LIKE HIM

We’ve wondered what He’ll look like when Jesus Christ returns.

The more that we consider it the more the question burns.

We try and work it all out; His height and weight and size.

We think about His hairstyle and the colour of His eyes.

Will He be in a pinstripe suit or in a flowing gown?

And where is it we’ll meet Him and will it be in town?

These thoughts are academic. I don’t think we will care.

We’ll all be so excited that we are with Him there.

Some people have suggested there’ll be a massive crowd.

So big we’ll have to meet Him as He comes through the clouds.

This seems the biggest problem. Our cities are too small.

Our stadiums are “pipsqueak”, not big enough at all!

Just think of all the Christians in the past two thousand years.

The angels and the saints of old. It certainly appears

That we’ll be packed together like sardines in a tin.

But will it really bother us if we can be with Him?

Perhaps we will surround Him in some sort of a ball,

With Jesus in the centre – our God and Lord of all.

How will the world receive Him? I think they’ll weep and wail.

The wasted opportunities; perhaps their hearts will fail?

Perhaps recriminations will spiral out of hand.

But righteousness will take control in each and every land.

One thing we know for certain, we’ll see Him as He is.

No longer just a promise; .at last we will be His.

Yes, we will be God’s children because we have received

The Lord of all creation. In Him we have believed!

His great and precious promises at last will all come true.

And all He has prepared for us will flood into our view.

We cannot comprehend the things that Jesus has prepared.

The blessings we’ve experienced just cannot be compared,

With what He has stored up for us. Our minds would all go “tilt”

If we had just an inkling of what He’s done and built.

And we will fully know Him! We’ll see Him face to face.

No longer a reflection; but the fullness of His grace.

A resurrection body like His we will “put on”.

Our lowly bodies be transformed; our former struggles gone.

But what is most important and worth it’s weight in gold

Is that when we are with Him we’ll never more grow old.

And that which we’ve experienced we’ll find was so worth while.

For more than all of the rewards, will be to see Him smile.

Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 25 June 2011

LEAD US ON LORD!

They didn’t march just anyhow but how the Lord decreed.

To do it any other way would not increase their speed.

It would be a disaster. The Lord would not endorse,

A different way of marching. It was His stated course.

So why was this so different on those three special days?

To really understand it, see what the Bible says.

The Ark was in the centre. God’s pillar took the lead.

To point out the direction His people had to heed

The cloud provided shelter from the scorching midday sun

The fire kept them warm at night until the day begun

Was this an exception with the Ark up front instead?

A quaint misunderstanding of the words that we have read?

There’s no way to be certain but of this we can be sure.

A King can lead an army from anywhere secure!!!

Even if He’s standing in the middle of His troops,

His standard goes in front of them in case their spirit droops!

He’s just as much their leader regardless where He’s placed.

His leadership inspires them; they will not be disgraced.

Perhaps this is the meaning God decided to display.

For God will lead His people in His very special way.

His actual location is the spot which He decides.

He’s also all around them and since He always guides,

His actual position be it middle, front or rear,

Is rather immaterial. He’s unquestionably near.

So what is it we learn from this extraordinary tale?

Perhaps the most important is that He will never fail.

He’ll lead and guide His followers. He can’t be undermined.

Perhaps we cannot pinpoint Him but those who seek Him, find.

For He is all around us. He’s north, south, east and west.

To lead us to wherever from the place that suits Him best.

He’ll always be attentive to His people when we pray.

Omnipotent, omniscient in His omnipresent way.

And as He led His people in those days so long ago,

He’ll always be the leader of the ones who love Him so.

Jim  Strickland – written Friday, 24 June 2011

THE HOLY SPIRIT

He’s called the Holy Spirit; the God Who’s everywhere.

No matter what you say or think, the Holy Spirit’s there.

The middle of the brightest star; that place is not exempt.

The power of the universe. No one has every dreamt,

Of any place where He is not. No person can conceive,

Of anywhere He isn’t. No force can make Him leave.

He’s like a throbbing dynamo that cannot controlled

The Member of the Trinity with qualities untold,

Who flows between the Father and His Most Precious Son;

The mighty energy by which the universe is run.

And yet He is a Person, He isn’t just a force.

He has a personality He’s not just a resource.

He’s quite incomprehensible to feeble human minds.

Could you describe a sunset to somebody born blind?

He always has existed. When time and space were made,

He caused it all to happen. God spoke – it was obeyed!

He’s always been amongst us. Old Testament and New,

Describe what He was doing and what He would still do.

Before the death of Jesus, He mainly came upon,

The kings and priests and prophets; they spoke and He was gone.

