Time with Jesus - Monday, 17 June
2013
Hi all,
In 1953/4, I attended Grey
Junior School in Port Elizabeth. It was within walking distance from home so it
made a lot of sense to go there. Back in those days it was one of the most prestigious
schools in PE. It has a counterpart in Bloemfontein which, likewise, has a
great reputation for being one of the best schools in the country.
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Graeme Pollock in Action |
Grey High School in PE produced
two magnificent cricketers; Peter and Graeme Pollock. Both went on to play for
South Africa. Peter was a couple of years ahead of me in school so I didn’t
meet him. No doubt, many will remembers him as a fine bowler. His younger
brother, Graeme, went on to be one of the finest batsmen South Africa has ever
produced. Indeed, when “experts” put together a “world’s best” team list,
Graeme is often included. The tragedy for Graeme is that he couldn’t represent
South Africa during the years when RSA was excluded from international sport.
If there is such a thing, he was one of the white “victims” of apartheid. His cricketing
talent was such he was still playing for Transvaal well into the mid 1980’s.
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Shaun Pollock |
Graeme was in the class below me
so I sort of knew him. We didn’t mix socially and he wasn’t a friend of mine.
But even in Primary School, he was a cricketing phenomenon. He was just about a
“one man team” if such a “thing” is possible. He was a fine spin bowler and as
a batsman, he was almost impossible for anyone to dismiss. I recall thinking at
the time that you would win the match if he was on your side. At school, there
was prize given for any youngster who scored more than 25 runs in a match. It
was supposed to be a cricket ball. From what I remember on one occasion he had
won so many cricket balls the school decided to give him a cricket bat!
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Times with Jesus |
The problem with this is how to
live life as an ordinary person after such a phenomenal career? Where does humility
intersect with acknowledged international reputation? How do we deal with the
adulation of the fans? Is it possible to mix the two together? Graeme’s elder
brother, Peter, seems to have put them together as has Peter’s son, Shaun. I
can’t speak for Graeme. I don’t know him.
Everyone who becomes successful
in his or her chosen field, has to cope with their “reputation”. The Christian “arena”
is no different. Some are untouched by their repute. Others are overwhelmed by
a sense of their importance. Satan, in his determination to destroy us, uses
many different methods to bring about our downfall. His “quiver” contains three
principle arrows; i.e. sex, money and power. Few Christians are able to deal
with all three. Sadly, the narrow way is littered with those who have succumbed
to his wiles.
Can I cope with greatness? Can
you? Without the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus, we are doomed
to failure. Paul gave us guidelines on how to deal with it practically in his
letter to the Thessalonians. . 11 and to
make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You
should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 1
Thess 4:11 TNIV 2000 years later, it’s still sound counsel!
There is a better way. Praising
the Lord and not ourselves, is a sure recipe for successful Christian living.
Jim &
Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus
Monday, 17 June 2013 |
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING
SCRIPTURES |
IN
PRAISE OF GOD
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Felines are our favourite
pets. The Tabby Point Siamese is our preferred variety but that does not
exclude that other much loved breed, the “Pavement Special”.
Cats have not always been my
favourite pet, Originally, I preferred dogs. Then as I started to explore Scripture,
I found that that the Jewish people spoke of the Gentiles as dogs. As a
“Gentile Christian” this did nothing for my self-esteem. Perhaps an early
version of the “pity-party?
Phyllida has been a “cat
person” for more years than we care to admit. Needless to say this strongly
motivated my shift from canines to felines. Another influencing factor was my
finding a cat in the Bible. I was fairly young at the time and I came across
what I thought must have been a magnificent cat. It was an astonishing
discovery. It’s in the Anglican Prayer book. Called the Magnificat! I
concluded then it was a combination of “magnificent” and “cat”. Ah! The bliss
of youthful ignorance.
Subsequently I’ve learned that
these were the words spoken by Mary when she visited Elizabeth, her cousin.
The dialogue between them is one of the most beautiful texts ever expressed
in Scripture. Mary’s words to Elizabeth in Luke 1:46-55 are known as the Magnificat.
I’m no language specialist but am told that Mary’s words in the KJV are “46
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord.” Luke 1:46 KJV
Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “42
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed
art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb”. Luke 1:42 KJV These words are now a part of Roman
Catholic tradition known as the “Hail Mary”. It may have a fancy name in
Roman Catholic circles. If so, I don’t know what it is.
We are told that praise is the
highest form of worship. I hesitate to say that this is true of spontaneous
praise and not ritualistic praise. This may be a little unfair. Many sincere
Episcopalian churches exclude any form of free worship; the members only sing
hymns and choruses. For them, this is their highest form of worship. For free
church members, spontaneous praise is encouraged. Phyllida and I prefer Pentecostal
Praise and Worship. We realise that “singing in tongues” is not accepted in
some quarters. So if this offends you, please accept my apologies. For us,
the limitations of language, restricts spontaneity. So we love singing in the
Spirit. Somehow, in a way we don’t understand, the Holy Spirit enables us to
break free of language limitations and express our praise for God in ways we
will never really comprehend. There is a line in the Hymn, “Love Divine”
which describes what I mean beautifully. “Lost in wonder, love and praise.”
To do this, we find it takes place best when singing in an unknown tongue.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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10 Everything that you have made will give
thanks to you, O LORD, and your faithful ones will praise you.
Psalm 145:10 GW
Of David. 1 Bless
the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
Psalm 103:1-2 ESV
Of David, when he changed his behaviour
before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. 1 I
will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 ESV
2 I'll bless you every day, and keep it up
from now to eternity.
Psalm 145:2 MSG
3 Because your love is better than life, my
lips will glorify you. 4 I will
praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with
the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:3-5 TNIV
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies
the Lord 47 and my spirit
rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has been mindful of
the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me
blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy
is his name.
Luke 1:46-49 TNIV
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God!
You are worthy to receive glory and honour and power. You are worthy because
you created all things. They were created and they exist. That is the way you
planned it."
Revelation 4:11 NIrV
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IN PRAISE OF GOD'S GREATNESS
Praise You Lord of earth and
sea and sky,
For honour, might and power all
apply
Unto the wondrous maker of the
Earth;
The architect of the whole universe!
Blessed be my gracious Lord and
King;
The God Whose Name eclipses
everything;
Who holds all of creation in
His hand
And framed the worlds by His command.
The God above all Gods; The
Holy One;
Too glorious for man to look
upon;
Just to catch a glimpse of Him
brings death
Because His radiant glory steals
our breath.
The God above; The owner of my
soul,
I praise His Name, His virtues
I extol.
Jim Strickland – Written 1988
IN PRAISE OF GOD
Thank You for creation Lord;
Thank You for Your Living Word;
Thank You for the Bread of
Life;
Thank You for my darling wife.
Lord, I bless and praise Your
name
For, constantly You are the
same;
The God of all eternity;
The One who caused all things
to be!
The King; The Lord; El Shaddei;
The One who never tells a lie;
The Sinless One without a spot;
The only One who changes not!
Lord, I worship You today;
Lift my voice to You and say,
“Blessed be my God and
King."
“You are The Lord of
everything!"
Jim Strickland
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