SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, sorry the Bit’s a bit late, but I had a late night last night, which made it all the more difficult to get up this morning. In any case it’s Friday… And a glorious chorus of ‘Hallelujahs’ burst forth from God’s people and rise to heaven! Yes, we know the weekend is here! And this a special Friday my people. First off, because it’s the 50th anniversary of the Independence of that wonderful Republic of Trinidad and Tobago! Yes Friends, T & T has now gone through a half century of self-rule! Wow! I remember the early heady days when Independence was on the tip of everybody’s tongues, was all that mattered. Never thought I’d live to see 50 years of it. Today is also the 1st anniversary of my Mother Molly moving on to be with the Lord in the green pastures in the sky. I also remember hearing of her passing while on vacation in California. But as the Lord promised, He helped me to get through it without too much emotional upheaval. Now I was grieved and all that, but early in the proceedings my spirit took on a sort of calm that I didn’t understand at the time, and I was comforted by the realization that she had gone to a better place, where she was free of all pain and tears. I still talk to her every day though, especially when I’m reading the prayers I read for her over the phone. In hindsight, I now realize that that was one of God’s mysterious movements, preparing me for writing the Bit. You can’t write about what you haven’t read. This Friday is also the beginning of the Labour Day weekend, the last real weekend of the summer. I miss the good times I once had on the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York, every Labour Day. But I also remember the last time I was there, about five years ago, when my Aunty Anne and I had to walk miles to the parade route, after luckily finding a parking spot in the afternoon way off the beaten path. We also had to walk it back later that night after all the festivities, when we were both dead tired and the night had gotten somewhat chilly. I don’t know what it is about Labour Day and the weather, but as soon as it’s over, a noticeable chill develops. Anyway, to get us off to a good start on this special weekend, let’s chant out Friday Chant, in loud, sweet voice, give the angels a run for their money. Hn, hn! I LOVE it when we do that. (smile) All together 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.’ And having put the right perspective on the weekend… oh don’t forget too, that drunk or sober, to mind your business this long weekend, so Beelzebub doesn’t get a chance to infiltrate our defences. Now, belatedly, let’s see what our Bit has to offer. ‘Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ Yesterday we saw that basically it meant that using the law of man to get into God’s good grace was impossible, because the two operate in opposite realms. The law of man is fleshly, demon inspired, while that of God is spiritual and depends solely on the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, with the resultant indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And we need to stay strongly attached to the Holy Spirit so that we walk in faith and derive the numerous blessings involved in following Christ. Hear how Bruh Paul tells it to the Philippians: ‘Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.’ (Phil.4:1-3) Yes my people, it’s all about standing strong in Christ in fellowship with each other. We won’t always agree, but there shouldn’t be anything that causes us to disagree so strenuously that it negatively affects Christ’s church. But sadly, a lot of it is happening in the local, as well as national and international church. Oh Friends, there’s more to be said on this sad topic of wrangling amongst Christ’s followers, but we’ll leave that for tomorrow, God willing. I don’t want to burden our short attention spans with too much stuff this long weekend. So till tomorrow, provided we don’t see our names in the obits, pleas walk safely with God and in harmony with each other. That’s my prayer for us today. In Jesus Name. Amen! Much LOVE my people!….to truly walk with Christ…we must also walk as one body…one church…  P.S. The Bit’s not as late as I thought it would be. (smile) All praise to God whose miraculous hand was certainly involved. Much LOVE!