SIZES

The tadpole and the hump back whale went walking out one day. They couldn’t hold each other’s hand; there were none anyway! They wanted to start talking but somehow they could not. The tadpole spoke in whispers. The whale can’t hear a lot. But they persisted walking and didn’t think of size. And so they had to settle for the love light in their eyes. The whale was far too massive. The tadpole far too small And so, to put it mildly, they couldn’t hear at all. Before you get all angry about this being true, I’d like to state how big God is and just how small are you. You’d think it is impossible for God to ever hear, The things a little spot like you could speak into His ear. I know that it is ludicrous and that you don’t compare. But this remains the attitude of most folk everywhere. They do not walk with Father because of the great size, Of Him Whom they are serving so they resort to lies. They say they walk together but it’s not really true. They do not speak the language of love in all they do. They think that God is massive and they’ll be sent away; But Jesus Christ is not like that; His love is here to stay. For love does not have “sizes” it doesn’t rise and fall. The finest way to put is to say “One size fits all”. So when we walk together and love holds both our hands, We get that great sensation we’re meeting God’s commands. I may look like a tadpole. You may look like a whale. But what we share between us can never ever fail. I know of your shortcomings. I know that you know mine. But in the splendour of God’s love we both are doling fine. We have no expectations of anything we do. There’s just a growing knowledge that Jesus is in You. And so we greet each other with kindness and with care. We know we’re tender hearted because our Lord is there. We know about our problems and that’s why we forgive; Because in our reality there’s no way else to live. I love to see your freedom. I know that you love mine. We know it is made possible by Jesus Christ Divine. And so we walk together and hold each other’s hand, Because the very Lord of Love has said it’s what He planned. Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 28 July 2011

BLINDNESS

 Some time ago in Worcester we made some brand new friends.

A number of blind people; the sort the Father sends, To check your Christianity and all the things we do; To be a better neighbour to those we never knew. The town had many features to help those without sight. The traffic lights had special sounds so they could get things right. The school for the blind children was just along the street, And every Sunday morning a few of us would meet. At first it really bothered us to lead this little band. Of course they were all children from all parts of our land. They had a special hymn book with all the words in Braille They’d read them with their fingers and the hymns were never stale. The reason for their blindness was hard to ascertain. Some had a little vision and could lead them down the lane. We loved those little children assisting them through school. They had a sort of attitude that said “I’m not a fool”. At times it could get difficult until they trusted us. And there would be an attitude of not making a fuss. They had a special leader who always had been blind. We found she was approachable and wonderfully kind. One thing we found amusing was when we raised our voice; She said that she could hear us. “I’m blind not deaf” of course. The time we spent in Worcester helped us both to see, The things we take for granted in our own society. We saw it was essential to take someone by the hand, And help them cross the road to get to somewhere they had planned. What really touched our spirit was the way they seemed to trust. Although they were unsighted they could “see” each one of us. They knew that we were present although they couldn’t see. A bit like how we’re limited in our ability. We cannot see the spirit world but know that it is there. And have a closer contact through the medium of prayer. It made us think of Jesus and the way He gives us sight, Even in the darkness of a world without His light. We know that He is present by the way He takes our hand And helps us to cross over into His Promised Land. We know He’s like His Father; He’s the image of our God. He lets us be aware of Him and doesn’t think it odd, That we should call Him “brother”; He thinks that it is right; For people in His image to walk in endless light. He looks just like His Father and enthrones us in His love; For He’s the incarnation of the God who reigns above. Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 27 July 2011

THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM

It started back in Chaldea four thousand years ago. The home that he was living in, not many people know. The place was fairly modern – a double story home; With all the latest trappings that the ancient world had known. The place had running water in each and every room, With ancient central heating. It wasn’t just a tomb. The owner’s name was Abram and his wife was called Sarai. A very pleasant town in which to grow up and to die. According to tradition, his father had a trade. Most of the local idols he had personally made. Of course they had no motion and could neither speak nor see, But that is what was wanted back in UR of the Chaldee’s These idols bothered Abram. He thought they were a sham. So one day he smashed all of them except one silver man. And when his father asked him who broke them he replied “The silver man had done it” and it couldn’t be denied. “But that can never happen they cannot move or speak” “So why then do we worship things so useless and so weak?” It surely got the point across; but now his goose was cooked. They’d better get away from there before the townsfolk looked. So Abram and family, when he was seventy five Followed God’s instructions so they could stay alive. He swapped his pleasant dwelling for an ancient looking tent, And set out on a journey, the way the Lord had sent. Of course this little story is only just a tale, To show us that this gentleman was never going to fail. The Lord had told him quietly that it was time to go, And travel to a land that that some time later He would show. I’m very glad he did it; and you should be as well. He was the founding father of all that we can tell. If Abram hadn’t done it, I fear that there would be No Jews as well as Islam, nor Christianity. Abraham believed God, the Bible says for sure. And it’s because he did it that sin has found its cure. This man of faith followed the Lord and He’s the reason why, The Lord of all creation could send Jesus here to die. So let’s remember Abraham and all that he believed. Without him not a one of us salvation could receive. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 26 July 2011

