I said before, pray. That’s our most powerful weapon. And all of us pray to some God or other, and we claim to believe in prayer, so it’s time for us to shut up and put up! It’s time for us to unite, despite our faith, get down on our knees and pray that the negative and very difficult situations that are already causing calamity all around the globe, would be changed, or at least slowed down or halted by the blessed hand of our powerful and merciful God. Individually, we also need to do whatever we can to lessen pollution. It might just be a small deed like not throwing plastic in the water or the land fill, but each individual act when put together can make some significant difference.

Although, who knows if we stop all our polluting that our weather systems and the chunk we’ve taken out of our protective ozone layer would return to its original state? Maybe we’ve already gone too far, and we now have to grin and bear the calamitous effects that are coming our way. However, some of us do believe in the God who created the universe and all therein, that’s the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom we believe can do anything He so desires. And how do we communicate with this magnificent Deity, through the medium of prayer, which is basically talking to Him, expressing our desires and listening to Him as He answers our prayers.

And there’s no more telling duty or requirement in all faiths than to pray. In the Christiaan faith, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, made that very clear when He advised His followers thus. ‘He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought to pray and not faint.’ (Luke 18:1) That’s mankind ought to keep on praying and not lose heart or give up, for prayer is the most important privilege we have, and we must use it.

And being the honourable kind of man He was, He didn’t give advice and not keep it Himself, like the scribes and Pharisees did. While down here on earth, though being God, a member of the Holy Trinity, He always made time to pray to the Father in heaven, so that He could know the Father’s will, and have His human spirit be replenished to enable Him to fulfill His destiny. And there’s no better example of that than on the night before His crucifixion, when He was filled with anguish and torment over the upcoming ‘sufferation’. He repaired to the Garden of Gethsemane and devoted Himself to prayer.

Three times He cried out to His Father asking if the cup of ‘sufferation’ could be removed, ending each time with the statement, ‘not my will but thine be done.’ (Matt. 26:39) But He received no answer whatsoever. That’s because He knew, as well as the Father did, that there was no other way to forgive the abominable sins of man righteously and justly without Him paying the high, dehumanizing price it required. The Bible, God’s Word says: ‘For the wages of sin is death.’ (Rom. 6:23)

That means for sin to be considered paid for, death has to occur. And not any ordinary human being, but someone who was sinless. And since Jesus was the only sinless person available, the awful task fell to Him. And though the Father did not answer Jesus’ prayer, the gospel of Luke tells us that in his time of agony, that ‘He prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was like it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.’ (Luke 22:43-44)

So, the Father did not leave Him completely hopeless; He strengthened Him so that He could perform the necessary task. And that’s how He often is with us too. We might want to get away from something, but in His will or plan for us, He believes it necessary for us to go through the trial, so instead He gives us the grace, the strength, the anointing to face the problem. And we should also note what Jesus said to the disciples in the Garden when He found them sleeping instead of praying. ‘What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ (Matt. 26:40-41)

And that’s the gospel truth my people, our spirit is willing to keep us praying, but our flesh is weak and doesn’t want to do it. That’s why Bruh Paul in all his missives advised his readers to pray. To the Thessalonians he wrote: ‘Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess. 5:17-18)

Meanwhile to the Ephesians at the end of his treatise on putting on the armour of God (Eph. 6:10-17) he exhorted them: ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18) So although one puts on the protective armour of God, prayer is still essential to making it work.

Oh my fellow saints, please, let’s understand that the Christian life is based on prayer, and it’s to our benefit, not God’s, to have a good prayer life. Now, for those of who know and understand that and try to implement it, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.

And the beauty of it all friends, is that if we endure right down to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious that we can ever ask or imagine! Let’s therefore use that as encouragement and inspiration to stick with Jesus right to the very end nuh! Much LOVE!

…prayer is our biggest privilege…and like most things…if we don’t use it…we lose it…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 May 2023 Matthew 6:33.

