THE LANGUAGE OF THE TONGUE

There has to be a microphone that’s just above your head.

The words you say are listened to and taken down as said.

In some ways it would help you if you were deaf and mute.

Then nothing that you said could be contested in dispute.

Recorded is your snoring, although it sounds so bored.

And when you shout out in your sleep it’s noted by the Lord.

It’s noted when you’re happy. It’s noted when you’re sad.

All the good things that you say, along with all the bad.

It’s noticed when you’re blessing and also when you curse.

It’s all recorded in your book, each chapter and each verse.

I’m not sure if this bothers you. It surely bothers me.

The words I use of others are not complimentary,

At least on some occasions; and many times I lie.

The only reason that it’s done – please do not ask me why?

I think it makes impressions on folk I meet and see.

They have to get the right idea when they look at me.

So I’m evangelastic. I stretch the truth so tight

That people think I’m marvellous and always get things right.

I do not use foul language. I keep my comments clean.

But in the quiet of my house when I think I’m not seen

The coarsest of vulgarities keep flowing from my tongue.

I sing those ancient ballads that never should be sung.

I learned them as a young man. They’re etched into my mind.

I wish I could forget them, but they are not that kind.

So that is my confession. That’s what folk never see.

I think there’s lots of men out there who also are like me.

In some regards they’re better off. They’ve never known the Lord.

And so their conversation is permanently flawed.

But some of us know better. Their tongue has been controlled.

They know that ever words they speak are apples made of gold.

Their choicest words are brought forth upon a silver tray.

I wish that I could do it. Then I’d not go astray.

But I am in good company. The bulk of those who read

This very brief confession, will know they also need,

To take their tongues to somewhere to make them white as snow.

The problem is that just like me they don’t know where to go.

So Father God this morning set a guard before my lips.

The sort that will control my tongue from accidental slips.

I know that You can do it. I know You get things right.

I know You always speak the truth in clear and purest light.

And that is what I need today with many men out there.

There is no other way to give us speech beyond compare.

Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 06 July 2011

LOVE FOR GOD

He says what He is doing; He does what He has said.

He is the God of miracles Who raised Christ from the dead.

He’s utterly reliable. He doesn’t change His mind;

Unless somebody asks Him to, for that is when we find,

That though the future’s certain, and nothing can be changed,

He listens to His people, even when estranged.

He answers when we ask Him; It’s not because He must.

But since He loves His people and all He does is just.

He rules over the weather and tells the wind, “Be still!”

He’s done it in the past for us, and in the future will!

His love for us is infinite. His righteousness as well.

It’s nowhere His intention to send anyone to Hell.

That doesn’t bring Him pleasure. It makes Him rather sad.

He wants to be our Father and hear us call Him “Dad”!

He knew what we were facing. He knew we had no “out”.

And so His love for you and me, far beyond all doubt,

Prompted Him to find a way whereby we could return;

And be with Him in all the ways not one of us could earn.

This was His outstretched mercy. This was His gift of grace.

This was the only way for us to stand before His face.

And while we were still rebels, ignoring Him in hate,

His endless love reached out to us and changed our certain fate.

He didn’t have to do it. He could have washed His hands,

And left us for eternity chained up in Satan’s bands.

But He had made His people. Why should the Devil win?

So He sent His blessed Son to smash the power of sin.

He knew that we had perished; of use to Him no more.

But He designed recycling and evened up that score.

So how can we repay Him for all that He has done?

There really isn’t any way. It cost Him His dear Son.

A price that’s so much higher than all mankind could pay.

The only way that could be found to be with Him one day.

He wants us all to love Him. But how can we be sure,

The love we really have for Him is genuine and pure?

He gave the answer to us. A way to check things out.

If we can’t love each other, then surely there’s no doubt,

That we don’t love Him either. It’s love for other folk,

That demonstrates our love for Him or shows it’s all a joke.

The truth is, that’s the bottom line. It always works that way.

It’s never what we say we do; but doing what we say!

Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 05 July 2011

COMPASSION

The qualities of Jesus. Which one would you prefer?

If you had any one of them, which one of them would spur

You on to being like Him, and doing what He did,

To everyone He came across and did as He was bid?

For me it’s His compassion that stands out like a mile.

It’s something you cannot “turn on” and use for just a while.

It happens deep inside you each time that you behold,

Any situation where compassion will unfold.

A typical example was His disciple John.

We’re told he was His favourite and that may not be wrong.

There was a special trio of Peter, John and James

The Master took them with Him, is what the Bible claims.

They were official witnesses to all that He did do.

So that the truth of everything was clear for all to view.

But when it came to choices, the person He called on,

It seems in every instance, the one He chose was John.

