Daily Devotionals in Verse and Rhyme

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

A VISION FOR MINISTRY

The Sower

Time with Jesus - 23 Oct 2013

Hi all,

One of the “set-books” in my matric year was “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare. I can’t say I enjoyed it. It came hot on the heels of “Macbeth” which was our set-book the previous year.

Now Macbeth was full of witches, blood and gore, with wall to wall corpses and trees that moved on Dunsinane. For some reason, boys of 16/17 prefer this sort of writing. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Malcolm are hard acts to follow.

From Twelfth Night

Malvoli, Olivia and Sir Toby Belch were and still are poor substitutes to follow in the steps of Macbeth and his coven of three witches.

The Bard of Avon

What is unequalled since the days of Queen Elizabeth I is the extraordinary ability of Shakespeare. On occasions, when thinking about his writing, I’m drawn to the conclusion, that in the poetry writing stakes, Shakespeare is in a class of his own, followed, some twenty lengths behind, by all the rest of us.

One of the quotes from Twelfth Night, with me to this day, comes from the lips of Malvolio. The quote is, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” We are, of course, referring to the world of men and women.

For example, Prince Charles was born great. By an “accident” of birth, he is the heir apparent to the British Throne and will one day be “King Charles”. Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery became great by being the army commander who defeated Rommel and his Africa Corp at El Alamein.

Montgomery

“Monty” as he was affectionately called, achieved greatness.

Rommel

Perhaps one of the finest examples of those who had greatness thrust upon them must surely be “The Few”; the pilots of the RAF from many nations in WWII. Churchill’s immortal words, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” - Is their tribute.

In terms of Shakespeare’s example, where do you think Shakespeare himself “fits in”? He wasn’t born great. His writing genius is acknowledged by all. This enabled him to achieve greatness.

Knitting the Rainbow Vest

If my proposition that Shakespeare is in a class of his own, what about other “word-smiths” who have captured the imagination of man. People like Tennyson, Shelly, Grey, Byron, Wesley, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby,

G A Studdert Kennedy
"Woodbine Willie"

Studdert Kennedy and hundreds of others, who have walked across the stage of life and done their best to express in words, the things they’ve seen and felt all around them?

It’s getting on to ±33 years since the desire for me to do much the same came to me. I’d had a smattering of a desire to write verse since a young age. But after I’d been filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke “in tongues” for the first time in my life, words seemed to flow together when I sat down to write.

One or two friends said that God had given me the gift of being prophetic. It scared me back then and scares me now. Some said, “Jim, you’re a modern prophet”. That really scared me spit-less! It still does!

Rainbow Vest

My problem is I know what I’m like. I know only too well that if people really knew me, they would never want to talk to me again. That simply does not correspond with being a prophet of the Lord. At the same time, I continue to write my verses. Some say they are inspired. Others say they are little more than “doggerel” composed to impress others. Take your pick!

The "Urchin"

For many years I’ve “toyed” with this. Indeed, I’ve asked the Lord to guide me. I’ve read books by 20^th century men whom I have regarded highly. Some of them were unquestionably prophets of God to their generation. Men like Studdert-Kennedy, Dr AW Tozer, Paris Reidhead and many others.

Paris Riedhead

From these and other sources, the conclusion is that no man knows who or what he is until some fifty years after his death.

Percy Shelly

This is one of the many ways God refines His people and keeps them away from becoming proud.

The Lord also gave me a rule of thumb which I find invaluable. The rule is to ask yourself, “What is the purpose of writing?” Is it for fame and fortune, or because you have something on your heart you must communicate?

Question	When is a prophet not a prophet?	Answer	1) When he/she is seeking to make a profit from God-given abilities!
			2) When he/she is looking for fame or recognition in life!

If both or either of these motives are what’s driving you, forget about being a prophet. Not unless you wish to be known as a false prophet. The choice is always yours. Why?

Dr AW Tozer

A Christian who seeks to walk in the anointing of God should never be seeking the praises of men. These two are contradictory; usually diametrically opposed to each other. There will be occasions when you are thanked and appreciated.

This is because we live in a fallen world where men are hungry for recognition by their peers. If your motives are pure, the response by others is irrelevant. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus refers to this Himself. ²⁶ "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests--look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. Luke 6:26 MSG

What about financial success. This is also a great danger. The Lord is not concerned as much about you having money, as money having you. Paul in his letter to the Philippians wrote: ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philip 4:12 TNIV When you and I are in a place where wealth is irrelevant, only then are we in a place where God will trust us with wealth. There’s no other way!

