ENDURE TO THE END

There’s just one way to do things; we must complete the course.    The prize is when you get there; you cannot take by force. You may find it is difficult; there is no easy way. It’s when the job’s completed that we receive our pay. You cannot claim it earlier; Don’t think that at the start, That it is your entitlement; You have to play your part. We’d like it to be easier. We’d like to have it now. But you will have to put away and kill that “holy cow”. It’s what you have to work at, just as the Lord decreed. To ditch this opportunity will make you lost indeed. The gift of your salvation was given you by grace. But if you don’t continue, you’ll surely lose your place. It isn’t a works program; but know this thing for sure; The prize the Lord’s provided is yours if you endure. We like to think it’s easy. If you decide today, The Father will receive you, regardless, come what may. But that is a delusion. The “faith” that wins the crown Is given to the faithful. Backsliders are let down. The Lord above still loves them; He wants them all to stay. But there is a condition. Keep on the narrow way. He has no double standards. He loves us all the same; He’s said He will save anyone who calls on Jesus Name

But this includes repentance. We have to turn from sin. This is the pre-condition if we are going to win. And this must be ongoing; it’s not a once off choice. It calls for our endurance and listening to His voice. It isn’t just a ticket that keeps you safe from Hell; You have to keep on keeping on and loving Him as well. There’s fiery trials in front of you, not just a lazy stroll. You have to keep on going in order to be whole. It’s not a life for sissies; it’s not a feather bed. It’s walking with the Saviour until the day you’re dead. It’s suffering in public where anyone can see. It could include the plundering of all your property. But in the last analysis you’ll know His love is true You’ll realise there’s nothing that man can do to you, Will ever change or alter your faith in God Most High; Because you will walk with Him until the day you die. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 25 September 2011

LET US DRAW NEAR

There isn’t an alternative; it’s quite enough for me, To serve the Lord Almighty wherever He may be. Perhaps He’s in the Temple? He may be in the field. No matter where the Master is, my will to Him I yield. He always is my refuge; my shelter from the storm. His Holy Presence is enough; I wish it was my norm. O Lord I love Your Temple; it’s where Your glory dwells. Just knowing Lord that You are there, it’s more than tongue can tell! I’d rather spend a day with you than in some other place. A thousand days without You; exceeds what I can face. I’d rather be a doorkeeper; I’d rather be on guard; Than following the other folk right into Satan’s yard. He can give me nothing but misery and pain. But Father, You provide for me more than I can explain. You give great satisfaction to those who draw in near. Your goodness and Your mercy, fill me with Holy fear. O Lord, You are my portion and my inheritance; To stray for just a moment makes very little sense. For if You are not present, what can protect my soul? No other in creation can ever make me whole. Why should I need protection when You are on my side? A thousand men will look at me, then run away and hide. They are intimidated; at times they even flee. It must be Jesu’s presence each one of them can see. O Lord my God why is this? Why is it they react? We’re forced to the conclusion your presence is a fact! And so we realise that when You are on the scene, They know about Your presence and just what that can mean. Perhaps the blood of Jesus is what they comprehend? Perhaps they know instinctively that they cannot defend, Against the One whose power is greater than their own?     But they will have to face You while they are all alone.

O Lord You opened up for us a new and better way. A route we didn’t know about until this very day; And since we are forgiven and can rely on You, We have a holy confidence in everything we do. So we can come in boldly before Your Fathers throne. And know He will receive us as if we are His own. Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 24 September 2011

HOMEWARD BOUND

It happened back in Egypt some thousand years ago. Our people in such slavery, we trust you’ll never know. The task-masters were vicious; our people felt the lash. The pace was unrelenting; they treated us like trash. Each Israelite was helpless; they couldn’t get away. And they’d succumbed to hopelessness as day succeeded day. It seemed we’d been forsaken for some four hundred years. But “God has not abandoned us”, this thought allayed our fears. And then the Lord sent Moses; he came at God’s behest. He led us as a people to a land the Lord had blessed. Then we were disobedient; and we were led away. This time it was to Babylon where we were forced to stay. As Jeremiah prophesied, we knew captivity; And seventy years later is when we were set free. We wondered why it happened. Then God made it so clear, Our people broke the covenant; that’s why He sent us here. He needed to bring discipline into our people’s ways. If we were disobedient, and not done what He says, The outcome would be punishment; and He would carry on, Until the last resistance in all of us had gone. The Lord had not abandoned us. It happened for the best. A mother can’t abandon the baby at her breast! Indeed that was unthinkable; He couldn’t turn away, The family of Abraham; with them He’d always stay. And so the Lord had answered; King Cyrus was in place; - Isaiah 44:28 We’d leave the Babylonians and all of that disgrace; To journey to Jerusalem to build a house of prayer, Where we could pray for Babylon and all that happened there. The Lord had not forgotten us. Our names had been engraved, Upon the palms of both His hands to make sure we were saved. The city of Jerusalem He said He can’t forget,     The picture of it’s shattered walls; before His face was set.

