JIMMETS; SPEAK TRUTH – NO BOASTING

Time with Jesus - Monday, 01 October 2012

Hi all,

Today we have a pair of Jimmets to meditate upon. The first one draws its inspiration from Ephesians 4:15 “Speak the Truth in love. The second from 2 Peter 3:18 “All glory to Him. With this latter one we are able to share something of His glory. While we ensure that the glory is His, He often allows us to “handle” His glory provided we are careful not to point to ourselves; Jesus will allow us to “handle” His reflected glory. The illustration is simple. The sun gives its glory to our moon. The moon reflects the glory of the sun. If we can be like the moon, God’s glory will fall on us and we will reflect it to others.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 01 October 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	JIMMETS; SPEAK TRUTH – NO BOASTING
In the early 1980’s, Christianity went through a time of great transition. Here in South Africa, what is now called the “Faith Movement” arrived in Johannesburg with the emergence of “Rhema”. It was not really a denomination in the sense that the Methodist Church or the Anglican Church were. But this movement “took off”. Many of the people who joined Rhema or several similar Churches were men and women who felt underutilised in the denominations. Many were rebelling against the inflexible “Clergy” and “Laity” attitude. They recognised that Scripturally there is no such distinction and were not prepared to continue as a “second class” citizen in that denomination.  As a result, many “Charismatics” are former Anglicans or Methodists etc. There was also a move toward believing the Bible and accepting the contents at face value. Phyllida and I were and still are convinced of the veracity of God’s Word. Yes, it was necessary to read God’s Word with due regard to context, who is “speaking” to whom, along with common sense and understanding. For example when Jesus said, 9 I am the gate. John 10:9 NLT, we did not go round hunting for handles and hinges. We understood He was speaking figuratively. One of the books we devoured back then was “What You Say Is What You Get” by Don Gossett. It was a revolutionary idea. We immediately put it into practise. At that time we had a golden spaniel called Pippa. She was one of the smelliest dogs we’ve ever come across. It was so bad that we started to call her “stink dog”. We tried a variety of solution, all without success. The smell was unbearable. Then we came across Don Gossett’s book. We read it with great enthusiasm. At that point we decided to change our confession over Pippa. We began to call her a sweet smelling dog. In spite of the unbearable smell, we stuck with our “confession”. About two weeks later we had to consult a new vet. We had moved away from the area so it was not possible to consult the previous one. The new vet took one look at Pippa and said he knew exactly what the problem was. He asked us to leave Pippa with him until the morning and the smell would be gone. The next morning we went to collect our sweet smelling dog. He was right. He had discovered what he called “lip-fold eczema”. All that needed doing was to cut the affected tissue away, apply a disinfectant and all would be well. He was right. We had no more “stink dog” problem! Since then, we have been very particular about the things we say. The main difficulty is to distinguish between telling a lie and making a positive or negative confession. It can be something of a tightrope. But there is a way! Ask the Lord! He will always tell you! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 NLT 28 All by itself the soil produces grain. First the stalk comes up. Then the head appears. Finally, the full grain appears in the head. Mark 4:28 NIrV 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:13 NLT 12 Oh, don't worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! 2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT 17 As the Scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD." 18 When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NLT 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ Himself is that reality. 18 Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For He holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. Colossians 2:17-19 NLT 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 NLT	Speak the Truth in Love Speak the truth in love. That’s how we grow, In every way, to be more like the Lord. We will always reap the crop we sow. This is stated clearly in God’s Word No one plants tomatoes and gets beans. Horticulture doesn’t work that way. If you stop and think what all this means, You could be a better man today. Every word you say is like a seed, Planted in God’s rich and fertile ground. It could satisfy your deepest need, Or cause all life’s problems to abound. Prosperity or massive mounds of debt? What you say is always what you get. Jim Strickland – Written 1st October 2012 Reflect His Glory If you want to boast, boast in the Lord! Without Him, there is nothing you can do. Pride in what you’ve done will bring a sword, That will quickly cut your life in two. Men have seen this time and time again. “Look at all the things which I have done”. Understand your boasting is in vain. Stealing glory from God’s only Son, Surely will bring canker to your soul. Very soon you’ll falter and will fall. You will lose your purpose and your goal. You may even miss God’s Holy call. Give Him all the glory! You will see, His reflected glory come on thee. Jim Strickland – Written 1st October 2012