10 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a profound understanding if his salvation, according to the riches of his glory, all these things shall be added unto you, eyes fixed straight ahead, floods, forest fires, godliness is profitable unto all things, halfway home, hands on the plough, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, LOVE, made to live in communion with God, my God shall supply all your needs, not looking back, on which side his bread was buttered, pig-headed, redemption, salvation, seek first the spiritual things of God's kingdom, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, so glad to be alive, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the downward trend to total destruction, the promise of life that now is, the tragedy of the ages, to a glorious future with Jesus, wars and rumours of war, weapons of mass destruction, Wednesday Wail

Matthew 6:33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Yes! It looks like we’re going to get three consecutive sunshiny days at long last! Glory be! You in the tropics wouldn’t understand how good that can be during the wet, rainy spring season. And yes, the frozen ground and the plants do need water to moisten them up and give them nourishment to grow, but too much of a good thing can also be bad. Just look at the recent severe flooding that’s occurred in the Western Province of British Columbia, where they got too much rain, and the forest fires in the middle Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where they didn’t get enough.

Life is meant to be a fine balancing act, and if anything drives it off that precarious scale, disaster often follows. And we can see that in the life of man too. He was made to live in communion with His creator and heavenly Father, but he’s stubbornly, and oh so foolishly turned away from Him! So what’s the result of that imbalance eh? A chaotic world, where wars and rumours of war reign, where hatred, religious conflicts, poverty, sickness, economic disaster, climate change and the disasters that they bring are running riot.

And we can carry on with much more of the chaotic stuff that’s happening because mankind has turned away from a gracious, merciful, forgiving and LOVING God. That’s the tragedy of the ages! And until we wake up and realize why our world is in such a calamitous state, we’ll keep on the downward trend to total destruction. Can you believe that at this stage of our existence, knowing our very fragile current situation, despite the overwhelming disaster that one mistake, or one madman can trigger, we’re still in a race to build bigger and better weapons of mass destruction?

What’s wrong with us eh? Why are we so pig-headed that we keep rolling along the path that will bring certain destruction, and not the one that will bring redemption and salvation? Didn’t we hear, or didn’t we understand what Jesus said so long ago? ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) Yes friends, man was made to seek first the spiritual things of God’s kingdom and not the material things of this evil and fallen world.

If we make the righteousness that’s characteristic of God’s kingdom our priority, then Jesus promises that all the material stuff we need will be supplied. Bruh Paul also promised it when he said: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) What’s it eh? Don’t we have faith in the promises of God? Don’t we think we can live a life that’s characterized by the righteousness of God? If not, then the words spoken by Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,’ (Phil. 4:13) are a complete and utter waste of time.

In fact, it’s a total lie! And all else that flows from it is nothing but fallacy and falsehood. Oh my fellow believers, Jesus will NEVER lie to us, or refuse us His help in anything we undertake in His will and His name. Let’s believe that nuh, because it’s what our faith is based on. Otherwise all the fuss we make about His death and resurrection, salvation, eternal life et al is a complete waste of time. We cannot believe one aspect of Jesus’ ministry and philosophy and don’t believe the others. So it’s very necessary that we believe it all if we are to benefit from it.

And if you don’t believe that God will supply all our needs if we put our sincere trust and faith in Him, then listen to what He did for Cousin Sol, way back when, when he became king of Israel on the death of his father, Bruh David. One night, in a vision, the Lord asked Cousin Sol what He wanted, and he asked for wisdom and understanding to rule the people in a wise and godly manner. Now the Lord gave him that wisdom and understanding, that’s why to this this day, he’s still known as the wisest man ever, because the Lord said; ‘so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee, shall any arise like unto thee.’ (1 Kin. 3:12)

But listen to this, as the Lord continues: ‘And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any (anyone) among the kings like unto thee all thy days.’ (1 Kin. 3:13) Yuh see that friends, Cousin Sol didn’t ask for wealth and honour, but the Lord gave them to him anyway, because of his trust and faith, and in such abundance too, that no other king was as rich and honoured as him. But yuh know what, the Lord interspersed one proviso amongst all the showers of blessings.

Listen up: ‘And if you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen (prolong) thy days.’ (1 Kin. 3:14) Oh my fellow believers, the key to the whole thing, the key to all the wealth and honour of the kingdom of heaven is simply walking in the Lord’s will and ways. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, because He knows that He did not create perfect but imperfect, sinful, disobedient souls. Just look at some of the stuff that Bruh David did, nuh; adultery and murder, yet the Lord still considered him a friend and a man after his own heart and made him the greatest king ever of Israel.