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

I thought I was a Christian. That always had been true. You caught it by osmosis in Church from those you knew. I didn’t think it possible for God to care for me. I thought there were so many other fishes in the sea. Why should He even bother with anyone so small? It may be true for other folk, but somehow, after all, There surely were more people and bigger fish to fry. Why should He think of any insignificant as I? There were a dozen reasons why I should be ignored, But none of them, I later found, impressed our Risen Lord. The world that I was living in is ruled by certain men, Of senior position, who were not born again. Their titles were impressive, like modern Pharisees With money and position and various degrees. This system was quite normal. I didn’t think it odd, That hardly any one of them represented God. The captains of the industry all struggled to the top. And any opposition they’d very quickly stop. There was a pecking order that kept everything in check. And trying to oppose it brought trouble round your neck. Then came a day remembered as clear as yesterday. I’d gone to church to meet the girls, it was a certain way To find a marriage partner for that’s how it was done. But in course of flirting I met God’s only Son. I listened in amazement and much to my surprise, I found I was important in God the Father’s eyes! I learned He sent His Son to die especially for me. I cried so many tears that I could hardly see. He knew I wasn’t perfect. He knew that I had failed. He knew that I was feeling sort of spiritually jailed. He knew my every moment and all that I had done, And then He softly whispered, “welcome home My son”. I knew that I had Jesus. I knew I had His life. The deep inferiority and feelings of great strife, Were banished and departed and I was feeling free. There was no pecking order between Jesus Christ and me! I vowed that I would serve Him. I gave Him the control Of everything within me in body, heart and soul. It happened fifty years ago, since then He’s been my King. I wouldn’t want to swap this for all this world can bring, That once I’d been impressed with. That stuff had no appeal, And I could serve my Master with fervency and zeal. For Jesus Christ had rescued me and I had been transferred From darkness into light by simply trusting in His Word. Jim Strickland – written Monday, 25 July 2011

PERSPECTIVES

It’s sometimes very hard to grasp the things the Lord has done. We try and find perspective and discuss things with His Son. But often what has happened is far above our thoughts. And on these occasions, our intellect resorts, To seeking for an answer in terms of what we know. That’s often when we find that it was not the way to go. We fail to see His purpose when He does what He thinks best. Our little minds confuse us and we think it is a mess. But even when its painful, we know that it was right, For Father only does that which is pleasing in His sight. We’d love to take it up with Him, but it’s a waste of time. He never makes mistakes because He is the Lord Divine. We think He is mistaken, but that is never true. And we would love to know the why for that which He does do. The problem’s our perspective. The scene is far to close. We do not have His wisdom and so we get verbose, In speaking of solutions that we would like to see. Its then we find our error and how wrong it seems to be. The word Isaiah gave us back in, oh so long ago, Described a suffering servant that we didn’t want to know. We like to think of Jesus as a king upon a horse. But as a man of sorrows? That’s foolishness of course. We only see the upside of the things we see occur. To think of Jesus suffering creates an awkward stir. It really shouldn’t happen to our Saviour and our God. Why should He have to suffer underneath a Roman rod! Why should He need the discipline of suffering and pain? Why should He feel the agony of death so He could gain, Some physical advantage that will help us understand, That suffering is something that Father God has planned? Why should we have to learn this? Why can’t we just relax? Why do we need experience to keep us all on track? If we could understand it, we’d try and find a way Of ducking underneath it in some satanic way. But Father God knows better. He knows that we must learn, To do what is essential so in hell we needn’t burn. And then when it is over and our time on earth is done, We’ll know why we were treated exactly like His Son. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 24 July 2011