MOSES’ PRAYER IN THE TENT OF MEETING

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 30 September 2012

Hi all,

Our meditation today comes from Exodus 33. It focuses on Moses prayer asking God to be with them on the journey from Horeb to the Promised Land. Part of the prayer deals with Moses relationship with the Lord.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 30 September 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	MOSES’ PRAYER IN THE TENT OF MEETING
Have you heard people question God’s decisions? Those who do, imply that they could do things better than He does. Essentially it means that they are better than God and would make a better job of running things than He does. Perhaps the most common statement is, “How could a God of love send anyone to hell?” Two comments are warranted here. The first is that God doesn’t send people to Hell. They go there because they choose to do so. Hell was made for the devil and his angels. But people will go there by their own choice. God does not want anyone to be lost. Being lost is their own choice. The second comment is that God’s patience with sinners is beyond anything we can understand. A promise God gave to Abraham immediately prior to Him entering into a covenant with him was: 16 "Your children's grandchildren will come back here. That is because the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached the point where I must judge them." Genesis 15:16 NIrV God is aware of each and every sin ever committed or will be committed. At that time the Amorites were one of many nations in Canaan. Sin was rampant. God knew that between the date of this Covenant and the date of the Israelite invasion of Canaan, sin would escalate. It would reach the point where He would have to destroy the inhabitants and their animals. He had used the flood to cleanse the world on one occasion. He would not repeat that. Instead He would send a “flood” of His people into the land to cleanse it by totally annihilating the inhabitants and their livestock. Science has examined this. It has been established that the Canaanite sexual perversions were disgusting and included bestiality of the worst possible sort. Abraham lived ± 700 years before Canaan was invaded. It follows that it would be a further 700 years before sin of the Canaanites would be “full”. Such patience is incredible! Somewhere between these two events, Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt. The dialog between God and Moses in Exodus 33 took place in Moses tent of meeting. It is unlikely that this was the tabernacle built according to the pattern given to him by God. God’s tabernacle had not yet been made. It’s more likely that it was a tent or tabernacle of Moses own design. What of this dialog? Do we know the details? We only know what has been recorded in Scripture. Today’s meditation is an extrapolation of what Moses may have said to the Lord. It is not intended as a new revelation. It is merely my own idea of what may have been said by Moses to the Lord. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Psalms 25:4 TNIV 12 One day Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Take these people up to the Promised Land.' But You haven't told me whom You will send with me. You have told me, 'I know you by name, and I look favourably on you.' 13 If it is true that You look favourably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favour. And remember that this nation is Your very own people." 14 The LORD replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest--everything will be fine for you." Exodus 33:12-14 NLT 7 He let Moses know his ways. He let the Israelites know the things he had done. Psalms 103:7 GW 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalms 25:9 TNIV 12 Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. Psalms 25:12 TNIV 5 Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Proverbs 3:5-6 GW 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 ESV 8 The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you. Psalms 32:8 GW 18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18 NIV	“O Lord You have been telling me”, “These people you must lead”. But who will You send with me, to finish off the deed? You’ve told me You are with me. My name, You’ve said You know. That I have found Your favour; for You have said it’s so. I know You aren’t a liar and since all this is true, Tell me please My Lord and God, just what I need to do! I know the destination. It’s called the Promised Land. Where Abraham first heard about the things which You have planned, To give as his inheritance, upon some future date. His family had lived there. But they would have to wait, Until the people living there, could be obliterated; For all the wicked practices that You’ve abominated, For Lord, you have a measure by which you judge men’s sin. And only when that measure’s full may we all enter in. I know about their wickedness. The news has reached my ears. They practise their perversions and now, Lord, it appears That what they have been doing is so utterly depraved. It is no longer possible that any could be saved. I’m told the same perversions took place before the flood. That even all their animals had this perverted blood. The only way to cleanse the land was to destroy the lot. That’s why You brought the deluge; and that is what they got! You’ve said that I’ve found favour. You know me by my name Help me know You better, so that I will remain; And stay within Your favour. O Lord, Teach me Your ways. That I might get to know You, throughout my earthly days. O Lord, these are Your people. They are all Jacob’s seed. We really can’t go up from here O Lord unless You lead. Unless we know Your presence is with us from the start, We dare not take another step, or even less, depart. How will the other nations know that we belong to You? How can they differentiate the false from what is true? How will they know that You’re with us, unless they understand, That You have brought Your people to take the Promised Land! And Lord, how will they ever know that You are always near. Lord, if You do not stay with us, don’t send us up from here.” Jim Strickland Written 30th September 2012

