Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 August 2016 Isaiah 35:4

04 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

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

Isaiah 35:4.  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense: he will come and save you.

Ah friends, another beautiful summer’s day seems to be in the offing…and a rather hot one to boot, right up there in the early thirties. Now I know that is an everyday normal for some of you, but not in this great country called Canada. Up here, especially in these days of climate change, the temps do fluctuate some. 

Anyway, the important thing is that we’re alive and kicking – well some of us (smile) and we’re holding on securely to our faith in our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

And all God’s children declared a loud and proud: ‘Praise the Lord for He is worthy to be praised. Bless His holy name, rejoice in His mercy and LOVING-kindness and glorify His omnipotent majesty!’ 

Now let’s continue this great beginning to our day by proclaiming out loud, with much sincerity and enthusiasm, our Thursday Blessings. Remember, a blessing is not a blessing until it’s declared. 

As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! 

I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

And seeing that we’re on such a roll, let’s just motor along with our Bit; that powerful, encouraging and reassuring piece of scripture. ‘Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense: he will come and save you.’ 

Yes friends, that’s the Lord’s promise that Israel will be restored to Zion. It’s also His promise to us that He will fight for us; He’ll exact vengeance on our enemies and recompense us for our loss. Ah mih people, it’s ‘a message of hope for the future,’ therefore we need to be strong and not be afraid of what man can do to us. 

What did Jesus tell the disciples? ‘And fear them not which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt.10:28) 

Words of absolute truth my people! He who kills the body is not so much to be feared as the one who can kill both body and soul, because the death of the body is not the end of a person’s life, but the death of a soul is something entirely different. 

Now let’s hear some of the stuff that the Lord promised when Israel is restored to Zion. This comes after our Bit. ‘Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart (deer), and the tongue of the dumb (mute) sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons (jackals), where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and a way (road), and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men (they who walk the road), though fools, shall not err therein (go astray). 

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ (Is.35:5-10) 

Oh my fellow believers in Christ, yuh see the wonderful stuff and times we have to look forward to! 

And the scholars offer this explanation. 35:1-10. The prophet Isaiah now turns to a message of hope for the future. After the great destruction of the Tribulation period will come the blessings of the millennial age when the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 

In the Messiah’s kingdom all spiritual evil and physical catastrophe will be reversed and the land and the people will be blessed. Carmel and Sharon, the normally fertile regions of Israel, though devastated by the Battle of Armageddon will once again be fertile and productive. One day they will blossom more beautifully than the cedar forests of Lebanon. (vs.1-2) 

The highway is contrasted to the desolate desert and its endless maze of shifting sands. It will be the way of holiness and will be reserved for the ransomed and redeemed of the Tribulation period who will enter the millennial kingdom.’ 

Oh my people, what a wonderful situation we have to look forward to as members of the ransomed and redeemed! Glory Hallelujah! But if we truly want to walk along that highway of holiness in the future, right now we have to stand strong and believe that God will do what He has promised. 

So today, please let’s ponder all that we’ve said and bind the wonderful promises of God deep in our hearts, minds, souls and bodies, for that is wisdom of eternal value. Much LOVE!…

there’s none as mighty and powerful…as the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 June 2014 Psalm 69:30

06 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 69:30.    I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

And then it was Friday, the harbinger of the weekend! And the working people were joyful and sang with great enthusiasm: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and slaving for massa done! Thank God is Friday yes! That means the weekend soon come, time to party!’
 
And who can really give them wrong, for after a hard week’s work, one needs to have some fun. But Friends, fun is not the most important part of the weekend, merely one of them.
 
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant, which will give us a better perspective on how to handle these important two days off. As one, in strong voice now.‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
 
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
 
Yes my people, the weekend is also a time for rest, relaxation and contemplation of God’s goodness and mercy with fellowship amongst other believers.
 
And then we have today’s Bit: ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.’
 
Oh my brethren from the moment my eyes fell on it this morning I knew it was our Bit. That verse touches my heart and brings a tear to my eyes, (smile) because it’s so heartfelt, and besides that, songs are such an integral part of worshipping our magnificent and majestic God!
 
And as the psalmist, Bruh David, as I just discovered, tells us in the next verse: ‘This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.’ (Ps.69:31)
 
So Friends, we see that our God even prefers sacrifice in songs of praise and worship to that of animals. As Hebrews informs us: ‘By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.’ (Heb.13:15)
 
And what better way to do that than in song? Throughout the Good Book songs are mentioned numerous times as worthy praise to God. When we check out the Psalms, most of them were written as songs, many by Bruh David, who was an especially good ‘songmeister’ and used them all the time.
 
Cousin Sol was also a good tunesmith. He even wrote a whole book of them – Song of Solomon or Song of Songs – bursting with LOVE for his adored.
 
And what I want to do today is show how very important songs were, and still are, in praising and worshipping our wonderful Most High God. Let’s delve into some of those beautiful scripture passages now.
 
And where else we would start eh, but with God’s own ‘songmeister’, Bruh David. (smile) Listen as he profoundly declares: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:7)
 
Even to Job’s buddy, Elihu, songs were important, as he bewails: ‘But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.’ (Job 35:10) So we see here that even God puts songs in our hearts.
 
Now hear the psalmist as he heartily advises us to praise the Lord for His creation. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery (small lute) and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise (joyous shout). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.’ (Ps.33:1-4)
 
Oh my people, how can we ignore such expressive feelings eh? No way!
 
