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| Booze can Kill |
Time with Jesus - Monday, 20 May 2013
Hi all,
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| Alcohol The Greatest Remover |
Have you been, or have you ever
come across someone who is addicted to alcohol or drugs? A relative of mine is
an alcoholic. It’s a terrible addiction. I recall hearing the comment, alcohol
is the greatest remover on earth.
First, it removes all your money. Then it
removes your house and your car. In time, it will remove your family and you
will be left destitute. You may well end up in something like a Salvation Army
Men’s Palace, unable to feed and clothe yourself. Even your dignity will be removed.
That’s what can happen to an alcoholic.
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| Salvation Army Men's Palace |
Thank God for Organisations like
Alcoholics Anonymous. They cannot take away the addiction. What they can do is
provide an environment in which a group of alcoholics can provide encouragement
and at times, the desire to live life without alcohol.
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| AA - Alcoholics Anonymous |
I have a dear friend; a
retired pastor; who meets with such a group every week. First he stands up and
gives his first name. e.g. “I’m Tom and I’m an alcoholic”. (Tom is not his
name) This friend of mine has been an alcoholic for 35 years. In all those year
he has not drunk any form of alcohol. His statement is of great encouragement
to men and women starting out on their battle with this terrible disorder.
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| Destitute |
I asked him on one occasion, if
Jesus had healed him from alcoholism. He says it is Jesus Christ who enabled
him to be “dry” for 35 years. But if he takes a drop of alcohol, even after 35
years, he knows he will be back on the bottle. Quite correctly he tells us,
that Jesus has helped him keep off booze. But Jesus will not empower him to
drink alcohol again without the inevitable consequences. What an intelligent
answer.
I’m no expert on alcoholism or drug
addiction. I was a smoker for many years. Breaking the habit for me was not
particularly difficult. I’m convinced that Jesus helped me quit in April 1981. On
the other hand I’ve met men and women who have found breaking the nicotine
habit one of the most difficult things in life.
Another friend of ours fought
the battle with lung disease. He said he couldn’t stop smoking. He contracted
emphysema and was confined to bed for months. Even then he “couldn’t stop”. Toward
the end of his life, he was on oxygen. Even then, he would take the oxygen pipe
away, so that he could have another cigarette. On one occasion he set himself
alight with the pure oxygen. We watched him die slowly over a period of several
months. Why didn’t Jesus heal him from emphysema? I don’t have a complete
answer for this. The best answer I can give is that He does not heal you so
that you can carry on abusing your body with self-inflicted wounds. Perhaps
that’s too simple?
In 1973, Roberta Flack recorded
a song which reminds me of this problem. It was called “Killing me Softly” The
chorus went: - Strumming my pain with his fingers; singing
my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song; telling my whole life
with his words. Killing me softly with his song! Thinking back all those years I’m reminded that
very often, we enjoy doing the very thing that’s killing us!
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In 1986, I had a nervous
breakdown. Why? The problem for me was I loved the job I was doing. But the job
brought with it a high level of stress. In the end, something had to give. In a
way, rather like Roberta Flack’s lyrics, the job I loved was killing me. “Killing
me softly”.
Wasn’t my faith strong enough to
carry on without the breakdown? I can’t answer that. What I do know is that the
breakdown ultimately led to my being given an early pension by Eskom. There are
times when the Lord takes you through a situation, for a reason that is as
clear as mud at the time. Certainly it was unclear to me. But four years later,
I was a pensioner at 48!
The pension wasn’t much, but it kept the wolf from the
door. Since then, Phyllida and I have been able to follow the Lord wherever He
sent us. Furthermore, the pension enabled us to be independent. We weren’t
looking for an employer; we were seeking to be a blessing. Twenty three years
later the Lord has continued to provide. Thanks to Him, we are still in that
position.
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| Retired at 48 |
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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| Addiction can touch anyone and everyone |
Matt
10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus
21 May 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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In yesterday’s meditation we explored the reaction of Mary Magdalene.
Hers was almost tangible. You can almost feel her emotion as she finally
grabs Him round His feet and says “Rabboni”.
This morning I’d like to share with you something which took place in
1986. Personally, it was one of the hardest years of my life. The pace at
work was increasing and this led to a nervous breakdown at the end of the
year. Strangely enough, I’ve found that as the pressure of the work load
builds up, God grace seems to multiply. It’s as though He compensating for
what is happening in the physical world with what He is doing in the Spirit
world.