That’s how God’s Word informs us that “prophecy” took place.

He hardly ever dwelled within that fallen human race.

But when the Lord ascended, a new phase was begun.

He came to dwell inside those committed to God’s Son.

For Jesus Christ had promised His Spirit would indwell,

The ones who had believed in Him and cut their ties with Hell.

So now in the New Testament we see what He can do.

He sends His Holy Spirit to dwell inside of you.

He comes with all His power. He is our “paraclete”

Our Advocate, our Holy Guide, our Escort Who can beat

Anyone who’s influenced by Satan’s wicked touch.

The Holy Spirit active in a Christian is too much

For Satan and his forces to ever overpower.

In Jesus Christ we’ve all become a Holy Spirit tower,

That reaches to the heavens and Satan can’t defeat.

The only “weapon” he can use for Christians to beat

Is if we start believing deception and his lies.

Which merely are his demons approaching in disguise.

So let the Holy Spirit do His work through you.

He is the Christian’s victory in all we say and do.

Let us all take courage. Stand strong and firm and tall.

Jesus and His Spirit will never let you fall.

And when the battle’s over, as soon as you have won,

Give glory to the Father, His Spirit and His Son.

Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 23 June 2011

DEATH

Death is an enigma. A riddle that we fear.

We know it’s going to happen, but hope it’s not too near.

We keep it in the background; We think if we ignore

Its dreadful implications, we’ll live a little more!

And so we sanitise it; put flowers round a grave.

Speak kindly to the relatives and tell them to be brave.

Then when we’ve left the funeral and gone back home again,

We’re glad we’ve done our duty; and some of us complain,

About how long the service took; then think of it no more.

It’s back to trivialities, like what’s the rugby score?

Don’t think I’m being callous with what is written here,

It’s true that the departed, we once held very dear.

But life was made for living. We can’t turn back the clock.

But funerals are times for us to quietly take stock,

And get a new perspective of why we have to die.

We’re monsters of iniquity and few of us know why.

We die because we’re sinners. That is the bottom line.

We may believe that we are good and we are doing fine.

But deep within the inner man, we know that it’s not true.

If you were really perfect, death wouldn’t come for you!

But what if it was possible for sin itself to die?

     Then death would not be able to come for you or I.

If we could deal with sin itself and put it in the grave,

Then we would all be free from death and we would all be saved!

But who could ever do it? It had to be a man.

And someone supernatural to put in place a plan,

To deal with sin forever. And if that someone died,

Then He would take death with Him; it couldn’t be applied!

But let’s go one step further. If He included me

And you, down deep within Him. Then miraculously,

If He was resurrected and brought to life again,

Then death would lose all meaning, along with sin and stain.

There’s one more implication that we must still explore.

If you and I are in Him, then death can reign no more!

We would be resurrected. In Him we’d be alive.

Then sin would be defeated and death would take a dive.

But this has really happened! Christ Jesus beat man’s fall!

God’s Son defeated sin and death. He is the Lord of all.

So when we go to funerals now, we needn’t say good-bye.

For if that person is in Christ, he cannot ever die!

 Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 22 June 2011

MADE WHOLE

There’s many different reasons why people serve the Lord.

One is that He’s worthy to be worshipped and adored.

Some do it for power, position, or for fame;

Only incidental is the glory of His name.

Some are only working as some Church’s employees.

They really have no option; It isn’t done to please

The Lord of their salvation. They’re only taken on,

Because the business sector is convinced they are a “con”.

So let me ask you bluntly. Why is it that you serve?

Could it be that somehow you just haven’t got the nerve,

To work for an employer and give your very best?

Or could it be the market place is far too big a test?

You really needn’t answer. I do not want to know.

But Jesus has the answer to everything; and so

Unless you’re very certain of what is driving you,

It’s time you took inventory of everything you do.

Would you be contented at the closing of each day,

To give your very best for Him regardless of your pay?

Would you work for nothing if that’s what He’s required,

Or would you take it easy and just hope you don’t get fired?

Are you far too fussy about where you need to go?

When you visit people is it only just for show?

Have you clothed the beggar and have you fed the poor?

If this is beneath you, your faith is immature.

Have you ever visited a prisoner in jail?

How is it you answered? A pass or do you fail?

Have you given water to a beggar in the street?

What is your reaction to the stranger whom you meet?

Have you prayed for others and do you intercede,

For those who are impoverished and have a desperate need?

Please don’t think I’ve passed this test. I’m probably like you.

Trying to be faithful to the Lord in all I do.

Knowing I’m unable to pass this little test.

