NEW LIFE!

When we are discussing “life”, what is it that we mean? Perhaps a bit of DNA or something in our genes? Some people have stated it’s “the opposite of death”. And some refer to spirits, particularly “meths”. But what was it the Father has given to His Son, That the religious leaders had decided they should shun? We know the Father has it and Jesus has the same. And that we can receive it by the power of Jesu’s Name! But how is it identified? What is it that we see? How do we recognise it in folk like you and me? Let’s begin by saying you won’t find it in the lab. You cannot isolate it and place it on a slab. But when you have it in you, the world will know for sure That deep down in your spirit, there’s a presence that is pure. The face that once was sombre, will break into a smile. The way of life will change and have a very different style. The people whom he mixes with and wants to socialise, Will be a little different; more discerning and more wise. You’ll find that your not reticent and far more self assured. And through tough situations you will know you have endured. Your neighbours will take notice of the way you serve the Lord, Live within your income and buy things you can afford. Disinfect you’re tongue so that the words you speak are clean, Generous to others and not miserly and mean; Willing to help people and to go the extra mile; And when you are insulted, you turn to them and smile. You’ll be a supporter of righteousness and peace; A person of integrity, who’s joy will never cease. Someone who is different and stands out among the crowd. A person who is gentle and not arrogant or loud. Always is contented with the “lot” he has in life, Noticed by the way he loves his children and his wife! A person in relationship with Jesus Christ his King Who has become his treasure; worth more than everything. So what’s the definition of life upon the earth? Jesus’ description was to call it second birth. Nobody can own it; and no one can control, The energy that fills the man in spirit, mind and in soul. No, you can’t define it; and yet it can be seen. It isn’t in a test tube, but the consequence will mean, A change in the behaviour form what it was before; To something that’s so evident that no one can ignore. The difference is visible and plainly can be seen, Will show that Christ the Saviour has washed him squeaky clean!. Jim Strickland – written Wednesday 18th May 2011

TEN LIVING WORDS

They’re called the Ten Commandments: They are God’s Holy Law. We know we aught to keep them; that’s what they are there for. To break them makes us sinners. That’s how it’s always been. But could it just be possible we don’t know what they mean? I know we’ve always trembled. To break them makes us scared. So let us take another look and see how they’re compared. Our friends the Jewish people call them the ‘living words’; Operate within them and you’re free just like a bird. God put them there to caution us; a sort of boundary; If you will live within them, then you’ll be safe and free. But if you break just one of them then you have bust the lot. Perhaps we do not like them, but they are what we’ve got. A little illustration from the local harbour wall: - They put a signpost on it, with letters big and tall. They placed it on the farthest edge, beyond it is the sea. “Don’t park your car beyond this point” is stated poignantly. Another is the story of my daughter as a child. The oven had a hotplate and it would drive me wild. “Don’t touch that thing, you’ll burn yourself” I’d shout out my advice. And then one day she touched it. It wasn’t very nice! She really burned her fingers just as I said she would. And surely my instruction was made for her own good. So when she went and burned herself the fact is, she was warned. But it was my commandment my little girl had scorned. She did it to herself we say; and surely that is true. And that’s what God intended for folk like me and you. Don’t go beyond the limit; you’ll drive into the sea. Never touch the red hot plate and put the blame on Me. That’s why they call them “freedoms”. They’re there to keep us safe. They never were intended to irritate and chafe. But people in their thinking, including you and me, Accuse the Lord of limiting our precious liberty. I know we cannot keep them. We like to break God’s law. We brush aside our boundaries and say we must explore, The seamy side of living; and every time we do, We find ourselves in trouble. The problem’s me and you. We yearn to touch the hot plate although it’s glowing red. And what about adultery in someone else’s bed? We’d rather drive our motor car right off the harbour wall. And try and find someone to blame! Yes! Anyone at all! As Paul has placed on record, the laws of God are good. And if we try and keep them, we’re doing what we should. And here’s the very best part; in Jesus Christ we can! For He alone is Saviour. In fact He’s God made man! Jim Strickland – written Tuesday 17th May 2011

LIFE OR DEATH

The world that we are living in is one that thrives on death. It’s hard to think of anything that doesn’t live by breath. The mountains and the star that shine don’t seem to change at all. But one day they will crumble, will fade away and fall. The seasons we depend on like summer and the spring. Would no longer have value and will not change a thing. We could all talk with Abraham, with Adam and with Eve. I’m not sure where we all would live or what we could achieve. For if there is no dying, the flowers wouldn’t fade; No longer would the men have need to use a razor blade. The women would be beautiful but how would they give birth? There’d be no need for hospitals in any place on earth. The medical profession would be something of the past. Our shoes, our socks and clothing for ever more would last. And what about the butcher? What would we do for meat? It’s even problematic to know just what to eat. It couldn’t be from animals except perhaps for milk. And what about the silkworms? Where would we get our silk? Where would we get our compost? And what about manure? There would be no diseases for which to find a cure. We wouldn’t see a motor car for there would be no oil. And there would be no seedlings to plant into the soil. And what about the programs we watch on the TV? There wouldn’t be a predator for anyone to see. The sharks would have no victims. In fact there’d be no prey. There’d be no need for hunters. They’d throw their guns away. And what about the insects, the spiders and the snails? And what about the eagles? And what about the whales? Can you detect a problem when death has been destroyed? Please don’t let it offend you and do not be annoyed. The Lord would have to teach us to live a life that’s new. Instead of focusing on death, His Life will change our view. And many of the details that we have known before, We’d have to sort or fold them up and throw them out the door. Some folk will not be happy. They’ll yearn for what has gone; What Jesus Christ will do with them to help them carry on, Is more than I can comprehend. But I do know one thing. Our living will be centred round Jesus Christ our King. Jim Strickland - Sunday, 15 May 2011

CHALLENGES IN LIMERICKS

                2 Tim 4:16

The first time that they tried me,
My friends left me behind

Forgive I pray

Them for that day

To me Lord, they were blind

    -oOo-

Philip 3:10-11 NLT

I want to know Christ Jesus
and that power restoring breath

To die is gain

To share His pain

And rise with Him from death

 For ordinary living
Without the power of God,

Will always be,

Undoubtedly.

