SCRIP-BITS

Christianity is based on LOVE: the LOVE of God the Father, and the LOVE of Jesus Christ! That means we believers need to be also filled with LOVE and walking in LOVE! And LOVE means SACRIFICE! Yes, you cannot LOVE without sacrificing something for someone, even for yourself. And that's where we are falling down in this generation; we're too comfortable and entitled to give up anything for anyone, but yet we call ourselves believers in Christ Jesus. Hogwash! You cannot truly believe in Christ until you're prepared to take up your cross everyday and follow Him. So please, let's stop talking LOVE and begin living it nuh, like we ought to be doing from day one! Much LOVE!

When we come to Palm Sunday, which tells of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we know that Lent is winding down and our saddest and most joyful days, that's Good Friday and Easter Sunday are right ahead of us. That means we cannot let the sorrow of the crucifixion overwhelm and sadden us, because right behind it is the very foundation of our faith, Christ's momentous and monumental resurrection! It's the very bedrock of what we believe, and without that resurrection there would have been no salvation or eternal life. So let's stand strong in this Holy Week, waiting eagerly for the fireworks of next Sunday! Much LOVE!

Prayer is of the utmost importance in a believer's life, but not every prayer is answered for one reason or another. Most of them though that are not in the Lord's will seem to go unanswered, that's because the Lord only desires to answer prayers that will manifest His holy will, not all the lustful and carnal stuff that so many of us pray for. And even when we pray in His will, according to His timing, the prayer can be set aside for a later time. But that ought not to stop us from growing in faith and continually persevering in prayer. Remember Christ said to ask, seek and knock, for it's only through persistence will many of our wishes be granted. Let's listen to Christ...for a change. Much LOVE!

All of us have some sort of pride in our deeds and talents and thus at times boast about them. However friends, boasting is not something the Lord likes or desires of His followers, unless our boast is about Him! What makes it even worse is when we boast of things we're going to do without any consultation with or input from Almighty God. Remember our lives are rather short and can be quickly and unexpectedly extinguished, so it's ever important to have God involved in ALL of our decisions. And it's what the Lord Himself expects and desires. He created us for companionship, and that He could participate in even the smallest details of our lives, thus making decisions without consulting Him is a serious no-no. That means ignoring the devil's sarcastic attitude and bravely and wisely involving God in all of our decisions! Much LOVE!

We all have a sin-based nature, which drives us toward fleshly or carnal lusts and desires, but when we become believers in Christ, we need to put away those carnal desires and begin walking with the guidance of the Holy Spirit which then comes to live within us. It also means that we have to get rid of all the old baggage we have, for with Christ everything becomes new. Unfortunately, that means not doing some things we used to do, or associating with some people we formerly associated with. But it's all for our good, for those old ways of behaviour and old associates will just drag us back down into the mire of carnality from which we've just escaped. So we need to look after ourselves, and be careful of our behaviour and our associates, if we want to be true believers in Christ Jesus! Much LOVE!

God is our Creator and Controller, and like all who create and control, they lay down rules and regulations for their followers to live by. It's the very same with our great God Jehovah! He's set our rules and regulations in His Word for us to live by. And if we do that faithfully, then our lives will be much better than if we don't. And we can't live by the rules unless we know them, and we can't know them unless we continually read and study them. That's the ONLY way to have success in God's kingdom. And God said so in several places in His Word, and if you read and study and live by it, you will also be prosperous and have good success! Much LOVE!

Just like any Leader, the Lord has rules and regulations that He expects His followers to abide by. And just like when we disobey society's laws, we pay a price, likewise when we disobey God's laws, there is a price to pay. Our disobedience is called sin, and the penalty for sin is death; unless you are living under the umbrella of Christ's payment for all sin, made with the sacrifice of His sinless life on the cross of Calvary. It's to our benefit that we remember that the Lord does not make empty promises, and we will pay for any disobedience we commit. However, He has provided ways and means under the auspices of Christ for forgiveness and redemption of our sin, and if we are wise, we will grab hold of it asap! Much LOVE!

It's a hard but simple fact that one cannot be a Christian unless one believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And that belief is the ONLY thing that will get you on the straight and narrow path that leads to heaven. Without sincere belief in Christ Jesus all is lost. You are automatically headed for the fires of hell, joining the evil one, Satan in everlasting punishment and separation from the One and ONLY true, living God, Jehovah! Thus, it behooves us to understand the serious ramifications that are associated with believing in Christ, for if we don't, we'll pay an enormous price for our disobedience. Let him who has ears to hear...hear! Much LOVE!

It's a topsy-turvy world, with us just spinning within it, like an out of control top, with sins and temptations that keep bombarding us relentlessly. But there's an antidote for that malady; faith in Christ Jesus, for He is the sinner's friend. That's why he came to earth; to set the captive sinners free from their sin debt. He took all of our sins on His strong and sinless shoulders so we could be set free from the scourge of Satan. And there's no need to hide or be afraid to come to Him, because He's always there awaiting your sincere call for help. So today, please, please come boldly to His throne of grace, so that He can clean you up and take you into His house, and LOVE your forever! Much LOVE!

God is our Creator and Sustainer, therefore we must communicate with Him in some form and fashion, and He calls that way prayer. Now, prayer doesn't need to be long and fancy but more heartfelt than anything else. And the good thing about prayer is that our God is only a prayer away. We can instantly communicate with Him with no waiting, and provided that what we're asking is within His will, He will more than likely give it to us, just in His time. (smile) And that's the toughest thing about prayer; waiting for God to answer our request. And remember no answer, doesn't automatically mean 'NO.' It can also mean 'WAIT.' The important thing though is to be always in constant communication with our great and wonderful God, through the wonderful privilege of prayer. Much LOVE!