Philippians 1:11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Oh Friends, the ole fella’s feeling lousy this morning, both mentally and physically tired. I had a rough and busy day yesterday and my sleep pattern was thrown totally out of whack. And many of you know how it feels when you don’t get proper sleep. Anyway, no use moaning, I still have to write the Bit, sickness and tiredness must not stop it from going out. (smile) But as always, more so than most days, I cried out for divine help and guidance. And I know that I will receive it, because the Lord doesn’t want me writing nonsense with His name attached to it. In fact, I’ve already begun receiving that divine guidance, for my mind is feeling more alert now, and I am putting pen to paper. I found a Bit before I began, so it was just a matter of getting my mind around it. Oh Friends, with all that divine stuff happening, how can I ever doubt the mercy and LOVING-kindness of our God eh? Not on your life! Those people who doubt and mock are fools! That’s all I can say. If they only gave Jesus a reasonable chance to come into their lives, they’d be most surprised at how wonderfully He works in them. The problem though is that too many of us want the easy life, and Jesus NEVER promised that. He promised the GOOD LIFE; one that would be filled with trials and tribulations, but He would see us victoriously through them all. And my fellow believers, at this stage of my life, I can attest to the truth of all that stuff, because as I just remembered, this month of March 2013 will begin the seventh year, yes mih breddren, the 7th year that I’m writing this Scrip-Bit. Oh how the time has flown! And believe me, I could not have done it, as you can see from above, without divine help and guidance. I’m chuckling here now, remembering how I chuckled seven years ago when the Lord proposed the idea and I told Him I couldn’t do it due to my lack of proper scriptural knowledge. But here I am now, seven years later, a veritable fount of wisdom and knowledge, compared to what I was back then. (smile) That’s simply because it’s impossible to walk consistently with Jesus and not gain some real knowledge and true insight into this life. As Sister Joyce, Joyce Meyer, likes to say; ‘I’m not where I want to be. But thank God, I’m not where I was!’ Yes my fellow believers, walking with Jesus is indeed a journey, and oftimes a long and arduous one. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the journey will be most interesting and knowledgeable, for who better is there to walk and associate with than the One who sacrificed His sinless life for you, two thousand years ago? As he said back then: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) And He indeed laid down His life for us, which means we are truly His friends, especially if we consider His next statement. ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14) Then later he goes on to declare: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained (appointed) you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye LOVE one another.’ (John 15:16-17) So you see my brethren, from the very beginning, Jesus has been the one seeking a relationship with us, and attempting to make us His friend. And if we’re smart we’ll accept His friendship with wide open arms, because it’s the best thing this world has going for it. Oh Friends, it’s such a simple, but poignant message: I needed disciples to spread My Word, and I chose you. I consider you my friends, so I’ll die for you. Now all I ask is that you do as I say, namely go out and spread My Word and LOVE each other. And to top that all up, anything you ask the Father in My Name, He’ll gladly give you. Why is that proving so hard for us to do eh, especially when there’s no other relationship in this whole wide world that can even come close to it? I guess too many of us refuse Jesus’ friendship because we’re afraid of what it will mean to our sinful lives; lives filled with darkness and great desire for the mostly useless things of the world, which are fraught with problems and never last. On the other hand, we can get all the necessary things for living a full and rich life walking in close tandem with Jesus. And the beauty of it is, when you receive worldly things through Jesus, they last. You don’t have to fret and worry that you’ll lose your job, your house, your family, as you would if you’d sold your soul to Beelzebub to get them. Ah mih people, yuh see how things can change in the twinkling of an eye? From feeling lousy and miserable, not knowing what to write, with the gracious help of Jesus, I’ve gotten over most of that negative feeling and written more than I ever imagined possible back then. Let’s just hope it makes sense. (smile) In any case, I know that you fellow believers, imbued with wisdom from above, are all wise enough to be able to pick sense from nonsense. Now it’s obvious we won’t have time today to delve into the workings of our Bit, which I wanted to introduce way back when Jesus spoke about His people going out and bearing fruit, because they dovetail so nicely together. ‘Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.’ So Friends, with all of that in mind, let’s go out today and see if we can’t bear some fruit that will further God’s kingdom and glorify His Most Holy Name. It’s what we were created for. Much LOVE!…if we’re good soil…in which the seed of Jesus has taken root…then it’s time for us to grow…and bear good fruit…thirty…sixty…even a hundred fold…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 January 2013 Psalm 142:3
