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| The Queen Mum 1900 to 2002 |
Time with Jesus - Friday, 28 June 2013
Hi
all,
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| The Young Queen Mum |
Occasionally,
we come across men and women who have lived in three centuries. They have all
lived for at least one hundred and one years. If they were born in 1899 and
died in 2001, they would qualify. The British Queen’s mother was born on 4
August 1900 and died on 30 March 2002. She was 101 when she died. She was immensely
popular and was known affectionately as the “Queen Mum”.
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| 1899 |
It’s interesting to
note that technically, 1900 is considered the last year of the 19th
Century. 2001 is in the 21st century. So she was alive in all three
centuries. Mind you, most people see 1900 as included in the 20th
century.
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| 1900 |
Phyllida’s
mother, Nerine, was born in 1899. We can’t quibble about that being in the 19th
century. She died in 1994 so she only lived in two centuries. I loved her
dearly. She was a “character” and we have many wonderful memories of this grand
old lady. In her day, she was a very beautiful woman. Sadly, as happens to all
of us, eventually, the aging process did nothing to improve her appearance.
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| The 21st Century |
If
anyone didn’t bow to peer pressure, Nerine was that person. She observed the
same strict Victorian lifestyle she had been brought up with. Mind you, she
softened a little when it came to her dealings with her grandchildren. When it
came to my wanting to marry Phyllida in 1981, I made a point of dressing up for
the occasion and then asking Nerine’s permission to do so. Actually, I did the
same with all Phyllida’s children. We didn’t want to get into the situation
where they would say they didn’t approve of our marriage. The children’s
opinion wasn’t my perceived difficulty as much as Nerine.
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| Jim & Phyllida 12 December 1981 |
Gran, as she was called, was very “straight
laced” and honest. She always said exactly what she thought. Moreover she had
lived through two World Wars along with the development of radio, television and aeroplanes. She
also had a prodigious memory for the goings on in the British Royal family,
including the scandals in their heritage.
As
far as marrying Phyllida was concerned, I remember her answer very well. She
looked at me and smiled – if you can distinguish a smile on the wizened face of
an octogenarian lady – “You will look after my daughter won’t you James?” is
what she said. I gathered she approved. However, to this day I’m convinced it
was a statement of fact, an instruction and not a question!
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| 2002 |
Her
early years were spent in King Williamstown, the town her great grandfather had
founded. He came to South Africa from Scotland as a missionary, ostensibly to
teach the locals how to garden. She was brought up “on the back of her nanny”
as did most babies back then. This meant that she was fluent in Xhosa as well
as English. In later years, she had endless fun listening to the conversations
of many of the locals. Then, as they were about to part company, speaking to
them in Xhosa!
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| Typical Xhosa Dwellings |
Gran
had no time for peer pressure. She had a standard comment about that which
displeased her. “Don’t be common!” At the same time, she would allow her
grandchildren, still at school at the time, to smoke with her in her room; all
done very surreptitiously. But if one of her grandchildren started doing
anything with which she didn’t approve, she would make a snorting, disapproving
noise and walk away. Her point was made.
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| Nelson Mandela |
She
had been brought up in a very “religious” home. Not surprisingly she rebelled
when she was “old enough” to be independent. For the rest of her life she was
suspicious of people who “went to church”. At the same time, she had sufficient
knowledge of Scripture to know the difference between a flake and the genuine
article. Phyllida tells me that when she had joined the Baptist Church, Nerine
said to her, “I presume you’ve been “dipped”!
Nerine
didn’t compromise. Peer pressure wouldn’t influence her at all. Perhaps it was
the stubbornness of advancing age? What we can say with conviction, “our lives
as a family are the poorer for her passing”.
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 28 June 2013
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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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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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PEER
PRESSURE
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Peer
pressure. It’s one of the greatest challenges we will ever face. I started
smoking while I was still a schoolboy because all my “mates” were doing it.
It’s a bit of a contradiction. Young people want to be different. Different
from the rest of society. So they start doing things which are different. In
my days it was the “duck-tail” haircut for the boys. Within a short space of
time, all our “mates” also had “duck-tail” hair So we end up looking the same
as all the others who want to be different. We have it today in our schools.
Drugs are taken because everyone else is doing it. We were trying to keep up
with the other boys. Today, the girls have sex with the boys because, if they
remain virgins, they will be out of step with the other girls in the class.
That’s peer pressure!
In my
matric year, one of the guys got a motor scooter. He used it to and from school.
