Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 October 2016 Psalm 105:1.

10 Oct 2016 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 105:1.   O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING  CANADA!

Oh friends, oh friends, it’s Thanksgiving morn in beautiful Canada! Wow!

And the words of the old song ‘Giving Thanks’ by Beres Hammond comes to mind: ‘Right here now, I’m taking it easy. Check my steps, I’m not in a hurry.

Soon I’ll have the things that I needed so bad. Morning sun rising behind me, Stars at nights come out to remind me, To give thanks for all of the things that I have. 

All is well, I’ve got my health and in such good shape. Pockets broken, I’ve got nothing, Waiting for that break. So I’m giving thanks, for all I’ve got. I’m giving thanks, whether or not. I’m giving thanks for the life in me. I’m giving thanks now…’ 

Yeh mih people, the ole fella is giving thanks for all I’ve got – and believe me, I’ve got a lot. But whether or not you’ve got a lot, you can still be thankful, even if it’s just for the breath of life that’s still flowing through your body. For remember that while there is life there is always hope in God’s great universe! 

Yes my fellow believers, and hope builds faith, and faith keeps us strong and steadfast in Jesus. So I do hope that we all, wherever we are in this great country of Canada, as well as all round the world, are in a state of thanksgiving this Monday morning. 

The fact is that we should be in a state of perpetual thanksgiving regardless of our circumstances, because there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

I know that many of us are shaking it somewhat rough today because we have to get up and go to work, but that is something to be oh so thankful and grateful for. 

Yuh know how many millions of people are out of work and would be everlastingly grateful to have a job, any job?  But yet we still bitch and complain because we have to get up and go out and face the music on a Monday. Steups! 

Look friends, let’s cut out the nonsense eh and get with the programme, if you say you’re a believer in Jesus Christ! Too many supposed Christians today are full of the talk but none of the walk. 

Anyway, enough of the talk, (smile) let’s begin the walk by declaring our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with great gusto and excitement. Let’s prove to Jesus, our choirmaster, that we are truly His. So, with loud, proud and harmonious voices, let’s sing! 

‘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!’ 

Oh my people, that wasn’t bad at all nuh! Jesus was pleased as punch! (smile) Even though, as is usually the case, the ones who aren’t going to work today, were the loudest. But overall, the harmony and melody were excellent. And most important of all, it put a smile on Jesus’ face. 

Now let’s go out and continue the work He has called us to do, in good spirits and with pure motives, remembering as our Bit declares: ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.’  

Yes my brethren, to spread the word of God all over the world and make known His mighty deeds throughout the ages is our bounden duty! So let’s get serious and do what we know we ought to do nuh. 

Oh there are always times when things will come against us and cause us to be concerned, but there is never any need for fear, because Jesus told us oodles of times, not to fear, since He has already conquered the world.

And I know it’s not always easy, but listen to the psalmist as he encourages us in the things we can, and ought to do to uplift ourselves in Jesus. 

‘Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore. 

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth; O ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the Lord our God: his judgements are in all the earth.’ (Ps.105:2-7) 

Yuh see friends, as children of the Most High God, how many things we have to give thanks for, and the numerous ways we can do so! 

So please, please, let’s get truly serious about our walk with Jesus and come out fighting with and for Him this Monday morning nuh, for that is indeed wisdom at it’s highest. Much LOVE!

…giving thanks should be an all day…every day occurrence…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 April 2016 1 Chronicles 16:34‏

17 Apr 2016 Leave a comment

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

1 Chronicles 16:34.   O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Ah mih breddren, the ole fella went out and party last evening… the first time in ages too. In fact, the first time since New Year’s Eve! Glory to God! But the ole fella must really be getting old if it takes three and half months between his partying. (smile) 

Oh it was nothing spectacular, just our church’s first International Dinner and Dance held in the church’s auditorium. And was it ever well attended, over a hundred beautiful souls. And talk about food; all kinds of food from all the many cultures of our rather diverse congregation. 

And would you believe that after everybody had their fill, with seconds and thirds, and people bought food to carry home, there were still loads of food left. And this was no catered affair, just members of our congregation cooking and donating food from their particular culture. 