But the big difference is that Bruh David always sought the Lord. He knew on which side his bread was buttered, and thus brought every problem to God and did his best to stay on the straight and narrow path. So why is it so difficult for us to understand that our bread is also buttered on the same side as Bruh David’s was eh, and with even small faith, keep going to Him for refuge and understanding, and the things we need in this life? I can’t answer that question, but I do know that I’m trying to do like Bruh David, and though I’m far from perfect and have made many mistakes, the Lord has still blessed me with stuff that I certainly don’t deserve.

Life hasn’t been easy, but all through it I can now see His hand working on my behalf. And He will work on the behalf of anyone who sincerely puts their trust in His Son Jesus Christ and do their best to stick to His statutes and commandments. And what better scripture to close with than these words from Bruh Paul to Timothy. ‘But refuse (reject) profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.’ (1 Tim. 4:7-8)

What more can I say eh? Not much. But for those of us who are sincerely trying to practice godliness, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘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!’

Now friends, let’s just keep om seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that others can see that it works. Much LOVE!

…the devil is destroying our world…so why aren’t we turning to the One who wishes to save it eh…Almighty God…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 May 2023 Galatians 5:23.

03 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: arthritis inducing weather, be filled with the Spirit, be not drunk with wine, be of good cheer, endure to the end, envying one another, eyes fixed straight ahead, giving thanks always for all things, grin and bear them, halfway home, if we live in the Spirit, in the fear of God, Jesus has overcome the world, Jesus is the Great Physician, let us also walk in the Spirit, let us not be desirous of vain glory, LOVE, more lorious than we ask or imagine, not as fools, not looking back, prayer is a great privilege, provoking one another, renew the face of this earth, renew us gracious God, renew us to do justice, so glad to be alive, thakn god, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, the fruit of the spirit, the lust of the flesh, the spirit against the flesh, these are contrary one to the other, to a glorious future with Jesus, to love kindness, to walk humbly with you our God, vision for our church community, walk circumspectly, Wednesday Wail

Galatians 5:23. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Oh, what a glorious, wet, damp, drizzly, arthritis inducing Wednesday May morning! (smile) Yes friends, the last few days have been a combination of drizzle and weak sunshine, and the dampness that sneaks into the bones, causing the arthritis malady to raise its ugly head. But thank the Lord the weather doesn’t affect my aching bones. I don’t know why, but it’s never really made my supposed arthritic condition any worse. My pains come around when they feel like, regardless of the weather. And I’ve learned over the years to just grin and bear them, taking the odd medication when the pain gets a bit much.

What I don’t like about my joint pains is that they are annoyingly intermittent; suddenly showing up out of the blue, with no warning, and no obvious aggravation on my part. They’ll stick around for a bit, then disappear just as suddenly as they came, for another period of time. It’s a good thing Jesus warned us that in this world we’d have trials and tribulations, but we ought to be of good cheer, for He’s overcome, He’s conquered this evil world! Glory be my brethren!

And we do have to learn to handle some of our pain and not run to the medication bottle as soon as the pain shows up. My logic is that if we use the medications too often then they will cease to work properly after a while. But that’s just me, and I suppose my aches and pains might not be as bad as some of you my fellow believers. Each of us though need to keep Christ first place in our lives especially in our times of illness, for remember He is the Great Physician and prayer is our greatest privilege. So let’s try and use it more than we use the medications nuh.

And we can begin right now with this prayer I found amongst some papers while doing some spring cleaning in one of the many cubicles on my desk. I found all sorts of stuff, written ages ago, some that I couldn’t even read properly because of the terrible handwriting, and that was just a small portion of what’s hiding there. I’m sure there are many gems amongst the crud, but only time and my persistence in cleaning the desk will tell. Anyway, enough talk. Let’s pray this prayer that’s titled ‘Renew Toronto,’ but is very appropriate for renewing both our cities and our lives. And please don’t ask me where I got it from, (smile) because I haven’t the foggiest notion.

