Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 27 March
2012
Hi all,
What
exactly is faithfulness? We all have different ideas about this topic. As a
youngster for me it was indicated in a “cowboy song” sung by Elvis Pressley.
I’ve found a copy of the lyrics on the net this morning. It was called “Old
Shep” It was a sentimental tear jerker. But that’s me anyway. In those days we
had a dog called “Blackie”. A black Labrador combined with Heinz 57 varieties;
Blackie was a faithful old dog. I’ll never forget him. He was a genuine canine
comedian. In a strange canine sort of way, he is unforgettable.
So, what is faithfulness? A story I heard many years ago illustrates it
beautifully. It’s about a man and his dog. They were inseparable. Suddenly he
died. The dog didn’t understand. How could he? But he managed to follow his
late master to the corner of the cemetery. He lay there at the foot of the grave.
For the rest of his life that dog came to the grave everyday regardless of the
weather. He lay down at the foot of the grave looking toward the headstone.
Somehow that dog knew where his master was. It only stopped when the old dog
passed away. Now that was faithfulness personified. Or should that be
per-dogified.
Am
I faithful to My Lord to the same extent as that dog? I’m sorry to admit that
I’m not. Time tends to reduce memories and change how we see things. Even the
memory of past pain dulls with age. Thank you Lord. If it didn’t, life would
become unbearable.
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Old Shep - Clyde
(Red) Foley
When I was a lad and old Shep was a pup
O'er hills and meadows we'd roam.
Just a boy and his dog, we both full of fun;
We grew up together that way.
I remember the time at the old swimming hole,
When I would have drowned beyond doubt.
Shep was right there, to the rescue he came,
He jumped in and helped pull me out.
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So the years rolled along, and at last he grew old,
His eyesight was fast growing dim.
Then one day the doctor looked at me and said
"I can't do no more for him, Jim."
With a hand that was trembling, I picked up my gun,
I aimed it at Shep's faithful head.
I just couldn't do it, I wanted to run,
And I wished - they'd shoot me instead.
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I went to his side, and sat on the ground,
He laid his head on my knee.
I stroked the best pal, that a man ever found,
I cried so - I scarcely could see.
Old Shep he knew, he was going to go,
For he reached out and licked at my hand.
He looked up at me, just as much as to say,
We're parting, but you understand.
Old Shep is gone where the good doggies go,
And no more with old Shep will I roam.
But if dogs have a heaven, there's one thing I know,
Old Shep has a wonderful home.
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Faithful
One - BRIAN DOERKSEN
Faithful one, so unchanging
Ageless one, youre my rock of
peace
Lord of all I depend on you
I call out to you, again and
again
I call out to you, again and
again
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You are my rock in times of
trouble
You lift me up when I fall
down
All through the storm
Your love is, the anchor
My
hope is in You alone.
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Another
precious memory is of a time spent in Worcester. We came across Vineyard music
and loved it. It was the day when the “Toronto Blessing” was spreading round
the world. We loved the music. One of the songs on the CD was called “Faithful
One. We loved it! We still do!
Today’s
meditation looks at this in more detail.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Faithfulness
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Faithfulness is difficult,
because we are so weak.
Things go wrong so easily. We
have a faithless streak.
We know what we’re supposed to
do, but do not get it done.
The problem is, we’ve actively
gone out to have some fun.
We know it was a promise. It’s
inconvenient.
I’ll leave it for the moment
and later I’ll repent!
But who is it we’re cheating?
We dare not truly say.
Because we think it’s better,
to carry on this way.
And so we justify it and ask
who really cares?
The answer is undoubtedly, the
one Who answers prayers.
He has a special instrument to
note our current score.
If we are unfaithful, it tots
up a little more.
The total is quite frightening
and herewith is the rub.
It makes us all a member of the
devil’s evil club.
It doesn’t cost us anything;
the membership is free.
But trying to get out is an
impossibility.
He wants to keep us with him
and in his “faithful” way.
He doesn’t want defectors on
each or any day.
Thank God he has forgotten that
Jesus is in charge.
And He has the authority to set
us all at large.
Provided we are faithful and
Jesus is our King,
He’ll faithfully preserve us in
the shadow of His wing.
So we have got two choices. To
follow Him or No.
To promise we will stick with Him,
wherever He may go.
To faithfully obey Him,
regardless of the cost.
Then we have His assurance we
never will be lost.
When things are inconvenient in
any sort of way,
We promise to be faithful on
each and every day.
To always do our utmost, to put
the flesh aside.
To let Him be a husband and we
will be His bride.
To worship Him forever, no
matter how we feel;
And show Him that our love for
Him is absolutely real.
So if we’re feeling faithless,
it means we’re being weak.
And we are exercising a
somewhat stubborn streak.
In which case it is time for us,
to take ourselves in hand.
Make a firm decision, that we
are going to stand;
And faithfully obey Him,
regardless what may come.
There is no other way for us to
be the Master’s chum!
Jim Strickland
Written Tuesday 27th March 2012 |