11 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: dogged pursuit, freedom, Friday chant, if God be for us, land of the living, look to heaven, mortal man, no refuge, overwhelmed spirit, peace and satisfaction, quicksand of life, responsibility, secret traps, spirituality, TGIF!, Thank God it's Friday, trials and tribulations, troubles
Psalm 142:3. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
Well hello there you wonderful children of the Most High God Jehovah! I’m wishing you a bright and bountiful day as I acquaint you with the important fact that today is Friday. (smile) And immediately joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ rise up to heaven on high, bringing with it a most welcome sensation of peace and satisfaction that for two whole, big, long days, there will be no work to get up and go to in the outside world. Yes Friends, the weekend is upon us, which means we have to chant our Friday Chant. So as one faithful, hopeful, believing body now, let’s chant up a storm, even louder and more intense than the emotion we showed in rejoicing that it’s Friday. ‘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.’ Ah mih people, that is just to ensure that we don’t get too carried away by the freedom of the weekend, that we keep it in the right perspective and stay on the straight and narrow path, rather than rush off to the dangerous broad highway, that Lucifer tempts us to take. Freedom is great, but like everything else, a price has to be paid for it, in this case, one of spiritual responsibility. And as I turned my attention to our Bit, I realized that it is very appropriate, relative to what we were just saying. ‘When my spirit was overwhelmed (fainted) within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily (secretly) laid a snare for me.’ This comes from one of Bruh David’s contemplations, when he was hiding in a cave from his enemies, who were doggedly pursuing him. The scholars claim that cave could either be the one of Adullam (1 Sam.22:1-2) or that in Engedi (1 Sam.24:1-7) where he had opportunity to kill his major nemesis Saul, but rightly refused to lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now Friends, the first thing I want us to note in our Bit is Bruh David’s surety, the confidence with which he utters that first sentence. ‘When my spirit was overwhelmed (fainted) within me, then thou knewest my path.’ Yes my people, when our enemies come so forcefully against us, have us betwixt a rock and a hard place, and our spirits are so low that we’re liable to faint from the pressure, don’t worry, the Lord knows what we’re going through. This reminds us of the words of the psalmist, Asaph. ‘In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran (my hand was stretched out) in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.’ (Ps.77:2-3) Oh my brethren, ponder on that for a moment nuh. Yes, sometimes it does get pretty rough out there in the trenches of our evil world, especially when our enemies lay secret traps for us. And we often feel like Bruh David did: ‘I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know (acknowledge) me: refuge failed me: no man cared for my soul.’ (Ps.142:4) Now that’s a very disturbing and frightening situation Friends! But when we do feel like no one cares, that we have no place of refuge on this earth, please don’t give in to the despair, for though the children of men might be against us, always remember that our great God has us in His sights and under His protective umbrella. As Bruh Paul said centuries later: ‘What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom.8:31) And we all know the answer to that – NOBODY! However, Bruh David knew the underlying principle, since he had lived it for most of his life. Consequently, ‘I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend (give heed) unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.’ (Ps.142:5-6) Oh my people, I am sure right now some of you are facing some real rough times and feel like Bruh David felt, so don’t be afraid or ashamed to also cry out to our LOVING, merciful God, like he did. That’s exactly what the Lord expects us to do in times of need. Yes my brethren, whenever our spirits are spiralling downwards, pressured by the trials and tribulations of this earthly life, it is certainly no disgrace to cry out to the Almighty, to the One who is stronger than us, for even Jesus did it in His times of sorrow. Like Bruh David, we can also plead: ‘Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about (surround me); for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.’ (Ps.142:7) And that Friends, we know is an undisputable fact! When we cry out to God in true faith and sincerity, He will lift us from the mire, deal bountifully with us and cause us to be surrounded by the righteous of the earth, because that will cause us to praise and glorify Him. And we all know that there’s nothing our heavenly Father likes more than us praising and glorifying Him with sincere hearts. In fact that’s one of the major reasons He created us. So please my people, whenever we’re being mercilessly pummelled by our enemies, as all of us are at sometime or other, let’s remember that the omnipotent Creator of this universe is our sure refuge, and let’s cry out in faith to Him, let Him hear our pain and desperation ringing out loud, so that He can take appropriate action and draw us closer to Him. Much LOVE!…when we’re drowning in the quicksand of life…and there’s no help from mortal man…look to heaven…the mighty spiritual hand of God will save us…He’s faithfully promised that…
Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 July 2012 James 5:13
03 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in Inspirational Living Tags: celebrate each new day, climbing new mountains, give thanks, rejoice and be glad, the Lord's mysterious movements, trials and tribulations
James 5:13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Oh Friends, here it comes; another brand new day, filled with some wonderful old stuff like God’s great, unconditional LOVE for us, but also with lots of new things, like His new mercies and blessings. Let us therefore rejoice and be thankful in and for this day! And all God’s people raised a loud and joyous shout to heaven: ‘Oh praise and thank the Lord for His never-ending goodness to the children of men! We will faithfully serve and worship You forever Lord! Amen!’ Yes Friends, it’s only a sense of wisdom to be thankful for and celebrate each new day, since we never know what the Lord’s planned for us. He might remove some of the negatives, give us positives, or any combination thereof. But we know for sure that He’s working all things out for our good, as He’s promised in Romans 8:28. However, along with all that, we have a divine responsibility to look after what He’s given us, including our health. And this is one of those times I have to chuckle because the Lord moved in one of His usual mysterious ways yesterday evening while I was reading a Devotional. The quote at the top of the day was interesting and got me thinking about the topic of health. And right then and there I stopped reading the Devotional, got out pen and paper and began writing this. Hn, hn! What an interesting, amazing and unmatchable God we serve Friends! He never ceases to amaze me in how He works! Anyway, the quote comes from one Leon Eldred, and it says: ‘If I had known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.’ And isn’t that a fact to which we can all attest my brethren? However, I’m here to tell us today that it’s not too late to begin taking better care of our health, like simply eating better, wiser, getting proper rest, and exercising a little more. It doesn’t take much out of us, just pay more attention to what we put in the Lord’s temple, our mortal bodies, and how we use, not abuse it. Obviously we won’t get healthy overnight if we’ve allowed ourselves to go to waste for sometime. But as Cousin Confucius (smile) says: ‘The longest journey begins with the first step. And once you’ve taken that first step, you’re halfway home!’ That’s gospel Friends! The first step is always the hardest! And though I’ve never really abused my body, I’m now trying to treat it a little better, and you’d be surprised at the difference subtle little changes make. And since I know I still have to a ways to go on this earth, because naively or wisely, I suspect the former, sometime ago, in my eagerness to please God, I asked Him, like Caleb did, to give me a new mountain to climb when I’m 85. Hn, hn! And knowing our God’s penchant for catching us offside when we least expect it, I thought I’d better start getting myself in shape to climb that new mountain, some twenty years hence. Yes children, you have that long to put up with me. (smile) Oh Friends, when will I learn to stop asking God for the things some of the Bible stalwarts asked for, and often received, but at great expense and tribulation? Anyway, the deed’s already done, so all I can do now is prepare my self as best I can, for if that day ever comes. Yes mih people, please be careful what you ask the Lord for, because most of the time it comes with a hefty price tag. And now that I’ve written all that extempo(re), from the heart, I guess I’ll have to find an appropriate scripture later. But I like these Bits though, where the Spirit just gets me going; instils an idea, then let’s me run with it. And the Lord was so good to me, that when I came down here this morning to finish writing the Bit, it didn’t take long to find a suitable scripture. Enough of my prattling though, let’s look at the Bit: ‘Is any among you afflicted (suffering)? let him pray. Is any merry (cheerful)? let him sing psalms.’ Now that’s excellent advice my brethren from James, the brother of Jesus, re patience in affliction! And we all suffer affliction at various stages in life, some more than others, but it’s a common problem because of man’s fallen nature. And the best way to attack that suffering, the first move we ought to make, is to get on our knees before Almighty God in sincere prayer. Yes my people, before we do anything or turn to any human, we must always take our problems first to the Father. That’s what He’s there for, and what He desires of us. The psalmist Asaph also strongly advises this course of action in Psalm 50, God is the judge: ‘Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ (Ps.50:14-15) And on that wise note my Friends, we’ll end for today. There’s more to come, but I don’t want to hear any complaints that it was too long. (smile) And we have enough material there to ponder on for today, so let’s get a pondering nuh! Till we meet again tomorrow, the Lord willing, take care, and remember to always give God the first opportunity to help us. Much LOVE!…when prayer and praise come together in a believer’s spirit…all heaven rejoices…