Instead, please pray with me: ‘Gracious God, in your wisdom and LOVE, You create us in your image and likeness. You call us to be your Presence in the world. Let the Spirit of Jesus grow with us for this journey – inspire in us insight and vision for our Church community – ready our hearts and hands to bring healing to our sinfulness – move our feet to live the Gospel of Jesus with courage and joy. Renew us, GRACIOUS GOD. Renew us by your LOVING acceptance of us. Renew us to do justice, to LOVE kindness, and to walk humbly with you, our God. To renew the face of this earth. Amen.’

Ah friends, I like it, and I hope you do too, because it’s simple and straightforward, yet covers all the bases. And oh, do we ever need a total renewing in these ungodly and evil times, where faith and trust in Almighty God is sadly on the wane, and the enemy is getting bolder and more prevalent every day. How we do need the Holy Spirit of Jesus to fill us up like Bruh Paul exhorted the Ephesians.

‘See that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation, licentiousness); but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph. 5:15-21)

Yes my fellow believers, that’s how we ought to live; being filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to fill us with God’s own life, character and values, rather than the dissipating wine that leads us astray to ungodly and sinful thoughts, deeds and actions. For it is only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God that we can receive the things we just prayed for; that’s inspiration for insight and vision for our Church community, to ready our hearts and hands to bring healing to our sinfulness and to move our feet to live the Gospel of Jesus with courage and joy.

Then, and only then can we fulfill Bruh Paul’s words to the church at Galatia. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirt, ye are not under the law.’ (Gal. 5:16-18) That’s oh so true my fellow saints, we only have two options; to walk in the Spirit or to walk in the flesh and Bruh Paul breaks down what both consist of in the verses that follow: ‘the lust or works of the flesh vs.19-21, and the fruit of the Spirit, vs. 22-23.

Please read and study them, so that they can take root in our souls, so that we can therefore do as he later says: ‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections (its passions) and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory (conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal. 5:24-26) Now, those are certainly words to live by, especially in these turbulent and contrary last days my brethren! And for those of us who are sincerely trying to live that way, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our fabulous 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!’

Now, please remember that it’s also been promised that if we stick with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Yes, our puny, finite minds simply won’t be able to comprehend it. (smile) So let’s use that as further encouragement to endure to the end nuh. Much LOVE!

…a spiritual walk with Christ…has so much more to offer…than a lustful, carnal walk with the enemy…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 April 2023 Psalm 119:105.

26 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a cakewalk, a light unto my path, belly and backbone, Bibles gathering dust, catching our second wind, chances are your life isn't, disunity in Christ's church, elbow grease, endure to the end, even to the end of the world, halfway home, I am with you always, if your Bible is falling apart, looking forward to a glorious future with Jesus, LOVE, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, New Bible, new broom sweep clean but old broom know the corners, not looking back, One Year Book of Bible promises, our spiritual journey, Ruth Harms Calkin, thank God, the Bible is God's Word, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Great Commission, they word is a lamp unto my feet, treating it with kid's gloves, Wednesday Wail, with Jesus in our corner any thing is possible

Psalm 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

So it’s Wednesday and we’re catching our second wind of this work week. Let’s hope that we made a positive difference in the opening days, that we were salty and bright like Jesus desires us to be, and that today will reenergize us, refill us with the Holy Spirit, so that we can continue the good work we’re doing in Jesus’ name down here on this abused and degenerate planet Earth.

And it’s of the utmost importance that we realize that if we ever hope to see positive changes in our world, that they will have to come from us, believers in Christ. It will have to be our elbow grease, belly and backbone that stands up against the very prevalent evil schemes and wiles of the devil and his evil cronies. No one else is going to want to, or be able to do it. But if we believe, with Jesus in our corner, then anything is possible, and if He wants us to take over the world then we can do so with His help. Yuh see how much success the first twelve disciples had in spreading the word.

However, to do that, we need to have the courage and desire to do it, the courage and desire that they possessed. And right now, it’s obvious that not enough of us possess those necessary qualities. And with the total disunity in Christ’s supposed church, it’s becoming a cakewalk for the evildoers, as they divide and conquer us with impunity. Yes friends, as a body, we’re falling down on the job, but that doesn’t mean as individuals we can’t make a decent difference.