Meanwhile, in his foretelling of Israel’s return to Zion, Isaiah positively declares: ‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ (Is.35:10)
 
And Bruh Paul will not be left out, (smile) as he provides us with these wise words. ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); 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.’ (Eph. 5:18-20)
 
Now here’s the clincher; even in heaven, or should I say especially in heaven, songs are of great importance. Around God’s throne, John saw four ugly beasts, and what were they doing?
 
‘And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest (cease) not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.’ (Rev.4:8)
 
Yes Friends, even the ugly beasts were continually chanting God’s praises!
 
And that’s not all. When the Lamb of God took the Book of Life, what happened eh?
 
‘And he came and took the book (scroll) out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials (bowls) full of odours (incense) which are the prayers of the saints.
 
And they sung a new sung saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred (tribe), and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.’ (Rev. 5:7-10)
 
Yeh mih people, songs of praise and worship are oh so important in worshipping our magnificent God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Not only do they glorify Him, but they also put joy and LOVE in our hearts too.
 
So please, let’s keep right on singing those glorious psalms and songs of praise to Almighty God, so that we may continually glorify Him, and also keep our hearts and minds full of joy and LOVE! Oh Friends, that’s indeed heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…praise Him, praise Him…Glory Hallelujah…He is LOVE…He is LOVE… 
 
P.S.  Oh Friends, please excuse the lateness of the Bit, but I was somewhat tardy in rising this morning, (smile) and then there was so much info to cull together and try to make sense of, that it took me longer than expected. But remember, it’s all good. Much LOVE!

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 June 2014 Ecclesiastes 3:4

01 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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

Ecclesiastes 3:4.      A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Oh Friends, can you believe it’s already the first of June? Wow! Half the year has already gone by, and it seems like it was just yesterday we celebrated Christmas and New Year’s, and it’s almost time to celebrate them again. Hn, Hn, Hn!

Yeh mih breddren, the days are quickly flying by, and thus we have no time to lose in getting our affairs with Jesus fixed right, since He can return at any time, and if we’re found wanting, then crapaud smoke we pipe. And we obviously don’t want that to happen, so please let’s get smart and get right with Him nuh mih people.

On a point of interest, not because I haven’t been on our case to see if and how we are adhering to our New Year’s resolution to follow Christ more completely, means that you shouldn’t review it yourself on a periodical basis. One of the functions of a believer is to police him or herself without outside pressure. Anyway, I’m going to take it for granted that we are indeed improving our faith walk. I refuse to believe that we could be backsliding! (smile)

And in light of all that, here’s a rather appropriate and interesting quote from Arnold Glasow (1905-1998), an American author and humorist. Arnold says that: ‘Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.’ And that’s quite true – except for the stitches in your side and the tears you shed when you laugh too much.

And to back up Arnold’s theory, here are some thoughts from my One More Day Daily Devotional for People with Chronic Illness. ‘Unlike medicine, laughter costs us nothing, and can be partaken of as often as we see fit… A good, hearty laugh is therapy for our minds and bodies. Mirthful laughter can cause a remarkable feeling of well-being and joy. Laughter loosens all the cares and woes of the day and makes them somehow easier to bear.’

And all of that Friends in indisputable truth! But unfortunately laughter has become less prevalent in our current society, than it was just a few years ago. Today we’re all so busy, concerned and anxious about our lives and livelihood, especially with the depressing economic times, that we find it difficult to laugh much and make laughter a treasured part of our lives.

But Friends, as the Preacher tells us in our Bit, there is ‘A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.’

However, it seems like we’re doing way too much weeping and mourning, when we should be instead laughing and dancing. Oh Friends, weeping and mourning very seldom help the situation. They don’t ease our troubles and woes. But laughter and dancing do. They might not solve our problems, but they surely do make us feel better, bring a more positive attitude to our perception, which in turn helps us to better solve those same problems.

And Jesus did tell us in the Beatitudes: ‘Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.’ (Luke 6:21b)

Likewise, Isaiah, in talking about Israel’s eventual return to Zion declared: ‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ (Is.35:10) Now Isaiah felt that verse so keenly that he reiterated it in chapter 51:11, when he talks about the faithful are called to courage.

And that’s another bit of gospel truth there Friends. To be truly faithful to serving and worshipping Jesus, we need to be very courageous, for walking with Him causes all sorts of stuff to come out of the woodwork at us.

But the psalmist greatly reassures us by steadfastly proclaiming: ‘They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth (to and fro) and weepeth, bearing precious seed (a bag of seed for sowing), shall doubtless come again with rejoicing (shouts of joy), bringing his sheaves with him.’ (Ps.126:5-6)

Oh my fellow believers, that brings to mind the joyful hymn that says: ‘Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves. We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves!’

It’s obvious my people that Jesus wants us to have a good, pleasant and happy life overall. That’s why He came and died for us.’I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10b) And having abundant life certainly doesn’t mean more weeping and mourning and sorrow and tears, than dancing and laughing and joy.

And we’ll end with two very important scripture passages that uphold that theory. This deals with the numberless multitude when Jesus ascends His throne. ‘They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on (strike) them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed (shepherd) them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears (every tear) from their eyes.’ (Rev.7:16-17)

And if you didn’t believe those verses, (smile) then try these: ‘And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev.21:3-5)

Oh my people, my people, yuh see what a wonderful future we have to look forward to! So please, let’s stop with all the sorrow and mourning nuh, and get some more joy and laughter into us, for that’s why Jesus came to earth and sacrificed His sinless life: so that we could enjoy a rebirth, a reconciliation with the Father. Hn! And if that isn’t great cause for joy and laughter and celebration, then I don’t know what is! Much LOVE!

…laughing openly and spontaneously…will always make me feel better… (From One More Day Devotional for People with Chronic Illness).