Of course he was the youngest and the custom of the day,

Was reclining in a circle in a very special way.

It never was haphazard. The oldest on His right,

And then in their birth order with everyone in sight

The youngest one was honoured and sat on His left side.

Where He could lean upon the Lord and listen to his Guide.

He’d listen to His heartbeat; He’d feel His joy or pain.

And when something was needed, it’s John who would explain

The nuances in Jesus’ voice to those who couldn’t hear.

For Jesus would repeat Himself and whisper in John’s ear.

So John saw His compassion in ways that other folk

Could never understand Him. He was that sort of bloke.

And Jesus was unrivalled in getting to the core

Of all He was requested, because of what He saw.

He comforted the mothers whose children had just died.

He laughed with other’s laughter and cried with those who cried.

He blessed the little children the twelve had sent away.

He laid His hands upon them. He blessed them all that day.

He fed a hungry people with food that multiplied.

The crowd was astronomical but all were satisfied.

He loved the twelve disciples although they often failed.

He didn’t leave them orphans when to a cross was nailed.

He told them he was coming back; They didn’t understand.

And after He ascended, His Spirit came as planned.

This was His great compassion. This was his love made clear.

This was the way He did things for people far and near.

This was His love in action, compassion put on view;

To everyone around Him; to folk like me and you.

Jim Strickland – written Monday, 04 July 2011

A SON OF ABRAHAM

If ever I had told you that Abraham’s my dad,

Tell me your reaction; the Jews would say. “He’s mad”

Where’s his circumcision, what about his nose?

Was he in the loony bin? He must be one of those!

Now in the world of nature, I guess they would be right.

I’ve got no Jewish ancestors; not even one in sight.

And flowing though my bloodstream is not the blood of Shem.

I’m told it’s purely gentile. So rightly they condemn,

And tell me I’m from Japheth of European stock,

And so my claim to “Jewish-ness” must surely take a knock.

And yet the Scripture tells me that what I’ve said is true.

I have no Jewish ancestors and yet I am a “Jew”. * ^{see note below}

Not by genealogy for that could never be.

But having faith in Jesus Christ affects my ancestry.

It seems I’ve been adopted into The Holy line.

My faith in God and Jesus means both of Them are mine.

Abraham believed God for what he couldn’t see,

And though it seemed impossible, he hung on constantly.

So he received the promise. The promised son was born.

Isaac, Jesu’s ancestor, was brought forth on that morn.

It really wasn’t difficult, the lineage came and went;

Waiting till the moment that the Son of God was sent.

But which one was the Promised Son? Sure, Isaac came along;

But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, He was the Promised One.

So Abraham was trusting God for Whom he didn’t know.

But God had made a promise and He would make it so.

This was the type of trusting that Father God desired.

A faith that never wavered and was utterly inspired.

So Jesus was the offspring to which Father God referred.

The others were all waiting for the fullness of His Word.

And anyone who trusts in God like Abraham that day,

Are offspring of the Father whatever others say!

The fact is I’m as much a “Jew” as those in Jesu’ line;

Only by my trusting in the Word of God Divine.

Not by mutilation of a portion of the skin,

But trusting Jesu’s mercy for forgiveness of my sin.

Nothing else will help me. It is by faith alone,

That I’m a son of Abraham the way that He has shown.

Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 03 July 2011
  Strictly speaking, “Jews” are the descendants of Judah, Jacob’s 4^th son by Leah. But common usage today calls all Abraham’s progeny “Jews”

COMMUNION OR PASSOVER?

Communion or Passover, Which one do you select?

Is there some special way for us whereby we can detect

The one that’s more important? If it was put to you,

Which one would find your preference; which one is the most true?

Of course the question’s silly. They both are much the same.

The one we find in Exodus; the one in Jesus’ Name.

Of course they’re not identical; No way could that be fact.

The one is in the upper room; the other action packed.

The one reads like a comic with pictures and with text.

It isn’t difficult to read; we know what happens next.

The one is mainly Jewish; They were Egyptian slaves.

The other is more Roman and proves that Jesus saves.

The stories are quite different and so it’s hard to spot,

That both declare God’s glory, as His “forget-me-not”.

The Hebrew ram was perfect; a yearling in it’s prime.

The Roman one was Perfect; the Son of God Divine.

The Hebrew one was sacrificed. It throat was cut to bleed.

Its life was slowly drained away; a bloody act indeed.

The Roman one was sacrificed upon a cruel cross.

The blood ran down his body, He died from His blood loss.

The Hebrew one was sacrificed; the timing was precise.

The very instant when God’s lamb was being sacrificed.

The blood upon the lintels of every house door frame.

Looked rather like a bloody cross on which God’s ram was slain.

