JIMERICKS DARKNESS OR LIGHT

Time with Jesus - 11 Dec 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is an attempt, on my behalf, to present seven of the daily Scriptures in Limerick form. Basically they are two eight “beat” couplets. There is a slight difference. The first and second line rhyme, along with the fourth and fifth lines; In addition, the third line rhymes with the sixth. 

It’s an interesting method of composing poems. Since they do not follow the exact pattern of a Limerick, I’ve called them Jimericks. When experts in the English language tell me there is no such thing, the only comment I can make is, “Well there is now”.

Writing the sort of poems I write is fun. I’m not trying to be a Shakespeare, a Milton or a Wordsworth. I never will be. Their language and style of writing is different from mine. Their works are “classics”. Good English with masterly style and grace. That’s not me. I’d like to be in their league. I’m not. If Jesus tarries, 100 years from now, their writing will still be known.

That’s the beauty of writing poetry. It may easily be forgotten. However, the author has had the satisfaction of stringing the words together in a simple way trying to convey a very simple message.

In this regard, Phyllida and I have given considerable thought as to how long to continue with what we are presently doing. We’ve concluded that from 1^st January 2014, we will be taking time off to establish the next step.

What is happening at the moment? I’m compiling an anthology of what I’ve written. It’s being published and will come out next year as an e-book, probably toward the middle of the year. There may be one or two books in paper-back which could be made available for sale to those who are interested. 

I’m not sure what the cost will be. However the book will have ±500 X A5 pages. (250 X A5 sheets printed on both sides.) The book is a daily devotional. It will have a Scripture reference, followed by a poem, similar in style to those published by a number of well-known writers. The difference is mine will be mostly verse and rhyme.

January will be our Sabbatical and we are both looking forward to it. Not that we plan on going anywhere. As an old “comic” said, “We are going to Romania and do the garden route”. i.e. We will remain here; go out the front door, round the garden and back in again. No external costs. No hotel bills. No petrol to buy. It should be great fun. 

We will also spend time with the Lord establishing what He wants us to do next. Christians seldom retire; they usually re-tyre!

 We would love to pay another trip to Israel next year. Loving Jesus Christ has given us a love for the Jewish people and their land and we feel we must return to drink in the places where Jesus walked ±2000 years ago.

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 11 December 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	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						©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	JIMERICKS DARKNESS OR LIGHT
As this introduction is being written, I’m vividly reminded of the story of the genie in the bottle. Not the “Open Sesame” variety. It must have been his little brother. The story goes that one of our great golf lovers had a question he would like to ask someone who could answer. He wanted to know if there were golf courses in heaven. With this thought in mind he found a magic bottle. He opened it and a huge genie appeared. “I’m a different sort of genie” it said. “I only answer questions and always tell the good news and the bad news.” “You are just the genie I need to talk to”, said the man. “I have a question to ask you.” “Fire away” replied the genie. “Remember I will tell you the good news and the bad news.” “Fine. Tell me are there golf courses in heaven” the man asked. “Do you really want to know?” asked the genie somewhat perplexed. “Yes!” replied the man. “The good news is that there are definitely golf courses in heaven! The bad news is you tee-off at 01h23 tomorrow morning! I’ve mentioned this story because of the similarity it has with Christian life. We don’t have a genie living in a bottle. We have the Son of The Living God in our heart! He is always available, so we don’t have to coax Him out. In one respect, Jesus and the genie are similar. Jesus will always only tell you the truth. It could be good news or bad news. He will tell it, as it is! This is very important for all of us. If you are feeling smug and comfortable in your Christian walk, here’s a question to ask Him. Ask only if you really want to know. The question is, “Lord is there anything in my life You want me to change?” I must confess that I’ve never had the courage to ask this question. I’m not sure I’d be able to cope with His answer. Incidentally for the perfectionists among us, I must confess that today I’ve missed out one Scripture and the associated poetry. There was no way I could include them in the space available. There’s a beautiful theme running behind today’s Scriptures. Jesus’ love for His bride and His bride’s love for Him. This is a love that is more than anything we have experienced or can experience in this dimension. It is a supernatural love. On our behalf it stems from our realisation of the lengths God went to, in order to re-establish a relationship with us. When I think of the way I was when He went looking for me, I get carried away with the wonder of it all. What I mean is I have no problem loving and being loved by people I like. Also, those who have the same attitude toward me. That’s easy. But to think that infinite love and perfection would even consider bothering with me. That, I do not and probably never will understand! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT	Darkness or Light”? You were made right, By the glory that comes from the Lord. You called out His Name, And Jesus Christ came. Now He is loved and adored!		His blood washed you clean, From all you have been. His righteousness shines in your eyes! Satan’s retreated, Because he’s defeated, And you have expunged all his lies.
			7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NLT	Follow His ways, For the rest of your days, In fellowship with one another. If you do this, You never will miss, The wonder of knowing your brother.		His blood is the glue, In all that you do. Keeping brother and sister in place. His blood disinfects, Our dreadful defects; And lets us look into His face!
			5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV	He was wounded for me. When He died on the tree. My sins and transgressions are gone. He felt Himself crushed, As his flowing blood gushed. From Him who had done nothing wrong!		His body was stripped, And brutally whipped. A flogging that brought us all peace. And it is revealed, By these stripes we are healed, And all of our sicknesses ceased!
			25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV	Men; lay down your lives. Love your wonderful wives. By His word wash her thoroughly clean. Without any spot; Wrinkled are not; She is your glorious queen! With a soft velvet glove, Place all of your love, On the woman you chose to make yours.		Give her your all. Make her feel ten feet tall! And you’ll be the man she adores. She’ll always be “cute”, If the holiness route, Is the way she is constantly led. Do this every day. She’ll submit and obey, And continually make you her head!
			8 She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling, pure linen." This fine linen represents the things that God's holy people do that have his approval. Revelation 19:8 GW	It’s a glorious sight. His Bride is in white. As pure and as white as the snow. No spot or defect, Can onlookers detect. She’ll follow wherever He goes.		The linen she wears, Are the hopes and the prayers, And deeds that God’s people have done. They’ve been prepared, For a life that is shared, As the Bride of God’s wonderful Son!
			22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 ESV	With a heart sprinkled clean, From all we have been, And a conscience that’s been purified. There’s nothing to fear, As we seek to draw near. No reason for wanting to hide!		With faith in our heart, We need not stay apart. Come; let us draw near to our God! His Son’s made the way, So let’s enter today. The Master has given His “nod”!
			A Maskil of David. 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalms 32:1-2 ESV	Blessed is the one, Whose transgressions are gone. Since Jesus Christ suffered and died. They feel they’re in clover, Their Sin’s covered over. From God, they no longer need hide.		Iniquity’s ended, Christ Jesus has mended, The bridge between heaven and man! Deceit doesn’t stay, In our spirit’s today. There’s no other way that it can!
				Jim Strickland Written 11th December 2012