SCRIP-BITS

Acts 10:38.     How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Well the party’s over my Friends. Time to call it a day! Yes Friends, my Jamdown vacation is done today! Chuh! What a pity! But that’s where the old saying learn to take a little and live long, comes in. I would have preferred a longer vacation, but I’ll take a week in J.A anytime. Unfortunately my people, it’s also Monday, and your mini vacation of two days is also over, time to go back out and labour for the man. Another Monday when we need to rise up in faith and actively pursue our earthly duty of winning souls for Christ. And as always, to help us in that aspect, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty vim and vigour. As one mighty voice now. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now that should get the adrenalin going, give us a jump start, invigorate us sufficiently to go out and battle the forces of evil in Jesus’ name! Ah mih people, by tomorrow, I too will be back to the common task and daily grind, but as I sit here, for the last time on the balcony of the little mansion in Mo Bay, drinking in the sights and sounds of the lush garden in Coral Gardens, committing them to memory, my mind ran back through my movements this past week in J.A, and for some reason, centred on the thought of Jesus going about doing good, hence our Bit. ‘ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’ It sort of put my week here in perspective, where I’d get up everyday, sometimes with no definite plan but to write the Bit, then go out and meet people, spread some peace and LOVE, some joy and  kindness, bring a smile or a burst of laughter to someone else’s hurting soul. And I think I did that fairly well this week. The ole fella was in his essence this week mih children! (smile) Thank the Lord for the power of His Spirit that coursed through me, helping me to bring a little sunshine in some other people’s lives! And yuh know mih breddren, the holiday ended with a bang, for yesterday was the best day: Church with some beautiful people in the morning, who truly showed me the Christian way; them write mih Bit; then later in the afternoon a spell on the beach at Doctor’s Cave with the Duchess; then a gathering of the clan in the evening. And was that ever wonderful mih Friends! Backfoot! The jokes, the camaraderie, the food and general good time was certainly exhilarating, and showed how families ought to live with each other. As they say, the family that plays together, stays together. And that’s the gospel truth mih people! That was certainly the highlight of my trip. It warmed the cockles of my heart to see family getting along so well together. No fussing and fighting and all the other nonsense, which is so much a part of family life nowadays. Then later in the evening, the Duchess, a male cousin and I headed into town, had a couple of ‘Days at the Beach,’ (smile) I likes it! We listened to some music and I put back on whatever pounds I’d lost with a big piece of cheesecake and a couple scoops of ice cream. It sure went down well! Then on the way home we had some ‘pan chicken’. All in all it was wonderful! I couldn’t ask for a better time! Anyway Friends, I need to go and catch a last dip in the salt, so we’ll end appropriately with a scripture pertaining to Jesus going about His Father’s business. ‘And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of (every) sickness and all manner of (every) disease among the people.’ (Matt.4:23) Now that’s the way we, His followers ought to be too – just going about our Father’s business, with a right heart and clean spirit, just letting the Holy Spirit guide us, doing good, helping whomever, whenever and wherever we can in a peaceful and LOVING manner, just as our Lord, and Saviour Jesus did. Till tomorrow then, when I’ll be writing once again from the north country, God willing obviously, please take care mih people, and go safely with the wonderful God of our eternal salvation. Much LOVE!…our earthly duty…to simply be a vessel…a channel of God’s LOVE and peace…to show it in action every day of our lives…