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

RESURRECRTION LIFE

What is it do you think that turned the whole world upside down? We’ve thought it was salvation as it spread from town to town. Of course this was important. It gave the people hope. For living under Roman rule – the folk could hardly cope. An added complication was the abject poverty; And many of the people were bound in slavery. They couldn’t get away from it; there was nowhere to go. It was the sort of lifestyle that most of us don’t know. Salvation was a process to follow to the end. A free gift from the Master on which they could depend. But when this life was over. What difference would it make? With nothing to look forward to; to sleep and never wake! So when they heard the Gospel, what thrilled them to the core, Was that when they had passed away they’d live forevermore! It meant they could look forward to life beyond the grave. Enormously appealing if you were just a slave So when they heard the story of resurrection life, Not only for the husband but also for his wife, They hardly could contain themselves; if this is true, they said, Then all their daily struggles would cease when they were dead. But was it really possible? Was resurrection true? Had anybody seen it? Where was this life anew? And then they heard the story, Christ Jesus was alive. They heard He had been crucified. But no one could survive That kind of monstrous treatment. When done the Roman way; If someone had been crucified, their death had come to stay. And so the death of Jesus was never in dispute This was the certain outcome that no one could refute And yet He had been seen alive. He’d risen from the tomb. It happened three days later so death had met its doom. A miracle had happened! Five hundred men had seen Him after He had risen. And this could only mean That death had been defeated. Its iron grip was gone; So even though they may have “died”, Christ’s followers lived on. It’s hard for us to understand the impact that this made. Two thousand odd years later - this record’s overplayed. We take it so for granted; we hardly raise a yawn. Why should we ever bother? We shake our heads in scorn. And yet the true significance could do for us today, As much as what it did for them. It could transform our way. So think about this carefully. This is explosive news. We too can get excited; forever change our views; That He is resurrected and He’s alive today; And that when life is over, we’ll be with Him to stay. Jim Strickland –written Wednesday 11th May 2011

FATHFULNESS

Perhaps the greatest puzzle in Christianity,

Is understanding the word “faith” and what it’s meant to be. The definition stated in that Hebrews Scripture verse, Is just about as clear as mud. Perhaps it could be worse. But “faith” can be translated in a much better way. It we translate it “faithfulness” it is as clear as day. Because although we understand it always happens now, It’s not a “once off happening”.  So shoot that “holy cow”. It isn’t something that we did some twenty years ago. It’s something we continue with albeit fast, or slow. It isn’t a decision we made when we were young. It’s something we continue with like breathing with the lungs. You cannot just forget it as something from the past. It is a journey we are on from first unto the last. We have to get this clarified or we will go astray; For faith is more than here and now, but followed every day. It’s something we must stick at until the very end. It’s something we could cast away; a path we must defend. For Satan will attack us as sure as sure can be. And that is really not the time to trust your history. A faithful servant serves his master every single day. There isn’t any chance for you to take a holiday. You have to keep your guard up. Nor can you take a rest. The war that we are waging is not a grade one test. So why do we continue? Why do we carry on? The answer is that Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Holy One Means so much more than anything that this world can provide, And with His Holy Spirit dwelling deep inside, There isn’t an alternative. The Lord Himself has shown, A little glimpse of what He has provided for His own. We have to keep on going for we have seen the prize. The welcome He will give to us is written in His eyes. So all the many baubles the world can give today, Is no comparison with what the Lord will give that day. So let us think of faithfulness from now until we die. Nothing will divert us and here’s the reason why. The Master will receive us and we will hear Him say, Well done My faithful servant. You’re with Me now to stay. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday 10th May 2011

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