And yes, it’s difficult when you’re fighting in your little corner of the world by yourself, but please, let’s not give up hope, because when Christ gave us the Great Commission, He promised in very positive and certain terms: ‘I am with you always, even until the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:20) That means He is always with us when we are doing His work, so there’s no need to fear or lack courage when we sincerely and enthusiastically decide to get out there and witness for Christ.

But enough of the negative aspects of our spiritual journey, let’s change the tempo. (smile) And I’ve found something in our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, that I don’t think I’ve ever shared before, but it’s truly interesting and rather appropriate in my life right now. It’s simply titled ‘New Bible!’

So please read with me: ‘This was an exciting day for me, Lord! This morning I opened my new Bible. Not a single word was circled Not a single phrase underlined. Now with each new day I can circle and underline again I can word-clutter the margins and I know what will happen. Lord – I’ll be asking as I read Why didn’t I see that before?

But even with the joy of the new Bible I’m going to miss my old one with its tattered pages – Its creased and torn edges. Oh, how many personal notes Are jotted on the margins How many God-whispered secrets. Yes, Lord, I’ll miss it. But thank You for a friend’s reminder: “If your Bible is falling apart Chances are your life isn’t.”

And that’s the gospel truth my brethren, because the falling apart of your Bible means that you’re in a lot, and thus the Word of the Lord is very prominent in your life, and you’re doing your best to be a good witness and disciple for Christ. And I can personally attest to what is written in the poem because my old Bible that I used to write the Bit, seven days a week for numerous years, was indeed falling apart on me at the end of last year, and I considered taking it to get it rebound because of the familiarity and ease of use. I even called up one binder about it, but never followed it up, and at the beginning of this year, simply bought a clean, brand new version of the old one instead.

And was it ever strange opening the new one and not seeing any underlining or stuff written in a kaleidoscope of colours. But with the passage of time, I’m getting accustomed to this new one. And although they are the same King James version, just a newer printing, there was something about the old one that I miss. I knew where to find everything I wanted. This one though is set up in a slightly different manner, and I’m still learning how to use it. The old one was also solid and could take the rough handling, but in comparison, this new one seems somewhat flimsy, and I find myself treating it with kid’s gloves

But I guess it’s like everything else nowadays, from humans to cars, to books, everything in these modern times is much more fragile, not as strong and sturdy, but they cost much more than the old versions though. (smile) And it all reminds me of the ole folks saying: ‘new broom sweep clean, but old broom know the corners.’ Yes, when you become accustomed to something, it’s hard to change to something newer, although the new thing might even function better.

Anyway, it’s all history right now. I’m into the new Good Library, and it’s telling me the same thing the old one did; ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105) And so it is indeed my fellow believers! Be it torn and tattered or brand new and unblemished, the Good Library contains the same wonderful information, yesterday, today and forever! It leads and guides us on our earthly journey. It’s the believer’s guidebook for living. And that lamp unto my feet and light unto my path scripture was the verse associated with our poem.

Ah mih people, our world is slowly, but steadily falling apart, what with all the evil schemes and wiles being perpetrated in it each and every day, but as true believers, we just can’t sit around and allow it to happen. We need to make our voices heard and our actions felt, regardless of how small and infinitesimal they may be. That means continual reading and meditating on the Word, putting our Bibles to good use, letting them become torn and tattered by constant handling, and not allowing them to sit and gather dust, as so many are currently doing is so many Christian households.

Now, for those of us who are trying our best to live for Jesus, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘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 it’s been promised that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Wow! So, let’s use that as encouragement to endure to the very end nuh! Much LOVE!

…the Bible is God’s Word…and you can only learn about Him by reading it…

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

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 June 2023 Philippians 2:14.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 June 2023 Psalm 65:12b.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 June 2023 Matthew 25:40a.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 June 2023 Proverbs 18:21.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 May 2023 Luke 18:8.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 May 2023 Hebrews 12:2a.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 May 2023 Luke 18:1.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 May 2023 Matthew 6:33.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 May 2023 Galatians 5:23.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 April 2023 Psalm 119:105.

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