And please note that the West Indian fare was first and foremost  – as usual. (smile) Ah can’t help it people, ah just biased towards mih West Indian victuals and way of life. And if is one thing, no two things the St. Francis congregation can do well, is eat and party, led by our inimitable Fr. Jeff. 

And the ole fella partied too, to the good music that the D.J. spun, with my natural enthusiasm obviously, but not with my leggo beast antics. It seems that those days are over, and now I have to be more circumspect about my physical activity. 

But look at that nuh; the ole fella can’t party as physically and energetically as he used to. I guess, as they say, after one time is two. Hn, hn! And by the grace of God, and some man-made medication, the knees are holding up well this morning. Praise be! 

Anyway friends, today is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, and that means we have to get ourselves to church and praise and worship and fellowship with our Christian brethren. I do hope that all of the partiers’ last night can get up and get to church this morning, and they are not suffering from the after effects of the night before. (smile) 

Or they don’t use that as an excuse, cause you ever notice how we Christian folks can find all sorts of reasons not to go to church, but none not to go out and indulge in the lustful lifestyle of the world. We just don’t seem to hold going to church as sacred and important as we ought to. 

Now enough of my two cents worth, let’s check out our Bit. ‘O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.’ 

Yes friends, that’s what we ought to be doing this Sunday in the Lord’s sanctuary; giving thanks for His everlasting goodness to us undeserving human beings. That reminds me of the words of the old Beres Hammond song ‘Giving Thanks.’ 

‘Morning sun rising behind me, Stars at night come out to remind me, To give thanks for all the things that I have. All is well, I’ve got my health and in such good shape, Pockets broken, I’ve got nothing, waiting for that break, 

So I’m giving thanks, for all I’ve got, I’m giving thanks, whether or not, I’m giving thanks for the life I’ve got, I’m giving thanks now, Yes I’m giving thanks for all I’ve got, I’m giving thanks, whether or not, I’m giving thanks for the life in me, I’m giving thanks…I’m giving thanks…’ 

Oh my people, if we’d only give a little more thanks to our wonderful God, our lives would be so much better! I guess we don’t realize that our blessings are proportional to the thanks that we give. Even if we don’t have anything, that’s material possessions, we still have life to be thankful for. 

And to remind us that a lot of other folks don’t have even life this morning, just read the obits. So please, let’s wake up and smell the roses nuh, let’s acknowledge the mercy and LOVING-kindness of our awesome Creator. That’s all He’s asking of us yes; to appreciate what He done, is doing, and has promised to do for us. 

And we’ll continue checking out instances of our Bit being used in the Good Book. Yesterday we saw it used when Bruh David brought up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and when Cousin Sol finished building the Lord’s temple. Today let’s look at how it was also used when the Israelites returned from their captivity in Babylon and laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the Lord’s house. 

The book of Ezra describes it thus: ‘And they sang together by course (responsively) in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted for joy: so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.’ (Ezra 3:11-13) 

Ah friends, do we shout with such joy nowadays when we are doing the Lord’s work? I don’t think so. But you can see how happy the Israelites were that they were in the process of rebuilding God’s sanctuary. And we’ll close with an explanation from the scholars on that joyous time. 

‘3:12-13. It had been about 50 years since the first temple had been destroyed, and many of the older men (ancient men) who had seen the earlier building, wept now because of the sorrowful contrast in size and splendour. 

When the temple was completed later in 520 B.C; there were still some of these old men who wept again. Haggai 2:3 and Zechariah 4:10 relate Zechariah’s challenge to those who “despised the day of small things.” 

Oh friends, please, let’s not despise small things, because EVERYTHING, big or small has been made and provided by God. Consequently, it means that we are despising God, when we despise the things He’s made or allowed to be made. That’s certainly not wisdom! Much LOVE!

…Blessing…and glory…and wisdom…and thanksgiving…and honour…and power…and might…be unto our God…for ever and ever…Amen…  (Rev.7:12) 

P.S. Sorry friends, it could have been earlier, but I had to practice what I was preaching; I had to leave and go to church. And it’s a good thing too, because it’s in one of today’s readings that I heard the afterthought above. Please have a blessed day! Much LOVE!