The Hebrews hear the weeping; All Egypt’s first born son.

Were taken by death’s angel. That “Passover” was done.

But those who were protected by the sprinkled blood were free.

Their children and their animals were set at liberty.

The life and death of Jesus shines forth in every place.

The Hebrews saw it happening. We witness it by grace.

So which is more important? The image is the same.

The story book of Exodus and Calvary both claim

To tell us all what happened; and both of them are true.

Perhaps it’s the perspective you want to have in view.

But this one thing is certain. Death’s angel passed us by,

The moment that the lamb of God decided He would die.

He shed His blood upon us and saved us all by grace.

It really didn’t matter; the proper time or place,

The end is still consistent with what happened way back then,

And nobody can change it until Jesus comes again.

Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 02 July 2011

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

We need to have a method that’s as sure as it can be,

To know the Holy Spirit is alive in you and me.

It cannot be a colour or that would advertise,

To everyone what happens when they look into our eyes!

It cannot be a halo, or everyone could see,

That you and I are holy when they know it cannot be!

It has to be a quality that flows from deep within.

A fervent contradiction to all that looks like sin.

And yet it must be visible and never in dispute,

And surely that’s the reason it’s spoken of as fruit.

It has to be discernable so everyone can know,

That surely what their looking at is pure as driven snow.

It has to be distinguished as left hand from the right.

It also must be pleasing to everyone in sight.

The proper word is character. That shapes the things we do.

It has to be consistent, inflexible and true.

It mustn’t vary daily as the product of a whim,

But something that will demonstrate our burning love for Him.

We know that love’s included. It cannot tolerate,

The tiniest suggestion of any form of hate.

It has to make us joyful in spite of circumstance,

No matter what is happening deliberately or chance,

The joy deep down within us must be clear and true and strong,

That even though we’re crying, our hearts are filled with song.

Peace is not the option of the absence of all war.

Instead it is a quality that’s worth our dying for.

In spite of every effort that the enemy can bring,

It’s knowing He is with us in spite of everything.

It’s patience through the hardship of an overwhelming trial,

Retraining our composure as we go the extra mile.

It’s kindness when confronted by deep bitterness and gall,

Knowing your reaction will confound them one and all.

It’s doing everything you can for someone else’s good.

And doing it with willingness not just because we should.

It’s faithfulness and gentleness and perfect self control,

Not because observers are looking for our goal,

But simply ‘cause it’s always the proper thing to do.

Even when all Satan’s hordes are chasing after you.

Isn’t this the character that others want to see,

Present in the lifestyle of folk like you and me?

Will we see these qualities no matter where we go?

Only in a Christian who’s not putting on a show.

For this is the lifestyle of Jesus Christ our King.

So let’s vow to copy it, whatever life may bring.

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 01 July 2011

THE GAIN BY PAIN!

I can’t remember what I did in nineteen fifty eight.

I got to school with plenty time and wasn’t running late.

And then our dear headmaster, called me to the front.

He spoke about behaviour and about the stunt,

Which I had been involved in with one or two school friends.

And he was going to deal with us by warming up our ends.

It wasn’t done in rancour. He didn’t lose his smile.

That thought did not occur to him. It never was his style.

And so in front of all the class, he quickly drew his cane.

And let me say for certain he was good at bringing pain.

The reason why he did it has vanished from my mind.

I couldn’t justify it. Perhaps I’m old and blind.

But I can well remember the stinging in my rear.

But since I was a teenager, I didn’t shed a tear.

One thing that I must say about that grand old man.

When the job was over his big heart overran.

He didn’t show resentment. I think he never could.

But always said politely, “I did it for your good!”

The picture isn’t perfect but that is like our God.

He knows just what is needed and then takes up His rod.

He never is vindictive but when He wields the cane,

It’s always for a reason that’s very, very plain.

It isn’t very pleasant. In truth, it’s rather sore.

But never will he crush us though He must strike some more.

He does it ‘cause He loves us. We cannot get away,

With anything we ever do, or think about or say.

This surely is quite proper. He makes the rear end sting.

But more to serve His purpose that righteousness may ring,

Throughout His holy people. He wants to get us right.

And walk in true obedience that’s proper in His sight.

So if your rear end’s stinging you’d better ask Him why?

He never will chastise you so much to make you die.

He has a special reason. Perhaps you pulled a stunt

That in His Holy wisdom, He thought was an affront.

To everything He’s taught us. It doesn’t work that way.

But don’t make the assumption He won’t do it today.

So when He says, “Bend over, reach down and touch your toes.”

You know that it is coming for that is how it goes.

And when it is all finished, I’m sure you will agree,

He worked for my advantage in disciplining me!

Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 30 June 2011