Today’s Scrip-Bit   27 April 2022 Luke 15:17a.

27 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

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

Luke 15:17a. And when he came to himself…

Wednesday’s looking good! But would you believe that the temperature right now is close to freezing, and there was some frost on the land last night, and a few flurries a while ago? That at the end of April. But that’s how it goes these days; nothing sure and steadfast except Jesus. We need to remember that, every day we awaken and His breath of life still flows through our body…ONLY Jesus cares…and ONLY He has the power to do anything different. 

And today we’re going to check out a rather interesting poem written in the early 20th century by Toronto’s ‘Jail Poet.’ That’s John McDonagh, who according to a recent story in the Toronto Star Newspaper, in the days leading up to Easter 1907, was fined $5 for selling his poem ‘The Prodigal’s Return (Written from Real Life)’ on the streets of Toronto without a license. I guess we could call him Toronto’s first Poet Laureate, because it seems like he made a decent living from his many writings. 

And the ‘Jail Poet’ name apparently came from his being incarcerated several times at the Langstaff Jail Farm north of the city, where convicts served short sentences and did agricultural work, and then writing the very popular poem ‘The Man Behind the Wheelbarrow.’ Unfortunately, not much was known of McDonagh’s background, but he seemed to travel much in the province selling his work, and most of his poems have apparently been lost. It seems he spent his money on food and stuff for others. He also appeared to have addictions and mental problems, and was sentenced to confinement at the mental hospital at 999 Queen Street. 

But the poem we’re going to read today was published by the Star in 1907. It’s aptly titled ‘The Prodigal’s Return,’ with the subtitle (Written from Real Life.) Please read with me: ‘For a great many years I wandered about and I lived on the husks as they fell, Yes, the wages of sin it surely is death As the Lord in His word doth us tell. Yes, I wandered about, from pillar to post, and my substance in riotness spent. But the Lord followed up, and laid on the stripes No matter wherever I went. 

I’m the Prodigal son, and I came to myself; I’d been “feeding the swine” as of yore, But I turned ‘about face’ and started for home with a heart that was bleeding and sore. My father saw me while yet afar off, He knew ‘twas His Prodigal boy, He fell on my neck, and kissed his poor child While his heart was o’er flooded with joy. With a ring for my finger and a chain for my neck My Father did welcome me home. Yes, he welcomed me back though a poor erring child And no more from my Saviour I’ll roam. 

For I tell you, dear friends, if you sow to the wind ‘Tis the winds you surely shall reap For ‘tis thus that we read in the Lord’s Holy Word And his word with a vengeance he’ll keep. For ‘vengeance is mine’ he also hath said And he says, “I will surely repay.” ‘Tis a great stubborn fact, and millions on earth Are reaping the whirlwind today. So I say to you youthful when starting in life Trusting in Jesus, make heaven the prize, And don’t ever list to Old Nick’s luring voice For he’s surely the “father of lies.” 

He’s an oily tongued monster, with poisonous fangs. A fact which I’ve proved real well, Yes, he lured me right on, ‘till I stood, my dear friends, On the verge of a fierce, yawning hell.” And I say to you aged, who are still out of Christ, ‘Tis a terrible place where you stand, The Lord in his mercy is beckoning still Oh, why not reach out for his hand? So pray for me, brothers, and pray for me sisters, The Master’s great cause to maintain And help me win souls for heaven above since I’m back to my Father again.’ J.J.M. McDonagh. Belleville, June 28, 1907. 

Wow! What more can I say friends? I like it, a sermon in poem form. He hit all the right spots in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32. He certainly knew God’s Word better than many of us do today. I like how he talks about spending his substance ‘in riotness’ and then living on the husks as they fell, referring to the Prodigal son after wasting his wealth on riotous living, feeding pigs in a foreign land, the lowest state a Jewish person could ever come to. Jesus said it thus: ‘And he would fain (gladly) have filled his belly with the husks (carob pods) that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him.’ (Luke 15:16) 

But please note what McDonagh says: ‘But the Lord followed up And laid on the stripes No matter wherever I went.’ Ah friends, our wonderful God allows us to roam freely, but at a price, and if we’re lucky, blessed and wise, we’ll reach the point like Jesus said: ‘And when he came to himself…’ Oh my people, so many of us in these tempestuous and turbulent times so badly need to come to ourselves and realize that Jesus is the ONLY way to go and accept Him as Lord and Saviour, like the prodigal son finally did. ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father…And he arose and came to his father.’ (Luke 15:17b-18a, 20a)

I like how McDonagh puts it: ‘But I turned “about face” and started for home with a heart that was bleeding and sore.’ Yes friends, that’s where Jesus excels; in healing wounded and broken hearts, of giving comfort to the comfortless! He’s the Master of that! He’s Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals! And please Remember ‘the Great Invitation’ (Matt. 11:28-30) So, if today you’re wounded and hurting and needing comfort, then the best place to turn is to Jesus! He will never turn you away…for remember, that’s who He came to save, the sick, the hurt and wounded. 