And so we were returning to our homeland once again. Not many would go back with us; a mere handful of men. Now we are on a journey, the temple to rebuild. We hope that when it’s finished, the Lord God will be thrilled. That is our chief intention; our discipline complete. O Lord, please undertake for us; we don’t need a repeat.  Jim Strickland – written Friday, 23 September 2011

MESSIAH

I have to use superlatives in praise of Christ my King. But they are insufficient, to speak of everything That He has been, or He will be, on any future date! For language is inadequate; it’s far too poor to state, In words that are coherent, how wonderful He’s been, To those who are His bond-slaves; the ones He has washed clean. Our purpose is to worship Him; to give Him all our praise. So let us praise and worship in a Scriptural turn of phrase! An apple tree in blossom among the forest trees;  -  SoS 2:3 GW With fruit that tastes delightful and only seeks to please. He’s dark and He is dazzling more than ten thousand men. – SoS 5:10 His head is of the finest gold; His hair like a raven. – SoS 5:11 His sparkling eyes appear like doves beside a mountain spring, – SoS 5:12 Like jewels that are washed in milk; fairer than anything. – SoS 5:12 His cheeks emit a fragrance; a park’s spice they infer; – SoS 5:13 note  park =garden His lips are like the lilies, perfumed with finest myrrh! – SoS 5:13 His arms like rounded bars of gold inlaid with chrysolite.– SoS 5:14 His body, polished ivory with sapphires shining bright. – SoS 5:14 His legs like marble pillars in sockets of fine gold. – SoS 5:15 His posture is as stately as the cedar trees are bold. – SoS 5:12 He is of utmost value; a pearl of highest cost. – Matt 13:46 We cannot live without Him; without Him we are lost. And God has given all to Him; complete authority! – Eph 1:18 He is the head of everything for all eternity. This news cannot be hidden; It’s open and laid bare, - Mark 7:24 For all the world to recognise, regardless when or where! A very special person Who speaks to one and all. – John 7:46 The God-man more exalted than any we recall! He is King of Creation. He is the Lord of Lords. – Rev 1:5 The one Who has dominion; more than this world affords! How can I then do justice to; or speak about the One; Who broke the power of Satan and ahead of us has gone? To be with Him forever. To worship constantly! It surely is impossible for folk like you and me, To put down in a language that man can understand?  - John 7:46 The wonder of His Majesty and faithfulness He’s planned,- Psalm 31:16 For those who will submit to Him; will see His smiling face; – Psalm 4:6 & 31:16 There is no higher privilege for all the human race! Jim Strickland - written Thursday 22 Sept 2011

MEMORIES

One thing we know for certain; It’s that God cannot forget. The Person who knows everything, and the enormous debt The people have placed on Him. If memory could fail, Then God would not be perfect, and we’re just as well in jail. God has a perfect memory. No instance has gone by That He cannot recall it, and tell the reason why. But that’s to be expected from Divine Omniscience. So how does that affect us? What is the consequence Of coming to our Maker, and asking to be free, If He cannot forget about what’s in our history? The answer is quite simple. Because our God is King He says He won’t remember that ugly dreadful thing. It’s not that He’s forgotten it; that never could take place! He says He won’t remember the source of our disgrace. So if He won’t remember it, for us it is the same, As if He had forgotten it. And that’s why Jesus came! It wasn’t just a matter of setting sinners free; But asking of His Father, Please block that memory. It’s not that You’ve forgotten. It is a great deal more, Than sitting on the sideline and adding up the score. And just because He loves us He lays that all aside. We know it’s not forgotten, but will not be applied! Which means that for our purposes, the outcome is the same, As it was forgotten and cleansed in Jesus Name. The implications of this are surely staggering; He welcomes us as children who have not committed sin. His Son has worked a miracle. God’s memory’s in check. And He will not recall it and lay it on our neck. This means that everything we do has favour with the Lord. We may think it’s disastrous but take Him at His Word. He says our situation will always ‘come up trumps’, While Jesus is our Master who deals with all the bumps! So even though our bodies grow weaker day by day; Our spirit man grows stronger in each and every way. And though the opposition may last a little while; We know that ultimately, we’ll look back and will smile. So when we are confronted by troubles that annoy, Aware that very shortly, our tears will turn to joy! Our faith may have been tested but in it we have grown, And we have learned endurance in ways we’ve never known. Let us therefore be thankful; He’s perfecting us each day; To be more like Him regardless, come what may! Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 21 September 2011