Six feet below the sod.

-oOo-

Mat 10:24-26 TNIV

The student and the teacher
the master and his slave.

Will get the blame

And suffer sham

Until they reach the grave

 

For if their Lord and Master
is called Lord of the Flies,

They’ll be appalled,

When they are called.

The “harbingers of lies”!

-oOo-

      Isaiah 53:3 NLT

Despised and rejected,
Of sorrows and of grief

They turned away

From Him that day

And none gave Him relief

-oOo-

Psalm 69:17-22 GW

O Lord I am in trouble.
Don’t hide Your Face from me.

Come to my aid,

I’ve been waylaid.

Restore my liberty. 

No person brought me comfort.
I looked and there was none.

I’m forced to dine

On poisoned wine.

And all my friends are gone.

-oOo-

         Mat 8:19-20

O teacher I will follow you
wherever you lead me.

Is that OK?

What do you say?

Your follower I’ll be.

Jesus replied you must decide;
I have no place of rest.

The fox sleeps tight

In holes each night

And birds sleep in their nests.

-oOo-

           Heb 13:14 GW

We’re looking for a city
That isn’t here below.

The God of love’s

Made it above.

Where change it will not know.

      -oOo-

Heb 12:1-2 NLT

Look at the crowd of people
Who are witnessing our race.

Strip off the weight

That militates

Against your fastest pace.

Keep looking unto Jesus
Who started and will close

Our lifelong chase

To end the race

No matter how life goes.

He is our faithful champion
Who sits at God’s right hand.

Our victory

Is sure to be

For that is what He’s planned.

-oOo-

Jim Strickland – written
Saturday, 14 May 2011

SONNETS ON PRAYER

ASK AND RECEIVE

The Lord has said “Ask and you will receive”.

There never is reluctance on His part.

But how much of our prayers do we believe?

And how much comes directly from our heart?

In answering, He never will exceed,

That which we can believe that He will do.

No matter how we beg and bow and plead,

A limit is imposed by me and you.

It’s not that we control the Lord Most High.

That’s truly an impossibility.

But when we lift our hands up to the sky,

In confidence and true humility,

That’s when, beyond a shadow of a doubt,

He’ll come and He will sort the matter out.

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 13 May 2011 

WHY PRAY?

Why is it that the Lord wants us to pray?

There has to be a reason why He does.

Perhaps He wants to hear from day to day,

The problems currently confronting us.

Of course He knows and knew it long ago,

The circumstances each of us are in.

And prayer to Him is how we all can show

Our attitude to wickedness and sin.

He’s said that faith in Him is paramount;

A trust that’s independent of our sight.

He wants us all to know that we can count

On Him throughout the longest, darkest night.

But how do we trust someone we can’t see?

By answered prayer! – How other could it be?

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 13 May 2011

THE TRIAL

The prisoner’s face was ashen. He was seated in the dock. The jury would be coming back just after twelve o’clock. The trial had been so frightening; it made him feel ashamed. He knew they’d find him guilty, not innocent as claimed. He knew that he deserved it for all that he had done. He didn’t think they’d catch him and it that it was good fun. He took an opportunity to look and see the judge. He’d known him for so many years and knew he wouldn’t budge, From handing down a sentence in spite of all the tears, That he would soon be crying for “going down” for years. He listened to the verdict; it was guilty on each count. All that was still missing was the size and the amount. How long he’d be in prison and what about the fine? And then the judge began to speak to get things into line. The fine was astronomical, far more than he could pay, And he would be in prison until his dying day. And then the judge’s gavel banged down and it was done. For him, his life was over before it had begun. Then suddenly the judge took off his wig, his cap and gown. He strode into the witness box and quickly glanced around. He said His name was Jesus, The fine He’d fully paid! He’d sacrificed His life and added He’d agreed to trade, Places with the prisoner so he could be set free; And added this was possible by God’s Divine decree! The court was in an uproar; they knew that it was true. The prisoner was pardoned – the proper thing to do. This story of the “miracle” will someday be a fact. The trial inside a courtroom that is literally jam packed, With people in attendance who have come from far and wide, To see the final outcome and if justice was applied. The prisoner on trial that day, you know who it will be? An average sort of sinner the likes of you and me. There’ll be no excuses and all will be exposed. Nothing will be hidden and everything disclosed. Everyone will know of the enormity of sin, That you and I committed and the hopeless mess we’re in. But after passing sentence the Lord will intervene, And tell the court his precious blood has wiped the record clean. We all will then be pardoned, if Jesus is our Lord. Not that we deserved it, for no one can afford To pay the price demanded for all that we have done. But we will be acquitted on the merits of God’s Son. For He has paid the penalty; God’s court will let us go. For Christ has made us righteous, as pure as driven snow! Jim Strickland – written Thursday 12th May 2011