BEAUTY FROM THE LORD

We wonder what is beauty? For most, it’s how we look. It’s all in the appearance as in some fashion book. We also know for most of us, it only goes skin deep; We also know retaining it is always far from cheap. Is there perhaps an opposite that many people fear? A sort of gross disfigurement we don’t want to come near? The best way to describe it is saying it is sick; And every little bit of it just cuts us to the quick. In this, there is no soundness; in fact it makes us faint; It’s cuts and sores and bruises that disfigure every saint! It stretches from the cranium and goes down to the toes, But why it looks so horrible, we think that no one knows. The cause of such disfigurement is the result of sin. For messing with unrighteousness dictates the state we’re in. There’s never any righteousness in anything we do. Our righteousness is filthy rags downgrading me and you. Of course a major problem is the way that people age. Every year it’s obvious we’re in a later stage; And some day our appearance will match our many years; And we will look as gruesome as all our youthful fears. So what is the prognosis? Can we retain our youth? The only way to do it is to follow after TRUTH. To ask the Lord If He will melt the ugliness away. If we’re rejuvenated we always young will stay! Is this a possibility and can we be transformed? Can we again be glorious as we have been informed? Of course the Lord will do it and we will be renewed. He’ll give us that perfection that cannot be construed. The Father gets no glory in seeing us decay. That’s why He sent us Jesus. He is the only WAY, That we can all look beautiful in spite of all our years. For when His Spirit covers us, His righteousness appears. He wants to wash each one of us and make us white as snow. And beautify each wrinkle and cause each one to go. To dip us in His precious BLOOD which banishes all stain; To cause us to be youthful and beautiful again. So ask Him for His fullness; be putty in His hand; And He will shape and mould you .and make you look so grand. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 09 August 2011

NEW CREATION RIGHTEOUSNESS

Where will we find righteousness? There’s just one place to look. You’ll find it in the dictionary; or some such language book. What about the people who go each week to church? But you never find it there regardless how you search. But some are aiming at it, and lots of folk agree, It isn’t found in sinful folk, the likes of you and me. It may be my ambition and our collective aim, But we failed with distinction in spite of all we claim! But righteousness is something a Christ follower should find, Provided we’ve been given it and only if we bind, This quality around us and lock it there with glue. That’s how we all should walk in It, and let it be on view. But Jesus gave us righteousness the moment we were saved. It may not ever typify the way that we behave, But when we come to Jesus He washed our whole slate clean. So none of us can ever say it’s what we’ve never been. The feeling is miraculous. It makes you feel brand new. And in a sense we know it’s something all of us can do. Then, just as quick as blinking, we leave it all behind, Because it isn’t something that we expect to find. But Jesus Christ has given it. We got it all for free. So why is it it’s something we very seldom see? The problem is our lifestyle; we think that sin is great. But actually it’s something that all the Godhead hate. So why do we persist in it. Why is it we don’t quit? The problem is that most of us have not got used to it. Thinking we can walk in it just doesn’t come to mind. That’s why the Master’s righteousness is very hard to find. But we know it is possible, if we will just embrace; The Master and His righteousness in any time or place. It starts with a decision to follow in His way. And as we start to do it, His righteousness will stay. So let’s make a decision to be what He has said. When we can get a grip with it way deep down in our head; We’ll find that the impossible with Jesus is routine And we can be exactly what His Holy Word can mean; A vessel of repentance with righteousness entwined. A God breathed New Creation The Master has designed. Jim Strickland – written Monday, 08 August 2011