As I reflect on 2000 years of church history, I’m amazed at how God’s
people could endure the severest forms of persecution and remain faithful to
Him. I suspect Paul had this in mind when he wrote: 20 The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God's grace increased even
more. Rom. 5:20 NIrV
In those days I would get up early in the morning and spend time with
Him. I’ve always believed that you can only get to know someone by spending
time with that person. It’s particularly true when seeking to know more of
Jesus. John tells us Jesus said, 7 If
you remain in me and my words remain in you ask
whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7 TNIV
This verse is usually believed to be referring to physical things; a
new car, a washing machine, a better job. No doubt it does. But it occurred
to me that if someone wanted to dialog with Jesus, a good place to start
would be by asking Him questions. There is a major difference between asking
God questions and questioning God. It’s His desire to talk with us. So if we
ask Him about walking with Him in obedience, we can expect Him to answer. It
may not be good doctrine, but I’ve found that God is more willing to talk
with us than we will ever understand.
I’d been “dialoguing” with Him for some months. The results were never
spectacular, but always encouraging. So it was that on this occasion I wrote
out my questions to God. Something I still do when I can. That morning, I received
an extraordinary answer. The questions in prayer and His answer is the
subject of today’s meditation. At the time I suppose I was a bit like Thomas
in John 20:28 But as I went deeper into praise and worship, suddenly the
light in my heart went on. It felt as though His presence was with me. His
answer “blew me away”. It still does. As a result I was able to endure to the
end. Sure, there were many trials. There still are. But these promises have
helped me keep going!
Jim
& Phyllida
Strickland
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7 Now
you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of
our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so
that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ
returns. 9 God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He
says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 NLT
21 She
will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus
[He Saves], because he will save his people from
their sins."
Matthew 1:21 GW
8 He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's
death on a cross. 9 Therefore,
God elevated Him to the place of highest honour and gave Him the name above
all other names, 10 that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:8-11 NLT
25 The
woman said to him, "I know that Messiah
is coming (he who is called Christ). When
he comes, he will tell us all things."
John 4:25 ESV
1 The
Spirit of GOD, the Master, is on me because GOD
anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives, and pardon all prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1 MSG
45 We
follow this sequence in Scripture: The First Adam received life, the Last Adam is a life-giving Spirit. 46
Physical life comes first, then spiritual--
47 a firm base shaped from the earth,
a final completion coming out of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:45-47 MSG
26 A
week later Jesus' disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them.
Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said,
"Peace be with you!" 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas,
"Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it
into my side. Stop doubting, and believe." 28 Thomas responded
to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!"
John 20:26-28 GW
13 You call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because
that's what I am. 14 And since
I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each
other's feet. 1`5 I
have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
John 13:13-15 NLT
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PRAYER:
For all that I am feeling; for the
clouds up in the sky;
For the chill of coming winter; for
the fact that I will die;
For the knowledge of time passing; for
the mystery of age;
For the going into battle; for the
warfare we must wage;
For these things most blessed Father
that will happen to us all;
I lift my hands in worship and my Lord
to You I call.
You're the touch of golden sunshine on
a bitter winter's day.
You're a soft and gentle raindrop
after clouds have passed away.
You're the shade of welcome shadow in
the scorching midday heat.
You're a banquet of contentment when
there's nothing we can eat.
It is true most blessed Jesus; You
provide eternally,
And I lift my heart to listen to what
You would say to me.
You are better than the answer to a
lonely maiden's prayer.
You provide all we are needing through
the wonder of Your care.
You delight us with Your presence in
an empty, lonely room.
You have shown You are Almighty,
raising Jesus from the tomb.
So I greet You Holy Spirit and give
thanks that You abide;
In this world of joys and sorrows You
are ever by my side!
God the Father; Holy Spirit; Blessed
Jesus; God the Son;
God the Counsellor, Almighty, ruling
all You've made and done;
God the Triune; God the Lovely; God
the Saviour; God the King;
God the bringer to repentance; God the
Lord of everything;
Lord I come in expectation and bring
praises to Your Name;
Listen to Your voice a speaking and
which always is the same.
ANSWER:
Saying, "Come to Me my servant; come to Me and be My friend.
I will lead you and I'll guide you ever more unto
the end.
I will bless you if you'll follow and
will do what I command.
I will take you into Canaan for it is your promised
land.
For I love you and I change not; you
are Mine forevermore,
Be ye comforted and know that I have everything in
store.
Be ye trusting in the knowledge I am
always in control,
With assurance in your spirit that My Son has made
you whole.
So be confident and valiant; lean heavily on Me;
I'll provide what you are needing; stop and look
around and see.
Were you ever disappointed in the
things that I have done;
Through My precious Holy Spirit in the Name of
Christ My Son?
For you'll find in Me contentment, be
ye young or be ye old;
There's delight for those who follow to the safety
of My fold.
There’s healing and forgiveness in
this world of sin and pain;
If you'll trust and honour Me, I'll cleanse your
guilty stain!
For I'm the One Who loves you. I'm
Jehovah; Adonai;
Elohim; The God of plenty; Everlasting;
El-Shaddei!"
Jim Strickland
Written 1986
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