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 23 Oct 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	A VISION FOR MINISTRY
Written in 1999, this parable was written for a lady looking for her ministry. I’m going to tell a parable, to help folk understand, The thing that they already know as what, for them, I’ve planned. There was a little lady who wondered what to do. She said she had no training. At least, none that she knew. She didn’t have much learning. She didn’t know My Word. She’d spent her days in service. And yet her heart was stirred. She wanted to do something. A very special task. But she had little money and felt she couldn’t ask, Her neighbours to assist her to start a ministry. But in her heart, she longed to do a lovely work for Me. She hunted round her humble home but couldn’t find a thing; Except some different scraps of wool she tied like balls of string. There were so many colours. Some red, some green, some pink. “The colours of the rainbow” is all that she could think; And all the lengths were different. Some short, some very long. And some of them were very weak, with others very strong. “What can I do,” she wondered. “I can’t buy any more. I haven’t even got the time to travel to the store”. And so she took her needles and started on a quest; To knit a rainbow garment and make a small child’s vest. She knitted in the mornings and in the afternoons. Whenever she could find the time, her knitting she’d resume. She started with the strongest lengths, and with the weaker strands, She braided two together with her kind, loving hands. Eventually she finished. She looked at what she’d done. It didn’t look impressive. But she’d had lots of fun. She giggled as she looked at it because it looked so odd. It really seemed the strangest thing for her to do for God. The next day, in the market place, she came across a child. He was a homeless urchin. He looked at her and smiled. The cold wind blew upon him and what he wore was thin. And so, she took the rainbow vest and handed it to him.			⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. John 6:63 TNIV	He looked at her with great big eyes and pulled it o’er his head. His eyes expressed a thankfulness which words could not have said. The child looked quaint and interesting and suddenly she knew, That she’d performed a ministry that no one else could do. The meaning of this parable is very plain to see. It isn’t very difficult to find your ministry. Take a look around you and see what you can find. Look for what you like to do and what inspires your mind. This lady loved her knitting. The wool was close at hand. She didn’t have to emigrate or leave her native land. She didn’t go to Bible School. She didn’t need matric. She only did what she could do; and did it double quick. She didn’t use excuses; she didn’t cry or mope. She wasn’t sure of anything. She wasn’t sure she’d cope! She simply took her talents and her abilities, And set off on a venture into her ministry. So tell this to my children. This parable of Mine, To show them that their ministry is forged in their design. It isn’t going places, or being seen by men. It’s doing what they like to do, no matter where, or when. So if they want a vision of what they need to do. Take a little look around and they will get a view, Of what there is available, to meet another’s needs; And then put into action their own God-given deeds. Whatever they can find to do, just do with all their heart. For that is where they’re sure to find their ministry will start. So, tell them to take courage and tell them not to wait. The time is now! The place is here! Today’s the perfect date, For them to put in motion that which now must be done. To glorify the Father, the Spirit and the Son. Jim Strickland Written 1999
			⁴⁵ The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam--that is, Christ--is a life-giving Spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45 NLT
			⁶ When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch--the Spirit--and becomes a living spirit. John 3:6 MSG
			⁵ He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 NLT
			¹¹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11 ESV
			²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 TNIV
			¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 TNIV

Monday, October 21, 2013

ON TRACK

Time with Jesus - 22 Oct 2013

Hi all,

In March 1963, I celebrated my 21^st birthday. My days as a techno-junky had not yet begun. Life was good. “Steptoe and Son” was seen on British TV once a week. My favourite program then was “That Was The Week That Was” (TW3) starring David Frost and his happy gang of mirth makers. Strangely enough, Malcolm Muggeridge featured weekly on TW3 to make his inimitable comment on recent events. Technology had not yet gripped the public the way it has now.

Other than radios and Televisions, log books, slide rules, and reel to reel recorders were the in-things. I had my eye on a big reel to reel recorder and managed to get a good one at a good price. Exactly what I was going to do with it, I still can’t remember. Perhaps it was my introduction into the world of the techno junkie? Anyway, I bought one and had great hopes for using it. The only time I remember using it was to tape record my wedding to my former wife. More importantly, I don’t think I ever played the sound back.

