Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 December 2017 Psalm 36:9.

19 Dec 2017 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 36:9.   For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

And then it was six… and counting! Yeh friends, six more days to the big one of Christmas! And I do hope that the celebrations are being ramped up, and all the preparations are falling nicely into place at your homes. 

It’s not looking too bad at my place. The outside lights are the best in the neighbourhood. (smile) So I’m somewhat biased, but they do look good. And I came home last night to find the Christmas tree being decorated. That looks good too…as always…! 

And brother, was I thrilled when I opened the door and was greeted, or rather assaulted, by a wonderful smell of baking Christmas cake in the air. And for a while the aroma just wafted through the house, adding to the air of Christmas cheer and peace and goodwill that existed. 

But all of that though friends should be secondary to the overwhelming presence of the Spirit of Jesus in our homes. For He, His miraculous birth, is the entire reason for all this celebration! And we need to keep that uppermost in our minds. 

And talking about birth, today I want to share a passage from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional titled ‘Nourishment from Above.’ And he says: ‘Wait on the Lord, and He will renew your strength! Prayer is the umbilical cord that allows you – with your embryonic ideas – to draw nourishment from a source that you, like an unborn infant, can neither see nor fully know or comprehend – God our heavenly Father! 

Prayer is the power that pulls everything together successfully. With this prayerful attitude tackle your problem today. Turn it over to God. Take out a sheet of paper. Pick up a pencil. And get ready for the ideas that he will drop into your mind.’ 

(And as you do that, you can pray something like this:) ‘Father, I have a strong sensation that you brought me to this moment of prayer because you have a plan to share with me insights to solve my problems. So I will go out and face the sunlight of a new day and a new week crammed with undiscovered possibilities. I am encouraged! I am enthused! I am more hopeful than I have been in a long time! Amen.’ 

Oh friends, do we Christians ever need to be more enthused, encouraged and hopeful than ever before because of the evil and ungodly world in which we’re living. And that uplifting will ONLY come when we establish a tight relationship, keep in constant communication with our heavenly Father through prayer, for He is indeed the source of all life and all good things. 

That brings us to our Bit: ‘For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.’ Oh my people, our God is indeed the fountain of life: it’s through Him that we were granted physical life, and it’s ONLY through Him is eternal spiritual life available! Jesus made this fact clear so often that I don’t see how we can ever forget or neglect it. 

Listen to Him talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well (fountain) of water springing up into everlasting life.’ (John 4:13-14) What an inspiring and encouraging scripture friends! 

Now hear Jesus after His listeners told Him about the Lord giving their forefathers bread (manna) from heaven in the wilderness. ‘Verily, verily I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ (John 6:32-35) 

Glory to God my brethren! For how can we ever beat that promise eh? Jesus IS the bread that gives life; all kinds, although there He is referring in particular to spiritual and eternal life. 

And if you still have doubts and misgivings about the true source of life, then listen to Jesus one more time. ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast (feast of tabernacles), Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart) shall flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:37-38) 

Oh precious people, Jesus is indeed the fountain of life, the bread of life, the giver of living water (the indwelling Holy Spirit), the giver of physical life, spiritual life, eternal life – whatever kind of good life you’re looking for, the source, the head spring, is to be found in Jesus! Please remember that and act accordingly. 

Now let’s go home declaring loudly and proudly to this evil and ungodly world, who and whose we are in our Tuesday Mantra. ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ 

And now, in this Christmas season, the time of Christ’s birth, let’s go out and truly share that wonderful LOVE of our awesome friend Jesus! It’s ever so appropriate. Much LOVE!

…as for me and mine…we will follow Jesus…the fountain of ALL life…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 December 2015 Hebrews 4:12‏‏‏

17 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

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

Hebrews 4:12.   For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (is able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart.

Oh friends, oh friends, welcome to another terrific Thursday in the life! All glory be to God for bringing us safely through another dark night of the spirit into the bright light of the sun… 

Oh, it might just be shrouded in certain places by dark clouds, but like the Son, it is always shining brightly, except that the light of the Son fires through the dark clouds like the wind blowing away smoke and chaff. Glory be my people! 

Now here are some wise and powerful words on the all-important subject of prayer by Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) from his Hour of Power Devotional. Please pay close attention. 

‘Prayer is the umbilical cord that allows you – with your embryonic ideas – to draw nourishment from a source that you, like an unborn infant, can neither see nor fully know or comprehend – God our heavenly Father! Prayer is the power that pulls everything together successfully.’ 

Yes my people, that’s why prayer is of such great importance in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ! It is the liaison, the link that bridges the gap between our Creator and us. 

So if we want to enjoy good and serious communication with Almighty God, then we have to pray consistently…and pray sincerely too, since the Lord doesn’t merely listen to our words, but even more importantly, considers the motives our hearts. 

So without further ado, here are the awesome words of our Bit and the verse after it. ‘For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (is able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart. 

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in (hidden from) his sight: but all are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (must give account).’ (Heb.4:12-13) 

Yes friends, NOTHING is hidden from the sight of our omnipotent and omniscient God! He sees all and knows all. So as the old saying goes, you can run, but you can’t hide. (smile) 

Now here is some info from the scholars on those two verses. ‘4:12-13. For the word of God. The reason given for one’s careful scrutiny of his life involves the reality that God is intently scrutinizing it. His word is quick (living). This word is first in the Greek and is the emphasis. 

God’s Word is not old or archaic; it is alive. It is not inept or inactive; it is powerful (active). It reaches into the inner secrets of man’s mind to discern even his thoughts and intents. Likewise, God’s eye sees man as though he were naked, unable to hide behind excuse or pretense.’ 

There you go my brethren, good reason for many of us to stop trying to hide from our Maker as we so foolishly try to do. 

Now let’s check out a few scriptures that prove the truth of our Bit; the awesome power found in the Word of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, beginning with words from Psalm 107 – God’s wonderful works to the children of men. 

‘Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 

Oh that men would praise (give thanks to) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (joyful singing).’ (Ps.107:19-22) 

Ah mih people, yuh see how our mighty God healed those that cried out to Him? ‘He sent his word, and healed them.’ That just goes to show how powerful the Word of God is, and that we ought to be very thankful for it by offering the sacrifice of praise. 

And hear this from Psalm 147 – Great is our God and of great power. ‘He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. 

He casteth forth like morsels (fragments of food): who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters to flow. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes unto Israel.’ (Ps.147:14-19) 

Yes Friends, God’s Word works powerfully in ALL aspects of our lives! 

And finally this situation with Jesus and the Roman centurion, who meets Him as He enters Capernaum, and asks for healing for his sick servant at home. 

‘And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.’ (Matt.8:7-8) 

This admission by the heathen centurion surprised Jesus so much that He declared: ‘Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’ (Matt.8:10) 

Yes my brethren, it had to be surprising that a Roman officer had so much faith in the power of Jesus’ Words. 

Finally, ‘Jesus said unto the centurion, go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.’ (Matt.8:13) 

Ah Friends, it all has to do with faith, with belief, with surrender, with trust and with the LOVE of Jesus. We cannot exist successfully without those elements in our daily lives. Much LOVE!

…be it unto us…as our faith dictates…