Asking for His grace to help me do my very best,

To somehow reach the standard to which I should aspire.

Father kindle in me Your Spirit’s Holy Fire.

Show us how to climb out of this dark Satanic pit;

Of talking Christian jargon while knowing we don’t fit,

The picture Jesus painted. Lord, brand into our souls,

The image of a servant, renewed and fully whole.

Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 21 June 2011

EXPECTATIONS

What sort of life’s expected by a Christian today?

A life of laid-back comfort or the straight and narrow way?

We’d like go think it’s simple, like apple pie and cream;

A little stroll down easy street as if life is a dream;

A lovely bed of roses; a visit to cloud nine.

But that is not what happens to the sons of the Divine.

The first thing to appreciate is how hard life can be.

The things they did to Jesus, they’ll do to you and me.

It may not be identical in this computer age.

But we should understand that it is war that we must wage.

To use the cat-o-nine-tails, by now is out of date.

There’s better ways of dealing with the people which they hate.

There will not be a wooden cross, but we’ll be crucified,

By comments in the media that murder deep inside.

The whip’s been substituted by a grotesque apathy,

Which hurts as much as scourging by a callous enemy.

Our Christian expectations must all be realigned.

Persecution is the way by which you’ll be refined.

Let serving other people be the order of your day.

For even in this modern age it’s still the only way.

Everywhere that Jesus went, He planned on doing good.

He even went to places where men didn’t think He should.

He shared the people’s burdens; He healed all their disease.

He only did His Father’s will; He didn’t try to please,

The Pharisees, the Sadducees, Religious Scribes or Priests.

He focused on His people from the greatest to the least.

His attitude was meekness; His gentleness well known.

He acted in humility before His Father’s throne.

He never was self seeking; His only inward drive,

Was honouring His father while He remained alive.

He couldn’t stand hypocrisy in any shape or form;

And loving other people was constantly His norm.

No wonder that they hated Him. No wonder they were keen,

To execute this “hot head” whose ways were far too clean!

They hated Him without a cause. They’ll do the same with you.

They’ll plot your execution no matter what you do.

For Christians are disturbing. Religious folk feel bad,

When they are in your company. In fact it’s rather sad.

But Jesus gave the answer. His clemency rang through.

“Father God, forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Offer no resistance as they “hammer home” their “nails”.

Keep in mind the promise that true love never fails.

Even if you’re martyred, When they lead you off to die,

Let, “Lord, receive my spirit” be your last heartfelt cry.

For this is Christianity, it’s following His way;

And isn’t grossly different from way back in Jesu’s day.

Jim Strickland – written Monday, 20 June 2011

CHOOSE TO BE HOLY

A big misapprehension among Christians today,

Is thinking they can live their lives in any sort of way.

But in the book of Hebrews, chapter twelve and verse fourteen.

     We read how very dangerous this attitude has been.

It spells out very clearly, if we would see the Lord;

If we don’t live a holy life, we’ll perish by God’s sword.

No matter how we look at it, this fact is very clear.

Unless we live a holy life, the Lord won’t let us near.

It true we must be born again. That’s where we all begin.

But this is not a licence to live a life of sin.

In fact it’s just the opposite. When we are born again,

We should adopt a lifestyle that is void of every stain.

Sin should be repulsive; it makes our “blood run cold”,

And we should follow holiness the way we search for gold.

He wants us to be flawless; like freshly fallen snow.

He wants us to be spotless no matter where we go.

Our ultimate intention must be to live like Him,

For even little defects will make our light go dim.

The letter of Saint Peter, chapter one and verse fourteen,

Describes what is required; a life that’s pure and clean.

He wants obedient children who’ve taken on new ways;

Not living the old lifestyle we lived in former days.

The Lord has made us righteous; those former ways have gone.

And now that we have met Him, we need to carry on,

Living out the righteousness He gave to us for free.

It came with our salvation when He died for you and me.

But is it really possible? I thought you’d never ask.

He sent His Holy Spirit to lighten up the task.

And though it seems impossible, He’s surely guaranteed,

That He can impart holiness in word and thought and deed.

It’s really not a struggle. He knows that we will fail,

But it is held before us just like the Holy Grail.

And if we keep on trying to live for Him this way,

He’ll carry on assisting us each moment, every day.

So never think that holiness is just some empty dream.

Not while He is leading as the captain of the team.

Not while He’s determined to help us see it through,

By showing us each moment exactly what to do.

And when our lives are ended and we’re finished with life’s race,

We’ll know that even holiness came by the Master’s grace!

Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 19 June 2011