SET FREE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

October nineteen sixty, I gave my life to Christ, And now in retrospection, I know that deed sufficed. But back then as a teenager, what I did on that day, Was something like a headstrong act with which I had to stay. The problem was my weakness. A thing I couldn’t break. I knew how much I wanted to, but I could not forsake, The grip that it had on me. I tried and tried some more. It didn’t seem to matter. It was too strong a flaw. I knew that I loved Jesus but something wasn’t clear. And after only three short years I said, “Get out of here!” And so for almost twenty years I wandered day by day, Regretting my decision to turn and walk away. The problem was, I knew me. I wanted to return! But knew that deep inside me this thing would always burn. My life was a disaster. I couldn’t get things right. I knew that if I tried to turn I‘d still have the same plight. And then in desperation, because of circumstance, I really couldn’t carry on and had to take a chance. To go back to the Saviour and ask Him to forgive. There wasn’t any other way that I desired to live. Then one night on a Sunday, I visited a place, That pointed out the problem that every person faced. That thing I found impossible, God’s Spirit could put right. The power that I needed was to Let His Spirit fight. I knew the Holy Spirit would help me in my need. That’s when some people prayed for me, and I was filled indeed. I thought that was the answer. The Spirit told me, “No!” But as I walked and talked with Him He’d cause the thing to go. I asked Him if for just one day He’d help me overcome. That’s all the Spirit wanted. His victory was done. I’ve often asked what happened. Why did it take so long, For me to find His power to break this thing so wrong? He never gave an answer. But often He’s implied It always was available. The problem was my pride. I had to beat the problem. I never would succeed. Until I stopped my fighting and let Him do the deed. That’s when I came to realise that one man on his own, Could never change his life himself, regardless of the moan. And as my lips poured out His praise in flowing unknown tongues, His gentleness inspired me to fill my aching lungs, To give Him all the credit for what He’d caused to be, The years that I had wasted were given back to me. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 07 August 2011

THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE

Many, many years ago when I was just a lad, I came under the discipline of my beloved Dad. His treatment was impartial and it was always fair. The rod of his correction applied with greatest care. That’s why I always loved him. I miss him to this day. Although those years are history since my father passed away. He never was a talker. His still waters ran deep. He had a strange ability whereby he’d try to keep A smiling face for everyone unless something went wrong. At times like that, I always found his arm was very strong. I loved him and respected him for all that he had done. And it was such a privilege to be his only son. Of course my Heavenly Father is very much the same. Except on a much higher and supernatural plane. His discipline is swifter but equally as sore. And always for my benefit, like my father’s was before. It’s never done with malice and always for my good. In just the way a Father’s love in his correction should. Of course the pain inflicted was not too much to bear, And always demonstrated a love both just and fair. So never be afraid His discipline is overdone. It always is appropriate for father to a son. Indeed, you’ll know it happened and never will forget, That is was quite appropriate for justice to be met. So focus on the good things you will find within the land. Serve Him with a diligence above all you have planned. Listen to Him speaking as He points out the way. There isn’t an alternative for how to live today. Let His Spirit guide you. He will not get it wrong; And you will find your faith in Him will increase and grow strong. All of your tomorrows will never give you pain, While in His loving hands you always faithfully remain. Yes! Listen to your Father Who reins on high above; Who treats you as a precious child and holds you in His love. Who wants to make the best of you that you can ever be; Who holds you in His loving arms and tells you tenderly; His plans for you are excellent, abounding with His Hope And while you walk together, you’ll more than merely cope. Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 06 August 2011

A NEW CREATION

We thought we’d never get there; the distance seemed so far. But it was worth the effort, to be aiming at a star. It seemed to be a question of the way we looked at things. Who we thought was earth-bound, and who had angel’s wings? A choice between relationship and ritual by rote. But only life in Jesus Christ would ever get our vote. For most, religion’s meaningless; its purpose there is none. And all we ever had to do was simply carry on. But then we came to Jesus; our lives were changed for good. At last we started doing the things we knew we should. When holiness consumes you and becomes your very goal, You never can be satisfied with something less than whole. Our attitude was altered; life took on a new shade. We’d rather lay our lives aside and march in God’s parade. So what if we were burned alive? So what if we expired? The life that He has given is much more to be desired. We found we could no longer be squeezed into a box. For Jesus Christ had saved us and He reset our clocks. So we’re a new creation. A type not seen before. With better purposes in life than what we had before. We know it is far better than we could ever tell. With everything that’s needed to keep us out of Hell. Hell was our destination; it’s where we should have gone. But Jesus Christ enthrals us; we’re constrained to carry on. Not one of us are circumcised, except within the heart. A better deal than Abraham was given at his start. For Jesu’s peace is on us in a new and higher way, Than anything the world has known until this very day. No longer are we Gentiles who are hopelessly confused. No longer just a people whom Satan has abused. Instead, a new creation, with attitudes and aims, So far above the former they look like children’s games. Our passions and desires we’ve placed under His control; And now the Holy Spirit is directing a new goal; That we become compliant with righteousness and care, In ways we never thought we could encounter anywhere. And who deserves the credit the honour and the praise? Only the Lord Jesus as we do the things He says. Jim Strickland – written Friday, 05 August 2011