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 29 September 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about “Like Father, Like Son”. Jesus said to Philip. ⁹ "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? John 14:9 NLT In this instance, not so much a photograph as in character.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give	Time with Jesus – Saturday, 29 September 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Dad met Mom in Hull, Yorkshire in 1938. She was his first and only girlfriend. They married the day after Mom’s 21st birthday in 1940. I arrived two years later. Mom died in 2001 so their marriage had lasted 61 years. Dad passed away 8 months before his 90th birthday in 2007. Life in England was very different in 1940. Many thought the UK was finished. They expected an invasion by Germany. Mercifully, it didn’t happen. There were no TV services in UK in those days. All they had was dance halls, the theatre and the movies; mostly black and white silent movies. Radio had started and was used to help keep up the morale of the people. Programs like ITMA, Flanagan and Allen, Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley, George Formby, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn along with the sounds of the big dance bands like Glen Miller, Billy Cotton and numerous others, helped the people in the UK endure the Blitz. All able-bodied men were called up. Only the few men who were in reserved occupations were not conscripted. Even the women were called up. They were used to keep up wartime production. This included Dad’s two elder sisters. Suddenly women were required to do work that previously was reserved for men only. Dad was not conscripted. He spent most of the war repairing and overhauling equipment in power stations and factories damaged by bombing. Very often he was only in one place for a few days or perhaps a week. He told me that the company didn’t want to give him a week off to get married. They did in the end, so Mom and Dad had one week for their honeymoon. All this was marvellous experience for a young man who had just completed his apprenticeship. This was the foundation for his remarkable engineering skills. In September 1960, I started as an apprentice in the same company my Dad worked for. I must confess that I was not a patch on him. But there was a major difference. In the following month I committed my life to Jesus Christ in the Methodist Church. I went there because I noticed that all the pretty girls went there. For a young man of 18, nothing is more important than pretty girls. In spite of my questionable motives, He “saved” me. At times I think this was His way of getting me “saved”. Almost immediately I wanted to be a Methodist Minister. Dad in his wisdom said “No. You must first finish your engineering training!” He was so right. One of the problems was other peoples’ expectations. They thought I would be as good an engineer as he was. Anyway, I stuck it out and when it was time for me make a decision to go into the ministry, I was comfortable doing what I was doing. Furthermore, as I grew older the more like my dad I became in appearance. People would say, “If you’ve seen Jim you have seen Ernie. (dad) It remained that way up to the day he died. I tried to be like him. I just didn’t have his skill! Now, much to my amazement, young men have said they would like to be like me. So I tell them to follow me as I follow Jesus. It’s rather difficult for me to think that I’m now standing in dad’s shoes. Not in engineering, but in Christian service. I suppose to some extent it’s understandable. Sadly, unlike my dad in engineering, I have feet of clay. Hopefully Phyllida and I will stand long enough to let the Light of Jesus shine out of us clearly and visibly. Only time will tell. Jim & Phyllida Strickland

19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. John 5:19 ESV 6 The LORD gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 GW 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:15 TNIV 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalms 27:14 ESV 9 But he said to me, "My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ's power can rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIrV 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Jude 1:1 ESV 11 For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, Hebrews 2:11 ESV 24 Can anyone hide from Me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:24 NLT 23 The church is Christ's body. It is filled by Christ. He fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:23 NIrV 11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Saviour. Isaiah 43:11 NLT 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world." John 4:42 TNIV 4 I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour give you grace and peace. Titus 1:4 NLT

I loved my father very much. He was a special man. He always seemed to do things, far better than I can. His hands, once rough through working, appeared to have a skill, Which I would love to emulate, but think I never will. In engineering he was good. He worked throughout the war, Mending broken turbines, that England needed for, Producing electricity, for armament and tanks; To help with the war effort and to support the Yanks. They didn’t supervise him. They left him on his own, Because his problem-solving was best done all alone! He was my boyhood hero and later, as I grew, I found I was more like him than anyone I knew. They’d look at me and father. He looked so like his son! They thought we were twin brothers; I thought that it was fun. The people said to “see me” was also seeing him. Though twenty five years older some thought he was my twin! The thing that I was missing was his ability. His touch for engineering and his dexterity, Was something I could emulate, but never quite succeed. And though I am well qualified, his life I’d never lead. I tried to only ever do, the things which he had said. I tried to do them his way, so I could get ahead. If this could have continued, I’m sure I could have been, A somewhat better engineer than what my peers have seen! He passed away five years ago. His age was eighty nine. And everything that he possessed; each little bit is mine. But it is not a substitute for walking with my Dad, The way that I have tried to do since I was just a lad. But now there is a problem which came as quite a shock. I know in engineering, he surely was my rock. But now the strangest thing I’ve found is happening to me. I’ve found there are some menfolk, who’ve said they want to be, Touched by what I’ve learned about, upon life’s busy road. I didn’t think they’d see it; but somehow I have sowed, A life in Christianity these people have admired! A life that every one of them has said they have desired. This makes me very frightened; for Jesus Christ has done, A sovereign work within me, as an adopted son. We have the self-same Father. But when men look to me, It isn’t the Lord Jesus whom all these people see. So I have told them follow me as I follow the Lord. He is the one to emulate and ought to be adored. So life has gone full circle and I will soon be gone And in the strength of Christ alone, they all must carry on. Jim Strickland – Written 29th September 2012