Shortly after buying the reel to reel recorder, cassette tape players were introduced. I was a bit dismissive of them. How people would make use of cassettes if they could use a reel to reel was my unanswered question. “How do you store those things?” I wondered. The fact that storing reel to reel tapes was a problem for me, didn’t enter my mind. Besides which, you needed a special player to play cassettes. So my reluctance was not based entirely upon my resentment toward them. Sufficient to say that within 18 months of their introduction, my reel to reel recorder had been consigned to the “graveyard” of yesterday’s technology.

The next item that caught my eye was the pocket calculator. “Nobody will buy them!” was my immediate comment. All they could do, back then, was basic arithmetic functions along with square roots. Now I could do all that with my trusty slide rule. It was a top of the rage “Faber Castell” which was capable of doing far more than I needed. Also, it didn’t need batteries! Once again I looked disdainfully at technology. These were nothing more than “portable adding machines for babies”. They weren’t terribly expensive so I categorised them along with “little toys for girls and boys”. Things like marbles and plastic dolls.

This was my second technological blunder. Within five years I’d lost my slide rule, scrapped my book of log tables and had “discovered the “magic” of HP calculators. Suddenly, I didn’t have to worry about “juggling” with the decimal point in my calculations. Furthermore, the answer was correct to within 10 decimal places! Then in the late 1970’s, Universities and other tertiary education establishment permitted the use of calculators, provided there were no built in formulae to cheat the examiner. I was so relieved. This new rule enabled me to get through my final engineering examinations in 1980.

In 1976, I was moved from Kreil Power Station to Eskom’s head office. Suddenly I had to learn how to produce engineering minutes for the Plant Operations and Maintenance Department. The all-day meeting was held once per month. Mostly, the topics were about issues affecting power stations. They were a bit more complicated than that, so everything was recorded. In addition, the minute secretary had to get everything down quickly and legibly. After the meeting, it took the best part of the week to laboriously hand write the minutes. Then, they had to be typed by one of the girls in the typing pool. Getting everything finished in good time for the next meeting was always a challenge.

In those days, the typists typed their documents on word processors. These were little more than glorified electronic typewriters which had a memory function. At the same time, I felt that the time had come for me to start typing the poetry I’d written. I had an old Hermes machine which my mother had used years previously so I had a rough idea about how to type. That’s when it was necessary to decide which route to follow; a word processor or a computer? The techno junkie bug struck! The computer was the way to go and in 1985, I bought my very first one. More of this can be found in the introduction section of today’s meditation.

Since those days, my addiction to “computerised electronic gubbery” has worsened. DOS was fine. Windows 95 improved on DOS. Then came the unofficial Windows 98 followed by Windows 2000 etc. At present, Windows 7 is where I’m at. Couple this with MS Office, which has also gone through a several editions and you begin to see that from an electronics point of view, I’ve reached the point where “junkie-ism” has become my electronic way of life. Mind you, I still don’t know how it all works. Not that it matters now. Our kids and grandkids know far more about computers and mobile phones than I do. All I can tell them is why our home looks more like a “Dion’s Wired” Store every day.

What has my (Jim) compulsive electronic habits got to do with today’s meditation? Summarised in one word, is the word fellowship! I’ve had lots of fun messing on with computers and being in contact with people all tound the world. Furthermore, we’ve found, lots of the information we have gleaned from God’s Word and revealed by His Holy Spirit, can be helpful to those who still have many years before them.

Some time ago, we learned that no qualifications can replace experience. Education and academic achievements are wonderful. We trust that none of our descendants will be compelled to look at a blank computer screen which only says C:> for several months. Realise there is no need to remain ignorant in the information age. It’s easy to tap into a wealth of sound Biblical information and acquire knowledge of God’s Word, from a number of reliable and trustworthy sources.

All you need to do is ask. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus said: ⁹ "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 NLT In our experience, this is the only way to make progress in God’s Kingdom. You must do the asking, the seeking and the knocking. You will find some men and women will be able to assist you. Do not rely on them. Do not rely on anyone. Do not rely on Phyllida or on me. We may all be wrong! Rely on Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are never wrong. They will never leave you staring at some spiritual computer screen, gazing at that which makes no sense to you.

Always be willing to think! Use that which God placed between your ears. If you don’t understand something, ask Him to reveal truth to you. As James wrote, ⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT He has never failed us as we have pursued this. He will not do so with you! Instead, you will have a fantastic ride with Him through this life. That’s been our experience. He will do the same for you, if that’s your desire.