It ignited the “green eyed monster” in us and we all wanted one. Another guy
had a “Bubble Car” (remember them?) Almost immediately we wanted one. One guy
got a girlfriend. We all wanted one too! Suddenly, life was all about keeping
up with the Jones’ even though the Jones’ didn’t always exist. More than
that, if he has a girlfriend, why not me too?
In
Christianity there is a serious problem with peer pressure. Thirty years ago
we had the “Name it, claim it and frame it” brigade. Actually it was very presumptuous.
On reflection I sometimes wonder whether we were there to serve God or He was
there to serve us! We would stand on the Covenant promises of God and demand
He do what we were asking!
Things
are not grossly different today. The prosperity message has taken the people
by storm. So if we have a ministry, we must look the part! “Pastors” drive
round in flashy expensive cars. They wear silk shirts and expensive suits because
“God’s man must never look poor”. He must look prosperous. The fact that he
does it at tremendous cost to his flock is thought to be normal. “They may learn from me that God can afford my lifestyle”.
Oddly enough, Jesus didn’t do this and He is the Son of God. So charlatans
with oratorical ability prey on the flock and acquire great wealth at the
expense of the people. It’s reached the point in Limpopo Province that
evangelists are shunned. Why? Because one man toured the area and told them
that if they put a certain amount in the offering, they would be millionaires
in three weeks! He left town with their money. Not one of them are
millionaires over two years later!
This
shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus warned about this in the last days. The question
is what are we going to do about it? We can continue to preach the simple
Gospel Jesus proclaimed and look out for thieves and robbers. “By their fruit
you will know them” said Jesus. So let’s all see what men do rather than what
men say!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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1 The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some
people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them.
They will believe things that demons will teach them.
1 Timothy 4:1 NIrV
18 "So pay attention
to how you listen! Those who understand these mysteries will be given
more knowledge. However, some people don't understand these mysteries. Even
what they think they understand will be taken away from them."
Luke 8:18 GW
16 Let the word of Christ
richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one
another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness
in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 NASB
16 In all circumstances
take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
darts of the evil one;
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
165 Great peace have those
who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalms 119:165 TNIV
103 How sweet Your words
taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. 104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I
hate every false way of life. 105 Nun Your word is a lamp to guide my
feet and a light for my path.
Psalms 119:103-105 NLT
99 I know more than all of
my teachers do, because I spend time thinking about your covenant laws.
Psalms 119:99 NIrV
14 And no wonder, for even
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV
8 But even if we or an
angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we
preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8 ESV
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The Holy Spirit tells us, in the last day’s there’ll be fakes.
People who speak “Christian talk” but actually are flakes.
They have been deluded; they think that they are right
But all the things they say and do are evil in God’s sight.
Motivation’s everything in all they say and do.
They’re building up their ministry and friend, they’re using you.
Their motive isn’t Jesus, it’s money in the bank.
They cast out demons in His name; but who they really thank,
Is Mammon and His partners, avarice and greed;
A big cheque in the offering is what they really need.
O yes! They’ll are convincing. And even the “elect”
Can easily be turned away. They are an evil sect.
We must be very fussy about whom we will hear.
Stand aside and look at them and see who will appear.
First, look at their lifestyle and how they love their mate.
If it’s inconsistent, don’t enter a debate.
If they truly love the Lord, their Christianity,
Will be the sort of lifestyle that Jesus wants to see.
Are they rich and flashy and all their people poor?
Then get up and leave them. You can be very sure,
That they are just self-serving. They’re in it for the fame.
They may all speak of Jesus, but it is the devil’s game!
What about their workers. How much is it they’re paid.
If it’s on the ‘bread-line’, be terribly afraid.
Get out and get out quickly, or you may be sucked in.
And find that you are serving the devil and his sin.
If in doubt, don’t do it. From Christ don’t turn away.
You’ve had plenty warning your part is to obey.
Not the clever orator, who has a way with words;
You’re sure to find his teaching is strictly “for the birds”.
Check out every statement, with what is written down.
If it isn’t Biblical, get up and leave that “clown”!
He may look like an angel all clothed in dazzling light.
Just dig a little deeper; his words will have the “blight”.
For if you hear a gospel that isn’t what we taught.
The Lord Himself will curse him and he will come to naught.
So let His Spirit lead you; and you will stay away,
From all of the false teachers and all the lies they say.
Jim Strickland
Written 28th June 2012
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