TO LIVE WITH YOU FOREVER

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Hi all,
Ambition is a terrible thing in Christianity. It may drive men to build a church business which they call their ministry. To lay aside everything, like Jesus did, is not an option they consider. Jesus’ lifestyle produces martyrs rather than mansions and money. This is today’s meditation.
Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 11 July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	TO LIVE WITH YOU FOREVER
It’s called ambition; that which we plan on doing, or become. Most young boys go through a phase of wanting to be a fire engine driver. In the 1950’s it was to be an engine-driver or a cowboy. It was strongly influenced by such names as Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers and the Lone Ranger. From the Saturday morning bioscope it was “Hi-ho Silver” and “Let’s go Tonto”! In those days we could also have our fill of John Wayne, Tarzan and Superman. We would swap comics and sing songs. “Hooray for it’s Saturday morning ….”. Remember them? The little girls preferred dolls and their main ambition was to be a nurse. Some wanted to be a Mommy, but neither the boys nor the girls had any idea what was involved. Perhaps the closest we ever came to, was playing doctors. This seemed to bother our parents more than it bothered us! Ah, the innocence of youth! It must have been 1950. I was playing with a young girl in the hotel called Joan. We were both about 8 years old and decided to play “barbers”. Joan had beautiful long hair. After she had cut mine, it was my turn to cut hers. I’m told that she looked as though she’d been scalped! Mom and Dad were furious. I didn’t really understand why. Joan’s mother laughed and told her she would have to let it grow again. Going on from Primary School to High School, I must confess that very few of my school friends had any idea about what they would like to be. It didn’t seem important at the time. I had no idea either. I was very “drawn” to the church. But I thought you had to be “called” to become a minister. Since I had no idea what that meant, it became one of those things I didn’t do! I suppose I could have discussed it with someone. But I never did! It’s just as well! Since those dim and distant days, many things have happened to all of us. Most of us “stumbled” into our careers. I qualified as an engineer. But engineering was not my line. 32 years later I picked up the call I’d missed all those years previously. One thing I found was that the ministry is filled with two types of men. The one type is serving the Lord for what they can get out of it. They have one ambition; to build a bigger and better ministry. They get away with it because they are competing with others who are doing the same. I’d love to meet are men and women who are willing to put themselves aside and serve Him for His glory. They are a very rare breed. They put others ahead of themselves and step aside for them. They have one purpose. To help others to become better than themselves. An attitude that says, “if you want it, you can have it. I’ll help you get there by getting out of your way”. They’ve only one interest and ambition. To lay down their lives for Jesus and others. Which type are you? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			9 He gives those who are thirsty all of the water they want. He gives those who are hungry all of the good food they can eat. Psalms 107:9 NIrV 2 Like babies that were just born, you should long for the pure milk of God's word. It will help you grow up as believers. 3 You can do it now that you have tasted how good the Lord is. 1 Peter 2:2-3 NIrV A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory. Psalms 63:1-2 NLT 2 I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O LORD of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God! Psalms 84:2-3 NLT 23 I find it hard to choose between the two. I would like to leave this life and be with Christ. That's by far the better choice. 24 But for your sake it's better that I remain in this life. Philippians 1:23-24 GW 15 And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I'll see your full stature and live heaven on earth. A David song, which he sang to God after being saved from all his enemies and from Saul. Psalms 17:15 MSG 16 Never again will they be hungry. Never again will they be thirsty. The sun will not beat down on them. The heat of the desert will not harm them. 17 The Lamb, who is at the centre of the area around the throne, will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17 NIrV 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Psalms 36:8 ESV 14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 31:14 TNIV	He gives those who are thirsty, all the drink they need. And those who have gone hungry; they are the one’s He’ll feed. Like a new born baby, it’s milk which they require. And this is what I’ll give. Whenever they desire. It only takes a little sip. A thimble full will do. To grow as new believers the way I want them to. Every time they taste of Me, they’ll find that I am good. And grow to become strong in Me, the way they always should. O Lord, I’m looking for You. My mouth is parched and dry. My body has been searching and so to You I cry, “Lead me to the water in this dry and thirsty land. I am longing for you, in ways You understand. I’ve seen you in the Temple and gazed upon your power. I’ve beheld your glory each moment, every hour. I long to come before You. O Lord, please let me in. I cannot live without You. O Father, let me win, Admittance to your courtyards for my body and my soul. Only You are able, to make my spirit whole. Let me find a resting place. A place where I may hide. From everything around me that tempts me from Your side. My God I long to be with You. I’d love to pass away! It’s better to be with You than living here today. But as I contemplate this, Lord from Your point of view, It’s better that I stay here, so that’s what I will do. So Master, in the meantime, until You call me home, I’ll continue doing the things which You have shown. I must help Your people; for they are mine as well. If only one goes missing, What story can I tell? But even so, like David, I long to see Your face. This life on earth is tedious and only by Your grace, Can I continue working in this world of sin and pain. To die and come to be with You, for me would be great gain! To nevermore be hungry; to never suffer thirst! Just thinking of it Master; my heart just wants to burst; To feast on Your abundance from Your rivers of delight! To walk with you in “Son-shine” where it is never night. This is my one ambition; my very highest goal. To live with You forever; the Saviour of my soul. Jim Strickland Written 11th July 2012