And just like the prodigal when you come to Jesus, He knows all about you. ‘My Father saw me while yet afar off, He knew ‘twas His prodigal boy, He fell on my neck, and kissed his poor child, while his heart was o’er flooded with joy.’ And that’s the exact reaction that Jesus has when we come to Him! He knows us because He’s been keeping watch over us all the time, just waiting for us to come to our senses. And oh, the joy that flows in heaven when we come to Him. Listen to Jesus on the subject. ‘I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just (upright) persons, which need no repentance.’ (Luke 15:7) 

Yes friends, there is indeed great joy in heaven when the lost is found, when the wayward comes home and those living in darkness, see the light! And it’s our job to help those who don’t know Jesus and His marvellous attributes to see the light, the error of their ways and turn to Him for succour, salvation and eternal life. And for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home now declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry 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 a gentle reminder to us all…if we endure unto the end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. Wow! That means enduring to the end my people! Much LOVE!

…even when we walk away from Jesus…He keeps us in His sights…patiently waiting…for our prodigal return… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 August 2017 Deuteronomy 8:18.

31 Aug 2017 Leave a comment

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

Deuteronomy 8:18.   But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish (confirm) his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

One more day, one more day mih people, to dance and sing, give thanks and praise to Almighty God! Wow! For, like us, Jesus is alive and well and His awesome LOVE is shining down from heaven in a blaze of warmth and glory, falling on all who sincerely believe and trust in Him! 

Can you feel it? Can you feel it just moving through your soul, warming the cockles of your heart and putting an amazing sense of peace and joy in your spirit? If you’re a true believer, then I’m sure you can feel it. 

And if you don’t feel it, then please get serious about growing your faith, and somewhere along the line you WILL feel it and rejoice in knowing that your faith is strong and you’re a true believer. (smile) 

Yeh friends, trusting in Jesus is such a wonderful, heart-warming experience that it makes you tingle all over, wondering what you’ve ever done to deserve such outstanding LOVE.  

But the truth is that the only thing you’ve done is to believe wholeheartedly in Him, His awesome LOVE, and the promises He’s made in His Word. That includes that He is the Son of God, your Lord and Saviour, your everlasting Redeemer, your heavenly Advocate and your Prince of Peace. 

Chuh mih breddren! Yuh see what a li’l faith and belief can accomplish! (smile) And it’s not rocket science either! His LOVE is there for ALL to share, and you were just one of the wise and smart ones to accept it. 

But please be careful, for it’s not going to be wine and roses all the way, because our Jesus is indeed a LOVING, but also demanding Master. We have jobs to do in His kingdom, and He expects excellence, diligence and obedience from ALL of His followers. 

And when you do your best to serve Him, with a right heart of course, your life will never be the same again. Take it from me people! I’m talking from personal experience here. 

Oh, you will have tests, and adversity like everybody else, because Christianity is not just a feel good organization, but if you persevere, your life will also be filled with unexpected adventure and rewards. 

Our Bit says it oh so well. ‘But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish (confirm) his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’ 

Yeh friends, the earth and all therein belongs to the Lord, so whatever good thing you receive obviously comes from Him. But you need to stay obedient to His Word and persevere even under the toughest conditions, truly showing your faith, by believing the promise before you see it come true. 

Now let’s look at a glowing example of what we’re talking about from the Good Book; the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The Book of 2nd Chronicles tells us that he began to reign when he was 25 and reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. 

‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.’ (2 Crh.29:3) 

Yuh see friends, like the scholars declare: ‘Hezekiah is commended for his godly faith and trust in the Lord (cf.31:20-21).’ 

And what did he actually do to deserve such commendation? Well he brought on a revival of repentance and worship in Israel, after a time of evil and wrongdoing and idol worship in the reign of his father Ahaz. 

He reopened and repaired the Lord’s house, brought back the priests and Levites to do the tasks commanded by the law of Moses, destroyed the groves and other places that were used for idol worship. 

He also had the priests and Levites singing ‘praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with joy and gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.’ (2 Chr.29:30) 

Yeh mih breddren, Hezekiah brought about a whole new transformation of Judah, (including many of those from the northern kingdom of Israel) bringing them back to worship the One and Only True God of their fathers, Yahweh. 

He also reinstituted the celebration of the feast of the Passover –  and was the first one ever a feast! You should read 2 Chronicles 29-31 and see what great and wonderful changes Hezekiah made during his reign. 

And the Good Book concludes his story thus: ‘And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.’ (2 Chr.31:20-21) 

Oh friends, that’s the kind of epitaph the Lord would like ALL of His followers to have, and that’s why He’s showered us with so many earthly blessings. So as one big, strong, faithful family, let’s go home sincerely and truthfully declaring them this Thursday morning nuh. 

‘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 since blessings are made to be shared, let’s go out and bless others now, for that’s the will and desire of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!

…oh where would we be without Jesus eh….languishing in Hades with Lucifer…